Getting 10-20 fps with big fights on low settings

Hello everyone!

I have a i7-2600 3,4 Ghz as CPU and a Gigabyte Nvidia Geforce FTX 760 windforce as GPU.
I also have 12GB of ram.
Planetside is installed on a SSD and I have every graphical settings on low/off (an exception of render distance set to 6000).

In a fight with 15~30 people I getting low fps. No matter the resolution neither if is windowed fullscreen or fullscreen neither if I lower the rendering to 60%.

How I can get a stable 60 fps?

Edit: the number of people is just guessing. All I know that there's lot of people.

Definitely lower render distance. I fly so I bump mine out to 1,500. But infantry only renders out to 700? and vehicles to 1,100.

Double check and make sure you're actually using your GPU, and not integrated graphics.

type /fps while in game, and it will tell you if your game is GPU or CPU limited.

You mean GTX, right?

Lower your render distance. Mine is at 4500.

Lower render distance to ~2000, infantry doesn't render beyond ~300 to 400 metres and vehicles only up to 1k or 1.5k I think. Some options are better turned to highest instead as Planetside is actually compressing the textures for example.
I was able to play 48/48 fights on my old fx-6100 + gtx 650 ti just fine with roughly 45 fps. And that with an FPS build useroptions.ini
Make sure your cores are unparked, turn off hyperthreading, update your drivers and check if you aren't using integrated graphics.

I'm infantry only, so my render distance is set at 500, all settings to low except shadows which are off. I also subscribe through Steam, so I have switched off the Steam overlay. I then discovered that my Windows 10 automatically activated a proxy server for my LAN, which I then switched off.

I have an old i3 rig, 8mb RAM with a GTX 600 card and I get at least 35-40 fps (GPU) in all but the biggest fights. Not great, but passable for a casual player like me. I've been thinking of getting a new graphics card (anyone got any ideas what would suit an older computer?).

I haven't used the function in a while but if you hit alt + F in game it will show an FPS counter and also indicate where the bottleneck / data load is in your system, whether that's the CPU or GPU holding your frame rate back. In my experience it's usually folks CPU. i5-6500 skylake 3.2ghz runs everything 45-60fps

PS2 isn't nearly as demanding on the GPU as you might think, its mostly CPU intensive. Dropping the render distance will cut the load on the CPU some but during intense fights there's not much you can do if the CPU just can't hang.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions!

I was setted to 6000 because I like to spot and annoy aircrafts with my vehicle.
I got a windows 7 64 bit. The CPU cores are already unparked, I'm not on integrated graphics. The temp is not over the 70-75°C.

I tested a bit and I got a "stable" 30 fps with render at 70%, distance 3000m and resolution fullscreen 1024x768 (instead of 1440x900). When the FPS gets to low (30 and under) the counter (ALT+F) show "cpu" instead of "gpu".

Still is too low performance: when I enter small fight, with 50 people and lower, I starting to drop frames!
I missing something??!
Do I really need to turn off the "hyperthreading"? What if I turn on the "smoother" option?

Try looking into Control Panel -> Power Settings -> Power Plan Settings -> Advanced Settings and see if "Maximum processor state" is not at 100%.

Its 100% here in high performance profile . What it should be then?

I already done that, all settings of power saving is full perfomance with 100% and never on deactivation

NIC drivers. Update them.

Well, my two certs worth: Overclocking is pretty much out with that CPU, and this game is really CPU dependent. You can't really rely on the in-game usage meter, so you need to do your own balancing.

It is possible that by playing on Low you are having the game rely on the CPU too much and not utilizing your video card. Try setting it to Medium with Shadows OFF. Log out and add this to your UserOptions.ini

[Terrain]
RenderFlora=Off

While you are in the file, set your RenderDistance=1000 and make sure FogShadowEnable=0
Under [Sound] you might set MaxVoices=48

Are you running Windows 10? If so, disable the Game Bar.

