FPS Issues with a Decent Computer

[SpiritDrak]

Hey guys, so I've been having some real bad fps issues with Skyrim. In vanilla with all graphics set to the lowest it can be, I can still only manage 15-20 fps, which is strange considering my computer is fairly decent. I've tried tinkering with nvidia's 3D settings, tried different performance mods, and basically most of the common fixes for issues such as these but to no avail. And this performance issue is not limited to Skyrim, other games that I feel my computer should be able to handle such as Dark Souls also suffer from this problem.

 

Here are my computer specs:

 

Windows 7 x64 OS

Intel Core i7-3610QM 2.30GHz

8GB Ram

NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M 2GB Dedicated

 

And these are my current 3D settings:

Ambient Occlusion: Off
Anisotropic filtering: Off

Antialiasing FXAA: Off

Antialiasing Gamma correction: Off

Antialiasing Mode: Off

CUDA - GPUs: All

Max pre-rendered frames: Use 3D app settings

Power Management mode: Prefer Maximum performance
Texture filtering:

-Anisotropic sample optimization: On

-Negative LOD bias: Allow

-Quality: High performance

-Trilinear Optimization: On

Threaded optimization: On

Triple Buffering: Off

Vsync: Off

 

Any insight into this isssue would be greatly appreciated.

[prod80]

probably Skyrim is running off your Integrated gfx and not your 640M... in the d3d settings make sure you have a profile for tesv.exe, and make sure you select the right videocard in skyrim launcher as well.

[SpiritDrak]

Thanks for the reply.

 

I had thought that too originally but I have a profile for tesv.exe already. I've even set my 640M as the default graphics card in the global settings and there's still a problem.

[Georgiegril]

I get a steady 40 fps (limited by fps limiter on EVGA precision) with an old 9800GT that has only 512 MB VRAM (also have an i7)

So whatever is going on with your computer is not normal.

 

Probably obvious, but have you shut down all you unessential background processes/services/apps? Put your AV in game mode and/or set it to concede resources to other programs?

 

Which drivers are you using?

Also, are you using Nvidia Inspector or just the nvidia control panel?

Finally, could you copy/paste your prefs.ini and ini files (Enclose in spoiler tags, they are in the pull-down menu of the third icon to the left on the top toolbar).

I or someone else might be able to notice an odd .ini setting....

[SpiritDrak]

I have tried turning off unnecessary background processes and apps and I've tried Game Booster as well. I don't know what you mean by "AV".

 

GPU Driver: GeForce 306.02 -[r304_70]

 

I used the control panel to change the settings that I mentioned in the first post. I do have NVIDIA inspector but I haven't really messed with it because I don't really know what all those things are.

 

If you mean my Skyrim ini files, there they are:

 

Prefs:

 

