B232 Release - FPS Drop / Performance Issues

Omar - The WireOmar - The Wire Join Date: 2012-11-01 Member: 165320Members
edited November 2012 in Technical Support
<div class="IPBDescription">If you have them, say something.</div>I'm not mad or angry that a developing game is going through patches and tweaks. That happens and is to be expected. I just don't want this to go unnoticed by anyone with any say.

There should be a single, focal point for the latest performance issues. I've heard plenty of people say they've had severe performance issues since the newest release and there have also been posts here and there in other threads, but those are scattered and kind of swept a long. There is a thread about hit registry, but that appears to be more along the lines of confusion concerning draw damage text and hitboxes themselves rather than FPS related.

I know this is largely anecdotal, and I wish I had screen shots from before, but I'm not imagining or exaggerating it. I'm certainly not the only one.

Before B232 I was averaging 120 FPS in the lobby, 100 in game play, lowest drop was 60 at most. My FPS is something I play a lot of attention to, usually with r_stats running. I play with no extra visual effects and everything turned down to minimum.

I'm now averaging 45, not in combat, with drops down to 25-30. I literally changed nothing. I woke up one day, turned on my computer, loaded up NS2 with the patch and boom. Terrible FPS. I've done a couple maintenance things since, to clear up any possible fault on my end. Obviously overall performance can be attributed to the quality of the server to an extent, but even good performing servers where I've had great results before, there is no positive change.

The instability is such that the game is now much more of a chore to play in any enjoyable way. I'm not sure what changes you made that could have negatively affected myself and others so drastically, but I know I'm not alone and I hope some consideration will be taken to the specific changes were made that made this last patch so negative.

Edited:

Basic Specs:
16 GB DDR3 SDRAM
i7 3720QM
GTX 670M
256GB SSD

Should I be able to max the game out? No. With no minimal settings on, should I be getting 14~ FPS in combat? Absolutely not.

<img src="http://img546.imageshack.us/img546/2644/2012112300001.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

I'll reiterate: Not a single thing changed on this computer except the last two updates to NS2. That's it.
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Comments

  • NurEinMenschNurEinMensch Join Date: 2003-02-26 Member: 14056Members, Constellation
    I notice a sharp decrease in performance when exos start firing. Especially if there's a lot of them. I don't think it's build 232 specific, but I seem to have noticed a bit more recently.
  • DoppyDoppy Join Date: 2006-11-15 Member: 58624Members, Reinforced - Supporter
    I have definitely noticed a performance decrease since the last few patches.
  • turtsmcgurtturtsmcgurt Join Date: 2012-11-01 Member: 165456Members, Reinforced - Supporter
  • TechercizerTechercizer 7th Player Join Date: 2011-06-11 Member: 103832Members
    I have not noticed any performance issues, for what it's worth.

    I think NS2's ability to run on your system is strongly affected by the nuances of your architecture. I run a rig less impressive than OP's (560ti, 3.2GHz i7 with 8 threads), and I can power through this puppy on max; have been able to for over a year now back before the optimizations really rolled in.
  • RyneRyne Join Date: 2012-02-25 Member: 147408Members, NS2 Map Tester
    I noticed a sharp drop in combat as well.
  • phoenixbbsphoenixbbs Join Date: 2003-02-10 Member: 13379Members, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Subnautica Playtester
    The issue with exos causing severe drop in performance has already been reported as a problem (I came across it in playtesting).

    For the OP, does your system have a built in Intel HD4000 or something, if so, it might be defaulting to that, rather than using your proper gaming card...
  • grizzlyyygrizzlyyy Join Date: 2012-10-09 Member: 161924Members
  • Omar - The WireOmar - The Wire Join Date: 2012-11-01 Member: 165320Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2033224:date=Nov 23 2012, 05:21 PM:name=phoenixbbs)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phoenixbbs @ Nov 23 2012, 05:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2033224"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The issue with exos causing severe drop in performance has already been reported as a problem (I came across it in playtesting).

