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#1 2010-10-30 16:02:18

Primoz
Member
From: Ljubljana-Slovena-EU
Registered: 2009-03-04
Posts: 688

problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

I'm having quite some trouble with my fps in games like StarCraft 2 (actually it's just here that I noticed it). Anyway I've decided to test how good my computer actually is using unigine heaven benchmark.
And it's really bad. As I said I have slow fps in Starcraft in which fps is around 15, but in unigine it falls to average 4/5 depending on how I set it.
While my computer is quite old, it's still not that old, and I don't have any problem with other graphically demanding games like C&C3 or Medieval 2: Total War.

My hardware is:
System: Linux 2.6.36-ck x86_64
CPU: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ 2310MHz MMX+ 3DNow!+ SSE SSE2 SSE3 HTT
GPU: GeForce 8500 GT PCI Express 260.19.12
System memory: 2008 Mb
Video memory:  512 Mb
(this is what unigine "shows")

Also under "render" unigine shows this:

Renderer: NVIDIA NV50 512Mb
OpenGL vendor:   NVIDIA Corporation
OpenGL renderer: GeForce 8500 GT/PCI/SSE2
OpenGL version:  3.3.0 NVIDIA 260.19.12
Found required GL_ARB_map_buffer_range
Found required GL_ARB_vertex_array_object
Found required GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object
Found required GL_ARB_half_float_vertex
Found required GL_ARB_half_float_pixel
Found required GL_ARB_occlusion_query
Found required GL_EXT_texture3D
Found required GL_EXT_texture_cube_map
Found required GL_EXT_texture_sRGB
Found required GL_EXT_texture_swizzle
Found required GL_ARB_shader_object
Found required GL_ARB_vertex_shader
Found required GL_ARB_fragment_shader
Found required GL_ARB_draw_buffers
Found required GL_ARB_framebuffer_object
Found required GL_EXT_framebuffer_blit
Found required GL_EXT_framebuffer_multisample
Found optional GL_ARB_draw_instanced
Found optional GL_ARB_transform_feedback
Found optional GL_ARB_draw_elements_base_vertex
Found optional GL_ARB_blend_func_extended
Found optional GL_ARB_uniform_buffer_object
Found optional GL_ARB_geometry_shader4
Found optional GL_ARB_gpu_shader4
Found optional GL_EXT_Cg_shader
Found optional GL_ARB_texture_rg
Found optional GL_ARB_texture_array
Found optional GL_ARB_texture_snorm
Found optional GL_ARB_texture_multisample
Found optional GL_ARB_texture_compression
Found optional GL_ARB_texture_compression_rgtc
Found optional GL_ARB_seamless_cube_map
Found optional RGB10A2 render texture format
Shading language:      3.30 NVIDIA via Cg compiler
Maximum texture size:  8192
Maximum texture units: 32
Maximum draw buffers:  8

Which, while I'm no expert, for me seems quite OK.
So where's the problem?
Is my computer really that old already?

On the related note, sometimes KDE loses the window decoration or even more it just disappear. So it might be the nvidia driver (as you can see I use nvidia-beta).
But I'm not sure if it's the driver or is it the graphics card.

Thanks for any help. If nothing else you could at least tell your frame rate and hardware so I can compare if my computer is "where it supposed to be" or if something really is wrong with it.

Last edited by Primoz (2010-11-01 01:26:56)


Arch x86_64 ATI AMD APU KDE frameworks 5
---------------------------------
Whatever I do, I always end up with something horribly mis-configured.

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#2 2010-10-30 19:41:24

lagagnon
Member
From: an Island in the Pacific...
Registered: 2009-12-10
Posts: 1,087
Website

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

We can't help you to compare if we don't use Starcraft. Please run "glxgears" in a terminal and see what FPS you get with that and report back.


Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

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#3 2010-10-30 21:12:33

TigTex
Member
From: Portugal
Registered: 2008-06-19
Posts: 301

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

The problem is your computer yes. If you want to play some games use "that other OS..." and use the lowest settings because nvidia 8500 cant handle too much. Careful with your GPU... it's probably a G84 or G86 and every nvidia graphics card with that gpu is faulty (google it - usualy we can see that gpu's in nvidia 8000 (8400, 8500,8600 and 8800gtx). Keep your pc cold to not to fry those gpu's.

Last edited by TigTex (2010-10-30 21:24:04)


.::. TigTex @ Portugal .::.

