Guild Wars 2

Very interesting build!
Will test as soon as I get the right gear!

Why a scepter\shield combo and not let’s say, Staff – this baby gets A LOT of boons,

Yes i figured it out… It just makes me so mad that I am above the minimum requirements and yet I can’t play at all… Just a complete waste of money.
If I had known that my system is not fit to play this game, I would have saved this money…
I will not buy a new PC for one game that is written poorly.

there is something in the FAQ:
if the GPU is 100%:
(3) GPU might have disabled engines. Check in Process Explorer > View > System Information > GPU > Engines

Relevant to me?

I see there V on Engine 1, and no V on anything else.

I wish I could just upgrade one component, But if I replace my GPU, i’m still stuck with a PCI-e x4 slot…
So the new card will take a MASSIVE hit…
And replacing the motherboard means replacing the the CPU and the RAM… so whats left? the case? lol

Is there any plan for a software optimization?

Latest Update:
With CPU Quad core OC’ed @ 3.4Ghz
C1E step and Intel Speedstep are DISABLED.
4Gb of RAM DDR2@399Mhz (5-5-5-15)
And GPU Oc’ed to:
Core Clock 780Mhz
Memory Clock to 1163Mhz (2326Mhz)
Shader Clock to 1953Mhz

Frankly, I don’t know if there was a change, I think not.
If there was, It was minor and clearly not enough.

Games takes up to 688MB of RAM, so no worries there.
All graphic options on lowest possible (including subsamples).

Could this maybe a Win7 64-bit problem?

I have noticed the FPS is lowest (10-) when I look to the horizon.
If I run around facing a mountain or straight to the sky FPS goes WAY higher (even seen 40+-). Of course this is not practical for playing because 90% of the time you see the horizon.
I was thinking when you don’t look to the horizon and the fps caps from 10~ to 30-40~ the bottleneck may be changing from the GPU to the CPU. (This is only an idea, I don’t know enough about this game to say for sure).

*GW2 only takes about 220+ from GPU memory (on lowest graphics) – 440~ on highest. so the GPU Memory shouln’t be a problem
Waiting for comments on this latest update… Good day!

Thank you for your answers.

Crawford, I never felt that the game asks for too much RAM… Even with my game on I still have plenty of RAM Available… Even to alt+tab and play other heavy games perfectly. Plus it’s alot more than what the system requirements ask for.
BTW Also tried running the game with GameBooster to make sure of that.
Will give it another look though.

I have stabilized my RAM on 5-5-5-15 (on 1.8v). unfortunately 4-4-4-12 was unachieveable even at 2.2v (I dont know if it’s safe to go higher, is it?)

So this + CPU Overclocking to 3.4Ghz (On Auto Voltage) Still NO change at all to the FPS.

I think it’s safe to rule out the RAM and the CPU being Bottlenecks, right?

Next step is the GPU OC, I will get right on that. (Thank you Swedemon)

Thank you,

So leaving the OC matter on the side.
Anything else I can do to try and improve my FPS?

Great, if I try 4-4-4-12, what voltage should I begin with? (currently on 2.1)
Or perhaps it is better to go with Auto? (From what I read, Auto always exaggerates with more voltage than what is needed)

It is indeed PEG.
I have set my ram 5 – 5 – 5 – 15.
And changed its voltage to 2.1. (I think it can even stabilize on lower)
Now it seems stable, how can I measure the Ram Temp or decide if it is indeed stable?
I don’t want to stay in these settings for a few weeks and then find out I was melting my RAM (lol).

About the SpeedStep, should I be turning it On or Off?

I got PCI or PEG.
As far as I know, PEG refers to the PCI-e card.
So PEG is the choise I should put there

Or am I mistaken?

How can I make sure of that?
The monitor is plugged in to the External PCI-e DVI input,
and not to the onboard VGA input way up the pc tower.

Plus no other pc game ever had any problems like I said.

Is there any way I could make 100% sure?

I have a setting on my Gigabyte Motherboard called “Robust Graphic Booster” (RGB).
It says it boosts the bandwidth of the PCI-e…
Ive tried it in Auto\Fast\Turbo and nothing seems to change…
Is this thing even related?