    For the OP, does your system have a built in Intel HD4000 or something, if so, it might be defaulting to that, rather than using your proper gaming card...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Nope, but thank you for the suggestion.
  • IronHorseIronHorse Developer, QA Manager, Technical Support & contributor Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71669Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Subnautica Playtester, Subnautica PT Lead, Pistachionauts
    edited November 2012
    And being that its a laptop, you have monitored the temperatures to ensure nothing is downclocking, correct? Use cpu-z to ensure no downclocking is occurring and any app for temps like speedfan or msi afterburn will do.

    I've seen a lot of performance decrease threads from 230 on.. but i cant seem to reproduce anything myself..
    I wish there was a way for you to roll back your version and do some comparisons with profile.

    In fact... it would be most useful if during these moments of severe fps drops like in that screenshot if you could hit the console (~ key) and type profile
    then hit the spacebar to freeze it in place and click on the items that are taking up most of the time to process (the purple bars indicate such) then take a screenshot of it and post it here.. would love to know whats eating up your resources
  • Omar - The WireOmar - The Wire Join Date: 2012-11-01 Member: 165320Members
    edited November 2012
    <!--quoteo(post=2033237:date=Nov 23 2012, 05:51 PM:name=ironhorse)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ironhorse @ Nov 23 2012, 05:51 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2033237"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->And being that its a laptop, you have monitored the temperatures to ensure nothing is downclocking, correct? Use cpu-z to ensure no downclocking is occurring and any app for temps like speedfan or msi afterburn will do.

    I've seen a lot of performance decrease threads from 230 on.. but i cant seem to reproduce anything myself..
    I wish there was a way for you to roll back your version and do some comparisons with profile.

    In fact... it would be most useful if during these moments of severe fps drops like in that screenshot if you could hit the console (~ key) and type profile
    then hit the spacebar to freeze it in place and click on the items that are taking up most of the time to process (the purple bars indicate such) then take a screenshot of it and post it here.. would love to know whats eating up your resources<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I actually use cpu-z and Speedfan. There isn't anything going on there.


    The profile console command I was unfamiliar with, I'll get to that as soon as I can.

    I have noticed it seems to get worse the longer NS2 runs, which would indicate a heat issue. Except my heat specs are fine and this problem only arose after the last patch. Also, only with this game.

    I suspect my issue may different than other users, as it's more extreme, however as you mentioned: I'm not the only one having problems. At least this will provide a focal point, even in my issue resolves.
  • SampsonSampson Join Date: 2012-01-06 Member: 139769Members
    I can't join modded servers... just says the modded files don't exist when it tries to download it from the server...
  • av1611av1611 Join Date: 2011-06-12 Member: 104066Members
    Forget these 'balance' patches it's high time for some serious optimization patches! People aren't going to be hanging around and playing a game that is balanced well, but has pathetic performance as soon as any sort of combat begins.

    My specs:


    i5 3570k 4.5ghz (overclocked)
    8 gb ram
    GTX 670 sli

    I constantly have severe drops in my fps towards the end of a game or through 'intense' combat etc. It can get as low as 15 fps. Pathetic.

    I can play anything that I throw at this rig, except for this game.

    Performance has got worse since the recent patch
  • purephoenixpurephoenix Join Date: 2012-11-17 Member: 172074Members
    SLI apparantly doesn't run too well, try running a single 670 for now.
    Also for some reason, intels have trouble with this game. IDK if it's SSE4 or 4.2 being the decider, but i have a dozer 8150 @ 4.07ghtz and a gtx460... i get better performance than most rigs that are meant to be twice as powerful as mine.

    I still noticed a small performance drop, i *think* from the last patch though. It's such a hard game to benchmark because all the scenery can change, but i found i had to go down to Low textures for smooth gameplay @ 1600x1200. I'm usually running High.

    Then again, maybe i don't have an fps drop and i'm just overly used to super smooth frames for my aiming and turned it to Low so i can aim decently.

    I couldn't tell you, like i said, it's extremely hard to test fps in this game. Maybe we should find a way to reliably benchmark this game first. The devs will have a much easier job of it if we all do the exact same thing.