[General]
fBrightLightColorB=1.0000
fBrightLightColorG=1.0000
fBrightLightColorR=1.0000
iStoryManagerLoggingEvent=-1
bEnableStoryManagerLogging=0
[imagespace]
bDoDepthOfField=1
[Display]
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=5
fInteriorShadowDistance=3000.0000
fShadowDistance=2500.0000
iShadowMapResolutionSecondary=1024
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048
iShadowSplitCount=2
iMaxAnisotropy=8
fLeafAnimDampenDistEnd=4600.0000
fLeafAnimDampenDistStart=3600.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=3600.0000
fGamma=1.0000
fDecalLOD2=1500.0000
fDecalLOD1=1000.0000
fSpecularLODStartFade=500.0000
fShadowLODStartFade=200.0000
fLightLODStartFade=1000.0000
iTexMipMapMinimum=0
iTexMipMapSkip=0
iWaterMultiSamples=0
iMultiSample=0
iShadowMode=3
bTreesReceiveShadows=0
bDrawLandShadows=0
bFull Screen=0
iSize H=900
iSize W=1600
fMeshLODFadePercentDefault=1.2000
fMeshLODFadeBoundDefault=256.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeTreeDistance=2048.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeTreeDistance=2844.0000
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=3072.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=4096.0000
iScreenShotIndex=2
bShadowMaskZPrepass=0
bMainZPrepass=0
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=3
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=10
bFloatPointRenderTarget=0
[Grass]
b30GrassVS=0
fGrassStartFadeDistance=3500.0000
fGrassMaxStartFadeDistance=7000.0000
fGrassMinStartFadeDistance=0.0000
[MAIN]
bGamepadEnable=1
bCrosshairEnabled=1
fHUDOpacity=1.000
bSaveOnPause=1
bSaveOnTravel=1
bSaveOnWait=1
bSaveOnRest=1
[GamePlay]
bShowFloatingQuestMarkers=1
bShowQuestMarkers=1
iDifficulty=2
[interface]
bDialogueSubtitles=0
bGeneralSubtitles=0
[Controls]
fGamepadHeadingSensitivity=1.0000
fMouseHeadingSensitivity=0.0125
bAlwaysRunByDefault=1
bInvertYValues=0
bGamePadRumble=1
bMouseAcceleration=1
[Particles]
iMaxDesired=750
[saveGame]
fAutosaveEveryXMins=15.0000
[AudioMenu]
fAudioMasterVolume=1.0000
fVal7=1.0000
uID7=0
fVal6=1.0000
uID6=0
fVal5=1.0000
uID5=0
fVal4=1.0000
uID4=0
fVal3=1.0000
uID3=0
fVal2=0.4000
uID2=466532
fVal1=1.0000
uID1=554685
fVal0=0.8000
uID0=1007612
[Clouds]
fCloudLevel2Distance=262144.0000
fCloudLevel1Distance=32768.0000
fCloudLevel0Distance=16384.0000
fCloudNearFadeDistance=9000.0000
[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=25000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=100000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=32768.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=20480.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=0.7500
bShowLODInEditor=0
[NavMesh]
fObstacleAlpha=0.5000
fCoverSideHighAlpha=0.8000
fCoverSideLowAlpha=0.6500
fEdgeFullAlpha=1.0000
fEdgeHighAlpha=0.7500
fEdgeLowAlpha=0.5000
fTriangleFullAlpha=0.7000
fTriangleHighAlpha=0.3500
fTriangleLowAlpha=0.2000
fLedgeBoxHalfHeight=25.0000
fEdgeDistFromVert=10.0000
fEdgeThickness=10.0000
fPointSize=2.5000
[Trees]
bRenderSkinnedTrees=1
uiMaxSkinnedTreesToRender=20
[Decals]
uMaxDecals=100
[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=5.0000
fLODFadeOutMultItems=3.0000
fLODFadeOutMultActors=6.0000
[Launcher]
bEnableFileSelection=1

 

 

Skyrim_default:

 

[General]
sLanguage=ENGLISH

uExterior Cell Buffer=36

[Display]
fShadowLODMaxStartFade=1000.0
fSpecularLODMaxStartFade=2000.0
fLightLODMaxStartFade=3500.0
iShadowMapResolutionPrimary=2048
bAllowScreenshot=1

[Audio]
fMusicDuckingSeconds=6.0
fMusicUnDuckingSeconds=8.0
fMenuModeFadeOutTime=3.0
fMenuModeFadeInTime=1.0

[Grass]
bAllowCreateGrass=1
bAllowLoadGrass=0

[GeneralWarnings]
SGeneralMasterMismatchWarning=One or more plugins could not find the correct versions of the master files they depend on. Errors may occur during load or game play. Check the "Warnings.txt" file for more information.

[Archive]
sResourceArchiveList=Skyrim - Misc.bsa, Skyrim - Shaders.bsa, Skyrim - Textures.bsa, Skyrim - Interface.bsa, Skyrim - Animations.bsa, Skyrim - Meshes.bsa, Skyrim - Sounds.bsa
sResourceArchiveList2=Skyrim - Voices.bsa, Skyrim - VoicesExtra.bsa

[Combat]
fMagnetismStrafeHeadingMult=0.0
fMagnetismLookingMult=0.0

[Papyrus]
fPostLoadUpdateTimeMS=500.0
bEnableLogging=0
bEnableTrace=0
bLoadDebugInformation=0

 

 

Low:

 