This game really needs a code overhaul (DX11 or 12.... maybe Vulkan... refine the netcode.....) but that is not going to happen unless DBG also wanted to do advertising and inspire new players to join.

Aircraft have a maximum render range of 1,100 meters at best. You need all the help you can get, so set it that far if you're dead set on spotting aircraft at the farthest range possible.

Go through this entire video. You can set some values lower than in game, such as flora, lighting effects, and particles. You should actually set your particles to zero to squeeze all the fps you can get out of your processor.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1561&v=4AEb41Kkras

I follow some step of the video, config the Nvidia max performance and set as admin the executables, deleted the paging.
Still getting the FPS drops but at least is stables to 22 fps minimum instead of 10-20. BUT STILL NOT THE GODAMMIT 30 FPS.

I post my UserOption here:

Code:

[Display]
Mode=Fullscreen
FullscreenMode=Fullscreen
FullscreenRefresh=0
FullscreenWidth=1024
FullscreenHeight=768
WindowedWidth=1024
WindowedHeight=768
Maximized=0
RenderQuality=0.700000
 
[Rendering]
OverallQuality=-1
GraphicsQuality=1
TextureQuality=0
ShadowQuality=0
LightingQuality=1
EffectsQuality=1
TerrainQuality=1
FloraQuality=4
ModelQuality=1
RenderDistance=1500.000000
Gamma=0.000000
VerticalFOV=65
ParticleLOD=0
ParticleDistanceScale=0.650000
FogShadowsEnable=0
VSync=0
AO=0
MaximumFPS=250
UseLod0a=0
BloomEnabled=0
MotionBlur=0
Smoothing=0
 
[Controls]
CameraAutoAdjustment=1
ClickToMove=0
ClickToMoveRightButton=0
 
[Sound]
Master=1.000000
Music=1.000000
Game=1.000000
Dialog=1.000000
UI=1.000000
UseFloat32Output=0
ExclusiveMode=0
HitIndicator=1
LowAmmoIndicator=1
VehicleChatter=1
IdleMusic=1
UseHighQualityReverb=0
MaxVoices=57
 
[ImageCapture]
OutputFolder=./Screenshots
OutputFilePrefix=screenshot.png
 
[VideoCapture]
OutputFile=VideoCaptureOutput.avi
Resolution=2
Quality=100
WorkingDir=Videos
 
[VideoStreamer]
Resolution=1
Fps=30
Kbps=0
MicRecordVolume=0.000000
SpeakerRecordVolume=1.000000
Username=
 
[Terrain]
RenderFlora=Off
 
[AutoRefuse]
FriendInvitation=0
DuelInvitation=0
GuildInvitation=0
HideUi=1
TradeRequest=0
HousingInvitation=0
GroupInvitation=0
SwapSeatRequest=0
Whispers=0
 
[Group]
AutoGroupOnLogin=0
AutoGroupAsLeader=0
AutoGroupWithFriends=0
AutoGroupWithGuild=0
 
[Voice]
Enable=1
ReceiveVolume=50.000000
OutfitVolume=50.000000
SquadVolume=50.000000
RaidVolume=50.000000
ProximityVolume=50.000000
MicrophoneVolume=50.000000
Ducking=0.000000
 
[UI]
HudTiltAngle=0
CentralizedHudMode=1
HudTiltAnglePercent=0
DrawMission=1
DrawKillSpam=1
DrawLootDrop=1
ShowGroupNotifications=1
ShowOutfitNotifications=1
HideWarpZoneConfirmation=0
ShowReticleIFF=1
TintModePlayer=4460130,49139,16711680
TintModeFacility=4460130,49139,16711680
TintModeReticuleStyle=0
TintModeReticuleColor=0
SelectedChatChannel=General
PlatoonSquadColor0=3781962
PlatoonSquadColor1=10707465
PlatoonSquadColor2=9578383
PlatoonSquadColor3=65793
MapCurrentZone=4
MapZoomLevel=3
MapPositionX=-64.71772564520568
MapPositionY=-251.972242528742
MapCenterOnPlayer=0
ShowVRTrainingTutorial=0
TrackedDirectives=2533^
 
