Purpose: To speedup Voodoo and Voodoo ²  3dfx / OpenGL gaming based games and video boards

Author Contact: alexkowalski@mindspring.com

Installation: Unzip and Run it the SETUP.EXE program from c:\temp (default unzip area)
              Requires Windows95, Windows98, or Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack #3 with 
              DirectX 3.0

WINDOWS95 or WINDOWS98 USERS ATTENTION PLEASE:
==============================================

You MUST Install with InstallShield installer
to avoid an error the first time you run the
Program after installation.  InstallShield makes
several registry entry flags to signal the need
to backup your autoexec.bat file for safe restores
of it should you uninstall, and during alterations
of it by this program!

SHOULD YOU INSTALL IT BY SIMPLY COPYING IT from
one system to another The first time program is 
then run, it will issue an error message.  

Disregard this and run the Backup Button from 
the main screen (or from the main screen menu Tools, 
or the Trayicon Popup Menu icon Tools section).  
This is only done once and the error will not 
show again.

This backup preserves the contents of your
original Autoexec.bat file for safety 
purposes!

=============================================

To Whom it may concern,

INCLUDED IN THIS 98++ RELEASE: ARE DEFAULT REGISTRY SETTINGS
(FOR USERS TO REMERGE IF IN DOUBT FOR VOODOO and VOODOO2 boards.)

Better uninstall routines!

Red, Green, Blue Gamma Correction Ability for Brightness alteration!

Corrections to CdRom Resettings not loading upon reuse of the program
and showing users current settings!

New HOT LIGHTS on GrxClk and Refresh indicating cooling is recommended
into certain ranges of speeds!

LocalLoadHigh=1 added to System.ini file for increased DOS Ram for many 
games!

further code interior optimizations!

OPTIONAL Dos Ram tuning instead of mandatory now!

Manual Editing and observation of Voodoo².ini!


To USE THIS PROGRAM:
===================

1.) You need Windows NT 4.0 or better with Service Pack #3 ( Some systems may need to apply the
     Microsoft Common Control update contained inside as 40comupd.exe. If it fails to load or DrWatson
     errors out, then apply the controls update, reboot and then the program will run fine)

2.) Unzip and run SETUP.EXE (will install to your Windows or WINNT directory but runs from anywhere on 
    your system)

3.) and of course, you need a love of OpenGL gaming / 3dfx gaming

SOME QUOTES FROM HAPPY USERS USING THE PROGRAM (showing 20-30% increases):
=====================================================================

TESTIMONY #1
============

Subject:
        APK 3dFX Tuning Engine 9.0++
 Date:
        Wed, 22 Jul 1998 22:10:19 +0200
 From:
        "Lars Krag" <larskrag@image.dk>
 To:
        <alexkowalski@inetnow.net>

Very impressive work you´ve done here. I have a P200 MMX with a CL 8 Mb Voodoo 2 board with 64 Mb RAM. I play a lot in my spare time, actually it´s my prime time, and have been playing Unreal a lot lately. Sadly
my computer isn´t quite up to the game (as well as Quake II anyway). Even with the new drivers and the TMU patch from 3fingers, or whatever his name is, I couldn´t get the timedemo 02 up to more than around 21 fps.
I´m by no means an expert on computers, but without changing any settings, applying your program and recommandations, I got a solid 28 fps. Not only that, but the gameplay is now almost as smooth as Quake II, and
absolutely playable. You just saved me a new computer, well at least for another 6 months anyway. Thanks.
                                                    Lars Krag

Oh, by the way, should you ever do an OS on your own, I´ll be first in line to pick one up.

TESTIMONY #2 (from JKhan here on the board)
============

Its really great, APK's tuning program really does work, it boosted my Quake 1 framerate (intimedemo demo2.dem (I erased 1 by mistake )) from 49.9 to 57.8. Its so great all my games are consistently running much smoother on my Pentium 200 80 ram. Just wanted to thank you APK its a great program, and tell everybody else to try it out. I'm
not sure of its location cuz he e-mailed it to me.

Testimony #3
--------------------

Hey Alex, this is Ash (ChronoKnight)
I got that tuner of your's, it Rocks!!!!!!!!
Running Q2 in eccess of 35-40 FPS!!!
I'm running a Pure3D (In NT 4.0 with the DX5 drivers)
I know you apreciate these e-mails so I though I would send my thanks ^_^
Thanks again,
Ash


Testimony #4
-------------------
I had serious cache problems in the past, and its cleared up a little. I used your tuning engine and it helped a lot...

and

Daniel
posted 08-30-98 08:13 PM EST (US)

I just downloaded your new 98++ tuning engine, I used it and my fps in quake 2 went past 60 to 75-85! What a piece of work this engine is. All other tweaking programs just made my fps go down. Keep up the good work!
Daniel

Daniel, 3dfiles Message Board user

Testimony #5
-------------------
Helza
posted 08-30-98 10:38 AM EST (US)

btw. I love your program I got a p200 and
i get 5 ftp more in Quake2...

