Massively's guide to reducing your Second Life lag: The servers

By Tateru Nino

2. The servers

Like your computer, Second Life's servers and simulators can only handle so much. Let's go back to the statistics display (press SHIFT CONTROL 1 if it isn't currently visible), and we'll check out the key figures there.

How to tell is the simulator is working too hard

The numbers you are looking for are more FPS figures. In this case, Sim FPS and Physics FPS. When the simulator is not overloaded, both of them will be at their maximum: 45. If both figures are at 45, then the simulator is not lagging and has capacity to spare.

When the simulator starts to get overloaded, one or both of these figures will drop. Simulators do not noticeably lag until the Sim FPS, Physics FPS or both drop below approximately 43. If they remain above that, then the cause of your lag is not at the server/simulator

The cure

If the server is lagging, it will be because of scripts, physics, or just plain overcrowding. Avatar Rendering Cost (ARC) does not affect simulators or lag them. It just isn't a factor. As a visitor to a simulator, there isn't really much you can do to reduce simulator/server lag, other than removing any scripted object you might be wearing, and that will only help if the problem is caused by excessive scripts.

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