Framerate fine... then lag!

steadramon · 01-17-2011, 01:25 PM

Hi guys,

Now before you jump on this please read everything I've tried and the symptoms - I'm hoping for a simple answer but I've tried alsorts. Been at it for months and read (what feels like) every website there is.

My setup:

Windows 7 x64 - up to date etc
AMD 5200+ (2 x 2.6 GHz)
4 GB RAM (upgraded from 2 when first had issue - brand new 2x2GB pair)
ATI HD5750
Wired mouse/keyboard
Realtek HD Audio
Avast AV

I have replaced:

HDD
PSU
RAM

So, the problem:

The game usually runs fine howevering at 59/60 fps in co-op mode (I believe to do with vsync as goes to ~80 fps without vsync enabled)

However every now and then (gets more regular the longer I play, I think) I will get visual lag (audio usually remains fine throughout) where the game will run at ~10 fps for about 10 seconds. This only started happening in the last few months.

The game runs at ~60% in process manager and nothing else significant displays there.

I have this currently on a fresh install of Windows (below applies) and the issue is exactly the same.

Things I have checked:

Checked game integrity
0% fragmentation
Reinstalled game
Checked network connectivity is ok
Same with and without sound
Graphics drivers are up to date - tried with different versions
Audio drivers are up to date - ""
Network drivers are up to date - ""
Had 'dual-core' option ingame on and off
Tried game at different resolutions
Tried different detail/shading etc levels - same effect everything low
Tried things that could apply from here: http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=1028991
Tried 2GB and 4GB (in all orders)
Motherboard drivers are up to date
Cleaned out the machine
Heat on CPU/GPU is fine
Advanced sound options in W7 disabled
Check viruses/adware etc - even on the clean install
Changed priority of L4D/Steam
AV disabled
msconfig 'clean-boot' - keep Steam service enabled
Steam community disabled
Steam cloud disabled
Tried internal components in different configurations, removing unneeded components
EndItAll shows nothing extra running

None of these things have changed how the issue happens - the drop is very specifically to 10 fps (I don't know if this points to anything just throwing it out there)

Otherwise the machine works fine and dandy - I keep a pretty tight ship, other games are generally OK, experienced one or two issues with other games from Steam.

I hope someone can help?

Chris C177 · 01-17-2011, 01:27 PM

You could check to see if your cpu or graphics card is overheating, that would cause it to decrease performance in order to lower temperatures.

My god, if only every thread with a problem could be as well laid out and informative as yours.

EDIT: Never mind, I failed at reading.

Have you tried lowering settings and seeing if it still does it?

steadramon · 01-17-2011, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris C177

You could check to see if your cpu or graphics card is overheating, that would cause it to decrease performance in order to lower temperatures.

My god, if only every thread with a problem could be as well laid out and informative as yours.

EDIT: Never mind, I failed at reading.

Have you tried lowering settings and seeing if it still does it?

Yes, same thing I'm afraid (that one's in the list too!

)

What bugs me is that it runs fine and then freaks out. Oh, one to add to my list... I've checked viruses adware etc (even on the clean legit copy of Windows)

Chris C177 · 01-17-2011, 02:20 PM

Hum, have you tried lowering or raising priority in task manager?

Also, 10fps is the lowest net graph displays it as, so it's probably going lower.

ASecondOpinion · 01-17-2011, 02:43 PM

Just posting to say I get this, too.

Although, I get it in all Source games and have done for months.
Note that it is only in Source games I get these random framerate dips that then go back to normal, just like OP's.

Sometimes · 01-17-2011, 02:52 PM

I have noticed this same issue with my game also. I've tried pretty much everything steadramon has, and I still can't figure it out. I get like 60fps for a bit, and then BAM, it drops to 10-15fps for about 20 seconds then kicks back up to 60fps. Usually happens once per map I've noticed. Never happens on a repeated event or situation, just random times. I did begin to notice this immediately after the 12/31 update, not before it.

Win 7 (64 bit)
Phenom X2 560 BE 3.3Ghz
Nvidia 9800GT 512MB
6GB DDR2

GLaw · 01-17-2011, 02:54 PM

Me too, only recently though.

steadramon · 01-17-2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris C177

Hum, have you tried lowering or raising priority in task manager?

Also, 10fps is the lowest net graph displays it as, so it's probably going lower.

Yes, tried adjusting the priority, also tried adjusting Steam's too, as I heard this can cause problems - no luck.

It feels like something is draining CPU, but neither Task Manager, Process Explorer or Performance Monitor give any clues.

Lower than 10 fps doesn't suprise me! It's like a picture book slide show

Threesixtyci · 01-17-2011, 03:17 PM

Next time it happens ask the others that you're playing with if the saw the slow down, too. If they did, the server is the cause.

ASecondOpinion · 01-17-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Threesixtyci

Next time it happens ask the others that you're playing with if the saw the slow down, too. If they did, the server is the cause.

They don't get it.
Proved by when I get it, my girlfriend on her computer right next to me in the same game doesn't get it.

wurrwurr · 01-17-2011, 03:43 PM

Yay, I have it too. Well, at first I was blaming my crappy pc, but, earlier there wasn't such random slowdowns. Sometimes it happens in saferoom. Sometimes during a normal run (horde or no).

steadramon · 01-17-2011, 03:46 PM

At the time they carry on playing as normal.

Yep, doesn't seem to tie in with any specific activity, I was watching the credits roll and it happened.

I'm actually pricing up a new computer I'm so desperate to fix the issue.

ASecondOpinion · 01-17-2011, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wurrwurr

Yay, I have it too. Well, at first I was blaming my crappy pc, but, earlier there wasn't such random slowdowns. Sometimes it happens in saferoom. Sometimes during a normal run (horde or no).

