Unreal Tournament 3 m9750 issues

It seems as though whenever I am killed by a rocket or something that makes me explode, (shock combo, hit by the impact hammer, etc.) my fps occassionally goes down by A L O T. I go from about 60 frames per second on some maps to about 20 for 10 or 15 seconds until my fps stabalizes at 60 again.

Here is what I have done to try and fix it.

1. I tried updating the drivers, I tried 3 different sets, all with the same outcome. I cannot stop getting that fps drop sometimes when I die.

2. I have all unnecessary processes in the background terminated.

3. It seems as though I am the only one affected by this problem, people who own Sager's with the same graphics card have not reported a problem like this from what I have read.

So.... Any ideas on whats going on here? I bought this m9750 specifically for UT3 so I am kinda bummed about all the issues I have with this game. I still cannot get a smooth 60 FPS on any map except Defiance, Fearless, and Biohazard. Any m9750 owners with the same issues? Is there something wrong with it? Should I call alienware and tell them to look at it?

Heres my specs

m9750

Windows XP Pro
2 Gigs of Ram
2.16 Core 2 Duo Processor
7950 GTX's in SLI.
169.09 Drivers from Laptop Video 2 Go.

 

have you tried to disable SLI?

 

Yes I have, and the problem still persists.

 

2 options left...
1.try to reformat
2.send it back...if you can...

 

No!!! Change your driver to 169.25 or 174.16 if you are running XP SP3. SP3 is suppose to help alot with SLI support in XP.

Anyway you're not going to get a consistant 60fps in UT3, but you shouldn't have a 40fps drop though. One thing to check, Is your Antivirus scanning UT3 files before they are being loaded into memory? That will slow things down alot. Anyother issue maybe overheating, try artic Silver 5, it should make your system run more stable.

O, one more thing. Swap files, if you start swapping and your system is set to "System Manage Memory", you will experience a performance hit while the memory is being swapped.

 

i thought he tried this....and sp3 is not released yet!

 

I would not send a computer back just because it has problems with one thing on one game

 

well he brought ofr this game specifically and having the FPS drop that much and only being able to get 60 FPS on three maps, after spending that much money thats what i would do.

 

its obviously a software issue, not a hardware issue.

 

SP3 should be released next week. But I would try the other suggestions first, before you wipe your machine or send it back.

 

have u tryed to run a game repair or reinstalling the game. Sometimes games can get fragmented and will start to lag during the fagmented parts. i would try to defrag the comp see if anything comes up and if u still have lag reinstall the game. If the problem is still there you know its not the game and its the comp.

 

Try the 167.46 drivers and see if it still does it. I had similar issues with UT3 and I rolled back and the issue is now gone. I also got my highest 3dmark score with these drivers and all other games are playing great as well.

 

Since you are running XP what I'm about to say is like comparing apples to oranges, but I had the exact same problem with my m9750 until I installed the latest driver on laptop2go.com. I have Vista w/ SP1 and the problem went away with the 174.16 drivers. However, I also have SLI 8700s, not 7950s. The first time I installed the 174.16 drivers they didn't work in UT3 at all- I couldn't change the resolution- the screen would just go black and freeze. I rolled back my drivers then tried again and it worked fine the second time

Sounds like a driver issue and not a hardware issue.

 

Welp, thanks for the responses guys. I guess I will wait for the new Windows XP Service Pack, and if that doesn't work, I'll try reinstalling the game, and if that does not work, I'll reinstall some different drivers and if nothing else works, a total reformat.

Just outta curiosity gecko, with your 8700's what settings/resolution are you using for UT3, and is there any framerate drops in certain maps? Like standing ontop of the bridge in Shangri-La or looking at the center of Deck from where the shockrifle spawns near the U Damage? To see your FPS type stat fps in the console.

 

UPDATE

Well, I rolled back to the 167.46 drivers and the problem still persists. But this does not happen while SLI is disabled. So I am either stuck playing with a somewhat jittery 35-45 fps constantly with one card, or a smooth 60 fps in SLI until someone kills me with a rocketlauncher or flakcannon.

Decisions, decisions. Anyone got any information on what I should do?

 

Download and install XP SP3 RC2. Then install the 174.74 drivers from laptopvideo2go. I have this setup on both my M9750's, one has SLI 8700's and the other has SLI 7950's. Both machines run UT3 at 1600x1200 all settings max with no problems. I can run it on the one with SLI 7950's at 1920x1200 with all settings max as well.

