For Devs: Was able to get screenshot during game play FPS issue just before lockup

[Malakie]

Hi,

Enclosed are a couple screen shots that I thought might help with the problem most people seem to be having...

I was in game and usually my system will, like so many others, play well then over time really start to bog down FPS etc...

This time however instead of ending up with a locked machine, my system recovered after it reset the graphics card this time... and I was able to take these screen shots... Note that my FPS is a whole 1 frame per sec in the first shot and a max of 9 with the next.... and that the planet is totally white!

I was able to continue playing this way for a long time although FPS did not recover past 15-19 FPS again during this period. During this I noticed, as I do during any combat, that the sound was completely messed up.

Also note that combat really seems to bring on the issue.... And in this case, I was fighting (as you can see in the screen shots) an entire fleet of but ONE (1) fighter!

So it is not an issue of lots of ships, not an issue of too many bullets etc etc... at least not on my system and the screen shots pretty much prove that out.

Here are the links to the screen shots I was able to take...

http://www.agenxtech.net/Images/X3TC12.jpg

http://www.agenxtech.net/Images/X3TC22.jpg

http://www.agenxtech.net/Images/X3TC34.jpg


My system specs are:

Intel 2.8 gHz Dual Core w/3gig memory

Creative xFI Platinum

ATI HD3870 512Meg Video

HP w2207h Widescreen

Couple terrabytes HD space

All drivers are current and updated as of 21 Nov 2008.

I have two systems near identical. One system is NOT modded at all. The other system is and uses every script and mod now out and available for Terrain Conflict. BOTH systems have identical symptoms.

Load of game my FPS averages from 34fps -52fps. After about 45min to an hour, FPS never gets about 15fps and freezes anytime thereafter.

Hope somehow this is able to help in finding this problem... Tried starting the campaign but... stopped that because of this issue.

[Sandalpocalypse]

Sounds like a memory leak in the graphics driver.

You could try rolling back to an older version.

First, though, if you are using High textures try switching to Medium.

Second it would be best if you just posted your DXdiag.

[Metalli]

Sounds like a memory leak in the graphics driver.

And since it's ATI, I would suggest going back as much as 2 years. That was the time when I had last working ATI driver.

[Malakie]

Hi,

Thanks for the advice but I do not 'roll' back drivers, change my system configurations and modify major components for any game that should run on standard hardware when released.

As with many others, my hardware and system config are just fine and are not the cause. If they were, we would not be able to play the hundreds of other games without any problems. I have seen this problem in two other large titles I have purchased in the past.... both times game patches addressed the issues. There was a 3rd time as well.. That game was never fixed and so I have never supported or purchased another title by that company.

The point of my post is not to complain at them, rather to hopefully give them one more piece of information that might just help track down an issue. Egosoft has always supported us and they will continue to do so I have no doubt. That is why I am a customer. Again, I am not complaining here I am offering MORE information that I personally experienced in the hope it helps them in some way toward finding the cause.

It is not a memory leak in the graphics drivers. It is not a problem on BOTH my systems. Rolling back drivers and messing with perfectly running stable computers is what does get them to be unstable.

I am not a novice when it comes to hardware. I am not a hard core programmer but hardware I do know. I have actually designed graphics accelerator cards and a few other pieces of hardware in my past. When you put all the facts together, it points to one thing. I am sure the devs are working hard on trying to resolve it.

The problem is in the game somewhere. The two things that could cause this, IN MY OPINION are either game code in the graphics engine and/or audio engine. Personally I have been thinking graphics engine... but the more I play, the more I keep having that nagging little thought it is an audio issue also.

When you have a large number of players all reporting identical issues you start looking at the common factors. The one common factor is the game engine. It does not matter WHICH video card is being used, this problem is occurring. Not only is that obvious from the posts but my 2 main machines have the ATI card. I have an older system that is only a 1.8 gig dual core CPU that I used for other stuff but it has an Nvidia 8800 card so I tried it with the same results.

No, the problem is not the video card hardware nor the video drivers.

BUT I will say that it COULD possibly have something to do with the audio drivers.... Creative has not put any effort into making good solid drivers for the xFi cards for Vista. I have some issues with sound in other games so it is entirely possible this is also part of the problem.... I will never buy another Creative sound card but for now I am stuck with these Xfi cards. Even if they are part of the issue, they are not the main cause.

No matter how you look at it. There is a problem that has to be addressed. For THIS major FPS/Stutter problem In 90% of these posts, the situation is not due to config issues by users and their machines. There will always be individual systems that are just screwed up with their configs. But when you have identical people reporting the same issue in large numbers who are reporting near identical symptoms, you look for the common demoninator.

I did not mean for this post to sound harsh... I guess I am just tired of always getting the standard replies in these type situations. If I were individually having problems, then yes it most likely is my system. But in cases like this, it is, in my opinion, not an issue with my system due to the large number of other gamers reporting the identical problems.