[Display]
iMultiSample=1
iWaterMultisamples=1
iMaxAnisotropy=1
iTexMipMapSkip=1
iTexMipMapMinimum=4
fDecalLOD1=500.0000
fDecalLOD2=1000.0000
iActorShadowCountInt=2
iActorShadowCountExt=2
fSpecularLODStartFade=200.0000
fLightLODStartFade=200.0000
iShadowMapResolution=512
fShadowBiasScale=0.5
iShadowMaskQuarter=3
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=0
bFXAAEnabled=0
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=3072.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=4096.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=3600.0000
fShadowDistance=2000
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=0
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=0


[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultActors=2.5
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=2.5
fLODFadeOutMultItems=1

[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=12500.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=75000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=25000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=15000.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=0.4000

[Grass]
b30GrassVS=0
fGrassStartFadeDistance=0.0000

[imagespace]
iRadialBlurLevel=0

[Water]
bReflectLODLand=0
bReflectLODObjects=0
bReflectLODTrees=0
bReflectSky=1

[blurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange=0

[Decals]
bDecals=0
bSkinnedDecals=0
uMaxDecals=0
uMaxSkinDecals=0
uMaxSkinDecalPerActor=0

 

 

Medium:

 

[Display]
iMultiSample=4
iWaterMultisamples=1
iMaxAnisotropy=1
iTexMipMapSkip=0
iTexMipMapMinimum=4
fDecalLOD1=500.0000
fDecalLOD2=1000.0000
iActorShadowCountInt=4
iActorShadowCountExt=2
fSpecularLODStartFade=500.0000
fLightLODStartFade=1000.0000
iShadowMapResolution=1024
fShadowBiasScale=0.3
iShadowMaskQuarter=3
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=1
bFXAAEnabled=1
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=3072.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=4096.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=3600.0000
fShadowDistance=2500.0000
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=10
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=3


[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultActors=3.0
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=2.5
fLODFadeOutMultItems=3.5

[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=25000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=100000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=32768.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=20480.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=0.7500

[Grass]
b30GrassVS=0
fGrassStartFadeDistance=3000.0000

[imagespace]
iRadialBlurLevel=0

[Water]
bReflectLODLand=1
bReflectLODObjects=0
bReflectLODTrees=0
bReflectSky=0

[blurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange=1

[Decals]
bDecals=1
bSkinnedDecals=1
uMaxDecals=100
uMaxSkinDecals=35
uMaxSkinDecalPerActor=20

 

 

High:

 

[Display]
iMultiSample=8
iWaterMultisamples=4
iMaxAnisotropy=8
iTexMipMapSkip=0
iTexMipMapMinimum=4
fDecalLOD1=500.0000
fDecalLOD2=1000.0000
iActorShadowCountInt=4
iActorShadowCountExt=2
fSpecularLODStartFade=1000.0000
fLightLODStartFade=2500.0000
iShadowMapResolution=2048
fShadowBiasScale=0.25
iShadowMaskQuarter=4
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3
bFXAAEnabled=0
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=9999999.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=9999999.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=5000.0000
fShadowDistance=4000.0000
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=30
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=10


[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultActors=6.0
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=7.5
fLODFadeOutMultItems=4.5

[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=40000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=150000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=40000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=25000.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=1.1000

[Grass]
b30GrassVS=1
fGrassStartFadeDistance=5000.0000

[imagespace]
iRadialBlurLevel=1

[Water]
bReflectLODLand=1
bReflectLODObjects=1
bReflectLODTrees=1
bReflectSky=0

[blurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange=1

[Decals]
bDecals=1
bSkinnedDecals=1
uMaxDecals=250
uMaxSkinDecals=50
uMaxSkinDecalPerActor=40

 

 

Very High:

 

[Display]
iMultiSample=16
iWaterMultisamples=4
iMaxAnisotropy=16
iTexMipMapSkip=0
iTexMipMapMinimum=4
fDecalLOD1=500.0000
fDecalLOD2=1000.0000
iActorShadowCountInt=6
iActorShadowCountExt=6
fSpecularLODStartFade=2000.0000
fLightLODStartFade=3500.0000
iShadowMapResolution=4096
fShadowBiasScale=0.15
iShadowMaskQuarter=4
iBlurDeferredShadowMask=3
bFXAAEnabled=0
fMeshLODLevel2FadeDist=9999999.0000
fMeshLODLevel1FadeDist=9999999.0000
fTreesMidLODSwitchDist=9999999.0000
fShadowDistance=8000.0000
iMaxDecalsPerFrame=100
iMaxSkinDecalsPerFrame=25


