36 replies to this topic

[Golrar]

Just wanted to chime back in on the GPU situation. I ran in to some financial troubles so was unable to grab a new GPU yet. However, I finally OCed my FX-8350 to 4.4Ghz (mild) using a multiplyer OC. I tried an FSB OC but couldn't get it stable at the temps I want. I also need to upgrade my case.

However, I am now running V-synced at a solid 60 fps, with occasional dips to 45 in a brawl. Everything is so smooth. Before the OC, I had no complaints about playability but I wanted to see what I could do without upgrading. I am astounded to say the least. When I take off V-sync, my FPS goes upwards of 75 frames with no tearing, but there are more frequent dips (not any lower though). GPU utilization is right at 98-99% in game according the Afterburner.

All this with a GTX 650Ti 1GB 128 bit card with a 30%core and memory OC. I do use park control, and before the OC I was playing around with affinity but it doesn't seem too necessary now.

I still want to grab at least a GTX770 or a R9 280x when the prices drop, but for now this'll do.

[Goose]

So: In a blatant attempt to take over your life in teh name of Great Research, can I get you to do some reading, then run some tests for your fellow FX users?

http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__3367057

http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__3373591

http://mwomercs.com/...ost__p__3394675

Edited by Goose, 31 August 2014 - 10:17 AM.

[Golrar]

OK, so here is the rundown of settings and user.cfg, my CPU-Z and HWMonitor, as well as GPU usage in Afterburner. I am also uploading a vid to youtube because for some reason I can't take a screenshot in game. Always shows the connecting screen when I try to paste into paint. It used to work, I don't know what has changed. I am running Win7 64bit on a Crucial SSD. MWO runs off an older WD 5400rpm drive.

User.cfg(I have no idea what a few of these options do, I simply copied and pasted from the forums):

Spoiler

gp_option_ShowCockpitGlass=0
r_DepthOfField=0
r_HDRGrainAmount=0
sys_flash_address_space = 536870912
gfx_ampserver = 1
gfx_loadtimethread =1
sys_flash_allow_reset_mesh_cache = 1
ca_KeepModels = 1
r_TexturesStreamingOnlyVideo =1
gfx_loadtimethread = 1
gfx_inputevents_triggerrepeat = .016
r_MultiThreaded = 1
sys_MaxFPS = 75
cl_fov=75

http://www.dabloone.org/mwo/GPU.png

In game vid settings:

http://www.dabloone....mwo/options.png

Also, I did run the prime 95 torture tests (Small FFM) for 12 hours. I know I should really run the blend tests for 24 hours, but I didn't OC drastically. I just wanted to see if I got any rounding errors like when I did the FSB OC. HWMonitor had a max temp of 52C for the test.

BIOS options on my board (see sig):

Spoiler

turned off all the garbage like turbo core, spread spectrum, cool n crap, manually bus speeds to 1600(mem), 2200, 2600. Also manually set CPU power options for ultra high and 130% protection. Running VCore at 1.380v.

I get 60fps for the most part, I do dip to 45fps with lots of lasers and missiles and mechs, but it doesn't stutter, and it goes right back up. I use core parking, and set the mwoclient to high priority. I tried setting affinity via the task manager but this isn't making a difference. I would love to use DX11 but will wait till I get a better GPU.

Edit: Here's the video http://youtu.be/eEcmiCMyNU0

My next step to see what I can get out of this is to try process lasso. But I must say I am completely novice when messing with affinity. I just follow what others have posted here.

I will try to get a 3DMark score if you want after I finish uploading this massive video.

Any other tests I should run? I am open to suggestions as well. I just want to get the best out of my current system until I have the funds to upgrade the GPU.

Edited by Golrar, 31 August 2014 - 02:42 PM.

[Goose]

