frame rate drop

[Lab Rat 3947]

jest left TT 5 minutes ago. frame rate dropped from upper 40s-low 50s to 7FPS
tried to post DXDIAG board said it was to large. how do I post it?

[The Fugitive]

just post the top third of it. Up to and including <sound devices>

Also post your ingame setting like texture size, anti Alising on and at what settings, shadows, hi-rez texture and so on.

[Lab Rat 3947]

thanx Fugi, will do.
This is something that I truly love about AH and its community; there is always someone to help nad generally it's ASAP. By the way love your cartoons; I collect them.

[Skuzzy]

A sudden drop in frame rates usually (not always) indicates something else fired off in the background on the computer and is stealing the CPU away from the game.

[Lab Rat 3947]

Video 1024 x 768
Graphic detail 512
terrain on
Bump map on
Shadow texture 512
all else is off

[Lab Rat 3947]

thanx for the feedback

[Krusty]

A sudden drop in frame rates usually (not always) indicates something else fired off in the background on the computer and is stealing the CPU away from the game.

Normally that's true, but with the latest updates I've noticed a massive hit at ground level as well. I resolved most of it with newer drivers, but the version before the GV update did not have this. Something was changed in the game code itself that is changing how some things render, or just requiring more power in some situations.

[ColTomb]

I have also noticed a drop in frame rates with the new update. I have tried differant video drivers. differant memory,

took the GPU out and cleaned it, removed and cleaned the old heat sink compound that they just glopped on and

applied artic silver 5 ( lowered my GPU temps on average 11C btw ) I only have 19 processes running on a XP OS,

changed resolution's, to try and get back the solid 60 FPS I use to have. I have since reduced my textures, to

1024, backed off the anti-aliasing a bit. turned off all shadowing and reduced the object and ground detail.

This still does not give me 60 FPS I had before the update but it has helped. Thought it was just my computer flipping out.   

[gyrene81]

A sudden drop in frame rates usually (not always) indicates something else fired off in the background on the computer and is stealing the CPU away from the game.

i have nothing that kicks off in the background...and like krusty, before this last update my frame rates were steady even in a big furball regardless of altitude...last night was the worst, 3000 feet, 10 other players in the area including 4 in tanks, 2 objects on fire at a base and my frame rates dropped to ~20 and would not increase until i climbed up out of the area to about 10000 feet and out of icon range.

[Krusty]

I think it was tied to the ground terrain objects, because I would get (before my driver update) single digit FPS when diving on a low target. No GVs beneath him, just the trees.

You're lucky you got 20 fps. I have a pretty nice system now and it was dropping to 15fps then down to 8 at times. The exact same graphics settings and detail setting as before the GV update yielded 60 fps capped (LCD refresh), and closer to 200 fps uncapped.

Definitely something wonky with the code. I've bypassed the issue for now, but I think it's still there.

[Skuzzy]

i have nothing that kicks off in the background...and like krusty, before this last update my frame rates were steady even in a big furball regardless of altitude...last night was the worst, 3000 feet, 10 other players in the area including 4 in tanks, 2 objects on fire at a base and my frame rates dropped to ~20 and would not increase until i climbed up out of the area to about 10000 feet and out of icon range.

How do you know there is nothing being kicked off?  A DoS attack on your Ethernet connection would cause the same problem.  Anything the CPU has to do, outside the game, can have a negative impact on the performance of the game.

A USB bus whose power levels are marginal can cause it.
Getting the IP address from someone running a P2P client/server, via a DHCP request, will cause it.
A device on your LAN flooding it with broadcast requests (a game console will do this).
Bluetooth drivers can cause it if something is just on the edge of detection.
A wireless router having severe network issues can cause it.
Custom sounds can cause it.
Anti-xxx software can cause it.
Joystick control managers can cause it.

There are many other things.  I have not been able to produce any type of performance issues with with my system at work (NVidia 7600GT, E6600 Intel CPU).  No one here has seen any type of performance issues with this release.

Of course, I run sane settings for my hardware.  256 texture size, 1280x1024 resolution, disabled detail terrain, disabled shadows.

I have also stated, but will say again, if you are running a 9000 series NVidia video card, or older, you will have problems if you try running the latest, greatest drivers from NVidia.

[Lab Rat 3947]

I'm using an NVidia 7300LE.
Awhile back I downloaded the lateest drivers and with each patch my framerate dropped. I took Skuzzy's advice and went back to an earlier driver. 6.14.11.6371. and my FPS went back to upper 40's to lower 50's and everyrthing was fine till yesterday

Video 1024 x 768
Graphic detail 512
antialiasing is off
detaled terrain is on
Bump map is on
Shadow texture is set at 512
all else is off

everything is OK in level flight but when i dive to strafe or dogfight that is when it drops. 