    Something like creating a Summit in explore mode and running from 1 place in a circular route around the map, benchmarking with FRAPS since alot of people have it. Or taking co-ordinates in mind and the direction you're looking, then there'll be no variables to affect the framerates.
  • av1611av1611 Join Date: 2011-06-12 Member: 104066Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2033294:date=Nov 23 2012, 08:15 PM:name=purephoenix)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (purephoenix @ Nov 23 2012, 08:15 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2033294"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->SLI apparantly doesn't run too well, try running a single 670 for now.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Thanks for the suggestion. Already tried this, no difference. There is nothing wrong with my side of things, this is clearly an issue with the game as per the plethora of other people having the same issue.

    In my opinion nothing should be higher on the list for the devs then to get this game to where it is actually playable, surely that should of been sorted out before it was even released.
  • Dave204Dave204 Join Date: 2012-11-10 Member: 169054Members
    I've been also getting random crashes.
  • pSYc0depSYc0de Join Date: 2003-08-05 Member: 19026Members
    Also noticing quite a large drop in performance on my low end hardware over the last few patches.
  • ScardyBobScardyBob ScardyBob Join Date: 2009-11-25 Member: 69528Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    A few things you might try:
    - Check Optimus again to see if its not using the dedicated GPU. I've only seen FPS that low on laptops with you specs when its trying to use the integrated graphics.
    - Turn on net_stats next time as your low fps may have been a result of a poor server.
  • av1611av1611 Join Date: 2011-06-12 Member: 104066Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2033362:date=Nov 23 2012, 11:06 PM:name=ScardyBob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ScardyBob @ Nov 23 2012, 11:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2033362"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->A few things you might try:
    - Check Optimus again to see if its not using the dedicated GPU. I've only seen FPS that low on laptops with you specs when its trying to use the integrated graphics.
    - Turn on net_stats next time as your low fps may have been a result of a poor server.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    You're right he should check them just to be sure, but seriously 99% of the performance issues people are having is not because they are not configuring their rig right (notice the vast majority of people only have issues with playing this one game), it's because the game is so poorly optimized. It was expected when it was Alpha/Beta but now that it's been released 'indie' or not, the devs need to get their act together on this.
  • IronHorseIronHorse Developer, QA Manager, Technical Support & contributor Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71669Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Subnautica Playtester, Subnautica PT Lead, Pistachionauts
    @ av1611: optimization never stopped being a priority.. its <i>always </i>being worked on. Expect particle optimization next patch more than likely.. may help with lategame. (no promises tho)

    For SLI users: see the stickied SLI thread in here. Theres also a new beta driver for SLI.

    Cant wait to see what the OP finds..
  • PanzerknackerPanzerknacker Join Date: 2012-11-24 Member: 173058Members
    Hello, I am also getting a much lower framerate since the patch, before the patch I could play the game fine on low settings, about 30-45 fps, which is not the best but it was playable and enjoyable for me, allowing me to actually kill stuff.

    Since the patch the game is running around 15-25 fps and has become completely unplayable for me, in combat it drops somewhere below 15 fps.

    My specs are:

    Core 2 Duo Mobile @ 2.5ghz
    GeForce 9800m GS
    4GB memory
  • sprouts42sprouts42 Join Date: 2012-11-24 Member: 173072Members
    I thought I was going mad or my graphics card was dying. I have a GTX 460 that went from medium textures with everything on to low with everything off and still get fps of around 20-30 when anything happens.

    There has definitely been a change in performance somewhere.
  • EightingcoEightingco Join Date: 2012-11-24 Member: 173096Members
    the same exact thing happened to me. I have a GTX 560 and I was fine on medium settings. After a few patches I had to set everything to low and turn most of the features off. Nowadays even with everything on low I get 20-30 fps during combat. This game is incredibly fun, but with these kind of frame rates, it becomes a struggle to play. I really hope the devs see these posts and work on a solution.
  • purephoenixpurephoenix Join Date: 2012-11-17 Member: 172074Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2033593:date=Nov 25 2012, 03:12 AM:name=sprouts42)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (sprouts42 @ Nov 25 2012, 03:12 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2033593"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I thought I was going mad or my graphics card was dying. I have a GTX 460 that went from medium textures with everything on to low with everything off and still get fps of around 20-30 when anything happens.

