Low Server Fps At ~15 Players
Rabid_Moose
Join Date: 2004-05-02 Member: 28370Members
Join Date: 2004-05-02 Member: 28370Members
<div class="IPBDescription">FreeBSD 5.2</div> It seems we've come upon a problem of our NS server dropping FPS terribly once it reaches about 15 players. At this ~15 players its generally around 40-50fps, and as it climbs up to 20 (the max), it lowers to around 10-20. This, of course, comes with terrible lag making the game basically unplayable (or at least not fun). Before hitting this ~15 players, though, it runs at a fine 150-200fps (we use sys_ticrate 200).
I'm a bit confused as to where the low FPS is coming from though, so let me give you some specs:
Dual Xeon 2.8gHz 533mHz FSB
2GB PC2100 ECC REG RAM
Dual 36GB 10krpm U320 SCSI drives
Hardware Raid0 Config
FreeBSD 5.2 RELEASE
kern.hz = 500
linux_base-8
The server, at around 15-20 players, is running anywhere from 60-90% CPU usage on a single hyperthreaded proc (1 of 4 - basically using around 20-25% of the total cpu load). The server load sits anywhere from 1-2 while this server is running. There is over 1.2gb of free memory. So.. well, its not exactly like our server is running out of resources here - it has _plenty_ to spare.
We run several of these machines and have never had such a problem with any other game. Other HL games - CS, DoD, etc. at 20 players or at 60-90% CPU do not have extremely low FPS like this (if any lowered fps at all).
Anyone have any similar problems, have any suggestions as to fix it, or what I should start with in terms of diagnosing it?
Thanks in advance.
I'm a bit confused as to where the low FPS is coming from though, so let me give you some specs:
Dual Xeon 2.8gHz 533mHz FSB
2GB PC2100 ECC REG RAM
Dual 36GB 10krpm U320 SCSI drives
Hardware Raid0 Config
FreeBSD 5.2 RELEASE
kern.hz = 500
linux_base-8
The server, at around 15-20 players, is running anywhere from 60-90% CPU usage on a single hyperthreaded proc (1 of 4 - basically using around 20-25% of the total cpu load). The server load sits anywhere from 1-2 while this server is running. There is over 1.2gb of free memory. So.. well, its not exactly like our server is running out of resources here - it has _plenty_ to spare.
We run several of these machines and have never had such a problem with any other game. Other HL games - CS, DoD, etc. at 20 players or at 60-90% CPU do not have extremely low FPS like this (if any lowered fps at all).
Anyone have any similar problems, have any suggestions as to fix it, or what I should start with in terms of diagnosing it?
Thanks in advance.
Comments
Also, doesn't FreeBSD emulate Linux? Might that also affect performance because of that extra work emulating the system?
Sounds like you've got enuf of a system that this shouldn't matter however. That seems like enuf ram and CPU power to do damn near anything. Too bad the valvE team is a pack of AMD **** who will never release anything for intel smp or really well optimized for intel CPUs. Their last several CPU speedup efforts have all been payola to AMD and they seem to snub intel users on a regular basis.<my personal opinion only> You'll notice that your HLDS app says something like: "Using Pentium II Binary" on startup even tho we're worlds away from pentium IIs.
Seems like this(some care dedicated to dual/HT intel CPUs is really what's needed to get full use of an intel SMP/HT box like the one you have. If you really want to run an app that takes full use of this box you're going to need to look at another dedicated server app like bf1942 or UT. I really really wish this wasn't the case and I've posted to the HLDS mailing list asking for valve to put more work into the intel code, only to get banned from the mailing list.
Oh well, gl getting some more speed out of your really spiffy box..
We use the command 'stats' to show server FPS, and yes, from every indication I've gotten it does work. Also, yes, FreeBSD does emulate linux, but that does not necessarily cause a slowdown. Infact, if anything, it has given us a performance increase (in terms of less CPU usage).
Billcat,
While there seem to be no gains in using HT with HLDS, there seem to be no losses either. On occasion we run a game that takes advantage of HT, so we enable it on all systems. You are right, HLDS does seem to be quite a hog on an intel machine, but since I've never used an AMD machine to run HLDS, I can't compare the 2.
This still brings us back to my original post, any thoughts? Judging by the fact I haven't seen any of these problems with similar players/cpu usage on another mod or game, I'm still at the conclusion this is a NS specific issue, possibly a NS+FreeBSD issue.
Thanks.