[Must Read] Low FPS Fix!

ChrisCTX · 12-31-2009, 01:17 PM

THIS CONTINUES TO WORK EVEN AFTER VALVE's FIX ATTEMPT

This has worked for plenty of people in this thread so I suggest you read it completely, however be aware that your millage may vary, perhaps you will gain something perhaps not, but you will never lose

Everybody has experienced how FPS are going down the drain recently with TF2, however I believe I've found one of the sources (I'm pretty sure there many others) and found a way to fix it, so enough with the rambling I'm going straight to the point:

The folder:

Code:

C:\Program Files\Steam\appcache\stats

Contains a file called:

Code:

UserGameStats_####_####  (# = some numbers)

This file keeps records of god knows what about TF2, and it gets updated EXTREMELY frequently while playing.

The problem is that, most of us run high quality Anti-virus programs and they tend to scan all files that get updated in the system, and a lot of them tend to do so the instant it happens, clogging up the processor and making our FPSs die.

Apparently, having a multicore processor and fast hard drives (or a RAID 0 config) makes this even worse.

HOW TO FIX Video (credits to MafiaGuy7)

Open up your Anti-virus program
Go to the settings menu
Select Exceptions/Exclusions
Add the following folder to the scan exceptions

Code:

C:\Program Files\Steam\appcache\stats

Reboot if your Anti-virus needs to and enjoy a smooth game of TF2

How to fix, Visually (pictures are easy):

NOTE: User who have performed this action have been reporting frame-rate gains or stability in other STEAM games, while it seems plausible I have not tested it myself.

Go now! do it! (rep welcome :P)

Coupon · 12-31-2009, 01:30 PM

Interesting.

I'm lucky enough to get around 60fps no matter what, so I probably won't see much of a difference. But I am curious to see if it can help those with FPS troubles.

CGRW · 12-31-2009, 01:33 PM

Will try it out. The game has been unplayable lately, and I'm grateful of any help.

TF2MakP · 12-31-2009, 01:35 PM

+20 fps.
♥♥♥♥.

chickenm4n · 12-31-2009, 01:36 PM

what if we made the whole steam folder an exception?

plus, i always turn off my anti-virus when i play. would this apply to me?

yojimbojango · 12-31-2009, 01:36 PM

Hey, I've got an old Pentium 4 (3ghz) with 2 gigs of ram and a Radeon 9600 that I adopted when my work was about to throw it in the trash. About how well did your machine perform? (Playable, but on what settings).

I ask because work was required to nuke the hard drive before they trashed it and I'd have to throw $50 bucks into it if I wanted it back up and running. It'd be cool if I could throw an extra copy of TF2 on here so I could have people over to play, but if it'll suck really badly then I'll probably just forget it and try to make it into a DVR or something.

wonka nerds :D · 12-31-2009, 01:38 PM

Any way to do this with McAfee?

12-31-2009, 01:38 PM

Avast
Pentium Dual-Core T4300
Stays the same :\

Edit: I knew something was fishy about it, since when I first installed a virus scanner on this new laptop, my fps drop considering low..

12-31-2009, 01:40 PM

Antivirus: AVG Free
CPU: AMD 945 (quad 3ghz)
GPU: GTX 275

FPS: Average around 60 fps, may go down to 30 during heavy circlejerking.

Resolution: 1920x1080
Everything maxed.

EDIT: Never experienced a notable decrease in FPS during any updates.

ChrisCTX · 12-31-2009, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenm4n

what if we made the whole steam folder an exception?

DO NOT DO THAT!!!

While the possibility of getting a virus in-game are slim (and far too time consuming to be worth the time of a hacker) the possibility of a virus obtained elsewhere managing to spread to the Steam folder exists, and if does happen your Anti-virus would skip it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by yojimbojango

Hey, I've got an old Pentium 4 (3ghz) with 2 gigs of ram and a Radeon 9600 that I adopted when my work was about to throw it in the trash. About how well did your machine perform? (Playable, but on what settings).

DirectX 8.1
Resolution: 1024 x 768
Models High, Textures very High, Trilinear filtering.
Simple reflections and no Bloom eyecandy (no Shinny ubers either)
40-80 FPS (40 on intense firefights).

T3chno · 12-31-2009, 01:42 PM

I'm using COMODO anti-virus/firewall and I've added the exception to the scan list.

I'll play later and report results.

EDIT: Well, it was playable. I use a 7300 GT and do all low settings. (Yeah, point and laugh >:[ ) I normally get 25 fps, dropping to 12~ in firefights. The lowest it went was around 18~. Slight improvement. Better than nothing! Thanks!

CGRW · 12-31-2009, 01:42 PM

Oh my god. It worked.

I don't know if the improvement is the result of SSS or this change, but I'm not falling to single digits. I still have the routine fall to ~13 fps, but the game hasn't fallen to absolutely unplayable levels, like it did before.

Thank you.

ChrisCTX · 12-31-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wonka nerds :D

Any way to do this with McAfee?

http://community.spiceworks.com/how_to/show/150

Just replace the folder with: ...\Steam\appcache\stats

12-31-2009, 01:49 PM

How would I do this with Norton 360?

epicfailzor · 12-31-2009, 01:49 PM

Will try out, first scanning my computer.

