Frame freeze and Stutter

[Dung_Beetle]

I have a new computer, and am having problems with Black Shark 1.00 and 1.01.

The frames seem to get bogged down with high levels of activity. This happens in both high & low video settings.

Generally my system seems to be working well. All other games function correctly except for LockON which app crashes. That problems seems unrelated.

I have contacted support team at DCS, and they are unable to resolve my problem.

 

Does anyone have a clue about what is going on or wish to hazard a guess?

 

See attachments for last trk and dxdiag info.

 

My hardware:

Motherboard: Asus P6T6 WS Revolution

dual power supply: Silverstone ST1000 & OP 650 (graphics only)

DDR3 SDRAM DIMMS = 6 x 2GB

Asus: VK266H 26" monitor 1920 x 1200

Graphics: Gigabyte 2 x GTX 285

Storage 2x WD Velociraptors

CPU: I7 920

DxDiag2.txt

LastMissionTrack.trk

Edited September 9, 2009 by Dung_Beetle

[Kirai]

I have a new computer, and am having problems with Black Shark 1.00 and 1.01.

The frames seem to get bogged down with high levels of activity. This happens in both high & low video settings.

Generally my system seems to be working well. All other games function correctly except for LockON which app crashes. That problems seems unrelated.

I have contacted support team at DCS, and they are unable to resolve my problem.

 

Does anyone have a clue about what is going on or wish to hazard a guess?

 

See attachments for last trk and dxdiag info.

 

My hardware:

Motherboard: Asus P6T6 WS Revolution

dual power supply: Silverstone ST1000 & OP 650 (graphics only)

DDR3 SDRAM DIMMS = 6 x 2GB

Asus: VK266H 26" monitor 1920 x 1200

Graphics: Gigabyte 2 x GTX 285

Storage 2x WD Velociraptors

CPU: I7 920

 

I have the same problems. My FPS is ok, between 20 and 30 when it gets hot but I still get stutters and freeze, don't know whats the problem.

[Panzertard]

Unfortunately I dont have time to test your track - I'm about to run off for work :)

Since DCS is heavily dependent upon the CPU (and not your GTX 285) I think you need to keep that in mind. Still, graphics may be involved.

 

But here's what *I* would have tried if it was my computer - in the order it's listed;

(More details abot each step may be listed in the TROUBLESHOOTING - Help us helping you.)

- Disable SLI, new test.

- Downgrade Nvidia driver (using driver cleaner too).

- Look for suspicious problems on my computer in eventlogs and elsewhere. System health. If you know about previous system problems - please tell us about it - it is important regarding your tests.

- Reset CMOS settings / upgrade (or downgrade if you just have upgradeded) BIOS.

- Really ensure that O/C is not part of the problem - nor memory or BUS timings.

- Full reinstall of DCS, maybe on another drive, full patching up again - ensuring that I had no MOD's when installing / upgrading.

- Reinstall windows

- Throw the bloody computer out the window and buy a new one ...

[Dung_Beetle]

I disabled SLI, and no change.

I down graded drivers using driver cleaner, and no change.

As far as CMOS settings go. I just upgraded my bios from 0407 to 0507.

I had the same problem with both bios versions and memory set to either 1066 or 1333.

My memory is 6 x KVR1333D3N9_2G all settings on auto except DRAM frequency which is set at 1333 currently. I have the same problem on auto freq.

I have nothing OC'd, but my CPU runs higher than rated. 2.7 & 2.8 Ghz. The CPU is rated for 2.67 GHz.

I have reinstalled and repatched twice.

I haven't tried installing to another drive yet.

I don't use any MOD's because I haven't got the game working correctly yet.

This is the 2nd install of Windows, but I really didn't play Black Shark with the first install because I was getting the close program bug with 1.0.

so maybe I have to try that...

But all other games and programs run fine.

[Dung_Beetle]

I reinstalled the operating System, and installed a new sound card. I updated the chipset software, and the problem is still there.

[JG14_Smil]

hello,

 

in your ka-50/BS/data/scripts/options/lua

 

try setting ["water"] = 0,

 

that should gain you 10% in fps. I note with Lomac and BS, when using the TIR, I would get little pauses when I looked around for the first times in a mission. If I looked around the entire cockpit beforehand, seemingly to fill some memroy buffer(?), the freezes would go away.

 

Experiment with the virtual memory settings and you may find one that works best.

[Cionara]

Your system is very nice.

Did you overclock it ?

Because DCS uses only one core and at stock speeds your i7 920 won't be better then a 3,2Ghz Pentium 4 in this sim.

And a 700$ i7 940 won't be better, too. But luckily the i7 920 is very easy to overclock. I got mine to 4.3Ghz from 2.67Ghz stock. I have it watercooled but I

think you can easily OC it to 3.6Ghz with a new CPU fan if you ain't already got a good one. Maybe 3.4Ghz with intel

cpu cooler. I also give you the advice to turn HT (Hyperthreading) off in the BIOS. It simulates 4 additional cores,

so it's 8 then but there ain't no games which benefit from it, they often even loose some. HT also heats up the CPU a lot and takes more voltage.

