Recent frame rate degradation

[Skuzzy]

Originally posted by Krusty
Okay, fair enough. However, most of the time Windows isn't going to degrade its performance significantly inside of a few months, unless it installs something,...

Here ya go.  If you are running the default security settings in Windows, then programs can and will get installed on your computer without your knowledge.

EDIT: Oh, and, pulling up task manager, it sits at 0% except with a spike to 2% or (much less frequent) 4% every 5-10 seconds. I have 27 processes running, pared down from 40 or so from default. My net status in-game is always steady.

And here we see the problem.  4%.  Keep in mind that the granularity of the Task Manager is quite awful.  That 4% is probably a spike to 80%.  Not good.  Something is active on your computer.  I presume you were at your desktop when you looked at this.

27 processes is not bad, not great, but not bad.

Never assume your computer is running what you think it is.  If you are connected to the Internet, and your computer changes behavior, then it is a safe bet your computer has picked up some errant bad guys and they are merrily sending out all your personal inforamtion to everysite they know.

Also, never assume you are in control of your computer.  Microsoft is in control of it, you are only allowed to use it.  Check your MS license for further information.

[Krusty]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Here ya go.  If you are running the default security settings in Windows, then programs can and will get installed on your computer without your knowledge.

I don't know if I'd be considered intermediate or advanced, but I've tweaked pretty much everything on this PC to my tastes, including security settings.

[Skuzzy]

Is ActiveX still enabled?  Do you have to use the "Trusted" zone in order to partake on this bulletin board, as an example?  Are each of the zones running their own security settings?

If the answer is "No", to either of the above questions, then there is very high probablity your computer can be infected with Spyware/Malware pretty easily.

[Krusty]

I use a trusted zone but only for FTP access and windows update webpage, and creative labs because I use their auto update.

[Skuzzy]

Then your computer can be infected with Spyware/Malware.

If you leave ActiveX enabled and allow signed or unsigned activex controls to be installed on your computer, then you are very wide open to many Spayware (I started to correct the spelling, but it is rather descriptive of what spyware does to a computer and its user )/Malware programs.

You do have something chewing up CPU time.  If your CPU percentage used is not bouncing between 0 and 1 (sometimes 2) percent like a heartbeat.  And I mean it is something you can put a stop watch to, then you have something running actively in the background, other than the normal Windows stuff.

[Clifra Jones]

Skuzzy, all of your responses are, as always, spot on, but it doesn't address the original subject of this thread.

Believe me, I am running only 12 processes while playing AH. This PC is never used to surf the Internet, I use my laptop for that. There is no spy/malware in this box.

When I say nothing has changed, well maybe that isn't quite accurate, the only real thing that changes is windows updates. The last update was to fix the time zone issue with DST.  I have not installed any hardware or software. I only run the processes and services absolutely required for AH.

The only other thing I can think of is heat. I rarely shut my computer down but did the other day. I will see next time I',on if this has helped.

[Skuzzy]

Intel CPU's can slow down if they get too hot.  Open the case and check for dust clogs.

[Clifra Jones]

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Intel CPU's can slow down if they get too hot.  Open the case and check for dust clogs.

My thoughts exactly. I don't recall what kind of fan is on this system. If it's an Intel fan I will replace it. I've had problems weth them at work.

A little computer house keeping can't hurt.

[Bronk]

And to clean the case of dust bunnies.
I remember someone using a leaf-blower after securing everything.



Bronk

[Skuzzy]

Absolutely!  The leaf-blower method is gauranteed to remove any material not related to keeping a computer operational.

DISCLAIMER:  It can also remove what is needed to keep a computer operationsl.  Use at your own risk!

[Krusty]

Well, just ran a full adaware scan, a full spybot scan, and only came up with minor things (cookies and MRU stuff, and whatnot). It's not that my computer has a virus trojan or bug. I like to keep it fairly clean.

I think there's something with the servers (wild flailing guess). Overall, even outside of TT there's been more warping than the past 6 months. Over TT is a nightmare. Net status is always nice and low.

I'm open to suggestions, but prior to this recent phase I only had such a massive slow-down when the trees and buildings and the LOD distances were off, in that one version of AH. That's not the case now, though.

[Skuzzy]

If you find nothing local, then disconnect from your ISP and see what the CPU usage does.

[Krusty]

Didn't really do anything. The 2% spikes aren't at regular intervals, just kind of sporadic. I'm guessing that's just part of Windows. When I pulled the cable it spiked as Windows realized something happened, then it just went back to the little 2% spikes.

That's kind of what it's always done when idling.

[Skuzzy]

But you said it was spiking to 4% at times.

[Krusty]

Infrequently... It might have been MSIE underneath my task manager window, I still had the forums up when I checked.

When I closed everything down it only goes to 2% max.