Hey all. Got an odd one for you guys here, Not in the general sense that you'd expect, yet I'm having a severe performance issue whenever running the LAUNCHER version of the game. Ironically the Steam version of the game runs just fine / completely fluid. The launcher version starts out capped at 60fps, then quickly declines to a crawl the longer the game progresses for (with both low GPU and CPU utilization). For instance, I can make it through a 2 AI (1 player vs 2 Hard AI's match) still getting 60 fps on the Steam version, whereas I'll be down to 5fps with the Launcher version of the game (PTE stream OR Stable stream). I can adjust the graphics settings to low, zoom the map all the way out, etc, and I'll still yield the same 5fps. Number of units on the screen, etc, don't seem to matter. *Task manager reports around ~10% CPU utilization. Afterburner reports ~16% GPU load. The game process is set at high priority and full core affinity. *Tried Windowed mode and Fullscreen mode, both run the same The machine in question is as follows: ASUS P8C WS motherboard Xeon E3 1270 v2 32GB DDR3 1600 ECC Windows 8.1 Update 1, all updates installed. (Tried removing August Update, made no difference) NVidia 340.65 OpenGL 4.5 beta drivers. (have tried others, as well as driver cleaning with DDU) Dell U3014 monitor (2560x1600 res) [*have tried playing in lower resolutions, doesn't make a difference*] Are the locations of cache files between the versions different? Is there anything that I can try deleting, that may be corrupted, or any otherwise difference between the two editions of the game that might cause this? -Generally on the forums it sounds like the launcher version of the game should be running better due to lack of Steam ingame overlay, and so I'm pretty confused. Yes, I have tried disabling the Steam overlay to see if this hurt performance (it did not). Any advise would be appreciated as I'm out of ideas on this end, and want to help test the PTE builds. Thanks! EDIT: *RESOLVED* Fault Tolerant Heap was the cause.
Hello, Please check my signature below and upload your Dxdiag. By the way, what's with the 340.65 Open GL beta drivers? I checked the Nvidia website, and it does not list 340.65 drivers. It only lists driver versions up to 340.52. Also, is your OS 32 bit or 64 bit? If your OS is 32 bit, you will need to upgrade to 64 bit to make use of all of that RAM (32 GB is a lot! ) EDIT: Found the website for OpenGL 4.5 drivers.
Currently 340.66 Quadro WHQL's are installed (not the OpenGL 4.5 Geforce betas) at the time of this dump, as I was playing around a bit more trying to find a resolution to the performance problems. I tend to frequent the developer section of the NVidia site and try the bleeding edge or experimental drivers whenever I encounter a problem in some game. Since PA uses GL, I figured it couldn't hurt. For your reference on 340.65: https_://developer.nvidia.com/opengl-driver 64bit Windows install. Have not tried another OS such as Linux at this time.
EDIT: Do you have any mods installed/running? Everything looks okay in your Dxdiag so far. Your OS is 64 bit, so I can rule out the 32 bit memory issue. Do you have any antiviruses running in the background? Also, have you updated your sound card drivers? Code: Description: Speakers (Sound Blaster ZxR) Date and Size: 7/3/2013 15:52:16, 1060632 bytes
Sadly not aware of newer drivers than the installed. If there are newer ones released, they're not posted on Creative's website. http_://support.creative.com/Products/ProductDetails.aspx?catID=1&CatName=Sound+Blaster&prodID=21383&prodName=Sound+Blaster+ZxR -The ones installed are the ones listed there. For the sake of completeness on drivers: Code: [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_10D3&SUBSYS_83691043&REV_00] Intel(R) 82574L Gigabit Network Connection #2 Microsoft 12.6.47.1 2013-03-28 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E22&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_04] Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SMBus Host Controller - 1E22 Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [USB\VID_8087&PID_0024&REV_0000] Generic USB Hub Microsoft 6.3.9600.16442 2006-06-21 [USB\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101] USB Composite Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.16442 2006-06-21 [USB\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200] USB Composite Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.16442 2006-06-21 [MMDEVAPI\AudioEndpoints] Microphone (Sound Blaster ZxR) Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2013-08-22 [SCSI\CdRomASUS____DRW-24B1ST___i__1.00] ASUS DRW-24B1ST i Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [acpiapic] ACPI x64-based PC Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [SCSI\DiskINTEL______SSDSC2BB300G4D201] INTEL SSDSC2BB300G4 Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [SCSI\DiskWDC_____WD20EFRX-68AX9N080.0] WDC WD20EFRX-68AX9N0 Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_100A&SUBSYS_131419DA&REV_A1] NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti NVIDIA 9.18.13.4066 2014-08-04 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E02&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_04] Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller Intel Corporation 13.1.0.1058 2014-05-02 [HID\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_01&Col04] HID-compliant device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [USB\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101&MI_00] USB Input Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_01&Col05] HID-compliant device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [USB\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101&MI_01] USB Input Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [USB\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_02] USB Input Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [USB\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_01] Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Razer Inc 6.2.9200.16384 2014-05-19 [USB\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_00] USB Input Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_01&Col02] HID-compliant