I actually noticed this during beta 4, but it was the first time I noticed buildings, on my new laptop, so I thought they just needed some optimizing, which would be done for the release.
I get a constant max framerate (limited to 90 in my case, for example) over all the map, on a bare ground, units for example are ok. But as soon as a small 3D object enters the field, it decreases. A tree in the corner? 45 fps. A city (not a big one, just the first settlement) visible? 15 fps.
I tried to change the various settings, deactivated soft lighting, AA, shadows, resolution, it's still doing the same. It works good on the cloth map, without a problem, though, as there are no such elements.
Now I would understand such thing on my older laptop, but I'm surprised to see this on the new one. Specs:
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU Q 720 @ 1.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~1.6GHzMemory: 8192MB RAMVideo Card: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5870Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
So I'm guessing there is somehow a problem with drivers (though latest ones from ATI), or at least some incompatibility somewhere. Because the objects are nice, the cell shading effect too, but it's hardly something to bring this computer to its knees.
ps: I understand that a game like this doesn't need to run at 90fps. But 15-20 is actually unpleasant on the long term.
Edit: To make a complete (more or less) analysis, I tried at a high and low configuration, similar effects:
LOW Settings:
- Video Configuration
- Over a city: 20 fps
- Without objects: 138 fps
HIGH Settings:
- Over a city: 18 fps
- Without objects: 80 fps
So it doesn't seem to be related to the video settings. I also tried windowed, same.
It is really related to these 3D objects, as shown by these two other screenshots:
- Full zoom, empty ground: 99 fps
- Same place, just a bit higher to have one tree in the view: 29 fps
So far, the only thing which seems to improve performance is to force the game to run only on one core (physical one, so two virtual cores on Core i3/5/7), as suggested by thebigJ_A in this answer.
It should be the other way around, clearly, so maybe it's giving a hint on where the problem could be. Note that this doesn't solve the performance problem, there is still a big decrease on framerate when passing on cities, but less than when the game is authorized to run on all cores. I noticed however that doing this since the 1.05 version makes the sound choppy, probably because it was expecting to run on a different core to begin with.
Yep, Vanilla from Implulse.
Which actually leads to me to ask is there a development profiling version of the exe that could be sent out? I'm sure most of us would be happy to run a debug version for you.
Not that you need anyone else chiming in - but my game gets steadily worse performance as the turns add up:
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Ultimate (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.100608-0458)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)System Manufacturer: Gateway
System Model: P-173XL FX
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T8300 @ 2.40GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 4094MB RAM
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS
GPU issue not fixed in v 1.06, confirmed on IRC.
Didn't think it would be... this seems like it's a systemic issue with the engine... We better hope that they don't have to rewrite major parts of the engine or something!
Underking:
I use the original exe and dll in impulse.
My gpu is not used.
Working on this crazy issues in far from unnecessary work.
Yep, confirming that 1.06 does not fix the GPU issue here.
for a mayor issue as it seen one would think it will be a priority , hopefully it is and it will be fixed by tomorrow ^^
Underking, I don't think you can even update the game without buying the original.
I'm pretty sure it's safe to say there are no pirates in this thread.
Arr.
PS. No change in performance after updating to 1.06.
Yeah, still getting sub 10 fps once a few cities are down
FWIW, I have 64bit Win7, PhenomII, 4GB of RAM and an ATI5700 series.
My game is running acceptably at about 18FPS. Clearly the GPU isn't being pushed hard, but I've been playing for hours and only noticed how low my FPS was when I fired up Fraps.
Im using Catalyst 10.4
Some improvement with 1.06 but game should be running 60fps+ with the system specs folks are listing. I've run Crysis nearly maxed setting flawless =/ I'm still in the 10fps area with EWOM.
1.06 no change 50+ fps on 3d map untill i build a city drops to around 15fps then as my city and other citys grow it gets steadly worse untill im grinding away at 4-7 fps.Move the screen to an empty area IE no city on screen jumps back to around 50+fps.Intel 2.8 quad 6 gig ram,ati 4870 1gig graphics.windows 7 64 bit.
Same problem. My performance is horrendous compared to what I would expect from my rig. I'm forced to play the game w/cloth-map mode.
Limit Frame Rate video option seems like a mean tease/joke from the devs.
955 BE @ 3.8,
4g 1666 ram
ATI 5870
Vertex Turbo SSD
Windows 7 64-bit
I'm trying not to get mad at the guy who suggested maybe we were pirates.
If you go on Fidgit, you'll see that Tom Chick is having the same problem. I highly doubt one of the most well-respected gaming journalists pirated the game.
He has switched to using the cloth map (which he oddly seems to prefer.) He's run a bunch of daily reports on the game. The first one caused a bit of a stir here on the forum. He'll apparently have a review up tomorrow. Luckily, it seems like he likes the game.
Underking, rather than throwing around politely-worded accusations, since you don't seem to be having this issue, maybe you could post your system specs. That would likely be more helpful.
Just throwing mine out there. Should be able to run this game like a dream. Like many of the users, can run Crysis tweaked out with about 30fps steady and pretty much everything else in the 60+ fps range. Also, have had no problems with any Stardock games in the past...always been able to run maxed out with no slowdown on this machine.
OS Name Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home PremiumVersion 6.0.6001 Service Pack 1 Build 6001System Model Dell XPS720System Type X86-based PCProcessor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q9450 @ 2.66GHz, 2666 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)Adapter Description ATI Radeon HD 5850Adapter RAM 1.00 GB (1,073,741,824 bytes)Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 4.00 GBTotal Physical Memory 3.00 GBAvailable Physical Memory 1.66 GBTotal Virtual Memory 6.19 GBAvailable Virtual Memory 4.88 GBPage File Space 3.29 GB
I have a feeling it will NEVER be fixed, and will result in this game slowly fading away into oblivion, regardless of how great it is or how modfriendly it is.
LOL, im so pessimistic. Well, every other game i've played in the past that had such an issue (possibly requiring a huge rewrite of the game engine, which no dev ever bothers with), mass-crashing or ultrabad-framerate, it simply never gets fixed.
I hope Elemental is different, but i'll have to see it to believe it.
To be honest I'm also a bit pessimistic about this. Still, let's hope they'll prove us wrong
The alt-tab issue is really irritating,spelleffects vanish,dmg numbers and other text to.And finally it crashes.....back to square 1.
Although the patching has improved alot of things this Alt-Tab issue and the non existant use of GPU utilization is a game stopper for me.
Hold on a minute: you mean if we're getting lousy performance, it's because our graphics card isn't being used in the 3D view? Am I understanding this correctly?
Stardock has a history of great support on their games. So if it's fixable, it will be fixed.
Yea so it seems,some times in tactical battles the GPU is at 40% but on the main map its around 1-3% often 0%
Have you tried playing in window mode? It's practically indistinguishable from full screen at the correct resolution (it has no borders) and alt-tab should work natively.
Im trying that right now,so far so good but the fps is dropping the longer its running just like before.
My issue is a trite different, since hardware doesn't seem to be the problem, I won't even bother posting it:
If I wait around long enough after the game starts, the game actually runs flawlessly. However, when I come into contact with a person or trigger a tutorial, my framerate instantly drops down to 1-2 FPS, causing me to wait for this drop to finish. Rinse and repeat for pretty much every turn.
If the issue seems different, report it in another thread, to keep things more or less clean.
This thread is about the low framerate happening on the regular map, when a city or another 3D object is visible. If your issue is different, don't report it here.
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