Anyone else have stuttering in COD4 with a 4850/4870 card?

[Firegod]

Well after fixing my GRID problems, I'm currently playing through COD4 again, and it looks lovely at 1920x1200. However I'm getting micropauses and stuttering in the game. I thought it might be the AA but even when disabled it's still occuring.

The game is a fresh install, with just my saved levels copied back across and running v1.7. I was going to install the hotfix for the ATi drivers, but when I was about to install them it said I already had the latest version on. (I'm running the 8.7 beta, so I think the beta may include the hotfix???)

Anyone have any ideas before I format my PC and start again? I'm also getting some random slowdown in GRID which can be annoying at times. Card temp does seem to be hot at around 87ºC.


Thanks.

 

[Firegod]

Grr it must be something driver wise. Ok, I'll try blitzing stuff again in safe-mode and try one more time. If not, it's bye bye Vista install and I'll start a fresh.

 

[Firegod]

Thanks for all the help and things to try. I shall try them tomorrow and let you know what happens.

But with regards to Big.Wayne's question....

I used to play it in XP and Vista on my old GTS card fine. I then switched to the 4870 (still in Vista) and now have this problem (even after re-installing the game).

Will get back tomorrow with some later findings. Cheers peeps!

 

[Firegod]

*Update*

Just to say I tried the dual video card in the options and disable sync every frame within the game, still did the stuttering. I'm off to re-install DX redistributable to see if that helps. Do you think PhysX drivers will help?

Before getting the ATi card I had the beta Nvidia one's installed.... I have removed them via CP but wonder if I should reinstall something for the game?

 

[Firegod]

Ok played a bit more, seemed a little better then all of sudden it didn't stutter, the gameplay just dropped to a crawl. wtf is up! I may try dropping the res and see what happens....

 

[Firegod]

If the xfire thing doesn't work (never thought of trying that) please try what I suggested... cause if its the problem I think it might be no amount of reinstalling, etc. is going to do squat.

Hi

Just tried that tonight. Before playing I re-installed DX, uninstalled the beta drivers, ran driver sweeper and installed the hotfix version instead.

I ran a SP mission and still had this problem, not as pronounced however. I then tried the MP map as suggested.

Starting FPS @1920x1200 with x4AA (Edge-Mode) = 43FPS

When I ran forward = 38FPS. So it dropped very very slightly, but was very smooth still. So I don't think I have the problem you suggested???

Thanks.

 

[Firegod]

This sounds like something I had with my 3870 and Vista.

I thought it was the card but it was actually a Power Option for the Hard Drive.

If you go to Power Options, Advanced Settings and then go to Hard Drive, make sure it's set to never. That fixed it for me and it was driving me completely crazy.

Give it a try

Hi.

All power options are disabled. Currently defragging my hard drives again.

 

[Firegod]

Would running PCI 1.1 affect this? I don't have PCI 2.0 on my mobo?

Cheers for all the help and comments btw!

 

[Firegod]

Currently running a 4870 on a 1.1 board (p5b-deluxe) and don't have any probs playing cod 4.

Probably worth checking (via ccc, gpuz or cpuz) if the motherboards pci-e link width is definitely set at x16.

GL

Hi

Yeah it's set to x16.

 

[Firegod]

Well I've given in, I've tried Crysis and also have problems with that. Also noticed micropauses and jerks in 3DMark Vantage even though I was getting ~30fps @1280x1024.

I've just sent an RMA note to OCuk asking for a replacment card as I've only had this card for 11 days.

 

[Firegod]

Hmm Firegod what PSU you running? and how old?

I'm running Crysis at 1920x1200 High Quality (no AA) and its well good (WinXP/SP3).

Not sure whats going on with your set-up?

It's a 700w OCZ GameXStream mate. I've just double checked to make sure both power connections were in the card also... just in case! lol.

I just don't know what's going on. I've just tried to play through CoD4 again tonight but came off as it was sticking all over the place.

 

[Firegod]

Finally I have some proof now. Ok so, I've done a fresh OS install, installed all my drivers and just the games I need. Patched the games and then tried playing them. This is what I've found.

AA kills any of my games.

I've just been playing quite nicely COD4 and Crysis at 1920x1200 with 0xAA. Smooth as butter. Fraps reporting in COD4 a near constant 60FPS (Vsync).

Then I enable x4AA in COD4, this should be no problem for my rig or this card as everyone is well aware.... and it isn't, at first.

