Low Performance on a Laptop

AtmosfearAtmosfear Join Date: 2011-07-12 Member: 109863Members
edited July 2011 in NS2 General Discussion
Hello, I am a new beta tester and a new player to NS and I am trying to get the best performance out of my mid-level laptop.
Please don't repeat what some of you said to others like... The game is not optimized it's only a beta so wait for the release or Change your GPU for a better one!

Current Performance:
Playable but hard to kill someone that is why I play often as commander
10-25 fps on a local game but mainly 15-20 fps with drops to 8, 9 fps.
For some players, it is unplayable but for me it's not actually fun to play with this performance as a soldier.
I know the game is not optimized but I can play a lot of games such as F.E.A.R. 3, MW2, Borderlands, Company of Heroes, Starcraft 2 (that have similar or better graphics). (and yes I know they are all games developped by giant companies who can afford to optimize their game to his maximum)

DXDiag: <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-wk0ev9J5akWHdfTLGhSiXblFf7DAwlZFgb4_-NxI3I/edit?hl=en_US" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-wk0ev9...I/edit?hl=en_US</a>

Specs:
Asus N61JQ-X1 (http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220696)
Win7 64
CPU: i7 - 720QM
VGA: Ati Mobility Radeon 5730 1GB
Memory: 4GB

Tried to play on many resolutions, changing low to high graphics doesnt seems to help really much.
1280x800 Windowed Mode and Medium Quality are what I have found as the best settings
Oh and I have reformatted my laptop 1 month ago with the most important drivers installed.

It seems that this guy can play the game well with similar spec

<!--quoteo(post=1855909:date=Jun 23 2011, 05:52 PM:name=Lazer)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lazer @ Jun 23 2011, 05:52 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1855909"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I'm on a somewhat custom built laptop running Win7 64bit, i7 CPU, 4GB RAM, and Mobility Radeon HD 5650. It runs the game quite well, although if occlusion acts up (bug being fixed) it can drop fps quite a bit. I usually play on medium quality because it handles high but sometimes starts getting hot after a long round (probably stressed from the occlusion bug). If you have to get a laptop I'd recommend at least similar specs.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Thank you for replying with a constructive answer!

Comments

  • peregrinusperegrinus Join Date: 2010-07-16 Member: 72445Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1859962:date=Jul 12 2011, 08:34 AM:name=Atmosfear)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Atmosfear @ Jul 12 2011, 08:34 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1859962"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Hello, I am a new beta tester and a new player to NS and I am trying to get the best performance out of my mid-level laptop.
    Please don't repeat what some of you said to others like... The game is not optimized it's only a beta so wait for the release or Change your GPU for a better one!<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    What else to say?

    Play in a lower resolution, try playing in windowed mode, play as commander rather than a regular alien/marine (FPS not as important + better performance).

    Your laptop is more powerful than mine but your performance doesn't seem much better. I get 25-30 in the ready room, highs of 25 in game, lows of 5 in game....usually plays at 15. Enjoyable playing as gorge or commander, frustrating to play other classes and hopeless as marine unless wielding flamer/gl spammer.

    Since you just started playing the game you should know performance will get better. For me it's got about 30% better over the course of beta. Hoping for more improvements soon.
  • Taxen0Taxen0 Join Date: 2010-07-30 Member: 73357Members
    is that your dxdiag? doesn't seem to match your posted specs.
  • peregrinusperegrinus Join Date: 2010-07-16 Member: 72445Members
    Yea I just noticed....Windows XP, 2gb RAM,NVIDIA GeForce 6800 etc
  • ObraxisObraxis Subnautica Animator & Generalist, NS2 Person Join Date: 2004-07-24 Member: 30071Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, WC 2013 - Supporter, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    As above, but also try turning off shadows in console with r_shadows 0
  • Taxen0Taxen0 Join Date: 2010-07-30 Member: 73357Members
    or all lightning effects with r_mode unlit
    but the game looks like crap then.
  • twilitebluetwiliteblue bug stalker Join Date: 2003-02-04 Member: 13116Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited July 2011
  • ZycaRZycaR Join Date: 2002-11-12 Member: 8263Members
    I've got one older notebook (MSI GX720). I would like to try any suggestion other than these:

    > 800x600 (medium)
    > r_shadows 0
    > r_mode unlit

    .. will see if it helps to bring better performance.
  • AtmosfearAtmosfear Join Date: 2011-07-12 Member: 109863Members
    edited July 2011
    Here's my dxdiag <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-wk0ev9J5akWHdfTLGhSiXblFf7DAwlZFgb4_-NxI3I/edit?hl=en_US" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-wk0ev9...I/edit?hl=en_US</a>

    Sorry for the previous one, I was trying to do the same thing as the other one but I dont know how (fullscreen mode document).