[LOD]
fLODFadeOutMultActors=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultObjects=15.0000
fLODFadeOutMultItems=15.0000

[TerrainManager]
fTreeLoadDistance=75000.0000
fBlockMaximumDistance=250000.0000
fBlockLevel1Distance=70000.0000
fBlockLevel0Distance=35000.0000
fSplitDistanceMult=1.5000

[Grass]
b30GrassVS=1
fGrassStartFadeDistance=7000.0000

[imagespace]
iRadialBlurLevel=2

[Water]
bReflectLODLand=1
bReflectLODObjects=1
bReflectLODTrees=1
bReflectSky=1

[blurShaderHDR]
bDoHighDynamicRange=1

[Decals]
bDecals=1
bSkinnedDecals=1
uMaxDecals=1000
uMaxSkinDecals=100
uMaxSkinDecalPerActor=60

 

[SpiritDrak]

Just a little additional information, when I run dxdiag it only gives me info for my integrated graphics card, even when my 640M is set as the global default. Perhaps this means there is a problem with my computer my 640M as the preferred graphics card?

 

Although at the same time, I have noticed a significant change in performance with a few games that I had on an older computer. So that might mean either that the graphics card is being used for some processes and not others even though it's set to the default, OR the reason those other games improved in performance is because of the CPU upgrade.

[drbeavis]

If your having trouble running other games at a high framerate, I believe the logical conclusion would be that there is something outside of Skyrim that is causing a performance issue. 20 FPS is way, way low. I dont like anything under 35, preferably 40 and above. I noticed that you have an older version of the Nvidia's driver, I would update that to the 320 version first.

 

Next, check out your processes using Task Manager, make sure nothing is hogging your physical memory. Whats your memory and CPU usage sitting on idle? I'm sitting at less than 10% CPU usage right now and around 20% memory usage with several Chrome tabs open.

 

Next I'd download something like Piriform Speccy (Ad-Ware Free, although it may ask when installing, just say no...been a while since I installed it, cant remember) and monitor the temperatures and make sure that all the correct hardware and drivers are showing up as well.

 

I dont understand how it could be your integrated graphics card - less your set up is different than mine, I dont have the integrated card hooked up to my monitor at all.

 

One possible issue could be a video driver that wasn't properly uninstalled - a driver sweeper could help get rid of old registry values left behind. There is a good program thats free that will do this, but its been a while since i've messed with those and seems like all the ones I saw last were trying to infect me with spyware, give me a program that does nothing then ask for money to use 'premium features' or something a long those lines. I'm sure theres a good one out there, though.

 

If your still having issues, I find a fresh install of W7 or W8 is never a bad thing. I did about 2 months ago and noticed a huge improvement in performance on just about everything - I had let all sorts of programs clog up my resources and registry values creating lag everywhere.

[SpiritDrak]

Well I've tried all of those things except reinstalling Win7 and so far I've seen no difference in performance. CPU and memory usage is all fine, hardware temperature is fine and I've cleaned my computer as best as I could. I will try reinstalling Windows some time this week.

 

Thanks for all the help guys, and if anyone has any other insight into this issue it would be much appreciated.

[Georgiegril]

AV=Antivirus, sorry. ut it probably isn't relevant.

I think that it is very significant that you are seeing your integrated drivers on the dxdiag. I agree with drbeavis that you are probably looking at a driver installation problem.

EVGA has a great community board, and there is a post there about driver installation that may be of use to you, even if your NVidia drivers weren't manufactured by EVGA, it wont matter, the info is relevant for any nvidia drivers. If you scroll down past the video, there is a long list of links...the clean installation and troubleshooting links especially might be of use.

 

Good luck!

[SpiritDrak]

Hey guys, thanks for all the help so far.

 

So reinstalling Win7 worked....kind of. I can get up to 50 fps now on medium settings and when I start up skyrim it stays there for a few minutes. Then there is excessive fluctuation between 15 and 40 fps. It constantly goes up and down every second. Does anyone have an idea of what's causing this or a possible fix?