Guild Wars 2

Hey all, having some weird performance issues and wanted to check if this is par for the course at this point, or if there is something dreadfully wrong…

System Specs:
AMD FX-4100 OC’d @ 4.0Ghz.
8GB DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) RAM
HIS IceQ Radeon HD 7870 @ 1100Mhz (Latest WHQL Catalyst drivers (12.8))
Just upgraded from HIS Radeon HD 6750 (Latest WHQL Catalyst drivers (12.8))

3dMark11 Performance before vid card upgrade (Performance setting):
CPU: ~3300
GPU: ~1600
Combined: ~1850

3dMark11 Performance after vid card upgrade (Performance setting):
CPU: ~3300
GPU: ~6900
Combined: ~5550

GW2 settings for all tests (unless otherwise mentioned):
1920×1200
Unlimited framerate
No vertical sync (even disabled it at the driver level to be sure)

Before vid card upgrade in GW2:
Medium-high settings, no AA, some bells and whistles turned off, 20-45 FPS depending on the scene, dropping to slideshow speed in large boss battles.

After vid card upgrade in GW2:
Same settings, same framerate as before.
Ultra settings, same framerate.
Ultra with *super*sampling enabled, same framerate.
Ultra with *sub*sampling enabled, same framerate.
Vertical sync, same framerate.
Everything turned all the way down, no bells, no whistles, subsampling, etc: 30-50FPS.

What in the world is going on? This system, even with the mid-range CPU, should be playing this game like a bat outta hell. I get roughly the same framerate in the 3dMark11 tests as I get in the game.

The average framerate seems to be sitting right around 35FPS across the board.

Any thoughts?

It’s mostly likely a problem on ANet’s side MANY people are experiencing FPS or performance issues all we can do is wait for a patch. I also read in a post that they already acknowledged performance and fps issues with GW2. So just wait for ANet to fix it and don’t think its your rig until its fixed.

Side notes, since I’m sure people will ask:

The system itself is relatively new (only about two months old.) The windows install is quite clean. All I’ve installed is GW2, Steam (and a few steam games), WoW, and 3dMark.

When I got the new vid card, I completely uninstalled the AMD software/drivers, shut down the computer, put in the new vid card, booted and reinstalled the drivers/software.

I have the same problem. You check to see what your GPU usage is in-game?

PrinceAli.3140:

I have the same problem. You check to see what your GPU usage is in-game?

I haven’t checked. I’ll do that tonight.

It’s some consolation to know that I’m not the only one with this issue though. At least we know it’s (probably) not our machines….

The main problem for me is that the game is not using the gfx card(s) properly. Everything on the lowest settings @ 1024×768 and it’s only using 10-20% on both my gpu’s but the framerate is avg of 40 (im using nvidia 570 sli). If I switch off sli the framerate is identical but the gpu usage is about 60% (max settings). My cpu is not the problem either (i7 920) as it’s only using 30-50%.

PrinceAli.3140:

The main problem for me is that the game is not using the gfx card(s) properly. Everything on the lowest settings @ 1024×768 and it’s only using 10-20% on both my gpu’s but the framerate is avg of 40 (im using nvidia 570 sli). If I switch off sli the framerate is identical but the gpu usage is about 60% (max settings). My cpu is not the problem either (i7 920) as it’s only using 30-50%.

Man, that’s bizarre. Definitely sounds like a software issue on the GW2 end. I know this sounds crazy, but it almost sounds like they stuck an unintentional “sleep” in the code that is causing a nasty bottleneck.

Im thinking the same thing. Saw a few people saying there was a patch on friday that messed things up. I only got the game yesterday so I don’t know if that’s the problem im having. When did you get the game?

PrinceAli.3140:

Im thinking the same thing. Saw a few people saying there was a patch on friday that messed things up. I only got the game yesterday so I don’t know if that’s the problem im having. When did you get the game?

I’ve had it since launch day, but I didn’t notice any change on friday. I just got the new vid card yesterday, so it’s possible this performance issue would have affected me last friday, and wasn’t affecting the old card….or something.

This problem is almost for sure a GW2 thing, I too have a bottleneck present, and even if I change everything to the lowest, the framerate isn’t different at all, or in the best case it differs in 2-5 FPS.
Also, this has been present since launch.

