I'm running an i7 2600k at default speeds with hyperthreading off, 8GB RAM, and a GTX 570 peaking at 30FPS on island of dawn, 60 if I'm in a building. A friend of mine with the same hardware tells me he's averaging 120+. What am I doing wrong? I rolled back to an older driver to match his driver version and got an FPS boost from that, prior to rolling back I was peaking at 15fps. I've looked at various tweak guides and have made adjustments but nothing seems to really make much difference... the in game settings really don't even seem to change anything. Vsynch is off in graphics card control pannel. Any help would be appreciated. Dxdiag.txt [Version] VanguardINIVersion=14 [FirstRun] FirstRun=False [Engine.Player] ConfiguredInternetSpeed=15000 ConfiguredLanSpeed=20000 [General] FilterMaxedOutAlternateAdvancementAbilities=False FilterUntrainableAlternateAdvancementAbilities=False FilterTrainableAlternateAdvancementAbilities=False FilterPassiveAlternateAdvancementAbilities=False FilterActivatedAlternateAdvancementAbilities=False PreviousAAGeneralTabSortingType2=255 PreviousAAGeneralTabSortingType1=255 CurrentAAGeneralTabSortingType=0 PreviousAAArchetypeTabSortingType2=255 PreviousAAArchetypeTabSortingType1=255 CurrentAAArchetypeTabSortingType=0 PreviousAAClassTabSortingType2=255 PreviousAAClassTabSortingType1=255 CurrentAAClassTabSortingType=0 PreviousAASpecialTabSortingType2=255 PreviousAASpecialTabSortingType1=255 CurrentAASpecialTabSortingType=0 AutoTrackQuests=True OnlyAutoTrackCounterQuests=False AutoTrackFilterAdvQuests=False AutoTrackFilterCraQuests=False AutoTrackFilterDipQuests=False 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ShowQuestTrackerCompletionChunk=False ShowQuestTrackerNearestChunk=False ShowQuestTrackerIntent=False QuestTrackerLockPosition=True QuestTrackerClickThrough=True QuestTrackerMouseOffOpacity=50 QuestTrackerMouseOverOpacity=46 UseSound=True UseJoystick=False ScreenshotFormat=JPG Brightness=0.500000 Contrast=0.500000 Gamma=1.000000 ShowBloom=True GrassDensity=1.000000 GrassBlending=0 bShowClouds=True bUseHDR=True bUseToneMapping=True bShowNames=True bShowNameTitles=True bShowMyName=False bShowTargetReticles=True bShowMyReticle=True bUseEfficientTextures=True UseFastSerializeMaterials=True UseFastSerializePackages=True UseFastSerializeStaticMeshes=True UseCompoundObjectArchiveOptimizations=True ThrottleHitching=True bUseVSync=False bUseTripleBuffering=True FlashTargetsName=True ShadowDetail=2 DetailMode=1 TextureDetailWorld=0 TextureDetailPlayerSkin=0 TextureDetailNPCSkin=0 TextureDetailWeaponSkin=0 TextureDetailTerrain=0 TextureDetailTerrainDetail=0 TextureDetailInterface=0 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ShowReactionFlash=True ShowDifficulty=True fCombatAnimSpeed=1.200000 iShaderCacheSizeMB=10 [UI] ShellName=myUI ValidateXML=False ChatAutojoin=regionsay,auction LoadGameplayWindowsAtStartup=False PresentLogin=True GuildNotifyOnline=False LootFollowsMouse=True ShowContainerContents=False FilterProfanity=False ShowChatBubbles=False ShowExpValues=False ShortDurationBuffsTimer=1 UseScrollingCombatText=True UseMultipleLayers=True iMaxTextColumns=1 ScrollingCombatTextScale=50.000000 MaximuCombatTextDelay=1.000000 CombatTextAlpha=1.000000 ScrollRateBeforeBranching=1.000000 DrawTargetingBillboards=True [WinDrv.WindowsClient] WindowedViewportX=1920 WindowedViewportY=1080 FullscreenViewportX=1920 FullscreenViewportY=1080 StartupFullscreen=True ScreenFlashes=True MinDesiredFrameRate=50.000000 MaxDesiredFrameRate=130.000000 Decals=True Coronas=True