Fixed DirectX 11 : the stuttering makes the game unplayable

I run an i7 processor with RTX 3060 gc and it's noticeably stuttery. Gives me a headache.

01-17-2024 Patch has left my ability to play this game on my current computer virtually unplayable. Stuttering with scanning past 20 player models is awful. Pre Patch I played this game on max settings as a 25year old game should be. No matter what I do in my game display settings or drivers my net result is still an unplayable game of which I have a yearly reocurring subscription to.

AMD 3700X
AMD RX 5700XT

Found a new in-game feature!! YAY!!

Just FYI: One of the results of disabling this is that it decreases your clip plane (so you can't see as far into the distance). I've always surmised that this is a majority of why performance increases. Therefore on my end, I don't disable this, because I don't want a reduced clip plane. So, Daybreak needs to do better than leveraging this flag with a reduced clip plane.

Same issues, 3 fairly identical intel systems with 12 cores and 64 GB of memory. Only difference is graphics cards. 1 has an Nvidia Quadro RTX 4000, 1 has an NVIDIA RTX 3090 Founders Ed., and 1 is running off the basic intel integrated GPU. Both the Nvidia systems are using the latest drivers and are unplayable, though are the best systems for gaming typically. The intel system is significantly better in terms of framerates post patch but still rather unplayable.

Should have went with Vulkan instead of DX11!

This has helped me, and then I got to thinking, maybe I'll just delete my eqclient.ini file and repatch. Now the game seems to run a lot smoother.

For anyone having the choppy graphics, back up your eqclient.ini file, delete it then repatch.

Intel i7 14700 KF 64 gb and a RTX 3080 Ti. Most of the time I dont notice any problems...

Noticeable stuttering during the raid Deepshade: The Artist

Win11, fully patched
Ryzen7 7800X3D
nVidia RTX 4080, driver version 31.0.15.3713

max fps easily running multiple instances of eq pre-patch

can't run a single instance satisfactorily, raiding was impossible after patch. everything looks fine, don't have the darkness issues folks are talking about, but 5+ second freezes/stutters in any busy area. Raiding with 52 in deepshade myconid mutiny was impossible tonight. we had to call raids.

no third party windowing tools or limiters or reshade or anything like that. just eq.

Just canceled 2 of my 3 accounts. Spent the last 5 hours trying to make EQ work on my two pc's that can run WoW and lots of other games at max settings. Ran EQ flawless before this patch and now i get like 2 FPS and can't autofollow on main machine with just 2 EQ instances running. Have to look at the ground on autofollow toon to make it work.

I made a recording of it. Pretty rough, we had to leave the raid.

Having the same problems most people are having. I see this spam my log file and then I crash. I can play for 5 minutes or an hour, but I crash all the time since the patch. My screen locks up but I can still push the buttons and hear sounds. Never happened before this patch.

Code:

[Thu Jan 18 19:39:05 2024]00751:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:39:09 2024]00752:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:40:23 2024]00753:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:40:35 2024]00754:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:41:03 2024]00755:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:42:18 2024]00756:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:42:30 2024]00757:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:42:30 2024]00758:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:42:30 2024]00759:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:43:02 2024]00206:D3DXCreateTextureFromFileEx()    failed to create texture monk01.dds    for    particle system.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:43:02 2024]00207:D3DXCreateTextureFromFileEx()    failed to create texture monk02.dds    for    particle system.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:43:02 2024]00208:D3DXCreateTextureFromFileEx()    failed to create texture monk03.dds    for    particle system.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:43:05 2024]00760:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:43:07 2024]00761:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:43:21 2024]00762:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:44:15 2024]00763:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:44:40 2024]00764:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:44:41 2024]00765:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:44:55 2024]00766:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:45:09 2024]00767:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:45:28 2024]00768:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:45:30 2024]00769:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:45:36 2024]00770:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:45:36 2024]00771:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:46:32 2024]00772:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:47:21 2024]00773:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:49:31 2024]00774:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:49:32 2024]00775:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:49:40 2024]00776:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:23 2024]00777:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:29 2024]00778:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:46 2024]00779:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:46 2024]00780:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00209:Unknown TestCooperativeLevel() error.  Waiting for reset.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00210:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71420_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00211:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00212:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00213:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71421_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00214:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00215:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00216:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71422_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00217:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00218:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00219:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71423_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00220:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00221:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00222:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71424_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00223:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00224:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00225:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71425_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00226:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00227:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00228:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71426_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00229:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00230:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00231:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71427_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00232:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00233:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00234:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71428_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00235:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00236:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00237:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT71429_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00238:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00239:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00240:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:50:51 2024]00241:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:00 2024]00781:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00242:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT29823_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00243:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00244:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00245:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226432_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00246:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00247:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00248:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226433_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00249:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00250:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00251:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226434_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00252:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00253:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00254:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226435_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00255:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00256:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00257:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226436_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00258:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00259:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00260:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226417_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00261:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00262:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00263:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226418_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00264:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00265:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00266:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226437_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00267:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00268:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00269:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226438_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00270:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00271:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00272:Failed to init HMD from EQM data: IT226439_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00273:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00274:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00275:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:20 2024]00276:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:29 2024]00277:Failed to init HMD from EQS data: FNG_HMD
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:29 2024]00278:IDirect3DIndexBuffer::Lock() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:51:29 2024]00279:CBufferSet::LockBuffers() failed.
 