AND

Hey APK..

I used to run your Tuning program on
my old PC a P 200 with a 8 MB Voodoo2 card...
and got about 5 frames extra in Quake2..
At least it's better then nothing...

but on my new computer a PII 450 with 
Voodoo2 12 MB SLI, what did you think I get..?

how about a increase of 45....yes 45 frames..

how the hell is that possible...I went from
59,5 FPS to 104,5 and that in 1024 X 786 

and that's with 3D Fingers Highest performance config...

somehow it just blew away Quake 2....

you really did a great job at that one...


Testimony #6
------------

Logan
posted 08-30-98 02:25 PM EST (US)

I think its great work, and what else do you get for nothing?

Testimony #7
------------

Lethal Pencil
posted 09-01-98 05:41 PM EST (US)

APK,

I think your program worked miracles on my computer! It improved my glquake fps by 18!!! ....now is that amazing or what! well done with the program....and yes...i agree with king stud, an uninstall would be a nice feature. But i have no plans to uninstall it!

Lethal-Pencil

Testimony #8
============

Subject:
        Excellent utility : 3Dfx tuner
Date:
        Wed, 2 Sep 1998 01:17:54 +0100
From:
        "Mark" <mark@gameslog.com>
To:
        <alexkowalski@inetnow.net>


Hello,

Congratulations on a really excellent bit of software; 3Dfx tuner. I used to use your memory defragmenter also though after I formatted I'm not quite sure where it went. The vcache and cd-rom cache utility is also a great
touch

...

Thanks for a great utility (I'll try not to lose this one)

Mark
www.gameslog.com

Testimony #9
============

Subject:
        Maybe you can help
Date:
        Wed, 02 Sep 1998 19:25:55 -0700
From:
        Zilla <paul3@netcom.ca>
To:
        alexkowalski@inetnow.net




First off  APK for 3DFX is outstanding Man!!


Zilla

Testimony #10
-------------

Paul
                    posted 08-18-98 11:59 PM ET (US)

                 You may also want to try the APK Tweak program available from www.3dfiles.com
                 (utilities section) this program makes simple work of all the various 3dfx card tweaks
                 (registry, environment settings, and autoexec.bat/config.sys settings) There are a
                 LOT of changes made to the registry with this program. One of which may solve
                 your framerate problem. Run the program and look in the registry under (hkey local
                 machine/software/3dfx interactive/voodoo2/ and then check the dos and glide
                 settings for the tweaks. You never know, you could get lucky. I thought I had q2
                 maxed out on my machine. I ran this program and got an extra 3.9 fps in timedemo1
                 without changing a single thing in the game. Every bit counts. Good Luck.

Testimony #11
-------------

Brad 
posted 09-17-98 02:04 PM EST (US)             

Got your program. Had to disable bp24, that was giving me trouble with the cards.. at 70 refresh rate I got a 10fps increase cards set at 95Mhz. Your prograns a keeper..

Is it me or is this site slow to load. takes forever!!

Testimony #12
-------------

Jurik \"Eagle\" Ristjouw wrote:


  Hi there,

  I do not know you in person, but I just wanted to say that APKTweak is the best...

  Here are my results, done on my :
  intel P200MMX, 
  Matrox Mystique 4MB, 
  Diamond Monster 3D2 8MB


  Quake 1 timedemo demo2:
          without tweak                :    59fps
          with tweak                     :    83fps!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
          - SSTV2_REFRESH    at 75
          - SSTV2GRXCLK        at 95
          without cooling yet

  I don't write a lot of comment, but I've seen no program do so much as this one

  thanx a lot, and please keep me informed about updates....


jurik@bart.nl

Testimony #13
-------------

GERMAN TRANSLATION FOLLOWS
DEUTSCHE UEBERSETZUNG FOLGT
--------------------------

Dear Sirs,

PC-WELT would like to put your software

APK 3DFx Tuning Engine 98++

on CD. It will be distributed with the next issue of PC-WELT. If you
agree please send us a short e-mail to agree@pcwelt.com.
You can also send us a fax.

Best wishes
Anja Smeilus
------------
IDG Magazine Verlag GmbH
PC-WELT
Editorial office
Brabanter Str. 4
D-80805 Munich
Germany
Phone +49-89-36086-297
Fax +49-89-36086-459
E-Mail agree@pcwelt.com

PC-WELT
PC-WELT - the German edition of PC World USA - is a magazine
for advanced users. With 373.119 sold copies (audited Q3/98 by IVW)
PC-WELT is the best selling monthly pc-magazine in Europe.


