EL Performance

Kursah · Post by **Kursah** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 5:26 am

The main reason I started this thread was to inquire as to why I can't pick up FPS for this game, and if there was a console type command or similar to enable in game FPS stats. I'm not worried about performance, even with AA and AF at 16X this game runs on the DVD/HD Movie power saving settings (300/600 GPU/Shaders and 400 Memory), no issues there, but I would like to see what kind of FPS I am getting. Something I'm just used to attaining and interested in seeing.

I use EVGA Precision primarily anymore and it works great with the OSD for most games. I have yet to try FRAPS or similar, just wondering if any of you have a method of checking? As I stated before, this is more curiousity than a requirement, but it's still nice knowing how well it's doing during different types of gameplay/locations.

I've been enjoying the hell out of this game recently, making more and more time for it...gonna run out of night to sleep lol! Thanks again folks!

Daedalao · Post by **Daedalao** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 6:14 am

As far as I can tell Kursah, I average 28-33 frames per second. This was garnered using fraps (which I use to take screenshots...)

I'm running a 9600GT SSC from EVGA, w/ a Q9300 @ 2.5ghz. The only time I get any kind of frame rate drop is on planets that have a lot of vegetation. Not even during encounters against 11 fighters + Cap ships do I see this kind of performance drain. I'm thinking it has something to do with vsync and keeping the multiplayer lag from coming into play.

btw, I'm hopping in right now

Post by **Vice** » Wed Feb 18, 2009 7:25 am

Hold the tilde key (~) during gameplay, the top left number is the FPS. If you're system is maxing at around 30 much of the time, switch to the 'Optimized (WM) Max Vsync' screen mode in the options menu to remove the stabalizing limiter, then you can check the max/min values pretty well that way.

Kursah · Post by **Kursah** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 1:17 am

The only time I've seen a slow down was on a planet flying over vegitation while running F@H GPU2 client in the background, which I normally run most of the day anyways, I like that I can for the most part play this game w/o a hitch and fold at the same time, a huge plus in my book. The performance hit was only noticable after I set a custom profile for 16AA and 16AF for EL in the NVCP, beforehand I never had seen any kind of slow down performance-wise.

Thanks for the tip Vice, I learned about the tilde key last night but wasn't sure of the values being reported, though now I do! I also tried MP for the first time last night, noone was on, but I sitll think I'll start doing that more often, learn some of the tricks of the trades, etc. Is the number in the top right the Ping then?

I hope EVGA Precision/Rivatuner support reporting FPS from this game soon, but if not oh well! Thanks again!

Post by **Vice** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 3:57 am

FPS and update rates for each player are displayed next to their names while in multiplayer along with their rank. Here is a breakdown on the values for the stat text:

First number = Framerate.

Second number = Percentage offset for syncing frame updates. Target value for FPS with stabilizing limiter active is 33, so a 100 value here means its running right at about that target value. If your system was running at only 15 FPS, you might see that value at around 200, indicating twice as long between frame updates.

Third number = Time between frames in milliseconds.

Fourth number = How much video memory your system has remaining.

Kursah · Post by **Kursah** » Thu Feb 19, 2009 4:24 am

Thanks, very cool, yeah I've been pretty much steady at 33 | 100, I forget how much free vid mem there was. Thanks for the info!

I tried an MP server earlier, the chat was lagging, complaints from others about getting randomly hit by nothing, etc. Just a heads up. It was on the SW server.

On a side note, i can't wait to get into the action...still getting used to things, and I still have a mostly stock ship aside from a lv2 engine, 5 cargo bays, and a cl2 fireblaster. Probably won't last very long at all! Getting used to mining as repeating the same few missions repeatedly is getting old and making me want to expand, very cool stuff out there. I'm still in awe from what little I've seen that I feel is so vast. I can't wait to get upgraded and start flying around with the more experienced players!

Tycow · Post by **Tycow** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:23 am

Kursah, if you're still having performance issues, try the latest official nvidia drivers (182.06). I've installed them and fiddled with the options and EL performs alot better since doing it.

