Game stuttering...

Annoying...

from Sins Forums
For some, unknown to me, reason, my game has started stuttering. I ran it fine since I got it until about 2 days ago, and it started stuttering (To make sure I have the right word for it: The game will lock up / lag every now and then for a second or so). I have turned down the graphics settings, turned off some background texture thing (Was suggested in another post - which I can't seem to find now due to my forum page numbers being gone...). I used to play the game fine with max graphics settings, with 10 AI, and now I cant even play with high graphics settings and a bunch / all of the planet stuff turned off in effects and the game still stutters, with just 6AI.

Comp specs:
Core 2 Duo E6600 (2.4 - stock)
8800GTX (Running 169.28 ForceWare, also tried 169.44 [but reverted back due to a problem with a different game, turned out not to be the problem though]).
4GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 800 dual channel ram
Vista Ultimate 64bit
Edit: Should be noted my page file, along with the game and OS are on WD Raptor 10k RPM SATA 150GB HDD - but on average my game uses less than 60 - 70% of my RAM.

On average my CPU used to stay around 10 - 15 on one core, and around 20 - 30 (Sometimes 40 and higher later in the game). now (Since the staggering started) my CPU is around 20 - 30 on one core, and 30 - 40 on the other (Spiking up to 70+ % out of nowhere around the same time the stutter happens). Now, ive played vs 10 unfair AI on "huge" randomly generated single star systems, with max graphics settings and have had no problem (Except for some lag late game). Played with a mod I made to help me do it, else I would have gotten owned - but the point is if I played that fine I see no graphical limitation reason why now im starting to get this stuttering.

I run my vista with the unneeded stuff off, very little background stuff running - so it shouldnt be anything in the background. I have checked for viruses / Malware / spyware / etc / etc and have found nothing, with several different scanners (I almost never get anything of that sort on my computer). My AVs / Firewalls / Etc are all off at the time of playing.

Any help would be appreciated, thanks.
technical
5,089 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
I ran into similar symptoms when I changes the Map Size slider on the custom maps. Sliding it back to the small end restored playability on a specific map I was having issues with.
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
I ran into similar symptoms when I changes the Map Size slider on the custom maps. Sliding it back to the small end restored playability on a specific map I was having issues with.
End of quote


Well, the odd thing is, I was playing on a 60 - 70 planet 1 star map if I recall (With 10 unfair AI teamed against me, and pirates), and now I cant even play on a 30 - 40 2 star map (I think it is. The map name is Gateway) with 6 unfair AI and no pirates against me.

I really see no viable reason as to why it would play fine on the large map and out of nowhere start doing this?

I am doing a defrag, I just did one but it might be fragmented again. Hopefully it will help.

Edit: Still stuttering after the defrag. Defrag did not have any noticeable effect.
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
Anyone?

Still having the problem, and its screwing up my placement of stuff (And generally making the game unpleasant).
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
Have you tried turning bloom off?
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top
Have you tried turning bloom off?
End of quote


Yes, I turned it off before this problem even (To reduce some of the lag on large games vs the 10 unfair AI).

Edit: I don't see why that would be a problem though? I played the game fine with 10AI on max, with a ton of units (Just some FPS lag, nothing like this).
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
Have you
-Closed background tasks
-Defragmented computer
-Restarted computer

?
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top
Yes, as I stated in my first post I disabled everything I don't need (This basically means everything the OS does not need to run -except AIM/MSN/Skype-). Defraged earlier (As stated in the second post :p) and it had no noticeable effect.

And I don't see why aim/msn/skype would cause this, it ran fine with them running.
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
I saw the same problem as soon as I upgraded to 1.03. Never saw this issue before 1.03. In 1.02 I had the settings all maxed, and now, even with the settings all set to low, the game is much choppier than before. I also tried a defrag to no effect. I have a P4 3.0 with 2 GB Ram and a ATI 9800 Pro. If anyone has any idea what is causing this, and how I can fix this besides reverting to 1.02, please let me know.
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
I ran into similar symptoms when I changes the Map Size slider on the custom maps. Sliding it back to the small end restored playability on a specific map I was having issues with.
End of quote


I ran into similar symptoms when I changes the Map Size slider on the custom maps. Sliding it back to the small end restored playability on a specific map I was having issues with.Well, the odd thing is, I was playing on a 60 - 70 planet 1 star map if I recall (With 10 unfair AI teamed against me, and pirates), and now I cant even play on a 30 - 40 2 star map (I think it is. The map name is Gateway) with 6 unfair AI and no pirates against me.I really see no viable reason as to why it would play fine on the large map and out of nowhere start doing this?I am doing a defrag, I just did one but it might be fragmented again. Hopefully it will help.Edit: Still stuttering after the defrag. Defrag did not have any noticeable effect.
End of quote


I was not refering to the star/planet count, I was referring to the slider for map size. I made a 5 star 25 planet, and experimented with the slider to put some space between the stars...

Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
i think it is patch 1.03 since my brother and I are having some serious graphical issues and lag/choppiness. It even went to the point where we loaded a game and i was HIS race and he mine and the game took 5 mins to actually pick up before it took a nap for another 5 mins. We just figured we'd wait for the next patch if not uninstall and go back to 1.02
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
I was not refering to the star/planet count, I was referring to the slider for map size. I made a 5 star 25 planet, and experimented with the slider to put some space between the stars...
End of quote



I have played on many different sizes of maps - it is / was not that.


I had never had this problem before on 1.03 (Did not even play the game pre 1.03).

The problem, upon further investigation, I have found it could have been several factors coming into play. I posted the same question on another forum, and they said it could be heat related (Though, while having built this comp myself, and monitor my temps carefully, I know its not heat). This however, gave me another idea. After looking into it, I noticed my processor was jumping between 2.4Ghz and 1.5Ghz (And stayed on 1.5Ghz or so while not under load, and 2.4Ghz when under load) - This, as I suspected, was due to energy saving settings activated in the BIOS (Specifically, C1E and EIST), upon disabling these, the processor ran at a constant x9 muliplier and 2.4Ghz clock speed (What it should be).

This did not fully fix the problem (But did help), after trying a new game (I was getting lazy and using a save game), the problem was minimal but still there (The BIOS settings reduced it quite a bit). I then tried reverting my mod back to the one I gave a friend of mine. I did and still do not see how modifying the max hull points - which is the only thing I added after I gave it to him - caused the stutterin, but it seems to be mostly gone.

I can't say its 100% gone, but I have not noticed it (I have not played a full game though, yet. Have not had a chance).

Thanks for your replies, I will update this post if it is / has gone away for sure (And if it has not ill continue trying to find the cause of it, and update it - maybe it will help some one else find the cause of their stuttering).