    There has definitely been a change in performance somewhere.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Glad i could help. Through some other threads i think i've garnered a way to measure performance as a benchmark and diagnose the issue. I'll consolidate the information and open a new thread this week to keep on top of it.

    For now i have other things to deal with in the next few days, like reclaiming as much performance as possible in prep for going back to competitive play.
  • Omar - The WireOmar - The Wire Join Date: 2012-11-01 Member: 165320Members
    <!--quoteo(post=2033386:date=Nov 23 2012, 10:44 PM:name=ironhorse)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ironhorse @ Nov 23 2012, 10:44 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=2033386"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Cant wait to see what the OP finds..<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    A re-install after this thread was made <b>seems</b> to have cleared the problem up. I'll get a profile's screenshot should it crop up again, but I recommend those suffering try re-installing the game.
  • Omar - The WireOmar - The Wire Join Date: 2012-11-01 Member: 165320Members
    Spoke too soon. Same stuttering performance cropped up today after a while.

    I tried to get a good profile capture of when this occurred, but I wasn't sure of the best way to go about it. I pretty much just froze the profile when the stutter got real bad (sub 20 FPS), and took a screen shot. Whether they're relevant or not, I also took a couple minute to expand everything and take screen shots. I dunno if it'd help, or what, but I figured why not since I was in position. Links below.


    I'm actually hoping it's an issue on my side of things so I can fix it sooner rather than later.

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img832/147/serverq.jpg" target="_blank">Server</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img72/2262/profile1o.jpg" target="_blank">Profile 1</a> (Snapshot of first one, time, no expansion)

    Second snapshot + expansions.
    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img41/6094/profile2n.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 2</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img96/7583/profile3z.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 3</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img259/3452/profile4.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 4</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img442/2518/profile5.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 5</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img208/5783/profile6.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 6</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img513/5051/profile7.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 7</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img802/664/profile8.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 8</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img824/403/profile9.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 9</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img542/9561/profile10.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 10</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img268/1761/profile11.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 11</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img651/2488/profile12.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 12</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img203/8092/profile13.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 13</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img441/6961/profile14.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 14</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img132/1586/profile15.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 15</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img189/5056/profile16.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 16</a>

    <a href="http://imageshack.us/a/img834/5205/profile17.jpg" target="_blank">Expanded Profile 17</a>



    If there was a more efficient way to do this for you, Iron, I apologize. This was quick and direct.
  • IronHorseIronHorse Developer, QA Manager, Technical Support & contributor Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71669Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Subnautica Playtester, Subnautica PT Lead, Pistachionauts
    How thorough! :)
    I should have clarified that i was most interested in the top most items really, as when something is bugged enough to hurt fps it generally is an obvious culrprit that manifests at the top (like pathing going awry etc)

    But hey this is even better, thanks for taking the time.
    Gonna go sort through it all now
  • purephoenixpurephoenix Join Date: 2012-11-17 Member: 172074Members
    It'd be nice to have some official requests/tracking here, to help explain what we can do to help.
    I'm currently as low as 20 fps in marine spawn endgame with alien vision on and all settings on low.
    This is insanely broken.
  • TykjenTykjen Join Date: 2003-01-21 Member: 12552Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    The only issue I've had with NS2 is random freezes as Kharaa, that forced me to ctrl-alt-del every time. But got it fixed with the "no motion blur" mod.
  • setsukunsetsukun Join Date: 2011-03-24 Member: 88442Members
    I'm having similar issues explained in this <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=125216" target="_blank">post.</a> I'm just glad I'm not the only one.... I hate to say it but I kinda regret buying the game. I probably wouldn't of had I read all these forum posts.... :(
  • IronHorseIronHorse Developer, QA Manager, Technical Support & contributor Join Date: 2010-05-08 Member: 71669Members, Super Administrators, Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Subnautica Playtester, Subnautica PT Lead, Pistachionauts
    Can you try these steps and see if the same occurs for you?
    <a href="http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/index.php?showtopic=125195" target="_blank">http://www.unknownworlds.com/ns2/forums/in...howtopic=125195</a>
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