Ugh

ca_thread = 1
d3d10_TripleBuffering = 1
d3d11_TripleBuffering = 1
d3d9_TripleBuffering = 1
p_num_startup_overload_checks = 6
r_GeomInstancing = 1
r_multiGPU = 0
r_MultiThreaded = 1
r_ShadersPreactivate = 1
r_stereodevice = 0
r_UsePOM = 0
sys_budget_soundCPU = 5
sys_budget_sysmem = 4096
sys_budget_videomem = 1024
sys_enable_budgetmonitoring = 1
sys_job_system_enable = 1
sys_job_system_max_worker = 3
sys_job_system_profiler = 1
sys_preload = 1
sys_streaming_memory_budget = 2048
s_NumLoadingThreadsToUse = 4
s_PreloadWeaponProjects = 1
sys_budget_fps = 60
sys_MaxFPS = 60
r_TexturesStreaming = 2
e_AutoPrecacheCgf = 1
e_AutoPrecacheCgfMaxTasks = 4
e_CoverageBuffer = 2
e_CoverageBufferTerrain = 1
e_hw_occlusion_culling_objects = 1
e_hw_occulsion_culling_water = 1
e_PrecacheLevel = 1
e_PreloadDecals = 1
e_PreloadMaterials = 1
log_Verbosity = 4
log_WriteToFileVerbosity = 4
profile_allthreads = 1
r_Batching = 1
r_BatchType = 0
r_ShadersAsyncCompiling = 3
r_ShadersAsyncMaxThreads = 4
r_silhouettePOM = 0
r_TexturesWarmup = 1
sys_flash_warning_level = 1
es_FarPhysTimeout = 1
e_StreamCgfPoolSize = 1024
e_TerrainTextureStreamingPoolItemsNum = 1024
e_ViewDistMin = 1
g_ragdollUnseenTime = 1
r_UseParticlesRefraction = 0
spu_enable = 0
r_DetailDistance = 12
r_SSAO = 0
r_SSAOQuality = 0
r_ssdo = 0
r_Beams = 2
es_MaxPhysDistInvisible = 2
e_CullVegActivation = 1
e_DeferredPhysicsEvents = 1
e_ObjectLayersActivationPhysics = 1
e_OnDemandPhysics = 1
e_PhysOceanCell = 2
p_cull_distance = 2
p_num_threads = 3
sys_limit_phys_thread_count = 0
sys_physics = 1
e_particles = 1
e_ParticlesCullAgainstViewFrustum = 2
e_ParticlesPoolSize = 0
e_ParticlesPreload = 1
e_ParticlesThread = 1
r_UseGSParticles = 1
e_GsmCache = 1
r_ShadowBlur = 0
q_ShaderPostProcess = 3
q_ShaderWater = 0
e_WaterTessellationAmountX = 1
e_WaterTessellationAmountY = 1
r_WaterCaustics = 0
r_WaterGodRays = 0
r_WaterReflections = 0
r_WaterReflectionsQuality = 0
r_WaterTessellationHW = 1
r_WaterUpdateDistance = 2
r_WaterUpdateFactor = 0.9

I'd turn the glow off, and drop post prossesing down the mearly high; Effects can be bumpped to Very, as no one ever notices a load change; That Textures of High is a better idea now that we have "sys_budget_videomem" typed in, but droping it to medium should bring down the vmem used into the 800s; Droping Shaders to medium seems to clear GPU Core load, but you may not need that just yet; Object seems to effect everything, but just bearly, so High should be good.

There is also this "r_ShadersUseInstanceLookUpTable" you could set to 1, if you think you have spair RAM on your card.

Got all that? Here's the tricky part: While you already have the two worst sliders set to low, the game is ugly with Shadows and Particals that way. Conversly, Enviornment is something like the third worst offender, but no one seems to notice if it's set low. I'd drop Enviornment down now, and think about boosting Shadows and Paticals later.

Process Lasso seems like the best all-around solution, as turning off cores is overkill, and deveoping user.cfg settings takes all day; Bill2's Process Manager is also good for this.

MW:O has no benchmarking tool, and it's anyone's guess what level of "unloaded" is good enough from running around in River City Testing Grounds; As a WAG, I like to get the GPU down around 75% load on that map, seeing as the game is almost always CPU-bound. This is very much the same gag as setting a framerate limit: Leave some spair capacity to handly events, like getting shot at.

I find using FRAPs and HWiNFOxx to make log files real infomative, but it take GenericLogViewer to see whats going on, after you have the log made.

Oh; Before I forget, again: Turn off V-Sync in the game, but turn it on to adaptive inside the nVidia Control Panel.

Keep in touch …

[Goose]

Oh; Derp: http://www.overclock...sus-motherboard

[Golrar]

Well, I tried the user.cfg, made the changes you suggested. More stable FPS, not as many dips and not as low. Dropped environment to low - you're right, I didn't notice a change graphically but I did notice a change in performance, though slight. It was enough, however, for me to up shadows to medium and not hurt performance. Had to keep particles at low, though. I tried particles and shadows at medium and it was pretty, first time I've seen snow on frozen city. But it was dropping me to an average of 35 FPS, which I did not like. I went back to low on the particles.

GPU usage is still pegging, though. DX11 should give over some of that to the CPU right? Or is it the opposite?

Maybe I will try that next time, see what happens. And then wait for the next gen GPUs to hit the shelves so I can finally buy a GTX770 on the cheap...ish.

[Goose]

All bets are off with DX11: Some found it helpful, others didn't; Don't know whom on those two lists made additional tweaks …

If you set the two framerate limits down two 45, do you resent it? Or does it give you the wherewithal to up the particles?

It might be time to drop the Shaders down a notch or two.

How'd the Processor Lasso thing turn out?

[Golrar]

Well, what I should have done was implement each change individually and see what the net gain was. Instead, I just did them all at once. So I can't say what Process Lasso really did for me. It could be that it was in fact PL that made my FPS more stable.

Next round of off days I will go back and do each one individually. I saved my old user.cfg so it should be a simple swap. Will give more info on Wednesday night (CDT).

I am really thinking that until I get a better GPU I am not going to see much improvement since the GPU utilization is still pegged. I know I could get probably get a GTX750Ti and boost my FPS and overall performance, but I am done with budget cards. It's either the GTX770 or the R9 280x for my next card. Unless I win powerball, then dual Titans.

