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Performance issue resolved - GTX 280

Toadus

Toadus

Toadus

Associate
Joined
3 Apr 2009
Posts
151
Hi Folks.

I had the strangest issue with my PC's performance recently. I've been using all the default 3D settings within the nVidia control panel, but after downloading the latest beta forceware from nVidia's site, I noticed the addition of Ambient Occlusion and Antialiasing Transparency. I'm fairly sure that I was able to turn on Ambient Occlusion without it causing any issues with my fav game - COD4. But the following day, my PC began to act rather odd. I was getting poor framerates in COD4 where there was a lot of grass like stuff. So maps like Overgrown were unplayable. I read that Ambient Occlusion kills framerates, so I disabled this and the problem resolved. I also read that if you are using Antialiasing Transparency on Supersampling, this will stress the GPU much more too, so I made sure this was on either Off or set to Multisampling. So no more framerate issue, but the PQ was very average. If I turned on either of these features, Antialiasing Transparency - Supersampling or Ambient Occlusion, the game was unplayable in parts.

Anyway... I'm sure the performance wasn't this bad before, so I tried everything to get it working better. I re-installed the graphics drivers, used Driver Sweeper, removed RivaTuner, all to no avail. :(

In a last ditch effort, I read that disabling various nVidia services can boost performance, so the only one I could find was nVidia Driver helper Service - SVVSVC... After disabling this, I couldn't believe the difference. I was able to set Ambient Occlusion and Antialiasing Transparency on Supersampling, also overall image quality I set to Very high, and the game never drops below 60fps in ANY scene. I don't know if it was luck or what but worth baring in mind if you have any performance related issues with your nVidia card. ;)
 
It looks AMAZING. :)

Before I had everything on the nVidia control panel on default, which I think is the setting which reads "Allow the applicaiton decide" I'm now using the advanced 3D settings, with eveything on max, and it looks so damn nice.
 
Yeah, I had similar issues with Ambient occlusion and supersampling AA. If I enabled these in L4D the game became so dark it was unplayable, regardless of ingame brightness settings. At some points just before the church on death toll all I could make out were the coloured highlights around the other survivors.
 
Oh. I never had those type of issues. It was all performance related for me. I'm so glad I've got it sorted, I can't emphasize enough how good those settings make COD4 look! :)
 
Toadus said:
I read that disabling various nVidia services can boost performance, so the only one I could find was nVidia Driver helper Service - SVVSVC... After disabling this, I couldn't believe the difference. I was able to set Ambient Occlusion and Antialiasing Transparency on Supersampling, also overall image quality I set to Very high, and the game never drops below 60fps in ANY scene.
Click to expand...

Where can I locate the nvidia driver helper, SVVSVC, to disable it? I can't seem to find it.

I've got a BFG GTX 260 OCX but I haven't tweaked or changed anything yet so I guess everything is still set to default.

I have a feeling I could get more out of the card, but to be honest I'm not too clued up on what settings would make a difference.
 
Here you go mate, read ALL of this:

http://www.tweakguides.com/NVFORCE_1.html

:)

Do you know how to get into the services menu? Control Panel -> Admin Tools -> Services. You'll need to switch Control Panel to Classic view... Find the service by searching in alphabetical order, fairly straight forward. Disable it if it's running, then right-click for properties, and set its start mode to Disabled, so it won't start up again.

I suggest you download the latest beta forceware driver from nVidia.com.

Use the link I've given you to understand all about the advanced 3D settings, what they do etc. Then you can change the settings in the nVidia control panel. COD4 looks so damn nice with all the settings on their highest quality. :)
 
I've followed your steps mate and the only service i see running is the standard NV Display Driver Service (NVSVC) which is always running. Not seen any Driver Helper in my services. (Vista BTW)

However, googling svvsvc doesn't bring up any ref to NV drivers, but it does bring up a thread talking about malware...
 
Last edited:
Oops! Just read my post. Sorry, it's nvvsvc, not Svvsvc.

If you have this one: Display Driver Service (NVSVC) then you can disable it. My system showed it as NVVSVC however. If you haven't got any issues, then there's probably no point. If you've got a GTX280 and COD4, and you can put everything in-game on max, and also the 3D settings all on best quality within the nVidia panel, and all looks fine, then there's probably no point...
 
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