DecoLayers=True Projectors=True NoDynamicLights=False ReportDynamicUploads=False NoFractalAnim=False [D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice] DetailTextures=True UsePrecaching=True UseTrilinear=True AdapterNumber=-1 ReduceMouseLag=True UseHardwareTL=True UseHardwareVS=True UseCubemaps=True DesiredRefreshRate=60 UseCompressedLightmaps=True UseStencil=True MaxPixelShaderVersion=300 DetailTexMipBias=0.8 DefaultTexMipBias=-0.5 UseNPatches=False TesselationFactor=1.0 CheckForOverflow=False DisableShaderModel3=False DisableMultiGPUOpt=False DisableHighDetailShaders=False Use16BitNormalMaps=false [Engine.NullRenderDevice] DetailTextures=True UsePrecaching=True UseCompressedLightmaps=True UseStencil=True NoFractalAnim=False [ALAudio.ALAudioSubsystem] UseEAX=False Use3DSound=True UseDefaultDriver=True CompatibilityMode=False UsePrecache=True ReverseStereo=false Channels=16 MusicVolume=1.000000 AmbientVolume=1.000000 SoundVolume=1.000000 DopplerFactor=1.000000 Rolloff=0.500000 TimeBetweenHWUpdates=15.000000 DisablePitch=False LowQualitySound=True IsactStreamPacketLength=250 StreamIsactAudio=True IsactMusicStreamPacketLength=250 StreamIsactMusic=True OpenALDeviceName=Generic Software MasterVolume=1.000000 Distance=0.500000 Diplomacy=0.700000 UI=0.700000 Creatures=0.500000 Speech=0.700000 Footsteps=0.600000 Spells=0.700000 Combat=0.500000 Environment=0.800000 CombatMusic=0.400000 AmbientMusic=0.400000 UseSpatializedVoice=False EnhancedDenoiser=False UseVAD=False SpatializedVoiceRadius=0.000000 LocalZOffset=0.000000 MaxEAXVersion=0 UseVoIP=False VolumeScaleRec=0.000000 VoiceVolume=1.000000 [ExceptionHandling] SendWatson=True KeepMiniDump=False SendEmail=True emailAddress=vanguardcrash@soe.sony.com emailName=Crash Support emailSubject=VG Client Crash miniDumpFile=vgcrash.mdmp exceptionInfoFile=vgcrashlog.txt [WindowPositions] GameLog=(X=75,Y=75,XL=512,YL=256)
I would love to see a response to this as well. Although i do not have a Sandy brigde, my system is similar to yours and i do experience pretty terrible framerates for the power that i've got. One thing you may try, Bloom seemed to literally HALVE my FPS no matter what the other settings were. Its not overly used in this game so i suggest switching that on and off and see if that helps. Other then that, I'm in the same boat you are :-\
Amble wrote: Are you sure that you and your friend both use same resolution and ingame settings for graphics and sounds (yes, with slower computers tweaking sounds help)? Also make sure that you do not have any unneeded background processes running. Software setup is pretty important meaning operating system, disk fragmentation, running background processes (the less the better) etc. Those could easily make that difference.
FelisDomesticus wrote: I usually run a pretty clean start up, no more than 9 programs listed in my msconfig. No antivirus, just a software firewall. Nothing too intensive considering I have 8GB ram and the game only requires 1. I had even gone as far as getting him to send me his VGClient.ini file so I could make sure I was running at the exact same settings. Only difference in our normal run environments was he was windowed and I was fullscreen but that didn't make a difference either. The frame rates displayed are almost like vsync is on somewhere but I can tell it's not cause of the horrible tearing all over the place. 30FPS is definitely playable, but I just worry about when I start raiding since I've read people with similar systems running 100+fps hitting 15 or 20 in a 24 man environment.