[Goose]

Golrar, on 31 August 2014 - 10:50 PM, said:

Well, what I should have done was implement each change individually and see what the net gain was. Instead, I just did them all at once.

Can't blame you: I want my results quick, too. :-]

Golrar, on 31 August 2014 - 10:50 PM, said:

Next round of off days I will go back and do each one individually. I saved my old user.cfg so it should be a simple swap.

All you got'a do to remremark something out is put a ";" in front of it.

Golrar, on 31 August 2014 - 10:50 PM, said:

I am really thinking that until I get a better GPU I am not going to see much improvement since the GPU utilization is still pegged. I know I could get probably get a GTX750Ti and boost my FPS and overall performance, but I am done with budget cards. It's either the GTX770 or the R9 280x for my next card. Unless I win powerball, then dual Titans.

"You can use this hierarchy to compare the pricing between two cards, to see which one is a better deal, and also to determine if an upgrade is worthwhile. I don’t recommend upgrading your graphics card unless the replacement card is at least three tiers higher. Otherwise, the upgrade is somewhat parallel, and you may not even notice any worthwhile difference in performance."

[Lord Letto]

Goose, on 31 August 2014 - 11:01 PM, said:

"You can use this hierarchy to compare the pricing between two cards, to see which one is a better deal, and also to determine if an upgrade is worthwhile. I don’t recommend upgrading your graphics card unless the replacement card is at least three tiers higher. Otherwise, the upgrade is somewhat parallel, and you may not even notice any worthwhile difference in performance."

that would be the GTX 580, 660 and 660TI on the Nvidia side, 7870, R9 270 and 270X on the AMD Side

looking at pcpartpicker, cheapest is a XFX 7870 for $130 (After $30 MIR) on the AMD Side, Gigabyte GTX 660 for $150 (After $30 MIR) on the Nvidia side

http://pcpartpicker....card-fx787acdfc
http://pcpartpicker....vn660wf22gdrev2

[Missing Spartan]

Goose, on 31 August 2014 - 04:43 PM, said:

I like to get the GPU down around 75% load on that map, seeing as the game is almost always CPU-bound.

If your GPU is only running @75% under load that means you have a bottle neck somewhere. GPU Utilization should always be as close to 100% as possible. Looks like you CPU is Bottlenecking again.

[Goose]

… In the training grounds …

[Flapdrol]

yeah, unless you have a really slow gpu or run at an insane resolution this game will almost always be cpu limited.

nvidia drivers handle the cpu overhead better in many tests, not seen it tested in this game yet unfortunately, but intel+nvidia is the safe choice.

[Golrar]

My GPU utilization has always been 98-99% in my tests so far. Goose was mentioning 75% in training grounds.

I have no idea what my training grounds utilization is because I very rarely go in there. But I guess I can take a look next time.

I still think I am going to go well above the 3 tiers and get something that will hold me over for a while. I have been using this GTX 650Ti since 2011. If a GTX 770 can last 3 years I'll be happy.

[Flapdrol]

nvidia will probably release a new gpu in a month, I'd advise you to wait.

[Golrar]

Available funds mandate that I wait, hence all the tweaking.

[Gyrok]

Golrar, on 09 June 2014 - 06:40 PM, said:

OK, I ask you guys because the response will be quick and accurate and cuts down on a lot of my quibbling. I have done a lot of research via tomshardware.com, HardOCP, and others but I can't pull the trigger myself. I need a new GPU. Currently using the GTX 650 Ti 1GB. This is my new bottleneck. Now, I get 60fps with DX9 or DX11 with shadows and particles set to low and everything else on high. This is 60fps initial, and it will go down to around 40fps as I play, scaling up and down. I have a pretty good user.cfg already with the help of many on this forum. Temps on the GPU in DX9 get to around 56C in game, idle at 34C. Now this is very playable and by no means does it make me feel inadequate. However, I want a bit more eye candy.

Budget wise, I would like to not spend more than around $250 US. I know to stay away from the 750 Ti. I would love a 780 Ti or a 290X, but it just isn't in the stars. Right now, this is the only game I play that is current because frankly I find a lot of the games on offer these days just simply suck (Re: Watchdogs, CoD). However, Star Citizen seems to be in my future. I do occasionally go back to Skyrim and Metro 2033.

I have no preference between NVidia or AMD, but a future SLI/XFire compatibility would be a bonus. I have an EVGA Supernova NEX750W PSU, and the rest of my build is in the sig. I don't want to give any ideas to influence suggestions, but I am looking at a single card right now.

Also, my case is a Rosewill Challenger mid tower, so take into account card size. Power requirements, if the PSU is adequate, are not an issue. I could care less about my electric bill as it is pretty cheap here in the midwest. A new case will be in the works down the road, so if I need to upgrade early I might be able to swing it if the card (and price) is just that good. Also, is now a good time to buy? Something I should hold off for like a price drop upcoming? Summer sale?

Thanks in advance.

R9-285X for $249...