Frame rate issues since last update

[F77]

Evening gentlemen,

Since the last patch my frame rate has dropped drastically, 30fps at best, dropping out at the mearest hint of competition.  It even disabled advanced graphics off-line which is something I have never had happen - I tried it to find out whether it was me or the servers.  Turns out it's me.

Has there been anyone else with issues?

Thanks,

Leonard
(F77)



My DX-Diag is as follows:
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/26/2013, 22:33:21
       Machine name: ENDURANCE
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.130307-0422)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: RM plc
       System Model: D945GTP_
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
             Memory: 3582MB RAM
          Page File: 659MB used, 4282MB 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.
          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 GT 610
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce GT 610
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_104A&SUBSYS_26193842&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 2048.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0013.1422 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 3/15/2013 06:47:17, 4079104 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 3/15/2013 06:47:17, 10713024 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-530A-11CF-7C5E-140600C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x104A
        SubSys ID: 0x26193842
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: 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
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: 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
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: 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
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: 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: IDT Audio1
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7680&SUBSYS_80860606&REV_1036
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: sthda.sys
         Driver Version: 1.00.5790.0002 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 4/10/2008 20:10:10, 1271032 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: IDT
         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

[Bizman]

GeForce GT610 is the second weakest model in the GF600 series of 23 variations in total. There's a lot of variables that can affect frame rates, like the new clouds over some areas of the map, density of other planes, smoke, fire... Not to mention all the eye candy options.

Sad to say but your computer is starting to show its age. Drop all eye candy to minimum including Max Texture Size in the Video settings and Anti Aliasing on the start screen clipboard menu. Then start working up step by step until you've reached the threshold where playability starts to suffer.

There's more info about your issue with the advanced graphics in this thread: http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,347904.msg4594294.html#msg4594294

[F77]

Since I specifically said "since the last patch", coming back and saying my PC is getting old doesn't quite explain the 5fps offline with my usual settings and the DA map!  Unless the update to ease processor use in crowded environments has backfired on my specific PC!

[F77]

Apologies - looks like "Shadow on others" has caused a spurious but massive frame rate hit

[Bizman]

Shadows eat resources. Nevertheless, your card system is quite old and from the lower end gaming wise. Any patch can include the last straw to break your camel's back, especially if some setting changes without you knowing it like in this case.

I'd like to add that I'm not one of those having a brand new gaming monster demanding for better eye candy and putting down those who don't have similar equipment. My rig is basically about the same age as yours, main difference being that I bought a higher end video card already back then. During the last couple of years I've upgraded both the cpu and gpu to better ones, both quite inexpensively second hand. Runs AH like charm with sliders on max, 2xAA, no environment mapping.