The game feels more fluid now.

Try setting Prerendered Frames to 3 in the nvidia control panel.

krayzkrok · Post by **krayzkrok** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 12:45 am

I had notice this myself, so I've experimented a bit with settings.

With Screen Mode set to Optimised [WM] (regardless of VSync setting) the frame rate is slightly lower, and this is particularly noticeable in menus - the mouse cursor does lag very slightly on my system, but it's barely noticeable. What's more noticeable is the time it takes menus and text to draw. It's slow enough that if you mouse over a clickable link, the highlight can be seen updating in at least two frames. The underlying cockpit view and 3D view, however, is as smooth as silk so the menus arent' updating as quickly as the 3d graphics are.

However, if I set Screen Mode to Locked [FS] (again regardless of VSync) then the mouse cursor is much less laggy - in fact, I would need to turn my mouse sensitivity down because suddenly the cursor is almost too sensitive for my tastes. The menus update much faster as well, with no detectable mouse-over lag when you highlight links. The 3D view is just as smooth as it was on Optimised, although there are likely some frame rate differences when VSync is off but I didn't measure this accurately.

I'm using a GeForce 7950 GX2 (ie. SLI 7900, each with 512Mb video RAM) so it's not cutting edge but no slouch either. Incidentally, I haven't updated my nVidia drivers for a few months so I'll try Tycow's suggestion, although it's less likely to optimise lower cards like mine.

Oh, by the way - I noticed in the Locked [FS] mode, the game crashes with a Runtime Error (I'll check the number if you like) when I ALT-TAB out.

[Edited on 2-20-2009 by krayzkrok]

Post by **Vice** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:11 am

One of the drawbacks to a full screen mode is the termination and/or corruption of video memory when you try to drop the task for something else. Many games even block system keys from you to avoid problems like this. Witht his game, it's kind of hit and miss and to whether it will work on a particular system, usually textures can just become corrupted, but other problems can occur. Alt-tab is not recommended when using a full screen mode. Rendering the game in windowed can use some additional resources, but it also lets you swap tasks and minimize the game without generally causing problems like that.

Kursah · Post by **Kursah** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 1:43 am

Originally posted by Tycow
Kursah, if you're still having performance issues, try the latest official nvidia drivers (182.06). I've installed them and fiddled with the options and EL performs alot better since doing it.

The game feels more fluid now.

Try setting Prerendered Frames to 3 in the nvidia control panel.

Oh I'm not having any performance issues, I'm just impressed how well the game runs and as I stated in the OP I was just curious if there was a way to view the in-game FPS while being in-game.

The only time I notice anything, and it's very slight is when I'm running the F@H GPU2 client and this game at the same time and usually just on planets. Generally I run 33 | 95-100 |30 | and a lot of free vid mem (starts with 85xxxxxx-ish lol!)

I don't feel I need to mess with anything as my performance in this game is great, and I look forward to seeing a version of it that stresses my PC! Until then I'm really enjoying the current version with no crashes, hitches, failures, issues aside from a small chat lag issue with the chat in the SW server last night which everyone was experiencing, this game is great!

I figured I'd start a thread not only for my inquiries of how to see how well your PC is performing, but for those that might be having issues, hopefully this will grow into a very useful thread for new users and experienced alike to donate and help sort out any issues others may have!

Also, I've primarily been running 180.48's for Fallout 3 w/o CTD's that came with 181.22, recently installed 182.06 whql's, but I have yet to make any time for Fallout 3 due to this game!

MMaggio · Post by **MMaggio** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 3:09 am

Just hit the "tilde" key ~, and your FPS will appear in the corner. Upper left I believe.

Kursah · Post by **Kursah** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 4:08 am

Yep that's where I got the 33 | 96-100 |free vid mem from. Thanks guys, definately getting into the game more and more every time I play it...played some MP with Vice, Shewter, Kryla, and a couple others, had a true blast even if I died too many times to count!