consumer control device Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101&MI_00&Col04] HID-compliant device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101&MI_00&Col03] HID-compliant device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101&MI_00&Col02] HID-compliant consumer control device Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_01&Col03] HID-compliant system controller Microsoft 6.3.9600.17041 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_01&Col01] Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Razer Inc 6.2.9200.16384 2014-05-19 [HID\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101&MI_01] HID Keyboard Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_00] HID Keyboard Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0012&SUBSYS_00331102&REV_01] Sound Blaster Audio Controller CREATIVE 6.0.102.23 2013-07-03 [HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_1102&DEV_0011&SUBSYS_11020033&REV_1009] Sound Blaster ZxR CREATIVE 6.0.102.23 2013-07-03 [HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10DE&DEV_0044&SUBSYS_19DA1314&REV_1001] High Definition Audio Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2013-08-22 [MONITOR\DEL4082] Generic PnP Monitor Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1E7D&PID_2DBE&REV_0101&MI_00&Col01] HID-compliant mouse Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [HID\VID_1532&PID_011A&REV_0200&MI_02] Razer BlackWidow Ultimate Razer Inc 6.2.9200.16384 2014-05-19 [PRINTENUM\LocalPrintQueue] Root Print Queue Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [PRINTENUM\{0f4130dd-19c7-7ab6-99a1-980f03b2ee4e}] Microsoft XPS Document Writer Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [ACPI\GenuineIntel_-_Intel64_Family_6_Model_58] Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E3-1270 V2 @ 3.50GHz Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2009-04-21 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0100] System timer Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E53&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_04] Intel(R) C216 Chipset LPC Controller - 1E53 Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E1C&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_C4] Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 7 - 1E1C Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0C0B] ACPI Fan Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E10&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_C4] Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 - 1E10 Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_244E&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_A4] Intel(R) 82801 PCI Bridge - 244E Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [ACPI\ThermalZone] ACPI Thermal Zone Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E1A&SUBSYS_131419DA&REV_A1] High Definition Audio Controller Microsoft 6.3.9600.17054 2014-03-17 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0C14] Microsoft Windows Management Interface for ACPI Microsoft 6.3.9600.16384 2006-06-21 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0103] High precision event timer Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_015D&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_09] Xeon(R) processor E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor PCI Express Root Port - 015D Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0151&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_09] Xeon(R) processor E3-1200 v2/3rd Gen Core processor PCI Express Root Port - 0151 Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0B00] System CMOS/real time clock Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0000] Programmable interrupt controller Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0A08] PCI Express Root Complex Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [ACPI_HAL\PNP0C08] Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0200] Direct memory access controller Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [ACPI\FixedButton] ACPI Fixed Feature Button Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0158&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_09] Xeon(R) processor E3-1200 v2 DRAM Controller - 0158 Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [ACPI\VEN_PNP&DEV_0C04] Numeric data processor Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E1A&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_C4] Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 - 1E1A Intel 9.3.0.1029 2013-07-25 [ACPI\VEN_INT&DEV_0800] Intel(R) 82802 Firmware Hub Device Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2006-06-21 [USB\VID_05E3&PID_0610&REV_3294] Generic USB Hub Microsoft 6.3.9600.17195 2014-05-30 [USB\ROOT_HUB30&VID8086&PID1E31&REV0004] USB Root Hub (xHCI) Microsoft 6.3.9600.17195 2014-05-30 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E2D&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_04] Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller - 1E2D Intel 9.3.0.1030 2013-07-31 [USB\ROOT_HUB20&VID8086&PID1E26&REV0004] USB Root Hub Microsoft 6.3.9600.17195 2006-06-21 [USB\ROOT_HUB20&VID8086&PID1E2D&REV0004] USB Root Hub Microsoft 6.3.9600.17195 2006-06-21 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E26&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_04] Intel(R) 7 Series/C216 Chipset Family USB Enhanced Host Controller - 1E26 Intel 9.3.0.1030 2013-07-31 [PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_1E31&SUBSYS_852F1043&REV_04] Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller - 0100 (Microsoft) Microsoft 6.3.9600.17031 2014-02-21 EDIT: No mods are installed / running. EDIT 2: Avira AntiVirus, MBAM, SuperAntiSpyware, Windows Defender. -- I've just tried disabling each of these and closing them where possible, such as MBAM and SAS. This made no difference. [I can actually see the performance difference right at the start of a game, it turns out, if I'm on a "large" planet. In the Launcher version of the game, right there, the game will be 52-55fps at the zoomed out planetary map. Steam version is pegged at 60. ] *So, not necessary to even play a full match.