 

What is your definition of all settings max "with no problems" what is your average fps on maps? On some spots in deck I get a weird FPS drop for no reason. I stopped that rocket lag I mentioned earlier from happening by disabling floating point render targets, but I cannot see the trail now from the sniper gun.

TLDR; what is your average fps on the map deck? Do you get any slowdowns in certain areas? Like where the flak cannon is when you walk up/down the ramp to it? I go from like 60 FPS to 30 FPS there.

Also, I cant find out where to download the 174.74 drivers from laptopvideo2go. Seems as though the latest driver or whatever they list is 169.09 for XP

 

You can find the latest driver releases in the forum section of laptopvideo2go. Here is the link http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showforum=89 .

When I say max I mean the default sliders set at 5 which I believe sets everything to max. You are going to get the occasional dip if frames on certain maps regardless of how your settings are, its just the way UT3 is. Some maps aren't really made well and the textures are not even thruout the map. On some maps I can go from 120fps in a hallway to 60 fps in an open area. As long as it stays above 30 it should be playable for you without any stutter.

Also you can try this UT3 tweak guide, it should help out as well. http://www.tweakguides.com/UT3_1.html

 

@Agatius - Your problem is your drivers. From what I have read, you have only tried that 169.09 drivers and the 167.46 drivers, both which have been problematic especially for 8700GT users. You can get the 174.16 drivers from laptopvideo2go by going into the community forum, and finding the drivers that way.

Also, when you install them follow my SLi guide, it will make sure the installation goes well.

 

In fact, the 174.16 drivers are linked in that guide

 

Well, this m9750 seems to be working against me. I install some new drivers from laptop video 2 go 169.28 which claims to be a UT3 fix or something, so, tried it, didn't work the same problems persisted.

I tried to download windows xp sp3 and it gave me a bluescreen after installation startup so I had to reformat the hard drive. Now I am stuck with the 167.46 beta drivers until the sp3 is released from windows live update, and HOPEFULLY it wont give me a bluescreen then. Then maybe I can try to install newer drivers on this thing, and then it will work, but if the 4 drivers I have tried changed nothing I am not getting my hopes up.

The only thing that is bugging me, is the fact that I am the only 7950 GTX SLI User suffering from the problems I described above. Infact, even when there was no 169.28 or 169.09 driver out yet on laptopvideo2go nobody had the problems I am describing, and nobody complained about the lag from portals from looking at portals at max details either.

So, can someone with a 7950 GTX in SLI config send me a tell with their UT3 username or something so we can hop on a server and I can show you exactly whats wrong and see if you get the same results? This is really getting frustrating.

 

10 Characters

Bump

 

What are the issues you having?

 

I also get some strange lag from looking at portals regardless of what driver I use. I have not yet found a fix for it. I do not get the same lag on my wifes M9750 but she has 8700's. I do not however get stalling as I once did. I am trying to find a solution and will let you know what I find.

 

Hey Dhoang, basically I get weird lag spikes when I die from certain weapons, and the lag I get from looking at portals is kinda hurting the gameplay. Check out my posts on page 1 for more details.

 

Hi Agatius,
I thought I'd join the helping commitee. I'm sure that by now, you'd love to chuck the thing down the nearest flight of stairs that you can find. My system, unfortunately, isn't running xp or the 7950s. However, give these guidelines a shot and see what happens.

1. Restore the system. (Give it a clean wipe)
2. Install the 174.16 video drivers from the top of the forum (do not forget to enable SLI) (Double Check that SLI is enabled because the drivers are a little funny)
3. Install UT3 and make sure to play directly after installation when it gives you the option to do so. Do not click finish and close the window and then start UT3. If you choose to play UT3 after installation when it prompts you, it might ask to replace some .ini files which you should agree to do (I can't guarantee that xp will do this, but vista does).
4. Install the UT3 patch.

I hope this helps,
Gabe

P.S. - Let me know how it goes. I can join you in UT3 if you want to test. However, no matter what you do, the portals will always slow you down.

 

Thanks for the info GabeZ, once Windows XP SP3 comes from the microsoft live update thing I will install the new drivers, last time I tried to install SP3 manually I had to reformat.

 

Superbump for possible solutions!

 

Cant give any more suggestions than to do what GabeZ recommends. Make sure that you also monitor your temps, as the 9750s will down clock if they get too hot (mine do at 80 degrees). monitoring the temps is also important as not all m9750s are created equal, as some have found some sloppy application of thermal paste. Finally, have you tried nHancer? If you have SLI (or even if you don't) it is a great way to tweak driver settings for applications.

