Max Payne 1: can't limit FPS with WidescreenFixes

[Hexaae]

Without WSF I can use NVidiaProfileInspector or a https://github.com/ThirteenAG/d3d8-wrapper/releases/tag/d3d8-wrapper-v1.16 to cap the game at 60fps (REQUIRED to avoid scripts timing bug like the infamous Vinnie Gognitti stairs bug).

With WSF installed instead I can correct widescreen (1920x1080) proportions but can't cap fps anymore! :(
This patch needs an FPSLimit option.

Gaming Laptop ASUS GL703GS (BIOS 310)
CPU i7-8750H (iGPU unavailable)
GTX 1070 8GB (non-Max-Q, 10DE 1BE1 - 1043 1011, GP104 A1, vbios 86.04.7c.00.24, Samsung VRAM)
Windows 10 Pro 2004
Desktop res: 1080p (1920x1080)
Screen: 144Hz g-sync AUO B173HAN03.2 [AUO329D]
NVidia driver: 456.38 WHQL
Audio: Realtek HD Audio (ALC295 chipset)
Hard disks: NVMe Samsung, SSD Crucial
USB Blu-Ray 4K drive: Archgon Star MD-8102P-U3YC-UHDB (Pioneer BDR-UD04)

[DonelBueno]

I have the same issue and request.

The same can be said for Max Payne 2, since it also uses the same engine.

[Hexaae]

I've found a temporary workaround, while waiting for an update including both widescreen fix + fps cap option:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1934864423

EDIT: seems to work with Max Payne 1 only...

[DonelBueno]

@Hexaae Thanks for the link, it worked here.

The strange thing is, I had already tried this solution myself, but it didn't work, I don't know if the version in the link you provided is different.

EDIT: It doesn't work for Max Payne 2 =/
Would you also have a link for MP2?

[Hexaae]

From my archive on Steam, try just the dx9 dll + its ini file with Max Payne 2: it should lock DX9 games to 60fps (see inside INI)...
and the https://thirteenag.github.io/wfp#mp2 of course.

[DonelBueno]

Do you see any mistake? It doesn't work =/

[AeroWidescreen]

You should be able to use RivaTuner to the cap framerate of any game, which is arguably the best way to do it. Both AMD and NVIDIA should have options to cap the framerate on a per-game basis as well.

[DonelBueno]

@AeroWidescreen I know, but it doesn't work in these games. It used to work on older drivers through Nvidia inspector or Nvidia control panel, but the frame limiter logic has apparently changed recently.

RivaTuner works fine, thanks for the tip.

[Hexaae]

Do you see any mistake? It doesn't work =/

Be sure you didn't overwrite MP2's scripts and my archive DLLs with those from MP1, for example I see a d3d8.dll and settings UseD3D8to9=1 that shouldn't be there (isn't DX9 MP2?)...
Remove everything, just apply the MP2 Widescreen fix + put the D3D9.dll+ini (ONLY) from my MP1 archive with the 60fps lock.

EDIT:
Ok. I bought MP2 on Steam and indeed fps cap doesn't seem to work even after copying d3d9.dll+ini from MP1's workaround...

[DonelBueno]

Yes, the only thing that worked for MP2 is RivaTuner.

[Hexaae]

Will MP2 break scripted scenes like MP1 in case FPS are too high?

[DonelBueno]

Yes. From my experience, both can go as high as 180-200 fps, so I limit them to 144 fps and have no issues.

[Hexaae]

You can cap it to your display Hz (144, just like mine) just using UseD3D8to9=1: it runs 144 FPS stable here instead of 300-1200fps
So the game is playable and won't break scripts?
MP1 suffered many script issues if FPS >60... that's why I created that workaround fix including 60fps cap. But it's not clear to me if MP2 also has to be capped to 60fps (I never played it before ;))

[DonelBueno]

Really? I'm going to play both in the coming days and confirm in this thread, but I remember only having issues when going above 200 fps or something like that.

[Hexaae]

No, MP1 absolutely needs 60fps cap (or maybe just vsync?) or some scripted scenes will break 90% of times. E.g. the infamous Vinnie Gognitti stairs bug: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwt4GYKUSAs
If MP2 is ok at 144Hz vsynced we're fine with UseD3D8to9=1. For the future (when HW will be even faster and those with 200+ Hz screen) we'll need a working FPS lock implemented in the WSF patch though...

[Hexaae]

Just found https://github.com/ThirteenAG/d3d8-wrapper/releases/latest which has a working FPSLimit=60 from the same author @ThirteenAG but unfortunately will disable widescreen fix :(
Hope the author will add to MaxPayne2.WidescreenFix.ini:

[MAIN]
FPSLimit=<n> 

one day :( (also for Max Payne 1). I'm not a coder myself to try merging sources to include FPSLimit and recompile...

[DonelBueno]

I've finished MP1 yesterday playing at 144 fps with no issues at all, not even in Vinnie Gognitti's part. So yes, you can finish both games playing at 144 fps.

[Hexaae]

Good. So the important thing is vsync on for both games. The day we'll have very fast screens could be a problem though without a fps limiter implemented directly in the widescreen fix

[DonelBueno]

I didn't enable vsync, so it's optional.

[DonelBueno]

I've finished MP2 and this is the only part that gave me trouble. He couldn't get past this door at 144 fps, so I capped the framerate to 60 fps and went back to 144 fps after this part.

[Hexaae]

Try with vsync AND 144, but you'll have to restart level to be sure (with mp1 reloading savegame was not enough after 60fps cap fix...)
These games to be 100% safe need a vsync+60fps lock integrated in the widescreen fix anyway, definitely...
P.S. in the Steam discussion thread I also posted a fix for mirrors bug etc. BTW

[Hexaae]

Another test you can do is with half-vsync + adaptive sync (Nvidia Profile Inspector). This will make the game run capped at 144/2=72fps vysnced (very smooth in-game). Maybe 72fps capped + vsync is enough to avoid also that issue?