Speed?

[Saffith]

Not something I've ever noticed. I don't think that happens on Linux, probably because of the software rendering.
Maybe that would help to explain the discrepancy, at least. Perhaps VLC is affecting DirectX or some other system state in such a way that the game runs faster than normal, but also makes it run a lot slower when the FPS display is enabled. Or... maybe the FPS counter is just wrong? It depends on Allergo calling fps_callback() at the right times, and I don't know how that works internally.

[ZoriaRPG]

Not something I've ever noticed. I don't think that happens on Linux, probably because of the software rendering.
Maybe that would help to explain the discrepancy, at least. Perhaps VLC is affecting DirectX or some other system state in such a way that the game runs faster than normal, but also makes it run a lot slower when the FPS display is enabled. Or... maybe the FPS counter is just wrong? It depends on Allergo calling fps_callback() at the right times, and I don't know how that works internally.

I've never run into this, either. In theory, based on the OP's explanation, it's Windows, or his GFX drivers that's muck with the Allero timers. I can't explain it, but I also can't explain how his instance of ZC is using < 30MB of RAM.

The screenshot of his taskman.exe doesn't look possible. Base 2.50, running 1st.qst uses 67MB.

I was looking at the Allegro timers, and I'd expect that, if this problem were genuine, that it'd be more commonplace on Win10.

It's nothing that I can fix in any case, as I can't duplicate it.