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#4 2010-10-31 01:20:37

Primoz
Member
From: Ljubljana-Slovena-EU
Registered: 2009-03-04
Posts: 688

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

lagagnon wrote:

We can't help you to compare if we don't use Starcraft. Please run "glxgears" in a terminal and see what FPS you get with that and report back.

Well the thing is that I don't have glxgears. And If I search for it I only get the AUR package.
Maybe that's how it supposed to be, so yeah I'll install that and report back.


Arch x86_64 ATI AMD APU KDE frameworks 5
---------------------------------
Whatever I do, I always end up with something horribly mis-configured.

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#5 2010-10-31 01:38:10

Primoz
Member
From: Ljubljana-Slovena-EU
Registered: 2009-03-04
Posts: 688

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

Well I finally found the glxgears, and the fear I always feared, but didn't mentioned it in my OP came true. FPS is somewhere near the refresh rate of the monitor, and my monitor is also a TV (or should I say primary TV) so my refresh rate is 50hz or up to 60FPS. So I guess the actual and the biggest bottleneck is my monitor and not anything else. Well yeah not that my other hardware is any good, but I could say that the low FPS rate in StarCraft 2 and in Unigine Heaven is due to my bad monitor.

I can say this is solved, but not removed until I get a new monitor.
Edit: Actually there is another thing, how come that while my monitor refresh rate is 60; FPS in both Starcraft  and Unigine are so much lover - instead of 60FPS there are from 4-17FPS.

Last edited by Primoz (2010-10-31 01:39:59)


Arch x86_64 ATI AMD APU KDE frameworks 5
---------------------------------
Whatever I do, I always end up with something horribly mis-configured.

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#6 2010-10-31 13:00:58

Lone_Wolf
Member
From: Netherlands, Europe
Registered: 2005-10-04
Posts: 11,868

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

Recent versions of glxgears synchronize with the monitors Vsync, so it will NEVER run faster then your monitors refresh rate.

I suggest you give details of your setup and results in unigine .

Edit :
I just noticed you use the -ck kernel . you should try booting with the standard kernel to see if that makes a diference.

Last edited by Lone_Wolf (2010-10-31 13:02:58)


Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.


(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

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#7 2010-10-31 13:38:01

skunktrader
Member
From: Brisbane, Australia
Registered: 2010-02-14
Posts: 1,538

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

glxgears is part of the mesa package

Assuming you are running the nvidia driver, did you try running nvdia-settings and turning off "Sync to VBlank" and turning on "Allow Flipping"

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#8 2010-10-31 17:42:02

Primoz
Member
From: Ljubljana-Slovena-EU
Registered: 2009-03-04
Posts: 688

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

skunktrader wrote:

glxgears is part of the mesa package

Assuming you are running the nvidia driver, did you try running nvdia-settings and turning off "Sync to VBlank" and turning on "Allow Flipping"

Thanks! That solved the FPS problem in glxgears, and I'll see what it does in Unigine and StarCraft.


Arch x86_64 ATI AMD APU KDE frameworks 5
---------------------------------
Whatever I do, I always end up with something horribly mis-configured.

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#9 2010-10-31 23:01:59

R00KIE
Forum Fellow
From: Between a computer and a chair
Registered: 2008-09-14
Posts: 4,734

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

This has been said many times before and I'll say it again, glxgears *is not* a benchmark. It only tests some opengl/dri functionality to check if things are working.


R00KIE
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#10 2010-11-01 00:04:42

ChoK
Member
From: France
Registered: 2008-10-01
Posts: 346

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

When you play there is no need for the video card to send more frame than you monitor refresh rate so turn sync to vblank back on.

Deactivate compositing before playing with alt+shift+f12 it usually helps.

Unigine heaven is really taxing the GPU, those framerates are normal for a 8500GT, you only have 16 Cuda cores/shader processors. Starcraft, on another hand, is more CPU-bound (except when zerg are massing units).


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Perfection is reached, not when there is no longer anything to add, but when there is no longer anything to take away.
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#11 2010-11-01 01:26:19

Primoz
Member
From: Ljubljana-Slovena-EU
Registered: 2009-03-04
Posts: 688

Re: problems with slow fps (or is my computer really that bad?) [solved]

@R00KIE: Yeah I know that and I did use it to see what the problem with low FPS is.
@ChoK: Thanks. Yeah to tell you the truth I kind of forgot about turning the composting off. And thanks with explaining the unigine heaven for me. So I guess I do have old graphics card which is slow for things like that.


Arch x86_64 ATI AMD APU KDE frameworks 5
---------------------------------
Whatever I do, I always end up with something horribly mis-configured.

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