Max number of pixels with F16v3 @ 40 fps

[Nburlarley]

So i was just wondering for something i want to do for next year. I want to run 6 different snowflakes on 1 port of the f16v3, and 6 candy canes on a different port of the f16v3 along with other things on the controller on other ports that I'm not worried about. The problem is the snow flakes are 694 pixels together, and the candy canes are 595 pixels together. Can i run 694 pixels on 1 port of the f16v3 at 40 fps and 595 pixels on another port also at 40 fps?

[bigwavedave]

According to the spec sheet:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LTQzdvSYMrRGI62KTGdh5EmUhVB9uZZMQ4iwWtK7yYk/edit#gid=0

Refresh Rate (up to 680 pixels per output) = 40fps

So, you should be able to do the candy canes (595 pixels) at 40fps, as you described.  My concern would be the snowflakes.  I've seen conflicting reports on how the Falcons respond to things OVER 680 pixels.  Some have said, it is a cliff, and anything over 680 will cause the controller to switch to 20fps.  Others have said it is more of a sliding scale.  Where, you might get 38 to 39fps at your 694 count.  It is possible this is also something that has evolved over time.

It would be great to get an authoritative answer to that... it might exist somewhere already.

In theory, if all of your ports have less than 680 pixels then they can run at 40fps, which seemed to be what you were asking.  Worst case, you spread the snowflakes across 2 inputs.

[Nburlarley]

Thanks for your help bigwavedave. Once I get pixels for next year, I will do a test to see if I can have 694 pixels on one port. Hopefully I can go 14 pixels over the limit!

[Doctor Wizard]

I spoke with David Pitts, the creator of the Falcon hardware and primary software developer for the firmware, and asked him this very question.
So here is the answer straight from the horse's mouth (no offense, Dave):
Assuming the minimum reset time between frames, it would theoretically be possible to have 639 pixels on a port and maintain 40fps.  But the controller has buffering and housekeeping to do between frames so the real limit is 600.
-and- the controller starts a frame on all ports at the same time.  So if a frame (and it's housekeeping) on any port takes up more than 25ms (40fps) then ALL ports are delayed on the next frame.
TLDR; Keep all ports at or below 600 pixels.
I also spoke with David Peace, creator of the Genius controllers, and he said pretty much the same thing about his.

[Poporacer]

Can i run 694 pixels on 1 port of the f16v3 at 40 fps and 595 pixels on another port also at 40 fps?

The bigger question is do you really need 40fps? Most people can't tell the difference.