Frame Rate

[branch37]

my system runs an average of 50 FPS........usually not a problem but sometimes it can dip as low as 20 and this can be a problem.......any tips for improving my FR?

[Getback]

What cpu are you using and vc card? Check task manager for resource usage and processes running.

[Masherbrum]

Start Here: On the Left pick the Operating System you have.
http://www.blackviper.com/

Use this for the above:
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm

This is a start.   AH is CPU intensive, although having a Good VC helps, it can be "worked-around".

[The Fugitive]

Post what you got, and maybe someone can help you tweak it.

Dxdiag, will show drivers CPU, and video card info. (run dxdiag, save text output, post first third)

In game settings, resolution used, texture size used, preloads to memory, hi-res pak (click on video settings on the clipboard)

Windows task manager, shows processes running and cpu usage. (hit cntrl, alt, delete then click processes tab)

There is a lot of info and that means there is a lot of things that can cause slowdowns. Post it, and they will come 

[branch37]

  Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.080814-1236)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: ELITEGROUP COMPUTER SYSTEM CO.,LTD.
       System Model: NFORCE6M-A
               BIOS: )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+,  MMX,  3DNow (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
             Memory: 2046MB RAM
          Page File: 614MB used, 3325MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 7300 GS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_01DF&SUBSYS_C4363842&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (75Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9163 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 10/31/2006 00:35:00, 4493952 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 10/31/2006 00:35:00, 3964256 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-429F-11CF-3978-3CE400C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x01DF
        SubSys ID: 0xC4363842
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_B ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {212DC724-3235-44A4-BD29-E1652BBCC71C}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: USB\Vid_045e&Pid_070f&Rev_0100&MI_00
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: usbaudio.sys
         Driver Version: 5.01.2600.5512 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 4/13/2008 12:45:12, 60032 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

            Description: SigmaTel Audio
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7682&SUBSYS_10192608&REV_1036
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.5407.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 3/5/2007 22:38:50, 1228296 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: SigmaTel
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xB5B
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 44100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run


Video Res.-  1280X1024
1024 Textures

[Getback]

onboard sound may be an issue.

[eagl]

That's a low end vid card.

The cpu is fine.  Skuzzy says that the amd X2 cpus have a problem that impacts AH, but if you're not having big issues (the old spinning clipboard problem) then that cpu is plenty fast.

I'd point my finger at the vid card.

[Fulmar]

Yeah, a 7300GS isn't much of a video card.  This is the bottleneck of your system (for gaming).

[The Fugitive]

So what they are saying, is you might want to turn down some of the eye candy. This is where the video setting of the game comes in. Also, if your running a lot of processes in the background your CPU which ok, might be getting over loaded with extra unnecessary work. Thats why you need to post the other info too.

[branch37]

ive got the processes tuned down to around 25 or so....so that shouldnt be the problem.........any recommendations for a vid card?

[Fulmar]

ive got the processes tuned down to around 25 or so....so that shouldnt be the problem.........any recommendations for a vid card?

Depends.  If you want anything with any horsepower and your current computer is an off the shelfer (HP, Dell, whatever), you're more than likely going to have to upgrade to a more powerful Power Supply to support a beefier video card.  Stock Power Supplies in brand name computers are designed for its current power needs.  A new video card is going to require a bit more power and you'll need a bigger PSU.

So if you have a budget, remember that you may need to spend $50+ on a new PSU as well.

Either give us the model number of your computer, or take the side off your computer case and tell us the Wattage and Amps on the 12V, 5V etc rails listed on the PSU.

[MrRiplEy[H]]

A GT9600 or Radeon 4830 would be a good budget card. I've been really impressed with my 4830, the card can run all the games my son is playing, including AH2 with maxed out settings, 8xAA and 16xAF at 1680x1050.

I even run Crysis demo with highest possible graphic settings and it produced almost playable framerates on Windows7 / DX10. With almost playable I mean that if I was desperate I could have played the game easily through with those settings but probably would have wanted to back some settings off the 'very high' to increase fps a bit. Nevertheless very impressive for a budget card running on Beta OS and drivers.

[Boozeman]

If you are on a budget, a Radeon 4670 is a very nice card with plenty of power for AH with very reasonable power consumption. It should fit to your CPU very well. If you want to spend some extra bucks, a Radeon 4830 or a Geforce 9800GT do offer even more performance but have higher power demands.     

[Getback]

While I agree that is a weak card. You still have to have your computer as clean as possible. He should really start with a sound card and check resource usage as well and then move to the vc.

[The Fugitive]

ive got the processes tuned down to around 25 or so....so that shouldnt be the problem.........any recommendations for a vid card?

a simple thing like changing the texture settings might be enough to get you running smooth. What are your in game settings? Does your variance jump around in the game? Do you have anti-alising turned on on your video card?