 

Here is a nice Tutorial for i7 OC:

http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/cpus/2008/11/06/overclocking-intel-core-i7-920/1

 

And you won't loose warranty because nobody (not even Intel) can proove if you OCed your CPU.

Edited September 25, 2009 by Cionara

[Dung_Beetle]

If what you are saying about my CPU speed is true. Then it would explain my problem.

I don't think it is the graphics because the freezes and stutters happen at any resolution and with both high and low settings.

My RAM tested OK with memtest86.

So I'm thinking it must be the CPU. What else could it be?

I've reinstalled the OS and played with the virtual memory, and have had no success.

I asked BS tech support about the CPU, and they said BS should be working well with my 920 CPU. In fact they said my CPU is awesome.

My problem, with overclocking is that I have a warm house and no water cooling. I don't have the cash to spend on water cooling. Plus, water just sounds bad around electronics.

I have a Q9550 and a GTX280OC I could just build another system or stick a huge fan on my CPU and overclock it. My family is complaining that my computer is heating up the house. I'm not sure if they'll stand for another computer or more decibels coming from the current computer.

[Cionara]

Just test if it gets better when you overclock to 3.4Ghz.

The CPU will only get hotter when you turn up the voltage but I think you can do 3.4 without having to change it. And when you now have Hyperthreading enabled, and then deactivate it your CPU gets cooler and you got some space for overcloking. In fact you only have to overclock to 3.2Ghz because the i7 Turbomode will boost it to 3.4ghz automatic.

 

Just follow the instructions in the tutorial. I think I didn't post the best one. I know a very fine tutorial but it's german.

I will just translate it:

 

Overcloking takes place in the BIOS. I give people who are new to overcloking the advice to write the following rules on a paper so they won't do anything wrong.

 

- The Uncore-Clock has to be twice as much as the effective memory clock. e.G. you got DDR3-1600 Memory (Set to 1600MHz of course) the UCLK (Uncoreclock) has to be 3200 or higher.

 

- The QPI-Clock has to be higher then the UCLK ( In general the QPI is always higher because it gets raised automatic by overclocking)

 

About the voltages. Change as much as voltages as you can away from [AUTO] to the default values. The default values are normally shown on the right side in the BIOS.

( If you do not, the System will automatically raise the voltages when overcloking which is not neccessary and could be dangerous for some hardware)

 

First you should note your current bios settings. You got a Asus mainboard, Maybe you can even save them as a profile on the mainboard. I can do that with my Asus board by pressing F11 in the bios I think, that's very nice.

 

Then you should deactivate the CPU features called Speedstep and EIST (I advice to turn Hyperthreading of, too). Change the PCI-E-Clock from Auto to the default 100.

Set the Vcore (CPU Voltage) to 1.25V.

 

Ok now let's start.

 

For 3.2Ghz you need a BLCK (Basis Clock) of 160 which usaully needs a QPI-Voltage of 1.3V.

So set BCLK to 160 and QPI to 1.25. the Multiplicator should be 20.

Now look if the DD3 Memory runs in it's specification (means not higher then 1600mhz, if it does, use a lower Memory-Multiplier) and that the Uncore-Clock is twice as much as the Memory Clock.

Save the settings, reboot your computer. Use the tool "Prime95" which you run in the "SmallFFTS mode" to look if the PC is stable and use the tool "Coretemp" to see how hot it gets.

If it ain't get hotter then 65°C it's ok.

 

 

Try that out and report how it worked. If your PC crashes change the Vcore (CPU voltage not the QPI) from 1.25 to 1.3 and try again.

If you really have bad luck and if your computer won't even boot, turn it off and clear CMOS. This are 2 pins you have to contact with screwdriver for some seconds, more information in your mainboard manual.

But don't be scared this shouldn't happen and if your PC case is open it takes 5 seconds to contact the pins and it's all like it was before.

Edited September 25, 2009 by Cionara

[Tez]

Dung_Beetle could you try flying in a plain field starting not from airfield but in the air. Notice the places or moments when the stuttering occurs. Is there any regularity?

 

Q9550 is powerful enough there is no need to OC it, surely. The only thing I don't remember is whether you checked it for overheating. You said it's warm at home and your monstrous PC heats it up.

Edited September 25, 2009 by Tez

[Cionara]

Q9550 is powerful enough there is no need to OC it, surely.

Had a Q9550 before.

There is need to overclock until you're performance is always higher then 60fps. It depends on the performance you're expecting.

If you are happy with 20fps in big scenes which for me is just to slow and stuttery or if you normally play at high and fluent fps.

 

It's just my oppinion. But with Q9550 at stock speeds I had around 20/25 fps when starting the mission "Altitude" for example. I couldn't stand that, my eyes couldn't so I OCed it to 3.8Ghz and it jumped up to 40fps and everything was fine. Or Armed Assault 2 cause it really eats your CPU power. I ran different benchmark scenes in that game and compared my CPU at 3 Ghz against 4.2Ghz and difference was ~30% Performance. FPS increased from stuttering and not fluent jumping between 30 and 50 to always fluent 60 fps.