[Thu Jan 18 19:52:01 2024]00782:knockout 3
[Thu Jan 18 19:52:05 2024]00783:knockout 3

micro pauses every few seconds, this is the only game it happens in i run all games i play at max settings.

running around pok, on a server with next to noone on it, i am getting horrible lag. like the lag pile is everywhere in pok now instead of just one spot.

before i would get lag in the lag pile which was expected, but now that same lag is everywhere in the game, and there is now a micro stutter, i pause every few mins for a second or 2...

i dont run iboxer or any other software, just the eq client.

atm the game is unplayable, the microstutters cause large problems, usually by the time they are over i am dead or in such a bad spot i cant recover.

also FPS is considerably worse than it was before the patch, not sure why. nothing on my system has changed since the patch went live except everquest was updated.

Developers need to be made aware that hitching and micro-hitching are most noticeable when mouselook is continually engaged at higher speeds of mouselooking.

Anyone can run through POK, with mouselook always active (hold right click), and continually move your mouse (view perspective) all around as you are running. This provides the most definitive video evidence of being able to discern the degree of hitching occurring.

Again for Daybreak: How many more people need to state they've cancelled their subscriptions before DX11 is reverted? What financial benefit is there to pushing DX11 in January '24 vs. July '24? We are all excited to see it properly implemented, but there is absolutely zero benefit to force pushing it before it's ready. Zero.

Game is completely ruined for me, can no longer raid with the amount of lag. Guess ill cancel my subscription as well. Maybe it will be fixed one day.

looks like this was forced on us with no choice, wasnt fully ready, and now knowing this company we will have to wait till patch day comes again to actually play the game, i cant even cancel my sub cause its more than monthly.

Deepshade the Artist Myconid Mutanty we had raidwide lag so bad that we could not complete the raid.

After experimentation with the new EQ patch (that forced the new DirectX API) there are a few things that I've discovered.

• The frame rate is lower and inconsistent now (obviously), but it is the inconsistency that is causing the most issues.
• Frame rate can be improved by lowering graphic settings and editing the eqclient.ini, but this doesn't solve the inconsistent frame rate.
• The frame rate can vary wildly sometimes (probably due to texture cache or rendering issues) which results in mouse-look often going wild and /follow breaking (hurts boxing the most).

If I were debugging this issue, I would think that they are handling mouse-look and /follow logic as a "per frame" rather than a "per time-delta" algorithm. Going with "per frame" was how things were done in game development around the time EQ was being written, but this approach fails miserably if frame rate varies wildly. I'm doubtful that they are keen to dive into this and fix the fundamental issue so the best alternative I can see is to let the player's choose which DirectX version to use. Crossing fingers they will do this. Simple boxing is almost unworkable for me at the moment. Almost. It is a test of patience, to be sure.

Revert the DX11 patch. It wasn't ready for release, and you were TOLD this.

Don't delete your eqclient.ini file if you have reprogrammed some of your keys because you didn't like hitting the letter p and having a small window pop up. I think the small window is new and that it used to just drop you to desktop before to start a petition. Something used to really aggravate me bad in the inadvertent button pressing category.

I will admit though that the choppiness went away deleting the eqclient.ini but others may want to just edit the UseLitBatches=FALSE