[General]
AutoDetectPerformanceSettings=0
MouseSensitivity=0.562000
ScopedMouseSensitivity=0.250000
ADSMouseSensitivity=0.644000
VehicleMouseSensitivity=0.250000
VehicleGunnerMouseSensitivity=0.250000
FlightMouseSensitivity=0.250000
JoystickSensitivity=0.500000
JoystickDeadzone=0.100000
InvertVerticalLook=0
InvertVerticalFly=0
InvertTankSteering=1
MouseRawInput=0
MouseSmoothing=0
ToggleCrouch=0
ZoomToggle=0
SprintToggle=0
SprintLegacyToggleMode=0
DrawHud=1
ReduceInputLag=1
FixedMinimap=0
Profanity=0
GamepadSmoothing=1
GamepadInvertLook=0
GamepadInvertFlight=0
GamepadEasyFlight=0
DecloakOnFire=0
AbilityQueueSeconds=0.000000
JoystickEnable=0
 
[MinimapOptions]
PathEnabled=0
 
[Emote]
Favorites=
 
[Guild]
NotifyOnGuildPetitionRecieved=1
 
[Chat]
HudChatInactiveOpacity=0.000000
CanShowHudChat=1
 
[Video]
VideoCapturePrefix=PS2Video
 
[VoiceChat]
EchoEnabled=1
EchoVolume=0.500000
ProximityEnabled=1
ProximityVolume=0.500000
FactionEnabled=1
FactionVolume=0.500000
GroupEnabled=1
GroupVolume=0.500000
GroupLeaderEnabled=1
GroupLeaderVolume=0.500000
RaidEnabled=1
RaidVolume=0.500000
GuildEnabled=1
GuildVolume=0.500000
CustomEnabled=1
CustomVolume=0.500000
InputDevice=Default System Device
OutputDevice=Default System Device

Try setting ParticleDistanceScale to 0.0 This will help your processor and let you see through smoke, but tracers and spawn beacons will be invisible.

You can try lowering you Field of View to possibly gain some more fps

You can still turn down your render distance. I leave mine at 1,700 just to help orient myself when I fly. If you're on the ground then you really don't need it past 1,100. This doesn't impact fps drastically, but you may pick up 1 or 2 frames.

Make sure to check "use raw mouse input", and un-check "reduce input lag" and "mouse acceleration"

Go to voice and turn down "maximum voice channels"

Press ctrl+shift+esc and sort processes by CPU usage to see if anything else is using your CPU.

Diagnose more...

Find a location where you can be alone. Empty Koltyr, or perhaps the deep corners of some friendly territory. What is the framerate like when few network packets are being processed?

In this same location, face something high polygon count like get a view of a base tower. What is the framerate like here?

Next in this same location, get indoors then find a corner and face a wall. What is the framerate like here?

What happens if you put things in stupid mode. ie turn it down to say 800x600 resolution (if it allows that) with lowest settings?


Post results.

As you requested I did some research.
The UserOption.ini used for those test is:

Code:

[Display]
Mode=Fullscreen
FullscreenMode=Fullscreen
FullscreenRefresh=0
FullscreenWidth=1440
FullscreenHeight=900
WindowedWidth=1024
WindowedHeight=768
Maximized=0
RenderQuality=0.500000
 
[Rendering]
OverallQuality=-1
GraphicsQuality=1
TextureQuality=0
ShadowQuality=0
LightingQuality=1
EffectsQuality=1
TerrainQuality=1
FloraQuality=4
ModelQuality=1
RenderDistance=1000.000000
Gamma=0.000000
VerticalFOV=40
ParticleLOD=0
ParticleDistanceScale=0.600000
FogShadowsEnable=0
VSync=0
AO=0
MaximumFPS=250
UseLod0a=0
BloomEnabled=0
MotionBlur=0
Smoothing=0
 