Would I have compared it with 2.67Ghz stock speed performance boost would even been higher.

 

I mean overclocking CPU is always a good thing, all games/prgrams will run faster. Is no negative about it, a bit more power consumption, yes, install an ernergy-saving lamp in your living room to compensate and it's fine.

Know what I mean. As long as you keep it low like 3.4Ghz for example it won't get hot either. It's just positive overall.

 

Only con is that Intel won't get their big profit because you spent 260$ for an i7 920 OCed to 3.4Ghz which is now equal to their 1200$ i7 965 running at 3.4ghz, too.

 

 

Because you got a crazy high end system I would expect that you are normally playing games at always fluent 60fps or even more if you don't use vsync and 20/30 fps then in DCS looks for you like stuttering.

You know, just test it there is nothing to loose.

 

The only thing I don't remember is whether you checked it for overheating. You said it's warm at home and your monstrous PC heats it up.

You can use Coretemp to check that, too (http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/ ) . Also why should only DCS heat it up to cause stutter ? A few weeks ago my PC-room, which is located under the roof, had around 35-40°C and it doesn't caused any stutter or a big heat change, 5°C maximum. Also stuttering would occure after a time, lets say 10 or 20 minutes if this was the case, and could only be caused by graphics cards cause CPU turns it self off when getting to temperature limit. Hot graphics cards would also cause graphical artifacts besides that DCS maybe uses 10% of the power of two GTX285.

 

If my explanation of overclocking was too difficult just google "Core i7 overclocking tutorial" and there will be tons of infos for you.

 

greets Cionara

Edited September 25, 2009 by Cionara

[Dung_Beetle]

I have a I7 920 with a temperature sensor attached the heat sink. The Temperature never goes over 102 F, but usually is well below 100 F. It is the the two GTX285's that through the heat.

The stutter happens when any missile activity or explosions happen. You could review the track I have posted to see it.

[Cionara]

Stuttering caused by missiles... that is strange =(

[Dung_Beetle]

Well when there is a lot of activity like engagements with the enemy and crashes.

[Dung_Beetle]

OK, I've done it, my first OC!

I've got it overclocked to 3.19. I just want to be conservative about OCing until I get a good CPU fan.

I've run Ka-50, and am still encountering the same problem.

[Kirai]

OK, I've done it, my first OC!

I've got it overclocked to 3.19. I just want to be conservative about OCing until I get a good CPU fan.

I've run Ka-50, and am still encountering the same problem.

 

I have the same problem, I have OC from 3.0 to 3.6.

[Migo]

That's very strange.

I have stuttering when events are loaded, like when flying over the ingress points and a trigger is activated, but after some seconds it's fluent like before...

[Kirai]

I have noticed this kind of stuttering in FSX also. I have checked my FPS and its between 60 and 90 in FSX so its not the problem, the same goes for BS (with a little lower FPS 30-50). If I turn down the graphics it gets better but I shouldnt have to do that with an FPS that high so I cant understand where the problem is. If it was the CPU then it should have shown up with a low FPS?

[Dung_Beetle]

My freezing and stuttering happens no matter what resolution or detail settings are on.

I changed out the graphics card, and still had the same problem.

 

I ran Western Digital Lifeguard tests on the WD drives they are fine.

I found that by mistake I have my SATA drives installed as IDE instead of AHCI. I guess I'm going to have to reinstall the OS again to fix it.

 

Could having my SATA drive set to IDE instead AHCI be causing my problem?

 

I did have an interesting thing come up when I ran benchmarks in Si Soft Sandra. Under tips it said: "cannot use large memory pages due to lack of privileges"

So I did a Google search and found this article:http://www.tipandtrick.net/2008/enable-lock-pages-in-memory-to-prevent-database-paging-to-disk/

I changed the settings,and locked pages to memory. It really seemed to impove my system performance, but didn't fix the problem.

[speed-of-heat]

have you tried turning off your AV package and seeing if that is a factor?

[Dung_Beetle]

I guessing you mean Audio Video Package, but how do you turn this off?

[speed-of-heat]

no i meant anti-virus... I suspect if you turn of the audio and visual components of your PC your enjoyment of the simulation would be limited ;)

[Dung_Beetle]

I haven't installed anti-virus yet.

[Nate--IRL--]

Well when there is a lot of activity like engagements with the enemy and crashes.

 

I viewed your track, and yes it does get a bit stuttery when you start getting shot, but it is certainly still playable on my computer (Core2 @3.15ghz) . Try flying around in the Battle mission to give your computer a real test.

 

Do not expect fluid framerates from DCS at all times, as it really can hammer your CPU when a lot is going on in the mission.

 

Nate

[Dung_Beetle]

So this is normal behavior for DCS on all systems? If so are we waiting for multi-core support from DCS?