Thanks a lot for your answers,
I would give these OC settings a chance once I get better cooling.
But due to the lack of FPS increase at 3.4Ghz I presume it wouldn’t do much…

Nitro, do you think that even if I run at 2.83Ghgz (Stock 333×8.5) I should change my Ram Clock Values?

All the Voltage Values are on AUTO.

I would assume that given that 9800GTX+ is above the minimum requirements, it would have been able to run the game on playable stats… now I don’t mind rolling with 20+fps, it hurts the eyes but it IS playable.

But playing with less than 10 fps is not only torture, but also impossible to function fluidly.

I was thinking, usually the main killers of FPS are Shadows and Draw Distance.
Shadows are set to None, as well as Shaders to Low (Doesn’t change much).

Is there any way or command (because the lack of video setting) for changing Draw Distance? I am sure if I lower that it would do wonders.

well, this is what i gathered from CPU-Z and Everest, hope it’s enough:

[img]http://s14.postimage.org/pchmxu99b/ramcpuz.png[/img]

[img]http://s14.postimage.org/xw10vlhlr/rameverest1.png[/img]

[img]http://s14.postimage.org/to68mug67/rameverest2.png[/img]

[img]http://s14.postimage.org/6b874c02n/rameverest3.png[/img]

[img]http://s14.postimage.org/r9ed2ezxb/rameverest4.png[/img]

Thanks for your comment!

After updating my BIOS, my OC Sticks, I am running now 377×8.5=3204

Still NO CHANGE at all to the FPS.

Is this enough to conclude that the GPU is the problem here?
I will try to change to my max OC possible (ram limits) 400×8.5=3400 and report back.

The way I see it, the GPU is the bottleneck here (more accurate, the 4x bus size).

As for the RAM clock sync speeds, they are AUTO on the bios and goes for 6-6-6-18.

According to EVEREST Ultimate:
@ 400 MHz 6-6-6-18 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 24-51-3-6-3-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 333 MHz 5-5-5-15 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 20-43-3-5-3-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 266 MHz 4-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-34-2-4-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)

I got no idea where did it read this information and no idea if it even comes into play.
What I do know is that I can change Auto in the BIOS to Manual and change it, Should I?

UPDATE:
3.4Ghz OC Stable (50-60celsius), No change to the FPS

Update:
I have updated my BIOS and I think the OC will stick this time.

In case my PC is not fit for OC, is there anything else that I can do to improve my FPS?

I have disabled C1E (and C2E etc…), but i find no evidence of Speedstep on my BIOS.
I have set my PCI-e speed 100.

I also dont think its the OC values that fails.
If I turn OC on and even put 334FSB speed, it will still reset back to 333, same thing if I turn FSB speed DOWN! its like FSB doesnt accept ANY other value than 333.

Nitro, can you please share your OC settings with me? (in pm or here, whatever is comfortable) so I could have some guidlines of what im doing wrong.

I was thinking maybe the problem is the BIOS? I got Gitabyte F2 and i can try updating to F5beta.

Also tried using the Gitabyte EasyTuner software but it doesn’t seem reliable…

This is what happens exactly:
Pc boots up, POST completed, Intel logo showing up
It shows the CPU speed that I have set up (lets say 400×7.5 for example)
And when it starts to test the memory it says “Me”… (The first part of Memory Testing OK) and “crashes”.
Than it loads up again with FSB speed of 333(multiplier stays what i set up, 7.5)
And says “Memory testing OK” and system loads up.
Next time I will enter the bios it will say “system expirienced a crash due to unstable oc values or voltage” or something like that.

Now it doesnt matter what I do, It always happens.
ANY FSB\multiplier i have tried I get the boot and “me”… crash.
Even stock values with OC turned of (ofc it doesnt show the error than cause oc is off) but it still the same problem…

So basicly I dont seem to OC\UC at all.
Could be a memory voltage problem?

I also got here more options that no guide seems to consider under “Advanced Overclocking” like Robust Graphic Booster (which seems to boost the bandwidth on PCI-e slots) or Cpu Clock “Skew” and stuff like that, some clock that is set to 800,
I will enter the BIOS and upload some photos next time.

