Performance Issues

Hi everyone,

I'm currently trying to run SC2 in the following specs:

Windows 7
Maximus formula motherboard
Quad core 6600
4gb ram 800
And I've been using these two video cards: GF 8800GTS 512MB and GF GTS250 1GB
Updated nvidia drivers and directx.

I'm checking my fps hitting ctrl+alt+f during the game. Using high settings I start the game at 50fps (which I think is very low) and then in the mid/late game I sometimes get to friggin 5-15fps. (!)

I'm also aware of the overheating problem and wanna know if this is case here, also, if Nvidia and Blizzard have made any official announcement on this yet, cause if this is the case here, i'll get worried about it.

If it's not too much truoble i'd like to have any new information about this issue.

Thanks and sorry if I posted something wrong.

 

Post a DXDiag of your machine. This will provide more exacting information on your system and drivers.

To run dxdiag=> Windows_logo_key+r, dxdiag. If you have 64-bit windows, click the button at the button that says "Run 64-bit DxDiag," Then save all the data by clicking "Save All Information..." zip/rar the text file and attach it to the post. Instructions on how to zip here. To create a rar file, first download and install winRAR then read this guide here.

I actually have some experience with my buddies machine, which seems very similar in setup to yours. I gave him my 8800GT to use as a PhysX card, so he is running that and a 9800GTX 512MB (which is = 250GT), so its almost the same kind of setup.

 

I'll post dxdiag a soon as I get home.

What do you mean using the it as a PhysX Card?

 

The only reason you'd have those two cards in the system is to use one as a PhysX card, unless you have like, 4 monitors... You can't use them in SLI.

 

No, I didn't mean I use them both at the same time. It's just that I recently bought a GTS250, so the 8800 has been replaced by it. Is there any use for it now? I'm not using it anymore, and I don't know what a PhysX card is

 

Ok I just read about it, but I'm not sure if this would increase performance in SC2?

 

A dedicated PhysX card wouldn't really help in SC2. What would probably help is if you overclock your CPU. I think the Q6600's 2.4 GHz stock clock is a might slow for all ultra on SC2.

 

Thanks mate, but I'm running it on high actually, and even if 2.4 ghz clock is a bit slow, it wouldn't be as slow as 5fps. I have friends with weaker pc's than mine that run sc2 better than mine

 

By buddies machine has the Q6800 and he was playing on ultra with his 9800GTX. Then again, on that machine his avg frame rate is a "smooth" 30 FPS with 4x FSAA and 4x Anso. It's dropped as low as 15FPS but it was still smooth (campaign mission

Spoiler

the final Protoss mission

). The DXDiag should provide us with a lot more information though.

 

Still waiting on the DXDiag.

Here are the 9800GTX settings I setup for my buddies computer.

 

Sorry I tried to attach the .zip and received an error message. I'll try today as soon as I get home.

 

heres's my dxdiag

 

Okay, lets get started on drivers/other updates.

Your BIOS is atomically old. Lots of issues have been addressed. I can't even find the one dated on your machine. Your motherboard is the Maximus Formula, correct? If so, download the newest BIOS and flash it onto your system.

The biggest issue you have right now, you have NO chipset drivers installed. Use the Intel Driver Update Utility to see what Intel drivers you need to download and install (Trust me, its quiet a bit).

Newest Network driver here.

Biggest issue is that you need the chipset and SATA driver installed. Your having a very similar issue to the guy with an AMD motherboard in another thread right now... the difference is its much easier to find your drivers.


If you want to run another dxdiag then PLEASE make sure to hit the button that says "Run 64-bit DXDiag..." as it gives me better driver information!

 

I'm be on that asap.

Also, I've been seeing strange green dots (artifacts in screen) when I'm in Windows. This issue is not related with de video card(i know it because I tried two different gts 250's) Do you think that my old drivers might be causing it?

And the SATA driver, do i have to download it from hd's manufacturer website or motherboards website? Is that really important?



I'll post 64-bit dxdiag as soon as I get home

Thanks a lot for the attention

 

Use the above Intel Utilities link to download the Intel drivers, that will provide you with SATA drivers.

 

right, i'm on it.

is this BIOS update really essential? is it dangerous?

here's my 64 bit dx diag btw

 

You are running a 0812 build BIOS, which must have been some kind of beta bios because its not on the official list of bios for your motherboard. With all of the fixes since then, many compatibility and reliability issues have been addressed.

A BIOS update is only dangerous if the power goes out while you are flashing it. Still, you do it at your own risk.

If you want to make flashing that BIOS easy, use the Windows flasher found here (Uploaded by me).

The Intel drivers will help you out too, but with the issues addressed in the newer BIOS, its not something to ignore either.

After flashing the BIOS, open your BIOS settings and reset them to defaults and save them.

 

Cool I'll try to install the BIOS using that program you recommended me

Also, the Intel driver update utility go as far as the "Installingf" message, then nothing happens and it just stays there forever, so I don't know which chipset and sata drivers to install

 

It shouldn't ask you what drivers to install... it just just install drivers. So the utility from Intel's website isn't working at all (is that what you mean)? Make sure you have the newest Java installed so that tool will work correctly.

If the BIOS refuses to flash, let me know.

 

I only receive this loading screen and nothing else:

http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/5431/26436390.jpg


edit:

I reinstalled Java and now it says none of my devices are known nor supported, wtf?


for example:

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/7589/24410876.jpg