12-31-2009, 01:17 PM	#1
ChrisCTX Join Date: Jan 2009 Reputation: 463 Posts: 444	[Must Read] Low FPS Fix! THIS CONTINUES TO WORK EVEN AFTER VALVE's FIX ATTEMPT This has worked for plenty of people in this thread so I suggest you read it completely, however be aware that *your millage may vary, perhaps you will gain something perhaps not, but you will never lose Everybody has experienced how FPS are going down the drain recently with TF2, however I believe I've found one of the sources (I'm pretty sure there many others) and found a way to fix it, so enough with the rambling I'm going straight to the point: The folder: Code: C:\Program Files\Steam\appcache\stats Contains a file called: Code: UserGameStats_####_#### (# = some numbers) This file keeps records of god knows what about TF2, and it gets updated EXTREMELY* frequently while playing. The problem is that, most of us run high quality Anti-virus programs and they tend to scan all files that get updated in the system, and a lot of them tend to do so the instant it happens, clogging up the processor and making our FPSs die. Apparently, having a multicore processor and fast hard drives (or a RAID 0 config) makes this even worse. HOW TO FIX Video (credits to MafiaGuy7) Open up your Anti-virus program Go to the settings menu Select Exceptions/Exclusions Add the following folder to the scan exceptions Code: C:\Program Files\Steam\appcache\stats Reboot if your Anti-virus needs to and enjoy a smooth game of TF2 How to fix, Visually (pictures are easy): Microsoft Security Essentials avast! avast! v5 (new GUI) Avira Nod32 Trend Micro Bullguard Antivirus Norton AVG (scroll down) Bit Defender Kaspersky NOTE: User who have performed this action have been reporting frame-rate gains or stability in other STEAM games, while it seems plausible I have not tested it myself. Go now! do it! (rep welcome :P) Last edited by ChrisCTX: 03-13-2010 at 04:11 PM.

12-31-2009, 01:36 PM	#5
chickenm4n Join Date: Jul 2009 Reputation: 197 Posts: 1,872	what if we made the whole steam folder an exception? plus, i always turn off my anti-virus when i play. would this apply to me? Last edited by chickenm4n: 12-31-2009 at 01:38 PM.

12-31-2009, 01:40 PM	#9
Ensi Guest Posts: n/a	Antivirus: AVG Free CPU: AMD 945 (quad 3ghz) GPU: GTX 275 FPS: Average around 60 fps, may go down to 30 during heavy circlejerking. Resolution: 1920x1080 Everything maxed. EDIT: Never experienced a notable decrease in FPS during any updates. Last edited by Ensi: 12-31-2009 at 01:45 PM.

12-31-2009, 01:42 PM	#11
T3chno Join Date: Jul 2009 Reputation: 175 Posts: 1,078	I'm using COMODO anti-virus/firewall and I've added the exception to the scan list. I'll play later and report results. EDIT: Well, it was playable. I use a 7300 GT and do all low settings. (Yeah, point and laugh >:[ ) I normally get 25 fps, dropping to 12~ in firefights. The lowest it went was around 18~. Slight improvement. Better than nothing! Thanks! Last edited by T3chno: 12-31-2009 at 10:57 PM.

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12-31-2009, 01:30 PM	#2
Coupon Join Date: May 2009 Reputation: 185 Posts: 3,406	Interesting. I'm lucky enough to get around 60fps no matter what, so I probably won't see much of a difference. But I am curious to see if it can help those with FPS troubles.

12-31-2009, 01:33 PM	#3
CGRW Join Date: Aug 2009 Reputation: 76 Posts: 585	Will try it out. The game has been unplayable lately, and I'm grateful of any help.

12-31-2009, 01:35 PM	#4
TF2MakP Banned Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 1 Posts: 65	+20 fps. ♥♥♥♥.

12-31-2009, 01:36 PM	#6
yojimbojango Join Date: Nov 2007 Reputation: 102 Posts: 1,371	Hey, I've got an old Pentium 4 (3ghz) with 2 gigs of ram and a Radeon 9600 that I adopted when my work was about to throw it in the trash. About how well did your machine perform? (Playable, but on what settings). I ask because work was required to nuke the hard drive before they trashed it and I'd have to throw $50 bucks into it if I wanted it back up and running. It'd be cool if I could throw an extra copy of TF2 on here so I could have people over to play, but if it'll suck really badly then I'll probably just forget it and try to make it into a DVR or something.

12-31-2009, 01:38 PM	#7
wonka nerds :D Banned Join Date: Dec 2009 Reputation: 15 Posts: 201	Any way to do this with McAfee?

12-31-2009, 01:38 PM	#8
Klash! Guest Posts: n/a	Avast Pentium Dual-Core T4300 Stays the same :\ Edit: I knew something was fishy about it, since when I first installed a virus scanner on this new laptop, my fps drop considering low..

12-31-2009, 01:42 PM	#12
CGRW Join Date: Aug 2009 Reputation: 76 Posts: 585	Oh my god. It worked. I don't know if the improvement is the result of SSS or this change, but I'm not falling to single digits. I still have the routine fall to ~13 fps, but the game hasn't fallen to absolutely unplayable levels, like it did before. Thank you.

12-31-2009, 01:49 PM	#14
morganfreeman Guest Posts: n/a	How would I do this with Norton 360?

12-31-2009, 01:49 PM	#15
epicfailzor Join Date: Aug 2009 Reputation: 39 Posts: 1,166	Will try out, first scanning my computer.