[Skuzzy]

You will not be able to run a 7300LE with detailed terrain on, and not drop frame rates.  I have a much faster video card (7600GT) and it has never been able to run with detailed terrain on and maintain a frame rate above 30 in all conditions, regardless of which patch/update.

As a matter of fact, you should not be running with a 512 texture size.  It should be 256.  You are simply asking too much of the hardware.

[Lab Rat 3947]

I just spent a few minutes in the late war arena and didn't have the drop problem.  I had my usuual fps.

Thanx, Skuzzy, I'll change it to 256.

I realize that I definitely need a better video card. 

[gyrene81]

How do you know there is nothing being kicked off?  A DoS attack on your Ethernet connection would cause the same problem.  Anything the CPU has to do, outside the game, can have a negative impact on the performance of the game.

A USB bus whose power levels are marginal can cause it.
Getting the IP address from someone running a P2P client/server, via a DHCP request, will cause it.
A device on your LAN flooding it with broadcast requests (a game console will do this).
Bluetooth drivers can cause it if something is just on the edge of detection.
A wireless router having severe network issues can cause it.
Custom sounds can cause it.
Anti-xxx software can cause it.
Joystick control managers can cause it.

There are many other things.  I have not been able to produce any type of performance issues with with my system at work (NVidia 7600GT, E6600 Intel CPU).  No one here has seen any type of performance issues with this release.

Of course, I run sane settings for my hardware.  256 texture size, 1280x1024 resolution, disabled detail terrain, disabled shadows.

I have also stated, but will say again, if you are running a 9000 series NVidia video card, or older, you will have problems if you try running the latest, greatest drivers from NVidia.

well, i don't know about anyone else but i do know i have used your guidelines and those from several other sources to shut down non-essential services for performance tuning. on a fresh boot my memory usage is 753mb with anti-virus running. after shutting down all anti-virus processes through the task manager, it drops to around 720mb. before i run aces high i reboot to clear memory, the only other program that runs is teamspeak 3 and with both programs running my memory usage is 1.27gb.

i do not own a game console. i do not run p2p or torrent programs, nor do i have itunes, realplayer or quicktime installed. i do not listen to music while gaming. my system is not loaded down with usb devices, there are only 3. the keyboard and mouse are on a separate internal usb hub from my joystick. the joystick does not use any configuration programs. my system does not have the capability for blue tooth. networked laser printer and my media computer are turned off. the wireless side of my router is turned off in the router.

i run aces high with 256 textures, 1680x1050 resolution, detailed terrain, detailed water, bump map terrain, no shadows, no reflections. turned off weapons effects and vehicle effects. display horizon is on, display other player skins is on. i was not recording the flight. i do have a custom sound pack that did not interfere prior to this last update. normal frame rate is 59 steady.


dxdiag from a fresh boot

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/12/2011, 16:43:27
       Machine name: XXX
   Operating System: Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100618-1621)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: XFX68L
       System Model: XFX Nforce 680i LT
               BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU          6600  @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4094MB RAM
          Page File: 753MB used, 5387MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 64bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series        (4870 to be exact)
      Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9440)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9440&SUBSYS_24481682&REV_00
     Display Memory: 2808 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1016 MB
      Shared Memory: 1791 MB
       Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)
       Monitor Name: X193HQL (Analog)
      Monitor Model: V223W
         Monitor Id: ACR001B
        Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (59.954Hz)
        Output Type: DVI
        Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1052 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.791.0.0
        DDI Version: 10.1
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 10/27/2010 03:54:24, 645120 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D700-11CF-2E71-4204BEC2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x9440
          SubSys ID: 0x24481682
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem2.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_RV7X:8.791.0.0:pci\ven_1002&dev_9440
     Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
       D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
            DXVA-HD: Not Supported
       DDraw Status: Enabled
         D3D Status: Enabled
         AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0885&SUBSYS_10ECE601&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6151 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 8/7/2010 11:45:30, 2419176 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0x0
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
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

            Description: Realtek Digital Output (Realtek High Definition Audio)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0885&SUBSYS_10ECE601&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6151 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 8/7/2010 11:45:30, 2419176 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0x0
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
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




internet connection is 15mbps cable on a scientific atlanta dpc2100r2 docsis2.0 cable modem. router is a linksys wrt610n with gigabit wired connection to the computer. joystick is a thrustmaster t-flight hotas usb.

the sudden frame rate hits could have been the result of an untimely dos attack, or some other glitch on my network connection, but then i would have had problems with teamspeak as well which wasn't the case as i was communicating with a squadmate at the time the frame rates dropped. we were flying together and he had the same frame rate drop issue at the exact same time. as soon as we moved out of icon range of the other players, frame rates returned to normal. that usually only occurs during fso when 20-30 people are taking off on the same runway, and as soon as we are above 3000 feet, it clears up even when we are flying in close proximity to other players.