    EDIT: BTW, I tried some commands (r_shadows and r_mode) and the only thing that change is graphic.. still have a constant 10-20 fps but I was impressed first with a 40-60fps in the ready room. lol
  • AtmosfearAtmosfear Join Date: 2011-07-12 Member: 109863Members
    edited July 2011
    I am still looking for help.. I really wanna test the game with a comfortable gameplay because this game has all I have ever wanted from a good fps/rts game.

    According to my spec, I should be able to play correctly without glitch (havent experience any tho) or lag that makes me impossible to kill someone else.

    With my dxdiag, my description of the situation and my spec, I don't see how I can help you more to fix my framerate drops.
    I bought the game before the release for one reason and you all know it.
  • RisingSunRisingSun Rising California Join Date: 2004-04-19 Member: 28015Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    No idea why i havent seen this before. I am also on a laptop. Alienware MX17, cost me $2700 about a year ago. Still runs things well but NS was horrible. I was on the lowest settings i could go and 12x10 resolution with in game menus. No luck, still ran like crap. I do the R_Shadows 0 command in the console and BAM. I can go max settings and resolution as long as that is off. I LOVE YOU!
  • ScardyBobScardyBob ScardyBob Join Date: 2009-11-25 Member: 69528Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    Not much besides the r_shadows and r_unlit commands that you can do to improve client performance right now. You might also try closing all non-essential background programs to squeeze out a little more performance. The problem is most likely your processor and although it meets the NS2 specs (1.2GHz), that is more of an end goal than current acceptable specs. My estimate is that a CPU speed of 2.0GHz is a more reasonable min requirement for the current beta.
  • AtmosfearAtmosfear Join Date: 2011-07-12 Member: 109863Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1860168:date=Jul 12 2011, 05:47 PM:name=ScardyBob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ScardyBob @ Jul 12 2011, 05:47 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860168"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->The problem is most likely your processor and although it meets the NS2 specs (1.2GHz), that is more of an end goal than current acceptable specs. My estimate is that a CPU speed of 2.0GHz is a more reasonable min requirement for the current beta.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    My CPU is an Intel Core i7-720QM (6M Cache, 1.60 GHz)
    1.60 Ghz does not means it's worse than the best pentium 4
    It has 4 cores and 8 threats and a turbo frequency up to 2.8 GHz

    Be well-informed is a must if you want to help someone else.

    And btw I am glad that it fixed your problem RisingSun
  • ScardyBobScardyBob ScardyBob Join Date: 2009-11-25 Member: 69528Forum Admins, Forum Moderators, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue, Reinforced - Shadow, WC 2013 - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1860255:date=Jul 12 2011, 09:18 PM:name=Atmosfear)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Atmosfear @ Jul 12 2011, 09:18 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860255"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->My CPU is an Intel Core i7-720QM (6M Cache, 1.60 GHz)
    1.60 Ghz does not means it's worse than the best pentium 4
    It has 4 cores and 8 threats and a turbo frequency up to 2.8 GHz

    Be well-informed is a must if you want to help someone else.

    And btw I am glad that it fixed your problem RisingSun<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Ah, totally missed the turbo frequency. Still, NS2 only uses one core, so the multi-cores means little to it.
  • AtmosfearAtmosfear Join Date: 2011-07-12 Member: 109863Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1860269:date=Jul 13 2011, 01:41 AM:name=ScardyBob)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ScardyBob @ Jul 13 2011, 01:41 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860269"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Ah, totally missed the turbo frequency. Still, NS2 only uses one core, so the multi-cores means little to it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Ok so my old computer with a low-level amd athlon dual core x2 4200+ with 2.2Ghz could run better NS2
    only because it has only two cores... MESSAGE to developpers, fix engine to support multi-threads and multi-cores...
  • Taxen0Taxen0 Join Date: 2010-07-30 Member: 73357Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1860086:date=Jul 12 2011, 04:46 PM:name=Atmosfear)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Atmosfear @ Jul 12 2011, 04:46 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860086"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Here's my dxdiag <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-wk0ev9J5akWHdfTLGhSiXblFf7DAwlZFgb4_-NxI3I/edit?hl=en_US" target="_blank">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-wk0ev9...I/edit?hl=en_US</a>

    Sorry for the previous one, I was trying to do the same thing as the other one but I dont know how (fullscreen mode document).

