[.299 Bug/Graphics, Performance] Very slow performance and graphics problems

April 12, 2010 4:17 AM from

I'm having a problem with very slow performance and graphics issues that basically makes it impossible to play Elemental.

I haven't had time to try the betas out much until now, so I don't know for sure whether this would have always happened on my system with previous versions.

The issues with blurry 3d models mentioned below seem similar to this post:
https://forums.elementalgame.com/379927

Symptoms:

1. Varying problems with 3d models

Examples:
A: When selecting which sovereign to use when setting up a new game, sometimes their 3d model is blurry (with smooth movement), and sometimes completely blank.
B: When I get to the 'Customize Your Faction' screen, sometimes the 3d model looks ok/clear (with smooth movement), and sometimes it is blurry (also with smooth movement).

2. When at the 'Creating World' screen, sometimes the game seems to hang indefinitely.

3. When the game starts, none of the map graphics show up -- it's just an empty white-ish void (the UI controls display normally). Mousing over where something would be on the map will still show their information card.

4. Really, really slow performance (less than 2 fps) after the world is created. Slow performance persists even if I go back to the Main Menu.

Examples:
A. If I click somewhere and move the cursor quickly away, after the 'frame' updates the cursor jumps back to where I clicked it.
B. Using the UI for anything is very slow to respond.
C. If I open the main Unit Details window for my sovereign (which has the moving 3d model), I can see it is very slow/choppy.

5. When I go into the 'Troop Roster' part of 'Design Units', the part of the window where the 3d model is supposed to be shown is blank except for the list icons for the stuff the unit has. If I click on another unit type (i.e. go from Peasant to Pioneer), sometimes the 3d model will show up again, but is blurry and has choppy frame rate.

See links below for screenshots, debug.err, and dxdiag output:

2,339 views 5 replies

Reply #1 April 12, 2010 6:19 AM from

Elemental Forums Top

Try turning off 'Advanced Lighting' - I know that sorted out the blurry portraits for me.

Reply #2 April 12, 2010 10:41 PM from

Elemental Forums Top

I tried again with 'Advanced Lighting' turned off and found the following:

Better:
- The blurry 3d models problem goes away.

Not Better:
- The world map still does not display.
- Very slow performance (laggy UI and low framerate).
- In the Design Unit/Troop Roster screen, it often starts out 'blank' as described before, but I found that if I sit there and wait a bit, the 3d model eventually shows up. Seems like it's taking a long time to load it.

Other:
- Switching 'Advanced Lighting' on and off again after starting a game resulted in an interesting change in the missing map graphics (screenshot below). Note that the faintly glowing white area (just a little lower-right of the center of the screen, which is where the cursor was) actually does 'pulse' over time between between brighter and dimmer.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/6040897/elemental_problem/interesting_graphics_problem.PNG

Reply #3 April 13, 2010 9:24 AM from

Elemental Forums Top

Try turning Anti-aliasing off in Options. I had similar problems that pretty much cleared up when I turned off Advanced Lighting and Anti-aliasing.

Reply #4 April 13, 2010 9:55 AM from

Elemental Forums Top

I can't be sure but this may be an issue. From your Dxdiag file.

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 8800 GTS
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0193&SUBSYS_042010DE&REV_A2
   Display Memory: 320.0 MB

I am sure they are trying to have such cards be doable but a video card upgrade to a
512MB or 1GB card may be recommended come launch time.

Reply #5 April 13, 2010 2:44 PM from

Elemental Forums Top

Yep, just tried turning off anti-aliasing and both the graphics and performance problems went away.

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