Mass Effect - Steam version running like a pos

Kainz · 26 Sep 2009 at 09:05

See, this is why I couldn't be ar*** with pc gaming years ago and it's come back to haunt me. Eventually purchased the game last night after Valve fixed the checkout issue and it downloaded fine.

I launched the game, setup my res of 1080p and I was away to watch the most sluggish, stuttering intro ever. I haven't even got beyond that point yet because it is so choppy. Dropping the resolution doesn't help, lowering details doesn't do sod all and v-sync makes no difference. I'm running out of options.

Already finished the game to the death on the 360 but just wanted to see what the PC version was like :/ Now I wish I hadn't bothered. Anyone got any ideas?

Specs:
C2D @ 3.7ghz, 4GB Ram, ATI 4870 1GB, Auzentech Meridian soundcard, Win 7. The game is installed on a raptor hard disk too :/

BoozerDawg · 26 Sep 2009 at 11:17

Usual stuff tbh.

Latest drivers ? Anything overclocked ? Stuff running in the background ?

Kainz · 26 Sep 2009 at 11:19

Nothing running in the background, latest ati drivers yes although they made no difference. Nothing running in the background, and the system is overclocked. I just can't see how that would be an issue given that there is no game that has given me such problems. Hell even Crysis doesn't stutter and choke like this does.

Goldfingers · 26 Sep 2009 at 11:35

It's always worth putting your overclocks back to default settings or simply lowering if problems occur. It dosen't always fix it, but overclocking can have wierd effects on games.

Re-installing can sometimes fix it too.

Danyb001 · 26 Sep 2009 at 11:44

Eek, Mines downloading now, Hope I dont have such problems..and my specs are extremely lower than yours.

Kainz · 26 Sep 2009 at 12:05

Downclocking to my stock 2.4ghz is the only open option left. I understand that Bioware put out a patch just a few days ago that has yet to reach steam. I wonder if that may help.

Aod · 26 Sep 2009 at 12:06

Kainz said:
Downclocking to my stock 2.4ghz is the only open option left. I understand that Bioware put out a patch just a few days ago that has yet to reach steam. I wonder if that may help.

unlikely - ordinary Mass Effect ran fine on my PC (nVidia 8800) on the day of release

it must be a problem with the steam version or your PC

BoozerDawg · 26 Sep 2009 at 12:16

Ah yeah also, as its on Steam, try verifying the cache etc (right click, properties, local files, verify and defrag in there).

chaparral · 26 Sep 2009 at 12:17

Kainz said:
I launched the game, setup my res of 1080p and I was away to watch the most sluggish, stuttering intro ever. I haven't even got beyond that point yet because it is so choppy.

The crysis intro does the same thing on my system in my sig...But the game runs fine........

Wait till your mass effect intro finishes and see if the game runs ok..

strang3r · 26 Sep 2009 at 12:17

The Steam version is running fine for me. Using an 8800GT with C2D @2.6ghz.

ic1male · 26 Sep 2009 at 12:30

It does the same on my lowly laptop on WINDOWS 7 playing with the retail disc. The sound and video are out of sync in the intro video but corrects itself when you actually start playing. I wonder if it's a 7 issue... Anyone on XP or Vista with troubles?

russ0r · 26 Sep 2009 at 13:55

OP try disabling hardware sound and see if that fixes it.

Teki187 · 26 Sep 2009 at 13:59

No issues here, played through it on both Vista and Win7, love the game.

James J · 26 Sep 2009 at 14:18

vsync enabled or disabled? Also 0 problems here with a E1800 at 3gz and a 8800gt

edit sorry just noticed the vsync comment, only other thing to suggest would be try updating DX to the latest possible version

Kainz · 26 Sep 2009 at 15:37

Currently v-sync its disabled. The game is running with software sound at the moment and things seem a bit smoother, but the choppiness is there. I've even tried it on Vista x64 as this is a dual boot system but it makes no difference.

This is just going to be one of those isolated gaming issues it seems. I played further into the game upto the Eden sections and gameplay itself is fine. It's just that the cutscenes are choppy. I'll try dropping to 2.4ghz later tonight I guess.

James J · 26 Sep 2009 at 15:56

Can you knock down your video acceleration down 1 notch? That was an old trick to get things working but I know vista 64 with nvidia drivers has problems with it -.-

TAC4U · 26 Sep 2009 at 17:04

I have a 4870, Win7 RC1 and the Steam version of Mass Effect and I haven't come across any issues.

r3loaded · 26 Sep 2009 at 17:11

Possibly a codec interference issue? Try disabling/removing any codecs/codec packs you have installed. Windows 7 doesn't need codecs in any case since they're all built-in to Windows.

Kainz · 26 Sep 2009 at 17:21

r3loaded said:
Possibly a codec interference issue? Try disabling/removing any codecs/codec packs you have installed. Windows 7 doesn't need codecs in any case since they're all built-in to Windows.

Good suggestion, as that was my first thought too since the FMV sequences are for the most part smacker/bink movies played back by the bink player. However I have no codecs as I use KM Player that has it's own decoding engine lol