NWN2 performance on 4870

Bossk128 · 25 Jul 2008 at 18:33

Hi, I've just recieved my 4870 and expected it to run NWN2 easily. However, running it at 1680x1050 with no AA/AF, but all options ticked I get a max of 25fps which feels j.e.r.k.y. It drops right down to 6 in some scenes, so is unplayable.

Can any other NWN2 players give me an idea of the performance that they recieve at their res, and with what cards?

Cheers.

Burt · 25 Jul 2008 at 18:43

I play with a 2900pro with the same settings as you and usually average around 30-40fps. NWN2 is a strange beast when it comes to performance - mostly because it's coded so horribly. Changing your drivers might help but I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Sleepery · 25 Jul 2008 at 19:32

It's the game engine rather than your card, it was always a bit rubbish.

Shamikebab · 25 Jul 2008 at 19:47

Yeah its a very badly coded game, I find its a bit jerky whatever I do with it.

JIM_BOB7813 · 25 Jul 2008 at 21:12

Turn shadows down/off

Bossk128 · 26 Jul 2008 at 15:05

JIM_BOB7813 said:
Turn shadows down/off

Thanks fella, up to a solid 40-50fps now. Cheers!

Crimefighter · 28 Jul 2008 at 09:51

Hmm - Ive been having the same problem - will turn the shadows off and see how that goes as well.

RaMDOM · 28 Jul 2008 at 10:36

Like others have said - the game engine sucks. I have gone through two upgrades since it came out what... 2/3 years ago?.... and still cannot run it with everything maxed.

However, turn the water effects off and you run everything else maxed after that, even shadows. It is the water effects that make in run like a dog, not shadows imo. try it and let me know how it goes.

Bossk128 · 28 Jul 2008 at 11:04

I'll have a muck about. I've got shadows up at 2nd top, and all water effects on. Only stuff not maxed is: not top shadows, and I think I've no AA/AF. Oh, and no Vsync until I can get it solid over 60fps. Water might not have been the issue with me, the worst performance I got was in a small wooded area (an encounter whuile travelling) with bandits behind crates, no water but my flaming mace would be trying to cast mad shadows. Maxed out at 8fps!

Bossk128 · 29 Jul 2008 at 15:57

After having frames drop again in a crypt (around 25-30), I figure I am going to switch some more things off, again mostly shadow related I think. Found this on NWN2 forums, it might help some.

Crimefighter · 30 Jul 2008 at 10:16

Bossk128 said:
After having frames drop again in a crypt (around 25-30), I figure I am going to switch some more things off, again mostly shadow related I think. Found this on NWN2 forums, it might help some.

Will read that link later. (its blocked at work

)

Turning off the shadows has helped a little, but Im still getting slowdowns - seems to be worst around fire type effects such as burning buildings, but Im not 100% sure yet.

BlackDragon · 30 Jul 2008 at 11:17

NWN2 seems to run like a dog, but if you buy the expansion it updates the engine significantly so that it looks better and runs a heck of a lot faster.

I struggled to get NWN2 running smoothly at high settings even on an 8800GTX, but still played it through like that. Got the expansion a few months later and it runs smooth as silk.

Crimefighter · 30 Jul 2008 at 11:44

BlackDragon said:
NWN2 seems to run like a dog, but if you buy the expansion it updates the engine significantly so that it looks better and runs a heck of a lot faster.

I struggled to get NWN2 running smoothly at high settings even on an 8800GTX, but still played it through like that. Got the expansion a few months later and it runs smooth as silk.

thanks for the tip...I was waiting for MotB to come down in price a bit, but it may be worthwhile getting it sooner than later if its that much of an improvement!

BlackDragon · 30 Jul 2008 at 11:48

Crimefighter said:
thanks for the tip...I was waiting for MotB to come down in price a bit, but it may be worthwhile getting it sooner than later if its that much of an improvement!

Definitely worth it

saguy · 30 Jul 2008 at 11:51

BlackDragon said:
NWN2 seems to run like a dog, but if you buy the expansion it updates the engine significantly so that it looks better and runs a heck of a lot faster.

I struggled to get NWN2 running smoothly at high settings even on an 8800GTX, but still played it through like that. Got the expansion a few months later and it runs smooth as silk.

Does the expansion visually improve the original campaign?

I never finished the NWN2 even though I have started the expansion which is visually improved runs better (I've upgraded my card). The engine and interface is still a clunky old thing which I hope will be ditched in future new titles.

I entered my first town and thankfully they have done away with the toy town look of NW2 where all the buildings were ridiculously out of scale.

BlackDragon · 30 Jul 2008 at 11:57

saguy said:
Does the expansion visually improve the original campaign?

I never finished the NWN2 even though I have started the expansion which is visually improved runs better (I've upgraded my card). The engine and interface is still a clunky old thing which I hope will be ditched in future new titles.

I entered my first town and thankfully they have done away with the toy town look of NW2 where all the buildings were ridiculously out of scale.

I think it improves the original one. It does require NWN2 to play so I don't think they would install two different engines!

Did you not enjoy the NWN2 campaign?

Bossk128 · 30 Jul 2008 at 12:09

I bought MotB at the same time, so I've never played it vanilla. Certainly it seems that one or two tick points cause great reductions in FPS. I'm on the first "on" shadow setting (so no. 2 in the list). I've switched off render far shadows, and switched off soft shadows. FPS went up from ~35fps to over 100. I think I'll leave the shadows as they are and bump up the AF/AA. I haven't tried this yet so no idea what the hit will be.