3870X2 Vs UT3 (Deck) - Large FPS Drops

[HeX]

The problem is, while playing UT3 the game will have excellent performance when the map first loads, but after a seemingly random length of time average framerates will drop considerably.

I have found one location that can cause this performance drop every single time.

If you start the game, go to Instant Action, Deathmatch, select 'Deck' as the map, set bots to 0 and load the map.

When first loaded framerates are excellent, I have taken two screenshots of a random part of the map just after loading, in the top left you can see the fps (recorded using FRAPS).

Before 1

Before 2

This fps remains good, until you go down to the bottom level of the map (Goo Pit) where the 'portal' to the redeamer can be found. The very instant you walk close to the portal the game litterally jerks/blinks once and from that point on all framerates plummet. (see screenshots below taken after going near the portal of the same areas as before, this time labeled 'after')


After 1

After 2

It is almost as if one GPU just turns off and the card goes into single GPU mode.

Performance does not return in UT3 until the game is completely exited and reloaded.

I have had the same thing happen in the Demios map as well, however I have not been able to find what causes the card to slow down in that level and as such cannot give such a precise method to make the problem occur.

Other maps seem to be fine, but Deck is effected every single time, and Demios seemingly randomly...

I've tested in WinXP x64 and Vista Ult x64 happens in both, i've tried 8.1, 8.1+Hotfix, 8.2betas, 8.2 official, and it happens with them all.

UT3 + 1.1 patch @ 1680x1050 all in game settings on highest possible, no AA, no Anniso, Smooth Framerate disabled.

Anyone else with an X2 does this happen to you too? Try following the testing pattern I outlined above and see if you get it or if it is just me

 

[Rroff]

Friend of mine is having similiar problems with his X2 at the start of the map its fine but after a random amount of time usually after 1 minute and before 5 minutes it will drop to 20-30fps and stay there til he restarts.

(this isn't UT3 - but most of the games hes tried so far do the same thing - don't think he has UT3 to try this tho)

 

[Alexrose1uk]

Sounds like some sort of driver/memory handling issue to me, perhaps try one of the 32bit OS and see if you still get the issue there.

 

[kylew]

Isn't there a setting that slows the card down so it uses only enough power to render at 60fps? (for example) Isn't it part of power play?

 

[V|per]

Getting too hot? throttling back maybe? check the temps of the card to rule this out.

 

[drunkenmaster]

open up task manager and check virtual mem address and private mem or whatever its called, either way, see how much memory its using at the start, and how much its using when the slowdown happens. at a guess one of vista/64bit memory addressing issues are happening and you want the patch for it, maybe not.

i find it truly outstanding that microsoft fail to put up 99% of the actually needed patches as automatic downloads on windows update. everytime i reinstall i find myself needing to spend a ridiculous amount of time finding and sorting out which updates i have/which i might need and so on. most of them are named ridiculously. Obviously there are gamers in the world, why not have a downloads/gaming section for all things related to fixes for performance issues, why not have them as automatic updates for everyone so its not an issue.

Reinstalled again not long ago and the memory addressing issue cropped up when playing sins of the solar empire and would crash 5 mins into every game.

I did have about 10 different gaming related patches nicely downloaded in a folder for when i reinstall, but mobo died, and raid array had to be remade so lost all the patches, yay

 

[HeX]

Getting too hot? throttling back maybe? check the temps of the card to rule this out.

Nope nothing to do with heat/power of this I am certain as I can recreate the problem 100% by following the pattern above, it is the portal on Deck that does it, I can run round other maps for hours on end without the problem occuring.

Infact I can even run around Deck for hours and I will not get the performance drop until the instant I go to the portal in the goo pit.

I've got Vista SP1 (RTM not RC) installed so I should be pretty covered on the Vista x64 patch requirements shouldn't I? Or will there be specific ones I need? Worth a shot as i'm about ready to right it off as a Driver/Game bug.