Thanks a lot for the feedback guys. I’ll keep an eye on this thread, but I think I got the answers I was looking/hoping for/needing.

I’m running an i7 (3.4GHz), 8GB of 1333MHz RAM, and a GTX 560ti with 2GB on board. My co worker is using the EXACT same system. He plays with maxxed settings at around 70-80 FPS. I log in (after a fresh computer start) at around 140FPS and then within 2 minutes, I’m down to single digit FPS… with an identical performance drops when I go to min settings.

I’ve updated to the 306.xx drivers for the card. Tried cleaning/reseating the card in either slot I have available. I’ve considered spyware issues and took actions required for that and still suffer from the same problem. I’m thinking it’s my card, but I haven’t gotten a chance to check it out (nor do I have the money for that) yet.

Mojobacca.8152:

I’m running an i7 (3.4GHz), 8GB of 1333MHz RAM, and a GTX 560ti with 2GB on board. My co worker is using the EXACT same system. He plays with maxxed settings at around 70-80 FPS. I log in (after a fresh computer start) at around 140FPS and then within 2 minutes, I’m down to single digit FPS… with an identical performance drops when I go to min settings.

I’ve updated to the 306.xx drivers for the card. Tried cleaning/reseating the card in either slot I have available. I’ve considered spyware issues and took actions required for that and still suffer from the same problem. I’m thinking it’s my card, but I haven’t gotten a chance to check it out (nor do I have the money for that) yet.

I suggest you do not waste your money on any new parts or repairs because i believe it is not your fault or your computer. You should just wait like the rest of us for Arena Net to fix this problem that so many people are experiencing. But clearly there is something wrong with the game’s performance because switching graphical settings from high to low gives no fps boost at all, probably only like 2-5 fps.

Mojobacca.8152:

I’m running an i7 (3.4GHz), 8GB of 1333MHz RAM, and a GTX 560ti with 2GB on board. My co worker is using the EXACT same system. He plays with maxxed settings at around 70-80 FPS. I log in (after a fresh computer start) at around 140FPS and then within 2 minutes, I’m down to single digit FPS… with an identical performance drops when I go to min settings.

I’ve updated to the 306.xx drivers for the card. Tried cleaning/reseating the card in either slot I have available. I’ve considered spyware issues and took actions required for that and still suffer from the same problem. I’m thinking it’s my card, but I haven’t gotten a chance to check it out (nor do I have the money for that) yet.

The easiest way to know if the problem is of your PC or GW2 is to try another game, or even more than one, and check if they work as intended or if you have the same FPS problems.

I did just confirm that I’m running 40-60% GPU utilization, and 60-70% CPU utilization. Yuck!

Also just tested Portal 2. I’m getting 160-299 FPS (caps at 299 it appears) with everything maxed out, 1920×1080. This is 3-4x what my old card did.

Going off what’s above, probably the best place to find poor performance is:
a) WvW
b) Dragon fights in world events

Just tested Tribes Ascend. 1920×1200, everything maxed, no vsync. Couldn’t figure out how to get a fps count, but it was smooth as glass.

AshleySegovia.3948:

Hey guys – We’re still collecting data in regards to this issue. While some players do have issues with their systems such as not meeting the minimum requirements or needing to update their video card drivers or even reseat their video cards, we recognize that some players with no issues are experiencing performance issues.

Please follow the steps below to provide us with some additional information in regards to the performance based issues:

1. Run Gw2.exe with –perfdebug as a command-line argument.

2. In the game go an area that exhibits poor performance.

3. Hit Ctrl+Shift+C to start performance profiling, this should take 15 seconds and post a message in the chat window.

4. Once it is complete it will dump a *.dat file into a “Profiles” folder located in the same directory as the local.dat file. This should also post a message in the chat window.

5. Attach the file to the thread, preferably zipped to cut down on size(4mb).

Hey! I really appreciate the response. I’ll go try this now.

I was unable to run ctrl-shift-c. I hit it and nothing happens. I tried adding the command line by adding it to the shortcut as well as running it through the command prompt, and it doesn’t do anything, or enable me to profile using that key combination.

I really want to get you what you need. Any other suggestions?