Fraps will be reporting anywhere between 35-60FPS depending on how much action is going on, and everything is very playable. However, all of sudden the problem rears its ugly head and my FPS plumments to 9-15FPS!!![\b]. I can be in the exact area where a second before I had 60FPS and nothing, it crawls along and exiting to the menu remains the same.

Here's the proof (Here is when it's working fine with x4AA):-

And now when the problem occurs (with x4AA still):-

Now in Crysis, I have no screenshots but it's the same thing. No AA = fine. If I try just x2 AA it's jerk-o-rama! I did notice some sparklies also in the shadows when playing Crysis.

Does broken Memory affect AA?

I have an RMA from ocUK so I may link them to this thread and also include a letter as if they don't play with AA then the problem won't appear.

Any takers as to why this happens then? It took about 15 minutes of gaming in COD4 before it occured but it appears to be random.

 

[Firegod]

Here are two more of the bad FPS problem:-

 

[Firegod]

An ATi 4870 getting 10FPS! Something has to be wrong, I just hope ocUK don't try and blame my PC. After all, this is on a fresh install like I say. Only installed drivers, game and windows updates.

 

[Firegod]

Hi guys

Yup for DX I installed the lastest June 2008 redistributable. When the FPS dives there is no more or less hdd activity than normal. And it stays stuck at that speed until I exit out the game completely, which to me, if it was just a hickup it would maybes revert back in game. Not stay stuck constantly.

I have tried setting pagefile to a fixed size, different drive, but have opted for System Managed. None seem to fix this problem which leads me to believe it's down to the GPU. Nothing else.

Gurusan, I haven't tried monitoring the clockspeed or temps. Why would AA cause the clockspeed to throttle but no AA cause it to be ok? Is there a program I could perhaps use for this?

mmj_uk, I haven't tried a lower resolution because I would have thought a 4870 at 1920x1200 would work fine. I don't want to even consider dropping the res as that's why I bought a 24" monitor.

Thanks again!

 

[Firegod]

Not sure but it sounds a bit like what my 8800GT did with CoD4. Running it at 1920x1200 with 4xAA on, the performance dropped severely, and the Chernobyl missions were ridiculously jerky. I turn off the AA and bingo ive got a smooth as hell 60 FPS. Have you tried the Chernobyl missions ?

Aye mate, I could hear the missile launch but couldn't move to watch it as it basically just stuck for like a minute and then kicked back into life.

 

[Firegod]

Hi guys. Can't thankyou all enough for the help with this one. Tonight and the weekend will be the end of my testing, so if I don't have any joy the card will be RMA'd on Monday.

However, to summarise the points made since I last posted these are the answers to your questions:-

1. Windows Update Running In Background.

This is disabled on my system, I update Manually so this is not running.

2. Upgrade RAM.

Possibly, yes I may have to do this and I do want to. But this won't be until after payday. Are the people that have replied saying it's running smooth running 2Gb RAM / Vista?

3. Temperature

I'll try and find someway of monitoring this.

4. Enable Triple Buffer

This is enabled in CCC already. I do have 24bit Z-buffer selected... could this cause issues at high resolution + aa?

5. Vsync

I tested this before formatting and it made no difference. Will try again however since doing a fresh install.

6. Secondary Display

I do have my HDTV hooked up via HDMI. However this is disabled in CCC and display properties. I only enable it to watch movies, then disable it again straight after.

7. Catalyst AI

This has always been set to Standard since I did the fresh install. I have changed it to Optimised now and will try again in conjunction with Vsync/Z-Buffer changes.


Thanks.

 

[Firegod]

Ok. Tried again with Vsync disabled, Catalyst AI on Advanced, and 24bit Z-Buffer disabled. Now with x4AA it still occurs. However... it will dip down to 10FPS etc and then shoot back up to 70-80FPS. It doesn't stick at the low FPS level like before.

Still unplayable though.

 

[Firegod]

Firegod, you need to either test that card in another system or try another PSU in your system!

Cheers for the reply mate.

Yeah I do have my bro's rig, but he's on holiday and would kill me for touching it. Also, he's set a password so I can't log in... it doesn't help he has a GTX either so I'd have to mess on with drivers.

Is 700w not enough mate?

 

[Firegod]

stuttering here even with HD playback , 1080p using Kmplayer....and i have RMA'ed 2 4850's.....seriously i am step away from ghetting a 260 and never look back

Well I've manually increased my fan profile to 40%. Ran ATi Tool for 12min and max the temp hit was 81ºC. (Same as my idle temp previously!). Just installed DNA modded 8.6 drivers and I'm off to try CoD4 again now. Hopefully this will rule out temperature as an issue. Seem to have some more options in these drivers also.

Here goes nothing! lol.