Amble wrote: Did you try the bloom setting on/off in game? I noticed it was on in your config. When i had it enabled, it seemed to limit my FPS to the 30s, with it off i didnt seem to have that problem. Just a suggestion, may not be your problem at all though I also used a program called "UltimateDefrag8" this weekend. I consolidated all my Games directories & files , programs files, and Windows files to the Outer "fast" Rim of my hard drive. Other files and directores such as Videos and Music, i archive consolidated on the Inner "Slower" portion of my drive. I t was interesting to se the actual structue of the disk and read up on the methods the program uses (in its .pdf). This seemed to prevent alot of stutter and hitching after the game had loaded up. This may not help FPS directly but it may decrease asset loading in texture heavy areas I would only recommend this if you aren't going be using your PC for a day or so. On my 2TB disk it took its sweet time, over 12 hours. Also, I am sure to use the Sysconfig.bat tweak as well to increase the engince cache to 256MB instead of 32MB. You can read up on it in the VG Tweaks guide here in the support forums. Let me know your results!
Turning bloom off made a difference, I can reach mid 40s in Sun Village now. I tried that other tweak you mentioned and it barely did anything for me before, not really worth the effort. I think it was like 1-2fps.
Amble wrote: Glad the bloom trick freed up a bit more FPS for ya. the sysconfig may just be placebo, but i'll try anything at the moment. My final disk consolidation/defrag is running now while im at work. At the moment though, the FPS i see ranges from 30s-60 cap (frame-limited, Vsync seemed to make the game stutter alot when enabled). So i think you're in the correct range. It is kinda sad the game performs so terrible on newer computers with its aged engine ;-\ I haven't really found anything else to improve performance except to get an SSD, a sandy bridge, and a second GTX 580 :-\ overkill much?? Another suggestion that seemed to help (could be placebo again) was downloading "Prio", a small utlity which adds a "Save Priority" value to the Task Manager Process right-click menu. All you do is install the software, launch VG to character select, alt tab and find the process, right click, set priority to High or Above Normal and it will save it when launched. This has seemed to increase performance for me a bit, thought exact FPS numbers i don't have for ya. Could be helpful in other games as well also, whats your GPU usage at? During play, my CPU (with Threaded optimization on or off in the NVCP) hits 33-34% utilization and the Gpu hangs out in the 30s-40%s as well with about 700-800mb memory used (with Very High textures selected). This usage seems a little low to me. Perhaps the game doesn't like to push Quad Cores? I did notice that disabling 2 cores made absolutely ZERO difference in the games performance, so it looks like Dual is the most it'll really benefit from.
Jeramie wrote: Loaded up riva tuner and here's a bunch of info for you... Using this scene for a test standing stationary: CPU: core load-- 6%/29.%/2%/6% temp--46c 3814Mhz GPU: core load--31% memory controller load--15% video bus load--5% memory allocation load--36% memory allocated--457MB temp--65c Memory: physical--40% virtual--25% FPS: 39-47(bloom off boxes below it on) Those numbers do seem low, as if it's being limited somewhere. I at one point had try setting a core affinity and also running in compatibility mode, neither setting really made a difference. The only thing I really have tried is defragging, but I can't see that making a difference when standing stationary after everything has loaded. Besides that NTFS is fairly resistant to defragging, the install isn't very old, and I don't delete many things to leave space mid drive. It may just be an old engine problem. EQ1 was the same way but that was originally written in glide, this one should have beeen directx from the start.
I don't think VG will go above 60 fps unless you change the config. It could be the "DesiredRefreshRate=60" option, but I can't test it until they fix the launcher.
Rateif wrote: With VSync on, it won't (unless you have a 120hz refresh monitor). With Vsync off, it certainly can. Storage I/O is a major bottleneck for VG, moreso than most games, and running off an SSD can play a massive part in providing consistent frame rates and removing hitching that often occurs as new assets are loaded, but if you're having issues just standing in one place, effectively, hrmm. Silly question, do the various in-game performance presets make a noticable difference? Say, High Performance to High Quality? I presume that's what you mean by saying the in-game settings don't do anything? Have you tried the default UI? Unlikely to be an issue, but running short of options here. What driver version are you using for your video card? Both systems in my sig perform better than you're describing, so unless it's SSD-related I don't see that it should be your hardware.