BTW My RAM is: 4.00 GB Dual-Channel DDR2 @ 399MHz (6-6-6-18)

Any ideas?

well, im trying to OC now, and when no matter what value i enter, it always goes back to stock 333×8.5.

If i change the Multiplier it boots fine. (8.5 is max and it works)
but if i change the FSB (even lower) it boots back to 333…

My CPU (Q9550) goes from 6x up to x8.5 multiplier.
Anyway, I just entered my BIOS, and to my surprise my CPU was 333×6 (2ghz instead of 2.83).
Apparently i was underclocked(?!) in comparison to stock values.
It is now 8.5×333(2.83ghz), and to my surprise I get LESS FPS (how the hell?!).

I took SolarNova’s advice and found a bridge I can stand on staticly with no movements. I had 11.8FPS.

After the return to stock values i get 10FPS. Temps are 55~celsuis and GPU load didnt change.

But all the cores work harder now, what was earlier 16%~ now is 41%~.
And the busy core is CPU3 now and not CPU2.

I will try to OC it to 3.2ghz and see if anything changes.

Any observations on why this happened?

I will try that now,
tough i know absolutely nothing on Overclocking.
I found this guide:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/259899-11-core-overclocking-guide

is it what i am looking for?

While alt tabbing (if it matters):
Main GW2 Thread (2120 if its universal) takes about 24.XX
CPU0: 29%-41%
CPU1: 16%-28%
CPU2: 16%-28%
CPU3: 87%-95%
And it keeps saying that GW2.exe:6048 is using 39%~

And GPU is 98%-100% when game is not alt tabbed.
Btw PCI-e x4 is 1.1

What does that mean?

First of all thank you for your comment!

In-game None of the cores is maxing out, not even close!
And as I said, my graphic settings are the Lowest Possible. (even though fps doesnt change at all even on Highest possible).

I see my GPU maxing in a matter of seconds while my CPU remains fairly Idles (all 4 cores).

According to your comment do you not think that the x4 bus affects it?

Thanks.

Hey,

These are my PC’s specs:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 2.83GHz (Cores unparked for whatever it’s worth)
4GB Ram (running dual channel)
Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H (Socket 775) (This IS the problem)
512MB GeForce 9800 GTX+ (EVGA) (PCI-e x16)
Using Windows 7 Ultimate 64 Bit (SP1 fully updated)

As far as temperatures go, we’re good (42 °C+-).
Running at 1280×1024@60Hz.

When playing the game i get about 6-15FPS max (72 when looking to the sky\at the wall).
Game is Absolutely UNPLAYABLE, it stutters like crazy, responsiveness is really slow.
I have done everything the sticky post said, no difference.
Graphic changes matter nothing (im on lowest possible, even tried resolution change)

Every single piece of hardware in here is above Minimum Requirements (Some or even all are on Recommended Requirements).

CPU Load is fine.
GPU Load is 98%-100% Constantly.
Tried GPU overclocking, underclocking, fan speed 100% etc…

Now here is the bad part:
My GPU is x16,
My PCI-e slot on the motherboard is physicly x16,
but apparently (i just learnt it) runs at x4.
This is not a bug that can be changed, this is the actual motherboard’s speed.

Now, I have never encountered any FPS problems in ANY game.
Am running WoW, Skyrim, Borderlands 2 and ALOT of Heavy and demanding games on High Graphics.

I was contacting support, sent a Speccy, Heaven Benchmark, GPUZ log and all.
Apparently they can’t help me with PCI-e x4. (They were nice, and it’s understandable, no complains there.)

I don’t mine tweaking what I need, I don’t give a darn about graphics or textures…
I just want to play the game i bought.

Please, is there ANY way that i would be able to increase my FPS with my current hardware?
Just to make the game Playable (25fps+) – Not even talking about WvW here, only PvE.

I tried all Nvidia drivers, tried tweaking all the settings in Nvidia Control Panel.

How can this game be SO heavy?
Like I said i ran heavier (or at least equal) games on higher graphics on 55-60 Fps constant.

Thanks in advance and good day!