Attached a screenshot of settings and framerate.

Also, here’s a dxdiag, if that helps anything…

Yeah the Ctrl-Shift-C doesn’t work for me either. I was trying to do this inside of Sorrow’s Embrace, where I get sub-10 fps even when nothing is going on. However I noticed when I alt-tabbed out for a minute to look for the file then came back, I had about 30fps. I tried to repeat this process but now Sorrow’s Embrace isn’t even letting me get inside.

Just took this with all the settings turned all the way down… CARAZY!

(lol @ my chat messages (Faesight))

Couldn’t do ctrl+shift+C either. But here’s a strange thing: if I use Task Manager, right-click on gw2.exe *32, and Set Affinity so it’s only running on CPU 1+3+5+7 (of my i7), the FPS roughly doubles. Still not great, but at least playable.

Interesting. I’d try something like that if I had an intel CPU. As it is, I’m running an AMD FX-4100 @ 4.0Ghz….

What you’re doing there, in case you didn’t know (and if I understand correctly), is effectively disabling the hyperthreading for the GW2 process.

Hickeroar.9734:

What you’re doing there, in case you didn’t know (and if I understand correctly), is effectively disabling the hyperthreading for the GW2 process.

Exactly why I tried it… synchronizing threads can be tough!

Nyxyxylyth.8974:

Hickeroar.9734:

What you’re doing there, in case you didn’t know (and if I understand correctly), is effectively disabling the hyperthreading for the GW2 process.

Exactly why I tried it… synchronizing threads can be tough!

Funnily enough, I was discussing the performance issues with a fellow dev at work today and we both agreed that it sounded either like someone stuck some sleeps in there and forgot to take them out (unlikely) or that maybe there was a problem with thread sychronization.

Of course neither might be to blame, but interesting theories nonetheless.

Disabling one thread per core makes no performance difference for me (even slightly reduces performance) on my i7-970 6 core (12 thread) CPU.

I did notice that disabling CPU Parking helped a little bit, but clearly some processes are not being offloaded to other threads properly. With 6 cores, 12 threads of power, I shouldn’t be seeing throttling at any point (CPU usage never goes above 50%). Unfortunately that isn’t so.

I can also confirm that I am also unable to create a performance profile using CTRL+SHIFT+C, running gw2.exe as an administrator with -perfdebug.

Regarding the performance profile, they’re aware of the problem and looking into it.

A lot of people are seeing the same CPU and GPU underutilization. Looks like AN is going gung-ho trying to find a fix now. I’d high-five them if I were there, lol. :-P

As I am hearing that these performance issues are on Anets side, I feel relieved. However, what’s strange for me and I am not sure everyone else, is that I usually get a better frame rate if I am in Tyria when I am PvE-ing, depending on how many people are around, obviously (22-60FPS). But when I go into the Mists and WvW, my frame rate is atrocious..when I first start off at the portals, my frame rate is around 60FPS but when I approach the large skirmishes, before I even see anyone (with my LOD Distance on Low) my FPS dips to 5-10FPS and even worse when I am in the heat of the battle. Please, do not see this as another complaint, I would just like to be reassured that it is indeed Anets side.

Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601)
Processor: AMD FX™-4100 Quad-Core Processor 3.6ghz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Card name: AMD Radeon HD 6700 Series (6750 HD)
Resolution: 1920×1080

Interesting setup you have there. I had the exact same system, except I just upgraded to a 7870 from my 6750. Didn’t get any extra performance, lol. For the record, I also got horrible FPS in WvW with the 6750.

Ahhhh, and did the 7870 perform better in WvW? Should I upgrade my card or is it on Anets side? So confused -_-

I haven’t tried the 7870 in WvW

It appears to be on Anet’s side, especially since they’re actively investigating with players now. Your graphics card is a bit borderline though, so you might just need an upgrade sometime soon. If you want to do WvW and can deal with a graphical hit for now, try enabling subsampling Under the “Render Sampling” option.

Strange thing though for me is even on “Best Performance” (which uses subsampling) I still get 5-10FPS in skirmishes and different areas of the Mists…Also, I suppose I will have to upgrade my card, just recently bought it thinking it would be sufficient. I thought wrong hahah