Game runs great for about 20 minutes then fps drop

[FearBytes 0]

Hello fellow DayZ players.

I've done a bit of research of this issue but I'd like to see if I'm missing any solutions. I've tweaked my game out to these specs http://dayzmod.com/forum/index.php?/topic/33071-guide-properly-setting-up-your-graphics-for-proper-optimization/ The only spec I did not follow was the GPU Frames ahead settings. (left default)

My game runs flawless for about 15-20 minutes then I start to really get reduced fps which makes it very difficult to play. I seem to really notice the frame rate drop after I fire my weapons it seems. (could be a coincidence? maybe not)

My specs are

Phenom X4 965 3.4Ghz

8G of Memory

2x(SLI) GTX 470s (3G of VRam)

Game is installed on my data drive which is 7200rpm(standard)

Win7 64bit

I've done a fresh install of arma2 and arma2 oa.

My Six Launcher is set to close when I launch the game.

Any idea to what could cause this kind of performance drop after time? It almost feels like there is a memory leak or something since its usually after playing for bit.

Thanks!

[Cheezy 3]

I think this might help you all. Trying to spread the word because it seriously helped me. I think there is some sort of CPU throttling issues that DayZ and some other demanding games seem to cause. I'm not certain that this fix will work in your specific case, but it sounds like it might.

I had a similar problem. There are many potential fixes cycling around on the forums.

I have an i7-2720QM processor for my mobile pc and it seems to have issues running DayZ mod but not ARMA II itself. I tried about 1000 different optimization tricks. Disabled core parking, took off intel boosting options, changed launch options, etc...

The exact problem I had could be described like this: I can run Day Z mod on the absolute lowest settings or the absolute highest settings and get the same problem either way. It was actually easier to play with much higher graphics settings rather than low settings. The problem was that the game would run great for about a minute or two, and then every 3 seconds or so (sometimes more frequently) the FPS would drop significantly to unplayable levels. I have now discovered that it was probably the GPU or CPU getting too hot and the intel smart boost was backing my CPU off (800 Mhz instead of the normal 2.2Ghz to boosted 3.3Ghz) to more rapidly cool the computer off. Interestingly enough I can set my CPU to run at 1.4Ghz using ThrottleStop and the game runs flawlessly.

I downloaded a program called ThrottleStop by TechPowerUp.

WARNING: Before you use this program read up on how it works. DO NOT just install it and start clicking all of the fancy buttons because it will probably cause your CPU/GPU to heat up extensively if you do not know what you are doing. Luckily most computers shut off before anything bad can happen to your hardware...but be careful and USE AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

Here is the link to a very helpful ThrottleStop guide:

http://forum.noteboo...stop-guide.html

Here is the download link that I used:

http://www.techpower...eStop_4.00.html

You can use this program to manage the CPU speed and GPU/CPU temps to make the game run more smoothly. Also if you are running a laptop try propping the back of your unit up on a hardback textbook (or get a good cooling pad) because this significantly reduced the heat of my computers components.

Once again, be careful with this program.

Also, it might be nice if someone with authority could make a post about this program (potentially pin it) and the success that it can give users that are experiencing the graphical stutter issues. I can play great using this utility properly.

Signed: Dat Cheez

Edited July 18, 2012 by Cheezy

[Lamethrower 3]

I know 3 other people getting the same problem regardless of setup (Hardware/drivers/in game settings) including myself.

I'm starting to think it must be a memory leak of some sort as I extensively tested temperature and loads. CPU/GPU all within normal operating thresholds at stable clocks and the results are actually lower than other more resource hungry games that run totally fine (Battlefield 3 etc.)

[FearBytes 0]

Thanks for the quick reply's guys! I tent to agree with both of you. I actually was just toying with CPU-Z and I noticed my cpu's core speed and multiplier was all over the place! I just disabled some bios features which made it stable at its max 3.4ghz. I'll let you guys know if it made a difference!

[FearBytes 0]

Well it didn't seem to fix the issue exactly. I still got some pretty weird frame rates. I ran the flush feature that I read about on the forums which is suppose to clear out your vram but it didn't seem to do much. However, once i left the area I was in and started running through the forest my lag disappeared.. I was reading another post that it may have something to do with object clean up and if that is true, it would make sense that once in and around a town for a while you would load to many objects until you left the area.. just a theory I guess.

[chrismgtis 55]

Answer: It's not you, it's the incredibly shitty engine lacking any kind of useful optimization.

[Lamethrower 3]

Is there anything else like flush that could potentially be used to help keep running smooth. I noticed the forest getting rid of the lag as well(finally got out there for once.)