[LupusX]

I'm right there with you Malakie. I do have confidence that the Egosoft team will address the issue, and am excited about seeing the game run correctly. My machine should be able to run this game like a champ. I'm curious to know how X3:R ran on your machine? In another thread I benchmarked my box with the rolling demo, and the results are less than stellar. The performance of the 1.2.1 patch versus the demo are slightly better, but my results are interesting and still reflective of the gameplay in the actual game. Cheers,

L

[Malakie]

I'm right there with you Malakie. I do have confidence that the Egosoft team will address the issue, and am excited about seeing the game run correctly. My machine should be able to run this game like a champ. I'm curious to know how X3:R ran on your machine? In another thread I benchmarked my box with the rolling demo, and the results are less than stellar. The performance of the 1.2.1 patch versus the demo are slightly better, but my results are interesting and still reflective of the gameplay in the actual game. Cheers,

L

In X3R my systems HUMMED along most awesome! I averaged around 60-80 FPS depending on the number of ships in a sector.

The only time my system would bog down in X3R was in major battles sometimes.. We are talking battles of 100-150 ships at once in a sector all fighting...

Of course I was also running 150 add on ships, XTM, and just about every mod or script you could think of on top of all that!

I have 2 terabytes of HD space.... ALL full ( 1 terabyte is actually a mirrored drive backup, one 500 gig drive is all my code, hardware designs and layouts and things I have done in my life, 250 gig drive is gaming drive and final 250 gig drive is primary drive with windows dual boot setup, all installed programs etc etc) or I would reinstall X3R again which I removed to make room for TC. Once finances allow I will add a new drive and do that but for now I am out of space.

My second machine, although identical in power and capability, only has an 80 gig drive and it is full! LOL I usually have another 3x or 4x type game like Sword of the Stars or Close Combat or Steel Panthers Main Battle Tank (something turn based) running on that while playing X3 or Falcon 4 Allied Force or whatever.. Then when I start a turn on that machine, since it takes forever in some games to cycle a turn, I concentrate on the main system and X3 or whatever I am doing.

Can you tell I miss my Amiga! LOL

[BugMeister]

- your gravidar display looks completely different to mine
- I dont get those colours - in fact, apart from Green, I get no colours at all!

- probably 'cos your 3870 is better'n my 3850AGP

- I can, at least, get coloured planets, tho'..

[Malakie]

- your gravidar display looks completely different to mine
- I dont get those colours - in fact, apart from Green, I get no colours at all!

- probably 'cos your 3870 is better'n my 3850AGP

- I can, at least, get coloured planets, tho'..

Heh not it is not the card... it is the small mod I use to change colors.

Scripts and mods I use right now after lot's of testing are:

1) Hud Color & Icons
2) Added ships using Cycrows installer
3) MARS (awesome script and this is what also changes a lot of color based on combat and such in your sector scanner..)
4) Medusa Missile system
5) Shield Boost
6) Commodoties logistics
7) Commercial Agent
Economy & Supply Agent
9) Salvage Commands & NPC
10) Ship Killed Notifications
11) SEWN
12) Salvage Claim Software
13) Sector Scanner
14) Mobile Ship Repairs
15) Explorer Command Software
16) Community Plugin
17) EMP
18) NPC Bailing Addon


These scripts I am still testing so not yet ready to say they do not have issues or conflicts...

1) PilotAI
2) Anarkis Carrier Commands (MY conversion to TC of this script - not released public)
3) External Docking
4) Sector Takeover
5) Race Patrols


The first list are scripts that I have tested hard AND verified have no impact on the game engine problems many people are reporting with FPS/stutter. I can remove all those and the game still remains with FPS/stutter. The second list I can pretty much say the same thing at this point but I am not ready to say they do not have other conflicts or bugs so I am still testing those out.

[CBJ]

Please take discussion of scripts/mods and possible conflicts over to the Scripts and Modding forum. We can only deal with issues in unmodified games here.

[Malakie]

Please take discussion of scripts/mods and possible conflicts over to the Scripts and Modding forum. We can only deal with issues in unmodified games here.

Yep you are right.. I should have clarified that in my last message.. I run more than one system.. One is clean install no mods and the other is the one I have all the mods and scripts installed onto..

Will keep the rest of this thread on track and only refer to the clean system from this point.....

With this issue I posted, it is common to both machines. BTW, the clean system is just that.. Only Windows XP/Vista dual boot, a couple other games as well as X3TC clean install. Since it has a small hard drive I do not install anything except a few specific things on it... and nothing that alters the Windows default files and drivers other than what is needed for the video card, sound card and directX updates.

[cucher]

Those grey planets are identical to mine, Malakie! And I don't use ATI card, but NVidia. By the way, have you noted the HDD activity during stutters?

[Xenon_Slayer]

Can anyone with this grey planets issue please post their DirectX Diagnostic and the graphical settings they use to play the game.

[cucher]

Here it goes:

http://forum.egosoft.com/viewtopic.php? ... highlight=

[whosrdaddy]

I got grey planets when switching from High to medium textures, planet earth in the Moon sector is always grey now.

will post DxDiag later.

settings:

C2D 8400@3.6
4GB memory
Vista Ultimate
NVIDIA 8800GTS 512Mb
4xAF 2xAA - 1680*1050 resolution, medium textures, no EAX, Logitech USB headset

/Daddy