And sometimes it happens when you need to get that all important long range SI kill

dftpiglet · 01-17-2011, 04:48 PM

I get the same thing, usually it happens on the first map - crap fps for the first round most of the time, then suddenly goes to 50/60 fps (will be 10-15 fps for the first part).

Only been happening last month or so, been fine before then.

rumplemintz · 01-17-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GLaw

Me too, only recently though.

Ditto, the only real change I've made was switching over my AV to MSE. But I added L4D to the processes list.

01-17-2011, 01:25 PM	#1
steadramon Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 7 Posts: 10	Framerate fine... then lag! Hi guys, Now before you jump on this please read everything I've tried and the symptoms - I'm hoping for a simple answer but I've tried alsorts. Been at it for months and read (what feels like) every website there is. My setup: Windows 7 x64 - up to date etc AMD 5200+ (2 x 2.6 GHz) 4 GB RAM (upgraded from 2 when first had issue - brand new 2x2GB pair) ATI HD5750 Wired mouse/keyboard Realtek HD Audio Avast AV I have replaced: HDD PSU RAM So, the problem: The game usually runs fine howevering at 59/60 fps in co-op mode (I believe to do with vsync as goes to ~80 fps without vsync enabled) However every now and then (gets more regular the longer I play, I think) I will get visual lag (audio usually remains fine throughout) where the game will run at ~10 fps for about 10 seconds. This only started happening in the last few months. The game runs at ~60% in process manager and nothing else significant displays there. I have this currently on a fresh install of Windows (below applies) and the issue is exactly the same. Things I have checked: Checked game integrity 0% fragmentation Reinstalled game Checked network connectivity is ok Same with and without sound Graphics drivers are up to date - tried with different versions Audio drivers are up to date - "" Network drivers are up to date - "" Had 'dual-core' option ingame on and off Tried game at different resolutions Tried different detail/shading etc levels - same effect everything low Tried things that could apply from here: http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=1028991 Tried 2GB and 4GB (in all orders) Motherboard drivers are up to date Cleaned out the machine Heat on CPU/GPU is fine Advanced sound options in W7 disabled Check viruses/adware etc - even on the clean install Changed priority of L4D/Steam AV disabled msconfig 'clean-boot' - keep Steam service enabled Steam community disabled Steam cloud disabled Tried internal components in different configurations, removing unneeded components EndItAll shows nothing extra running None of these things have changed how the issue happens - the drop is very specifically to 10 fps (I don't know if this points to anything just throwing it out there) Otherwise the machine works fine and dandy - I keep a pretty tight ship, other games are generally OK, experienced one or two issues with other games from Steam. I hope someone can help? Last edited by steadramon: 01-18-2011 at 12:34 PM.

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01-17-2011, 01:27 PM	#2
Chris C177 Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 139 Posts: 780	You could check to see if your cpu or graphics card is overheating, that would cause it to decrease performance in order to lower temperatures. My god, if only every thread with a problem could be as well laid out and informative as yours. EDIT: Never mind, I failed at reading. Have you tried lowering settings and seeing if it still does it?

01-17-2011, 02:20 PM	#4
Chris C177 Join Date: Apr 2009 Reputation: 139 Posts: 780	Hum, have you tried lowering or raising priority in task manager? Also, 10fps is the lowest net graph displays it as, so it's probably going lower.

01-17-2011, 02:43 PM	#5
ASecondOpinion Join Date: Jun 2009 Reputation: 710 Posts: 3,484	Just posting to say I get this, too. Although, I get it in all Source games and have done for months. Note that it is only in Source games I get these random framerate dips that then go back to normal, just like OP's.

01-17-2011, 02:52 PM	#6
Sometimes Join Date: May 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 4	I have noticed this same issue with my game also. I've tried pretty much everything steadramon has, and I still can't figure it out. I get like 60fps for a bit, and then BAM, it drops to 10-15fps for about 20 seconds then kicks back up to 60fps. Usually happens once per map I've noticed. Never happens on a repeated event or situation, just random times. I did begin to notice this immediately after the 12/31 update, not before it. Win 7 (64 bit) Phenom X2 560 BE 3.3Ghz Nvidia 9800GT 512MB 6GB DDR2

01-17-2011, 02:54 PM	#7
GLaw Join Date: Aug 2009 Reputation: 718 Posts: 2,534	Me too, only recently though.

01-17-2011, 03:17 PM	#9
Threesixtyci Join Date: Feb 2010 Reputation: 258 Posts: 2,860	Next time it happens ask the others that you're playing with if the saw the slow down, too. If they did, the server is the cause.

01-17-2011, 03:43 PM	#11
wurrwurr Join Date: Jul 2010 Reputation: 34 Posts: 255	Yay, I have it too. Well, at first I was blaming my crappy pc, but, earlier there wasn't such random slowdowns. Sometimes it happens in saferoom. Sometimes during a normal run (horde or no).

01-17-2011, 03:46 PM	#12
steadramon Join Date: Oct 2010 Reputation: 7 Posts: 10	At the time they carry on playing as normal. Yep, doesn't seem to tie in with any specific activity, I was watching the credits roll and it happened. I'm actually pricing up a new computer I'm so desperate to fix the issue.

01-17-2011, 04:48 PM	#14
dftpiglet Join Date: Mar 2009 Reputation: 0 Posts: 56	I get the same thing, usually it happens on the first map - crap fps for the first round most of the time, then suddenly goes to 50/60 fps (will be 10-15 fps for the first part). Only been happening last month or so, been fine before then.