[Controls]
CameraAutoAdjustment=1
ClickToMove=0
ClickToMoveRightButton=0
 
[Sound]
Master=1.000000
Music=1.000000
Game=1.000000
Dialog=1.000000
UI=1.000000
UseFloat32Output=0
ExclusiveMode=0
HitIndicator=1
LowAmmoIndicator=1
VehicleChatter=1
IdleMusic=1
UseHighQualityReverb=0
MaxVoices=48
 
[ImageCapture]
OutputFolder=./Screenshots
OutputFilePrefix=screenshot.png
 
[VideoCapture]
OutputFile=VideoCaptureOutput.avi
Resolution=2
Quality=100
WorkingDir=Videos
 
[VideoStreamer]
Resolution=1
Fps=30
Kbps=0
MicRecordVolume=0.000000
SpeakerRecordVolume=1.000000
Username=
 
[Terrain]
RenderFlora=Off
 
[AutoRefuse]
FriendInvitation=0
DuelInvitation=0
GuildInvitation=0
HideUi=1
TradeRequest=0
HousingInvitation=0
GroupInvitation=0
SwapSeatRequest=0
Whispers=0
 
[Group]
AutoGroupOnLogin=0
AutoGroupAsLeader=0
AutoGroupWithFriends=0
AutoGroupWithGuild=0
 
[Voice]
Enable=1
ReceiveVolume=50.000000
OutfitVolume=50.000000
SquadVolume=50.000000
RaidVolume=50.000000
ProximityVolume=50.000000
MicrophoneVolume=50.000000
Ducking=0.000000
 
[UI]
HudTiltAngle=0
CentralizedHudMode=1
HudTiltAnglePercent=0
DrawMission=1
DrawKillSpam=1
DrawLootDrop=1
ShowGroupNotifications=1
ShowOutfitNotifications=1
HideWarpZoneConfirmation=0
ShowReticleIFF=1
TintModePlayer=4460130,49139,16711680
TintModeFacility=4460130,49139,16711680
TintModeReticuleStyle=0
TintModeReticuleColor=0
SelectedChatChannel=General
PlatoonSquadColor0=3781962
PlatoonSquadColor1=10707465
PlatoonSquadColor2=9578383
PlatoonSquadColor3=65793
MapCurrentZone=8
MapZoomLevel=2
MapPositionX=57.38247668533576
MapPositionY=262.8457406787639
MapCenterOnPlayer=0
ShowVRTrainingTutorial=0
TrackedDirectives=2533^
 
[General]
AutoDetectPerformanceSettings=0
MouseSensitivity=0.562000
ScopedMouseSensitivity=0.250000
ADSMouseSensitivity=0.644000
VehicleMouseSensitivity=0.250000
VehicleGunnerMouseSensitivity=0.250000
FlightMouseSensitivity=0.250000
JoystickSensitivity=0.500000
JoystickDeadzone=0.100000
InvertVerticalLook=0
InvertVerticalFly=0
InvertTankSteering=1
MouseRawInput=1
MouseSmoothing=0
ToggleCrouch=0
ZoomToggle=0
SprintToggle=0
SprintLegacyToggleMode=0
DrawHud=1
ReduceInputLag=0
FixedMinimap=0
Profanity=0
GamepadSmoothing=0
GamepadInvertLook=0
GamepadInvertFlight=0
GamepadEasyFlight=0
DecloakOnFire=0
AbilityQueueSeconds=0.000000
JoystickEnable=0
 
[MinimapOptions]
PathEnabled=0
 
[Emote]
Favorites=
 
[Guild]
NotifyOnGuildPetitionRecieved=1
 
[Chat]
HudChatInactiveOpacity=0.000000
CanShowHudChat=1
 
[Video]
VideoCapturePrefix=PS2Video
 
[VoiceChat]
EchoEnabled=1
EchoVolume=0.500000
ProximityEnabled=1
ProximityVolume=0.500000
FactionEnabled=1
FactionVolume=0.500000
GroupEnabled=1
GroupVolume=0.500000
GroupLeaderEnabled=1
GroupLeaderVolume=0.500000
RaidEnabled=1
RaidVolume=0.500000
GuildEnabled=1
GuildVolume=0.500000
CustomEnabled=1
CustomVolume=0.500000
InputDevice=Default System Device
OutputDevice=Default System Device

