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How to install OpenGL

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How to install OpenGL

Postby BCJ » Fri Dec 11, 2020 10:11 am

How can I download and configure openGL the internet just tells me to download CodeBlocks or something else :?: Can someone show me how to do this because I want to prevent lag which happens because I am don't have OpenGL...

OS: Windows 10
Version of FlightGear : 2020.3.4
Graphics: Intel R HD Graphics
Processor: Intel Core i5
RAM: 8GB

:?: I also happend to find a file named opengl32.dll in system32 is this open gl? :?:
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby Hooray » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:22 pm

determine the exact manufacturer/make/model of your graphics card (seemingly intel) and go to their website, download the latest drivers - install those, restart your operating system and run an OpenGL benchmark like FurMark3D to see if OpenGL is working properly (with hardware acceleration)

speaking in general, integrated intel GPUs (graphics cards) are infamous for their subpar performance compared to dedicated GPU from say nvidia or AMD/ATI.

You'll probably want a graphics card that is not much older than ~18 months, not much newer than ~6 months, one that provides at least 1024MB of VRAM
And you'd want to have at least 8-16 gb of total RAM or at the very least 4-8 gb of free RAM available.
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby ludomotico » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:24 pm

Hi BCJ,

OpenGL is not some software you can install on your PC. It is a capability of your hardware. Either your hardware accelerates OpenGL or not, and you can't do anything to it except buying new hardware.

The good news is that most if not all current video cards support OpenGL. If FlightGear runs, it means you already have OpenGL support. The bad news is "Intel R HD Graphics" is notorious slow with OpenGL applications and I'm afraid you can't do anything to fix this. "Intel R HD Graphics" are great to build a PC using little money, but this PC won't be able to run many games fast. Just in case, check you've got the last "Intel R HD Graphics" drivers and deactivate as many FlightGear features as you can: minimum settings, minimum LOD (http://wiki.flightgear.org/Level_Of_Detail_(LOD)_Ranges ), fly simple aircraft...

If you are considering buying a new video card, NVIDIA is probably the best option. Not because they make the best video cards, but because FG developers only have NVIDIA cards and test their new developments on them.
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby Hooray » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:29 pm

ludomotico wrote in Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:24 pm:If you are considering buying a new video card, NVIDIA is probably the best option. Not because they make the best video cards, but because FG developers only have NVIDIA cards and test their new developments on them.


With that sort of statement, nvidia should consider buying some ad space on the splash screen or the help/about dialog :lol:
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby ludomotico » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:45 pm

:D Just in case, it is just my opinion and, as a result, personal and biased !
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby Hooray » Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:50 pm

There certainly is some truth to this ... I am guilty of that myself, but I believe it's primarily because most contributors these days are still Linux-based, and NVIDIA's driver support is much better their in comparison - indeed, if FlightGear required a printer, we'd probably all be using HP for the same reason :D
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby BCJ » Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:04 am

I'll buy a completely new PC, I'll finally see FG after 2 years...
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby Hooray » Sat Dec 12, 2020 1:35 pm

Please don't send support requests by PM, instead post your questions on the forum so that all users can contribute and benefit
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby wlbragg » Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:10 pm

I believe it's primarily because most contributors these days are still Linux-based, and NVIDIA's driver support is much better their in comparison - indeed

I agree with this.
Add to that things like my AMD/ATI card works well on Linux but looses the geometry shader, but then on Windows gains back the geometry shader then losses the splash screens and requires the alternative GUI switch.
It's like a loose-loose scenario. Just annoying. But, I really haven't found it to have any issues with any other software I have installed. So there is that as well, which tells you something.
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby Hooray » Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:13 pm

there definitely is a shortage of Windows based core devs/contributors, so that the level of testing going on there is understandably marginal.
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby V12 » Fri Dec 18, 2020 2:34 pm

BCJ wrote in Sat Dec 12, 2020 7:04 am:I'll buy a completely new PC, I'll finally see FG after 2 years...

Buy fastest possible i3 CPU, 16 GB RAM and some nVidia GPU with 2 GB VRAM. On almost all places of the world You will have 60 fps with decent visibility limit 160 km.

FG is not optimized for modern 4 and more core CPU, 4 core i3 at 3.5 GHz has enough power and price is nice low.
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Re: How to install OpenGL

Postby Hooray » Fri Dec 18, 2020 8:05 pm

The recommendation looks sound, if possible it would be great if you could help us update the hardware recommendations accordingly.

Like I said elsewhere, even an "old" (3-5 years) used/refurbished Nvidia based quadcore workstation with at least 2gb of VRAM and 16gb of RAM will usually be in the 200-300 USD ballpark and should provide plenty of horsepower, and it's likely to take years before it will require an upgrade, at which point 150 USD for a better graphics card will go a long way. Things like Vulkan are unlikely to become relevant until a handful of long-standing core issues are addressed.
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