GERMAN TRANSLATION
DEUTSCHE UEBERSETZUNG
--------------------

Sehr geehrte Damen und Herren,

die PC-WELT moechte Ihre Software

APK 3DFx Tuning Engine 98++

auf die Heft-CD der naechsten Ausgabe brennen. Dafuer brauchen wir
Ihr Einverstaendnis. Bitte schicken Sie uns eine kurze E-Mail an
agree@pcwelt.com oder ein Fax.

Mit freundlichen Gruessen
Anja Smeilus
------------
IDG Magazine Verlag GmbH
Redaktion PC-WELT
Brabanter Str. 4
80805 Muenchen
Tel. 0 89 - 3 60 86-297
Fax 0 89 - 3 60 86-459
E-Mail agree@pcwelt.com

PC-WELT
Die PC-WELT, eine Schwesterzeitschrift der PC World (USA), ist
ein Fachmagazin fuer fortgeschrittene PC-Anwender. Mit einer
verkauften Auflage von 373.119 Exemplaren (IVW 3/98) ist die PC-WELT
der meist verkaufte PC-Monatstitel in Europa.

TESTIMONY #14
-------------

From: Jean-Francois LeBlanc
Subject: APK 3dFx Tuning Engine-Comments
To:alexkowalski@mindspring.com

Hello Alex

I would just like to comment on your 3DFX utility, APK 3dFx Tuning 
Engine 98++. Before useing this program, i couldn't figure out what was 
wrong. I mean my system isn't that bad (200MMX,32MB,Voodoo2 12MB)but it 
ran games at about 20-25fps. I downloaded your program from 
www.winfiles.com (as to your request) and now my games run at over 
30fps. I'm very satisified with your product, and come payday I will 
register to show my love for this program.

Thanks Again!!!

Frenchy

TESTIMONY #15
-------------

Hey man.  I just want to tell you that your program is the one that
gives the edge.  I bounced my FPS on Quake 1 from 60 to 89 FPS on
timedemo 1 & 2.  Im running a P2 412 (4 x 103), 128mb ram (pc100), 12mb
Mon 3d 2.  ALL i HAVE TO SAY IS KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.  I've got your
page marked.

Tim Kanive

TESTIMONY #16
-------------

Alexander Peter Kowalski wrote:

Oh,

It’ll go well!  I raised my system 25 frames per second on GLQuake (from 50fps to 75fps!!!) and on Quake II, I went from 22 frames per second to 40 frames per second!

These are increases of 25 and 18... huge percetages!!! 50% and 30+ % increases on both games with NO flexing or screen idiosyncracies!

Be sure the first time you run it to disregard the tiny error, run the backup button first!

Then shut it down with the exit button, and restart it and tune!

APK

Phil Hall wrote in reply (regarding the efficacy of the program in Service Release #4):

I just retuned using your program.  It works!  With my system (a PII 333 with 64MB ram and a CL V2) and making only “conservative” changes I got a 2.75 fs improvement in quake 2.
I’m going to recommend this program to everyone I know!

Phil Hall

PS you can use this as another testimonial is you like.


END TESTIMONY EXCERPTS
======================

Why I wrote it
---------------

I am an NT user who loves GLQuake, Quake II, and Hexen II / GLHexen... and I am alone, right?  Now way!  I was reading the 
information given to users at www.3dfxmania.com on how to "overclock" your 3dfx boards and drivers thru software parameter 
tuneability of drivers for boards like Diamond Monster 3d.  

I used the settings and indeed, things sped up drastically... only problem was, it was a manually done pain in the behind... 
Computers were designed to automate things, not make them complex... read on.

Being a Win32 Senior Software Engineer, I decided to design one that was better than anyone else's out there for NT (or 95 and 98
for that matter!).  NT does a better job of everything including OpenGL and 3dFx.  I began to see tweakers for this stuff, but it 
was not up to my standards... things like batch file generators or programs only for autoexec.bat and DOS/Windows95.  Nothing for NT... 

Well, the wait is over...

The APK 3dFX Tuning Engine for NT (and since release 5.0, for 95/98 as well) is here!  It directly poles the Environment in NT Memory 
thru the Win32 API and pokes it back to place the settings into memory for instant use.  Not only that, but it places those settings 
there for future reuse and allows tuning on the fly of all settings for 3dFX and OpenGL enhanced boards and drivers!  

Created with Borland Delphi 3.0 32-bit code and the Win32 API for speed and performance!

It also includes a Quake Help file with all the necessary settings for GLQuake and also many error trappers and redundancies for 
checking your settings.  It allows you to reboot 95/98/NT also after making changes should you wish to, or list all your System 
information for reference for helping you make your tuning decisions.

Enjoy, hope to see you on QuakeWorld Sometime...

APK   (Alexander Peter Kowalski)

