Microstuttering/Frame Skipping in multiple games

john129pats

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Oct 31, 2012
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Recently I've this issue in most games that I've played. Metro Last Light, Far Cry 3, Civilization V, Dishonored, etc.

Today I ran a benchmark tool so I could finally illustrate my issue.

http://i.imgur.com/FB1rXmf.png

If you see those black lines dropping in and out, that's where the game "skips", or freezes for a split second. It's really frustrating, and I'm trying to find a fix.
My specs are:

i7 2600
Nvidia 560 ti
8 GM Ram
1TB Samsung HDD

I've tried all sorts of programs like Nvidia Inspector and Afterburner, only to have zero results. I've cleaned my PC, I've made sure the temps are good, I've replaced my graphics card with a new one of the sample.

Does anyone know what may be causing this?
 

john129pats

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You don't think I can run these games with the card I have? I play all my games on low settings, and even when I turn down the resolution, I still get these problems.



Late game isn't an issue for me, it's actually the beginning of the game where I get it the worst.
 
Hmm how odd. The game could be heavily effected with hard drive load. I can see that being the case especially if its a large map.

I believe for last light and far cry 3 being newer fps titles it'll be difficult to push out the eye candy of a maxed out game. However, I'm certain you can play either game either by lowering your resolution or by turning anti aliasing completely off. and shadows to if they aren't already.
 

john129pats

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I play in 720p resolution on low settings. I don't understand how I can't handle these games with my hardware.
 

john129pats

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OS: Windows 7 Home Premium
Processor: Intel Core i7-2600 CPU @ 3.40 GHZ
Physical Ram Installed: 8 GB (Not sure of make and model)
GPU: Nvidia GeForce GTX 560 Ti (Ram: 1.25gb)
Wireless Network Adapter: AE 1000 Linksys
Monitor: Acer LCD Monitor V243H
Mouse: G700 Logitech Mouse
Soundcard: Realtek Onboard Audio?
Hard Drive: SAMSUNG HD103SM ATA Device

I'm not sure what model the power supply is. How would I find that out?

I don't have any extra apps running.
 

john129pats

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A 1 TB Sata Hard Drive. I don't think I have any other apps running. I looked in my task manager to see what processes I have running and there isn't anything.
 
It's also possible you have the settings in last light set to high honestly. Nvidia put out a very good article on what your settings should be set at. And with a 560Ti there are limited settings for that.


http://www.geforce.com/whats-new/articles/metro-last-light-graphics-breakdown-and-performance-guide


1920x1080 OPS Quality Advanced PhysX Tessellation SSAA
GTX TITAN Very High On Very High 2X
GTX 690 Very High On Very High 2X
GTX 680 SLI Very High On Very High 2X
GTX 670 SLI Very High On Very High 2X
GTX 680 Very High On Very High Off
GTX 670 Very High On Very High Off
GTX 660 Ti Very High On Normal Off
GTX 660 Very High On Off Off
GTX 650 Ti BOOST Very High On Off Off
GTX 650 Ti High Off Off Off
GTX 650 Normal Off Off Off
GTX 580 Very High Off Off Off
GTX 570 High Off Off Off
GTX 560 Ti Normal Off Off Off
GTX 560 Normal Off Off Off
 

john129pats

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I put everything to the bare minimum it can possibly be, and even then, I still get a consistent frame rate above 60, sometimes way above 60, and I still have these problems. I don't understand how I can have such a good frame rate and such poor frame latency.
 

john129pats

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What do you mean why am I dragging this along? I didn't have this issues when I first got my pc, even with the games I mentioned. I don't have hundreds of dollars to shell out on a new graphics card.
 
Trust me the game is. Metro 2033 was hard enough on a 560Ti with settings turned up.

You need to realize games like Far Cry 3 and Metro Last Light require high end hardware either GTX580, 580 SLi, or one of the newer 600 series cards 660Ti, 670, 680 and so on.
 

john129pats

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Do you want to buy me a card? Because you seem so dead set on that being the only way to fix this issue. My specs are above the recommended specs for Far Cry 3 and Dishonored. Civilization V came out 2 and a half years ago and I can't run it? Come on.
 
I think its a bit rude to just say yes buy a new card because someone doesn't care. Look John, Far Cry 3 is a very intensive game that has been bench marked heavily. In a FPS having frames well beyond 30, in the ballpark of 60+ is where things need to be. Here is a article from tomshardware about high detail benchmarks for Far Cry 3. A 660Ti will run circles around a 560Ti at this point. SO in that instance you are probably getting inwards around 20 fps tops in a good scenario. And I would imagine because of how last light is that it would be something quite similar.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/far-cry-3-performance-benchmark,3379-6.html

If you are on a budget you can find another 560ti on the cheap. I had two 560Ti's in Sli for a period of time and then switched to a 670 because I couldn't take it. You have to realize you are really against the wall on a couple of things firstly RAM the thing that really sucked about a lot of the 500 series cards was they really only had 1 gigabyte of ram or just a little more beyond that. And also the architecture. With the newer cards they are built a bit more towards the current games and then 700/800 series cards will.

So what do I suggest for you. I would go by the book on the settings that nvidia has set out so that means NORMAL detail in Last Light and everything else turned off including physx and that will allow you to play last light at 1080p. Also, you'll have to do normal things with Far Cry 3 you'll have to just find the proper resolution and settings for the game.

You will have a hard time with these demanding games with the card you currently have and how high you would like to push them graphically. It may be wise to wait and see what comes out in the future and invest a little more into graphics whether its with nvidia there second number in there number scheme being 70 or 80 or with AMD 870, or 970.