    EDIT: BTW, I tried some commands (r_shadows and r_mode) and the only thing that change is graphic.. still have a constant 10-20 fps but I was impressed first with a 40-60fps in the ready room. lol<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    yes, the processor is the weak link.
    I'm running a 3.16Ghz dualcores and I can almost max it, I would just need a better video-card.

    The only things that will help is to change processor or wait, unfortunately.
  • TalesinTalesin Our own little well of hate Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7710NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators
    <!--quoteo(post=1860276:date=Jul 13 2011, 12:19 AM:name=Atmosfear)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Atmosfear @ Jul 13 2011, 12:19 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860276"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->MESSAGE to developpers, fix engine to support multi-threads and multi-cores...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    ...yes, I'm SURE that hasn't occurred to them.

    As noted in your original post, the game is still in beta and has not been optimized.
    As has been noted in numerous prior threads, do not expect *extensive* optimization tasks until the game is preparing for release; most likely meaning after feature-complete.
  • playerplayer Join Date: 2010-09-12 Member: 73982Members
    They're going to have to take a closer look at Lua quite a ways before release though, if they don't want to be caught with their pants down. There's a difference between optimizations and architectural decisions (applies in particular to multi-threading).
  • AtmosfearAtmosfear Join Date: 2011-07-12 Member: 109863Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1860288:date=Jul 13 2011, 03:32 AM:name=Taxen0)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Taxen0 @ Jul 13 2011, 03:32 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860288"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->yes, the processor is the weak link.
    I'm running a 3.16Ghz dualcores and I can almost max it, I would just need a better video-card.

    The only things that will help is to change processor or wait, unfortunately.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Dualcores are more supported in games than quadcores. My laptop is designed for multimedia tasking so the CPU is not what I need to change
    if I need to change something. I just explained to ScardyBob that my CPU has not to do with my poor performance. Changing my processor
    would be a total waste of money.
  • AtmosfearAtmosfear Join Date: 2011-07-12 Member: 109863Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1860377:date=Jul 13 2011, 10:51 AM:name=player)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (player @ Jul 13 2011, 10:51 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860377"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->They're going to have to take a closer look at Lua quite a ways before release though, if they don't want to be caught with their pants down. There's a difference between optimizations and architectural decisions (applies in particular to multi-threading).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    It's my opinion but balances and content patchs are less important than optimizations and architectural decisions.
    Especially if they let people test their game if you pre-order it.
    What people want to see is a game that have a solid gameplay and a good optimization.. not the one who have 4 maps and there is only one that people plays on.

    I am studying in computer programming and I know that Lua scripting is hard to optimize.
    So adding content constantly won't help and just slow down them.
    They even want to release NS2 on xbox 360... It's even harder to optimize a game on a console...
    Good Luck and Have Fun, developpers. The game won't release before a year or two.
  • Taxen0Taxen0 Join Date: 2010-07-30 Member: 73357Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1860379:date=Jul 13 2011, 03:08 PM:name=Atmosfear)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Atmosfear @ Jul 13 2011, 03:08 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1860379"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Dualcores are more supported in games than quadcores. My laptop is designed for multimedia tasking so the CPU is not what I need to change
    if I need to change something. I just explained to ScardyBob that my CPU has not to do with my poor performance. Changing my processor
    would be a total waste of money.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I'm not saying that he should buy a old single/dual core. but it would improve his fps..
    NS2 only supports 1 core atm, so if you have 7 1.6Ghz cores it will still count as a 1.6Ghz single core cpu,
    so by getting another (you don't have to buy it, you can take it from another computer or borrow one..) cpu with less cores but a higher speed the game will run better.
    A dualcore at 3Ghz counts as a single at 3Ghz, 3Ghz > 1.6Ghz
    1.6Ghz is simply too low for almost any game today, if it would be single core only.
  • InfinityInfinity And beyond&#33; Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 50Members
    I'm sorry, but running NS2 at a nice speed requires a lot of raw processing power and 1.6ghz simply won't cut it, i7 or no i7.
  • PyromaniacPyromaniac Join Date: 2009-02-20 Member: 66498Members
    edited July 2011
    I'm getting 10fps on the lowest settings on a laptop with a 2.8ghz c2d and gtx260m. Not that great, but it should be able to play the game and I haven't seen much improvement in a year of optimization. The low end settings really need to drop further, the devs should know how important scalability is. Even optimized, the game will have too many graphics features for the current low settings end to be playable on many systems.
Sign In or Register to comment.