The place used is "Elli Amp Station" of "Esamir", no allies (not totally sure, because some temporary aircrafts)

Screenshot of the High poly tests: https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd....030/7C52C77736A820AD0553917AF5B968AA7B2756E9/

Screenshot of the empty valley tests: https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd....821/E93FBF739B559D41F6852E15D8F302927AED1980/

-----------------------------

FIRST TEST - NORMAL (USEROPTION POSTED):

HIGH POLY = 87-90 FPS (sometimes drops to 49-51 FPS for like 5 seconds)
EMPTY = 139-152 FPS (sometimes drops to 71-74 FPS for like 5 seconds)
WALL CORNER = 135-144 FPS

-----------------------------

SECOND TEST - FULL POTATO JACKET ( RENDER 50% - DISTANCE 500 - PART.DISTANCE 0 - RES 800x600 )

HIGH POLY = 93-100 FPS (sometimes drops to 50-60 FPS for like 5 seconds)
EMPTY = 132-151 FPS
WALL CORNER = 141-164 FPS

Aight, so you do not seem to be struggling graphics wise. Let's tentatively remove graphics and related settings from our list of possibilities..

Seems like it's not the polygons but the actual player entities that are screwing you up. Because of all the interpolation, prediction and whatnot the game has to do a lot of CPU intensive work for every network packet that arrives.

Focus on CPU and Network.

Go to properties on your NIC.
Check the driver tab and see what date/version you are running. If there are ANY updates, get them.
On the Advanced tab, find the property "Receive Side Scaling", IPv4 Checksum Offload and see if that is Enabled (both Rx & Tx if applicable)
**I cannot stress enough to make sure the NIC driver is updated**

Check the system event log. Events 7,9,11,5x and some 26 (depending on popup text) would be present if there is a hardware related issue....which are typically driver issues. See if anything on the system is just ******** and complaining. Don't fish too hard, it should be obvious if something is up.

Get 3rd party "stuff" out of the picture. We want to try to at least test with the bare minimum needed to run the game. An MSConfig "clean boot" may help. Start | Run | MSConfig. On Services tab, "hide all Microsoft services" then disable anything that remains. On the startup tab, take the ump over to task manager and disable anything you don't feel is essential. Reboot. Upon startup MSConfig will ask if you want to keep the changes permanent or revert them. Do neither. Just close with the X and proceed with your testing. During a subsequent reboot you can revert the changes if no improvement is seen.

Finally, do some speulunking with Perfmon. I can't detail this out for you much. It takes kung-fu that I can't pass on in a forum post. Start | Run | Perfmon. Under Performance | Data Collector Sets | User Defined you can make a new data collector. Run two data collections. One when standing around in a quiet test area like before. This will be your baseline. One when in a network intensive area. This one should hopefully help you spot what has deviated from baseline. Counters you'll be interested in:

Processor:
Do all instances. Planetside runs a handful of threads so you should see it hitting CPU 0,1,2. Your NIC *should* use several although CPU 0 may get the bulk of it. %DPC Time and %Interrupt time being high can be indicative of driver troubles. %user Time should be what the game is running under. If you see this value suddenly tank, it could mean resources are being used elsewhere.

TCPv4: Connection failures should be low. Retransmits should be low.

Network Adapter: Watch for discards and errors. Packets/sec should be relatively constant (lower in quiet areas, more in busy areas). Unexpected dips can indicate troubles.

Process (not to be confused with processor).
If you select all isntances here, it will let you spot if some other process on the system is hogging a resource (network, cpu, other).