Good computer, but bad FPS

[saXoni]

On christmas I ended up getting a massive CPU upgrade which is a AMD FX 8350 and a a ram upgrade for a total of 8 gigs of mem.

Needless to say I no longer have the lag issues that I used to have. I am 90% sure it was the CPU upgrade that made the difference.

I've got an 8350 too, still having ridiculous FPS drops when looking at smoke and gunning tanks and APCs. Was gunning an APC on Shijia with an FPS between 60 and 80. Firing the APC made my FPS drop down to around 15.

Operating System
Windows 7


Motherboard
ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z


Processor
AMD FX-8350 8-Core CPU @ 4.8GHz


Memory
16GB DDR3 @ 2400 MHz


Video Card
Gainward GeForce GTX 770

[Inspektura43]

Same things happens to me while gunning apcs.
As soon as I start shooting my fps goes down

[risegold8929]

It's fun flying trans when enemy CAS attacks you with cannon, and then your FPS drops down to 15...

[labonte95]

i too get this horrible lag while in game. even as low as 20-25 fps. my system:

Code: Select all

System Information
------------------
  Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (6.3.9600)
      Architecture: 64-bit
          Language: English (United States)
       Motherboard: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. SABERTOOTH 990FX R2.0
         Processor: AMD FX(tm)-8350 Eight-Core Processor            (Physical: 4, Logical: 8)
            Memory: 8.00 GB
      DIMM Modules: DIMM1: 4.00 GB @ 1600 MHz
                    DIMM3: 4.00 GB @ 1600 MHz
         Page File: 1.88 GB
    .NET Framework: 4.5

Display Information
-------------------
 Display Device(s): Generic PnP Monitor on AMD Radeon R9 200 Series
   Display Mode(s): 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) @ 60 Hz
    Driver Version: 13.250.18.0
    Display Memory: 3.00 GB
     Multisampling: 2, 4, 8
               DPI: 96 (100%)

Audio Information
-----------------
  Primary Playback: Speakers (Realtek High Definiti
 Primary Recording: Microphone (Realtek High Defini
               EAX: True
           EAX 1.0: False
           EAX 2.0: True
           EAX 3.0: False
           EAX 4.0: False
           EAX 5.0: False
             X-RAM: False

Disk Information
----------------
      Install Path: C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2
                    Free: 811.92 GB, Total: 931.17 GB, NTFS
          Mod Path: C:\Program Files (x86)\EA GAMES\Battlefield 2\mods\pr
                    Free: 811.92 GB, Total: 931.17 GB, NTFS
     Profiles Path: C:\Users\Jacob\Documents\ProjectReality\Profiles
                    Free: 811.92 GB, Total: 931.17 GB, NTFS
    Update DL Path: C:\Users\Jacob\AppData\Local\Project Reality\Project Reality BF2\Downloads
                    Free: 811.92 GB, Total: 931.17 GB, NTFS
   Update Log Path: C:\Users\Jacob\AppData\Local\Project Reality\Project Reality BF2\UpdateLogs
                    Free: 811.92 GB, Total: 931.17 GB, NTFS

Game Information
----------------
      CD Key Valid: True
    Installed Mods: bf2, pr, xpack
       Current Mod: pr
       BF2 Version: BF2 1.5
        PR Version: 1.0.36.0
          Language: english
   Debug Available: False
     Large Address: True
Supported Hardware: None

Profile Information
-------------------
      Profile 0001: =BW=labonte95
              Type: Online
 Last Used Profile: True
        View Intro: False
        Fullscreen: True
      Display Mode: 1920x1080@60Hz
Display Mode Valid: True
   Graphics Scheme: High
     Multisampling: 8x
             VSync: False
   Terrain Quality: High
   Effects Quality: High
  Geometry Quality: High
   Texture Quality: High
  Lighting Quality: High
   Dynamic Shadows: High
    Dynamic Lights: High
 Texture Filtering: High
    Audio Provider: Software
    Provider Valid: True
     Audio Quality: High
               EAX: True

[X-Alt]

I have dips into the 30s with a [email protected]..

[LITOralis.nMd]

Specific to Saxoni, you go do Gamebooster+IMDisk Ram Drive ( for BF2 directory and Documents\ProjectReality)+remove pagefile+NVidia Inspector to boost both GPU clock speeds , that would probably get you near a minimum fps of 65.

The FX series has Single Thread performance limitations, as seen here:
AMD FX-8350 single-threaded performance

BF2's Refractor engine is a Single Threaded program.

Warnings:
Removing pagefile can cause serious problems in other applications,
Overclocking GPU can cause hardware failure.


-------------------------------------------

To everyone with AMD FX CPUs and using Windows 7. make sure you download these Windows Updates.
(This fix is built in to Windows 8 )
Windows Hot Fix for AMD FX CPUs

An update is available for computers that have an AMD FX, AMD Opteron 4200, AMD Opteron 6200, or AMD Bulldozer series processor installed and that are running Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2
An update that selectively disables the Core Parking feature in Windows 7 or in Windows Server 2008 R2 is available

[labonte95]

So im guessing pr is a cpu bound game?

[risegold8929]

BTW - tried turning off EAX as suggested but sadly it didn't help me raise the FPS

[Prevtzer]

BTW - tried turning off EAX as suggested but sadly it didn't help me raise the FPS

Yeah, there's 0 logic behind it anyway.

[saXoni]

Specific to Saxoni, you go do Gamebooster+IMDisk Ram Drive ( for BF2 directory and Documents\ProjectReality)+remove pagefile+NVidia Inspector to boost both GPU clock speeds , that would probably get you near a minimum fps of 65.

