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      <div class="title_topic4" id="xps10_pagetitle">Evaluate Graphics Performance</div>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('customizing_nx/prf_vpp_d.html');return(false);">Overview</a></p>
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               <p class="para_td"> How To</p>
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               <p class="para_td">Options </p>
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               <p class="para_td"><a class="links" href="javascript:void(0)" onclick="top.openFile('customizing_nx/prf_vpp_r.html');return(false);">Related Topics</a></p>
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      </table><br><p class="para_topic">The Evaluate Graphics Performance function executes timing tests to evaluate the graphics performance characteristics of the workstation configuration. The graphics driver uses the results of the timing tests to determine how to format graphics data for optimal performance on the configuration. When the timing tests complete, NX displays several hints in the Information window to indicate how various visualization attributes affect graphics performance.</p>
      <p class="para_topic">You should use this function when optimal graphics performance is essential, as when displaying large assemblies. </p>
      <p class="para_topic">For the most accurate results, execute the function when the workstation is relatively idle.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Using the Feature</div>
      <p class="para_division">Use this function when you first run NX on a particular workstation to learn which visualization attributes can significantly degrade performance on the configuration. </p>
      <p class="para_division">To use the feature, click on Evaluate Graphics Performance. This displays a dialog box to remind you to avoid interacting with the workstation while the function is in progress. When you close the dialog, the timing tests begin. The tests continue for one to two minutes, as brightly colored geometry is displayed in the graphics window.</p>
      <p class="para_division">NX saves the resulting information from session to session for each combination of user and workstation configuration. Different information is saved for each configuration because the results can vary significantly between configurations.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Interpreting the Results</div>
      <p class="para_division">When the tests complete, NX opens the Information window and displays performance hints for visualization attributes. If tests indicate that a particular visualization attribute improves or reduces rendering performance by ten percent or more, the hint specifies the percentage of impact.</p>
      <p class="para_division">The percent value represents graphics efficiency or throughput. That is, if a hint says that an attribute improves performance by 10%, then when the attribute is enabled, 10% more geometry can be rendered in a given period of time. If a hint says that an attribute reduces performance by 10%, then when the attribute is enabled, 10% less geometry can be rendered in a given period of time.</p>
      <p class="para_division">If the performance impact of the visualization attribute is less than 10%, the hint simply notes that the attribute has little impact on performance.</p>
      <div class="title_division">Sample Performance Hints</div>
      <p class="para_division">The following paragraphs list some sample performance hints.</p><pre class="indent">Backface culling can improve shaded rendering performance up to 21 percent.</pre><p class="para_division">This hint indicates that enabling the Backface Culling attribute (Preferences&rarr;Performance&rarr;Visualization) might significantly improve rendering performance in shaded views.</p><pre class="indent">Depth sorting has little impact on wireframe rendering performance.</pre><p class="para_division">This hint indicates that enabling the Depth Sorted Wireframe attribute (Preferences&rarr;Visualization&rarr;Line) will probably not significantly reduce wireframe rendering performance. </p><pre class="indent">Line antialiasing can reduce wireframe rendering performance up to 40 percent.</pre><p class="para_division">This hint indicates that enabling the Line Antialiasing attribute (Preferences&rarr;Visualization&rarr;Visual) might significantly reduce rendering performance in wireframe views. </p>
      <div class="title_division">About Hints</div>
      <p class="para_division">All hints are approximate, determined for the specific conditions and geometry used in the timing tests, and performance impacts observed with actual NX parts may vary.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Hints can vary substantially from one workstation to another because different graphics devices and device drivers are designed to optimize performance for different visualization attributes.</p>
      <p class="para_division">Also, you might notice small variations in the hint percent values produced by different executions of the Evaluate Graphics Performance function on the same workstation. Small variations are expected and are caused by inaccuracies inherent in the time measurement techniques. If you observe large variations, however, ensure that the workstation is relatively idle, and then execute the function repeatedly until the hint percent values are consistent with only small variations. These hints are the most reliable. </p>
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