Khabarakh@Seradon wrote: I think right now the preset is at High Quality... I know it changes other things in the ini than just what's listed on the menu, such as light sources and sound channels etc. Initially it made a difference but once I turned bloom back on it went back down. That bloom setting is the only thing in the menu that changes anything. Even going from min to max draw distance is only 5fps or less. Default UI is the same. My friend I mentioned from the first post nitpicked me on that when I complained about my frame rates so it was one of the first things I checked. I was running the most recent driver version (can't remember exactly... 301 maybe?) rolled back to 296.10 which got me up to 30fps from 15 in the screenshot above. It does hit over 60 on occasion in the crafting building so it's not being limited by my refresh rate... I wouldn't put it past anything if it were something related to a HDD bottleneck since I'm running two caviar green 7200 RPM drives, one with the game data, the other with the page file and I do get some small hicups when loading into areas for the first time, but it's a smooth low frame rate when standing still. I switched over to an old character I had hanging around Hrathor Zi... completely void of any other players and ran away from NPCs and the framerate hit 100+ so I guess it's just crowds even though there really aren't that many people around my character at the time I took that pic.
After spending the better part of my time since Free-To-Play launch trying to get this game to run at a locked 60FPS, i've finally realised that won't happen. Good computers come to their knees with more then a few Player Characters on the screen, scripts must be horribly unoptimized for this MMO running on the Unreal 2 engine. Very HDD intensive, unlike most single player games which run fine on my sysem, since everything is scripted and running from ram. I do want to say that Vanguard isn't the only MMO whose performance has been lacking, i think the majority are limited in some capacity (CPU mostly). Upon entering dungeons, i noticed alot of stuttering and frame skipping, but the motion of everything going on was smooth, steady 60 FPS. I've uninstalled this game twice because i was so irritated with the performance. I'm now downloading for a third time to try and just play. I really really like the game, but the performance is just not on par with the hardware. I would love to see this game use more then 1/3 of my CPU and GPU power. Perfect example is Khal, staring at the docks center, my GPU usage went BELOW 20% at times below 10%!! The CPU usage fluxuated between 20s and 33-34% (which is where it always is in Vanguard). There's gotta be SOME way to improve hardware utilization. Its simililar to my dissatisfaction with Diablo 3's stuttering on good hardware... Haven't brought myself to play that game either because of the performance (among other things).... For people saying they are running at "max settings and see no problems" are you running at a solid 60FPS or above (no vsync)? Are you experiencing slight pauses in screen motion when you enter new areas and cities? If so, then it is not running problem free. They probably consider gaming at 30FPS the norm and are not as sensitive to hitches and loading pauses as others are. For me, its slightly obsessive compulsive. Any amount of stuttering or FPS drops just IRRITATE ME and completely distract me from the game. Its the reason i spent money on a (at the time) top of the line GTX 580 and an overclockable Phenom II x4. I think i need a new hobby, because this one just makes me put more money into my system for minimal improvements
Also wanted to add, i to downgraded from 301.42 WHQL to 296.10 this morning. It wouldn't suprise me if performance is up afterwards, I haven't necessarily like the 3xx.xx versions, always some little performance issue :-\ working now, but will see how it goes once I'm home. I've also read that heavy raiding zones and lotsa group stuff going on can bring lag and fps drops in this game too. Thats a little discouraging :-\
I don't know if you played EQ1 much back in it's day, but around the time Planes of Power came out I had just upgraded my PC to near top of the line. Would have been something around 2.2Ghz AMD Athalon. The bazaar always ran like crap despite how the rest of the game ran. Very rarely hitting more than 3 or 4 fps for me. This was hundreds of characters on the screen. I only mention it because VG and EQ1 share the same lead designers. It reminds me of the low framerates from UO around banks and such when I had dialup.
I actually played EQ for years, Dark Elf Enchanter And ya, back then the hardware was nothing like it was now. The bazaar was a slideshow! But i remember it not bothering me back then. I just took that as how the game was. Now i get stutters and i get all OCD about it. I'm beginning to give up and play, so we'll see if some future patches update performance issues. Maybe this next UI patch will help (for standard UI users, anyway) Good luck, and be sure to check back here and leave a note if you find the holy grail of performance fixes