If you could elaborate a bit more I'll try it out. I'm not familiar with IMDisk Ram Drive, nor am I familiar with overclocking the GPU via NVidia Inspector.

[IWI-GALIL.556FA]

I got a decent increase of FPS when I Alt+Tab out of PR, start my task manager, go to the processes tab, and change the priority of PRBF2.EXE to "HIGH" by right clicking on it and changing priority. Not sure if "REAL TIME" would help even more?

[LITOralis.nMd]

Real Time will break things.

You can automate the task of making PRBF2.exe set to High priority by downloading Bitsum ProcessLasso Free.

Make sure you download the correct version for your OS, either 32bit or 64bit.

3. Download Bitsum ProcessLasso Free. Make sure you download the correct version, Free 32 bit or Free 64 bit, Process Lasso - Automate and optimize process priorities, CPU affinities, power profiles, and more!
-- Start PR, JOIN AN ONLINE SERVER, alt tab to desktop, open ProcessLAsso window, right click on PRBF2.exe, PRLauncher.exe, and PRMumble.exe and pnkbstra.exe and pnkbstrB.exe and give them default priority status of High, set the PRBF2.exe to gaming mode, and give them high or higher access to RAM.
Unpark your CPU Cores in ProcessLasso->Options->Configure CPU Core Parking->UNpark your cores.
For those with AMD FX processors, After this, you can EXPERIMENT with this: you can assign PRBF2.exe to a core other than Core0.

[LITOralis.nMd]

WARNING 1 : Nvidia INspector CAN permanently FRY your GPU
WARNING 2 : Incorrect use of a RamDisk can delete your information on the Disk. BACKUP your BF2 directory first.
WARNING 3 : Do NOT expect me to hold your hand through this, it's a DIY solution that has to be tweaked for each system.

ONLY If you have all of the following:
1. A GPU that is worth trying to overclock.
2. 16 GB of RAM or more
3. A SSD
4. a CPU newer than the Intel Q6600 or AMD Phenom II second stepping,

You can attempt to maximize the performance of all other bottlenecks that can slow down the BF2 engine's single thread limitation:

There is too much to talk about to write this down,

IMDISK: Tools and utilities for Windows
IMDISK UI: GUI for RamDisk configuration - ImDisk - reboot.pro
Junction link magic: Junction Link Magic
Link Shell Extension: http://schinagl.priv.at/nt/hardlinks...kshellext.html

Ramdisk tutorial using the above programs: try the FAQs thread here: ImDisk - reboot.pro
and here is the old pre-UI IMdisk tutorial for reference
[GUIDE] Using ImDisk to set up RAM disk(s) in Windows with no limit on disk size - Guru3D.com Forums


AMD GPU Overclocking: ( I no longer own a AMD GPU and am not up to date on how to overclock anything newer than the HD 5XXX series. ) So read this:

RadeonPro - How To Remove Micro stutter & Improve Frame Latency - Overclockers UK Forums
and this:
AMD - How To Overclock The Official Way Using Afterburner + Step By Step Overclocking Guide + Complete Driver Sweep - Overclockers UK Forums


NVIDIA GPU Overclocking:
NVidia Inspector: Guru3D.com

Nvidia inspector tutorial for gtx 680:
[GUIDE] Nvidia Inspector GTX670/680 - disable boost / fixed clock speed / undervolting

remove pagefile: tutorial: Optimize Windows 7 for SSD (Part 1) Disable or Move Page file and Disable system restore - YouTube
Steps: Right click My Computer - Properties - Advanced System Settings - Advanced Tab - Performance: Settings - Advanced tab - Virtual Memory: Change - set page file to your liking
- OK/Apply - System Protection tab - Configure - Turn off system protection - Set max usage - Delete restore points - OK/Apply

[LITOralis.nMd]

double post.

[IWI-GALIL.556FA]

Real Time will break things.

You can automate the task of making PRBF2.exe set to High priority by downloading Bitsum ProcessLasso Free.

Make sure you download the correct version for your OS, either 32bit or 64bit.

Thank You very much sir! I did not know of this, and it will help out a great deal!

[Danesh_italiano]

Hello, having the same problems as you, I decided to conduct some research and labs .... For example, I have an FX-6300 CPU, 3.5GHZ Stock ...
You talked about the game is not mult threads, however, to put the game on only 1 core processor, my fps was stable at 35 .. which is very bad, and the use of this core get selected in 100% .... then did another test, I set the game to 2 cores, my fps was at 60 (with sudden drops as everyone is reporting), and use these 2 cores was 70% on each core ... for 3 or more core not made ​​a difference .... that is, the used game 2 cores.. ll realializar some more tests like overclocking etc. and I will post! Thank you all!

sorry my bad english... bad google translate...

[labonte95]

Im pretty sure bf2 could always utilize 2 cores

[tankninja1]

Any updates on optimization. Still looking forward to the day when i can play reasonably PR again.

[saXoni]

Make it a high priority for your CPU via the task manager.

[Bringerof_D]

a lot of people seem to have this problem and immedaitely claim they have a great GPU, I don't think the problem lies in the graphics. I think the problem is CPU based, and not meaning that your CPU is bad, but rather there's something in the engine which is eating up processing power. This is entirely my guess though and i'm not particularly good with computers. My evidence for this is just that people are having these problems with real top end graphics cards, while there are guys with last gen cards that are playing PR just fine.