Witcher 2 performance increase please read

rippling · 23 May 2011 at 09:28

There has been proof that the D2D and retail versions of the game have there FPS crippled because of DRM!
for anyone with the reatail or D2d version of the game , read below

If you replace your Witcher2.exe and paul.dll (perhaps optional) with the GOG version, you will gain 30%+ to your FPS almost guaranteed. I tested this myself: Whereas I was hitting 20-28 FPS in Flotsam, I now hit 30-45 FPS STABLE. It is a huge increase, and totally noticeable. It will also stop the game from taking 15-45 seconds to load from the launcher! The game now loads almost instantly for me, whereas before it took +15 seconds when starting the game in Windows, even on my fast Vertex 2 SSD.

Komedy · 23 May 2011 at 09:44

where do i get those

Destination · 23 May 2011 at 09:48

Really?
How on earth does this have an effect?
I'm on the GoG version, granted I play on a 4890, so my 1920*1200 settings are very low I suppose, I've had no slowdowns, my fps is great things look reasonable.

Sleepery · 23 May 2011 at 09:49

Presumably you have to be naughty to get your hands on the required files.

rippling · 23 May 2011 at 09:50

I dont know where to get it , cant post that on here , its just a heads up , i have no idea how it works , but it does only if your on retail or D2D versions

Teaf · 23 May 2011 at 09:57

Be aware this involves removing the copyright protection on the game.

The reason it works is because it's the SecuROM files that cause the game to slow down, which doesn't effect the GOG version because it's DRM free but the retail one for instance has SecuROM on it, therefore using the GOG files with the retail release bypasses the copyright protection and speeds the game up.

ColdAsIce · 23 May 2011 at 10:00

Been trying to download and verify the DLC after I was forced to format my PC since friday afternoon and it still won't verify. DRM sucks

rippling · 23 May 2011 at 10:02

So again people with a genuine retail copy are getting it in the neck while pirates have no problem , cdp better take out a patch .....

Pestilence · 23 May 2011 at 10:17

All this despite the fact that you don't even need the disc in the drive to play. Just crazy.

Calm · 23 May 2011 at 10:28

I don't understand why they've bothered with this online verification DRM when they've provided a DRM free version since release. Disk check and serial would have been sufficient, if your capable of find your way around them sourcing the game shouldn't be a problem.

Cooper · 23 May 2011 at 10:41

Just tried it.....only thing i noticed is the faster launching time, cant say i noticed any increase in frame rate...still in the 25-35 range for me...think i would have noticed an improvement like the one the OP described.

ColdAsIce · 23 May 2011 at 10:44

I could easily pirate a copy or get the cracks discussed but I really don't want to do that

rippling · 23 May 2011 at 10:48

its not really a crack , yes your removing the protection , but you have already paid for the game whats the problem? being retail we prob paid more for the game anyway ......

Destination · 23 May 2011 at 10:50

I still don't understand how a securom can slow down frame rate, loading perhaps, but surely frame rate should be governed by other factors, is it in use the entire time one plays?

Glad I went GoG.

Arclite · 23 May 2011 at 10:54

Really do not want to ruin a game which bought legitimately. I will just wait for the upcoming patch, apparently they are fixing many issues so until then im not playing.

Frenzy · 23 May 2011 at 11:02

Calm said:
I don't understand why they've bothered with this online verification DRM when they've provided a DRM free version since release. Disk check and serial would have been sufficient, if your capable of find your way around them sourcing the game shouldn't be a problem.

Same reason they only allowed preloading and certain bonuses wtih GOG. They would have come out looking better if they didnt bother with drm on any format.

rippling · 23 May 2011 at 11:05

Cooper said:
Just tried it.....only thing i noticed is the faster launching time, cant say i noticed any increase in frame rate...still in the 25-35 range for me...think i would have noticed an improvement like the one the OP described.

What hardware have you got ? ati or nvidia , if nvidia get latest beat drivers and uninstall the 3d vision drivers , if your ati i dont know if they have released a driver update yet?

megalomanic · 23 May 2011 at 11:08

I just tested this in a few locations, swapping between original files and drm free ones and loading same save points, I got no boost in performance at all, exact same fps. Game starts up faster but going to stick with the original files anyway to avoid stability issues. This was with the retail/boxed copy.

The performance for me was already good anyway, maybe it only affects certain versions or setups because those that supposedly got a massive boost were initially getting much lower than expected fps based on their systems, perhaps a specific software/driver conflict caused by the drm or something.

ColdAsIce · 23 May 2011 at 11:09

I also don't want to download and replace the startup.exe as a new patch is due anytime.

JDR82 · 23 May 2011 at 12:10

I take it the Steam version doesn't suffer from any DRM issues, my game launches in 5 seconds roughly and from the main menu or in game loading a different save takes 4 - 5 secs, using an older samsung ssd.

My issue is regardless of settings my fps stays the same, so at the moment I run the following

I get a framerate that floats around 20-35fps which for a 1gb 5650 mobility I am fine with, for me its good enough to enjoy an rpg and the game looks amazing.

However playing around if I lower everything I still get the same fps no improvement at all which seems a bit strange, running the 11.5 whql ati drivers.