MSI Afterburner? Please see this post for more details: http://steamcommunity.com/app/233250/discussions/2/558751813508748383/ This program is known to cause in-game freezes and possibly performance issues. Try running the game without Afterburner or uninstalling it (Afterburner) and see if it helps. I'm running out of ideas for what's causing your performance issues, so let me get @SXX over here.
Yep MSI Afterburner (version 3.0.1), though I had the overlay "disabled". Wasn't aware this was known to cause issues. -I'll try completely unloading Afterburner and see if it makes any difference. EDIT: Unloading Afterburner does not raise the framerate, as observed with the ingame FPS display instead of from Afterburner.
Then this makes it even the more strange, unless it's something with the way it's launched from Steam.
I doubt it. Use CTRL+P to see ingame performances instead of some external tool which could wrongly report SteamOverlay or CoherentUI FPS.
I can visibly see the choppiness / impact without an FPS display being present, from the getgo of alot of these games. Control P as a whole seems to list alot more than FPS, and also takes a huge hit in framerate (to display the drawn statistics). Is there any other means of an ingame FPS display that only draws the FPS and doesn't incur such a hit? [eg, the statistic seems alot less helpful since even in the copy that's running 'smooth', hitting CTRL + P once lowers FPS to ~40] Noting what you said on files being binary identical, I've run a file comparison between the Steam install and the Stable stream from the launcher. Indeed these seem to match, so the cause probably isn't corruption. http_://pastebin.com/RikTm0m3 Will look at launch parameters from Steam next and see if API Monitor can tell me anything special. Also will try loading the Steam version from starting PA.exe directly, as this seems 'allowed' .. and see if that changes performance at all, given I now know they're binary identical.
So, it looks like what happened here is.. The game client crashed repeatedly to the point that Windows engaged Fault Tolerant Heap. I assumed that FTH showed under App Compat Flags, as this is what all the documentation on Windows 7 seems to state. This assumption was false and the event viewer showed that FTH was indeed ON for one of the copies of the game executable. (Despite my thinking it was off in just checking registry in HKLM / HKCU for the FTH shim) This being engaged MASSIVELY reduced game performance. What I ended up doing was wiping all FTH applications, then globally disabling it by setting HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\FTH\Enabled to "0". Framerate on the same planets in a skirmish jumped from ~43 at the start of the game (large planet) to a solid locked 60. -Game is now running playable from the launcher. Woohoo!
Yeah, I really was scrutinizing Steam assuming it was doing something special to the game. It doesn't appear it does though, and steam really just launches the game pretty normal unless the overlay option is enabled. Wish "features" like this didn't exist in the OS. FTH drastically was raising memory consumption, as it pads every allocation to protect against writing beyond / before the extents of an allocated buffer. Probably this is how it was killing performance (even though I wasn't out of ram) by upping each and every heap allocation and performing additional checks on them. Game load time much faster now, too. Not just gameplay performance.
jesus x... i'm glad that you figured this out i certainly could not have put all of those clues together