 

After playing around with it I have been able to recreate the problems you are having. I had not noticed before because I play mostly instagib and the only problem I was having was slight lag when looking at portals. The only thing I have found so far is that when the frame rate drops appear is that the GPU temps are hitting 90c. After about 15 seconds it cools back down and the issue goes away. I am not down clocking according to riva tuner just hitting those temps. Maybe its time to open her up and see whats going on inside this puppy.

 

My temps bump 80 degrees all the time. I've learned to accept the drops in FPS as a feature and not a glitch lol....

 

I'm curious as to where its been stated that Windows XP SP3 is supposed to help SLi? As far as I know, if you've been updating your computer through Windows update regularly, there are only 3-4 new features that SP3 brings to the table - none of which I've heard would help with any SLi functionality. Although, I've heard on numerous occasions that there is a 10% general performance increase.

 

Hi Shadedred,
I think XP SP3 is more for security than anything. I imagine that it does help a little, but the SLI performance you're seeing now is probably where it will continue to be. With that said, it's going to be up to Nvidia and Alienware as to how well it's going to perform.
For me, I'm well aware that that my area 51 m9750 will perform better with xp, but I'm firm in supporting vista. No matter how many people beg and plead for xp to stay, it's going to go to that large pile of code in the sky. I figure that I might as well get comfortable with vista, because we're all going to be using it eventually. And before you know it, people will be complaining about the next version of windows due for 2009.

Gabe

 

@OP - It still seems like you have only been trying the 169 drivers. Please follow the SLi Guide and get one of the newer 174.xx drivers. The 174.93 have been very good for some people. From reading this it seems like you have just done the AW drivers and the 169, both of which are not that good in my opinion.

 

I will when SP3 is released via LiveUpdate, I really do not feel like reformatting again. Anywho, if Frag is able to recreate the exact same problems that I have, and he is using the drivers you mentioned I believe, I do not have much hope that it will fix my problem.

Try this test out yourself stone, load up a map like Shangri-La and keep shooting rockets at yourself, either one at a time or load up 3 rockets and shoot at your feet, or shoot it point blank at a wall and see if your FPS plummets.

 

@Agatius - I was actually having the SAME EXACT problems as you. I got so frustrated that I uninstalled UT3. Keep on bumping this or just send me a PM because I will be re-installing UT3 to tell you if the new drivers I installed actually fixed it

You may as well follow my SLi guide and give it a try. However, I will be testing it this weekend with the 174.16 drivers.

 

I've tried to install 2 different drivers thanks to your guide, which is awesome btw. BUUUT, until that SP3 comes out I am not going to be using any more of the 167-169 series. Whats really frustrating is that I bought this laptop in hopes of playing UT3 with no problems, but it seems like this is the ONLY game so far my laptop has problems with. I really hope Age of Conan works otherwise I will be pissed.

 

ULTRA BUMP for more possible solutions.

 

How's it going Aqatius,
I understand all the frustrations you're seeing with UT3. A lot of use have been struggling for the perfect configuration. However, the truth of the matter is that UT3 doesn't play well on anybody's system. There are slowdowns in areas where there should be, the game shutters around a bit every now and then, and the FPS are all over the place. The reason that we keep preaching the 174.16 driver is because that's the best one we've found so far. As with all modern day games, UT3 is far from perfect, and the only way you're going to see semi-flawless play is on a video game console.
One game that frustrates me more than UT3 is crysis. It plays about the same as UT3 (comprable problems as far as FPS and shutter). It also seems to have the most irritating stuttering sound in any game I've ever seen. There is no fix for this issue, although the Crysis team was quick to suggest inserting 3 comands into the console, which work semi-mediocre at best (that's if it does work).
I would only expect that as this technology grows older, performance will increase. There's a flaw to being on the edge of the most modern technology. Often times it's not well tested, and it's far from perfect.

Gabe

P.S. - If you want to do a little a troubleshooting, shoot me a private message and I can try to meet you in game.

 

Monster Bump

 

I just received my Dell XPS M1730 (x9000 CPU, 8800GTX-SLI), and I also see some performance degredation issues in UT3. When I try to run max settings under Vista, I notice a significant drop in frame rate, but not to the point of stalling when blown up by a shock rifle combo, rocket / flak blast, etc. I have tried dropping the post-processing settings to default, and while this has helped dramatically increase the frame rate, I am still seeing 1-second image freezes every so often. I have not yet updated the SLI drivers yet, but will probably do so some time this weekend.