Tweaked GAPI driver

Important: This is not a general graphics tweak. It only effects programs (mostly games) using GAPI.

here you can download my first version of tweaked GAPI driver (freeware with source included). starting from v1.08 emulamer take over development, many thanks! (i'am busy with betaplayer).

run the x50vgapi.setup.*.exe on the desktop PC when the X50v is connected via activesync or you can use the x50vgapi.ARM.CAB (from the cabs archive) on the x50v itself if you don't like activesync.

please install the program into main memory, otherwise it won't work.

for latest updates please check emulamers posts in this thread..

http://www.leggnet.com/emulamer

the way this tweak works will cause problem for some games. it happens when a game uses both GAPI and GDI calls to draw to the screen (example PocketQuake or MorphGear). because this tweak changes the screen mode to real QVGA mode and GDI still thinks it's VGA there will be some artifacts if a program tries to write to the screen with GDI. but most games use only GAPI.

never the less there is new control panel icon, so you can always switch between the original driver and the tweak (if you want to play with an incompatible game).

[Ranma13]

Please test the driver with games and emulators to get some real-life performance numbers besides what benchmarks tell you.

[jusu]

I can´t do more at this moment than promise that I will test this when I get my unit and give you as much useful feedback as I can. Anyway I already want to tell at this point that I _really_ appreciate the time that you are taking in making the product better for all of us.

[emulamer]

Thanks a bunch for fixing the GAPI driver! Glad I could help (the extremely small amount that I did :))! I think you've renewed my faith in the X50v, so I think I'll keep it.

Edit: BTW, SPB gapi score is down to 5(!)ms

but does it really work correctly? have you tried gxmark? :)

[msu2k]

Thanks a bunch for fixing the GAPI driver! Glad I could help (the extremely small amount that I did :))! I think you've renewed my faith in the X50v, so I think I'll keep it.

Edit: BTW, SPB gapi score is down to 5(!)ms

:approve: My faith has been renewed. Thanks a ton guys for your work.

Daim ... the suspence is killing me ... this is even worse then waiting for the next generation's gpu results :)

[longle]

Hi folks,

Just ran the GXmark benchmark with GAPicard's drivers (Sorry emulamer couldn't fit you in there). Here are the results. By the way, like Picard mentioned GXmark will not run properly unless his drivers are turned on.

Overall index 1794 the exact same score that the A716 got but lower than the 2000 score that the A730 got (from wwww.int13.net).

Here are the specific indices:

Flipscreen --> 5 ms/5 ms

Crossfade --> 13 ms/ 6 ms

512 ColorKeyed Sprites 12 ms/ 3 ms

512 Antialiased Sprites --> 16 ms/9 ms

128 Antialiased Sprites --> 13 ms/6 ms

Rotozoom --> 9 ms/ 4 ms

Tunnel --> 9 ms/6 ms


To be honest, I have no idea if these numbers are good or not, but I thought I'd post them for Picard to see since he does not have an x50v in hand to test his drivers. Anything else you want me to do Picard? I'm going to try some games in a bit.

[emulamer]

After a hard reset:

gxmark Device Index
-------------------
original:(doesn't run... just a white screen)
picard's:1794

spb gapi benchmark
-------------------
original:22ms
picard's:5ms

[longle]

Oh, I posted the Spb benchmark on another post earlier. Here they are again:

I just did a Spb graphics with Picard's new drivers. Look at the results!!! The hx4700 scored a graphics index of 877.4 (GAPI 122.6 f/s) while the A730 scored a graphics index of 1015.4 (146.6 f/s) from Chris's review. Did you guys surpassed the GAPI performance of both of these models???

Report
Spb Benchmark Indices
Graphics index 2314.6 (iPAQ 3650 scored 1000)

Main test was not done
Main test results
Test Time Speed % of iPAQ 3650* speed
Graphics test: DDB BitBlt 0.1 ms 10000 frames/sec 37160%
Graphics test: DIB BitBlt 11.3 ms 88.5 frames/sec 655%
Graphics test: GAPI BitBlt 4.64 ms 215 frames/sec 100%

*iPAQ 3650 running Pocket PC 2000

the A730 got high gxmark results only with my other GAPI tweak :D (otherwise it would be white screen as with original x50v)
in theory it could be done with X50v too (using cpu's lcd controller instead of 2700g for gapi), but it would mean much more tweaking. i can't do that without an actual device and probably even then i would probably invest my time into betaplayer :)

picard, u are a god! there should be an aximsite hall of fame for members who helped pioneer pda development and such. You and bulldog would definetaly be there! could someone with some snes roms or gba roms compare the fps from the new driver to the old one, cuz those seemed to be the slowest running programs, relying most heavily on gapi

A little edit to show in comparison ( Longle's x50v with GAPI tweak results ):

I added the a620 sinds it a know qvga gaming champion.

Ipaq 3600 ( reference model ) - a620 - x50v ( with tweak ).

Flipscreen - 5 ms / 1 ms / 5 ms

Crossfade - 13 ms / 7 ms / 6 ms

512 ColorKeyed Sprites - 12 ms / 5 ms / 3 ms

512 Antialiased Sprites - 16 ms / 10 ms / 9 ms

128 Antialiased Sprites - 13 ms / 8 ms / 6 ms

Rotozoom --> 9 ms / 5 ms / 4 ms

Tunnel --> 9 ms / 7 ms / 6 ms

Tweaked GAPI vs original aximsite pre-production x50v review.

GAPI BitBlt 4.64 ms 215 - 45.47

[emulamer]

Just like to point out that PocketSNES now runs full screen, with sound @30fps on donkey kong country. Didn't run at all before. Runs significantly faster than Morphgear's SNES, since I think that does all the scaling on the CPU.

one more thing to try: turn off the device during gapi mode and turn it on. hopefully the 2700G programming is not lost and the qvga mode is still there, but if it doesn't i can correct it in a new version.