Odd glitches/hiccups

[JacobKirwin]

Thanks in advance to anyone who has run into any of these odd issues and can point me in the right direction:

 

1. Add seemingly random times and in random places, my game will go from a locked 60 FPS down to a stuttering 1-5 FPS for just a few seconds and then it auto-corrects back up to 60 FPS again. This happens couple of times each playing session.

 

2. I occasionally loose control of my character's movements. This also seems to happen randomly. I'll be walking around and my guy will start to spin in a circle or run in a given direction without my controller input. Only lasts a second or two and then auto-corrects.

 

3. On very rare occasion; my screen will go black for just a second or two. When this happens, my game's display seems over-sized and no longer fits my TV screen (when I hit pause, for example, I can only see part of the pop-up box and the rest of it is hidden off-screen because the image is now too large). This does not auto-correct. I have to exit the game and restart it for this to go away when it happens. Fortunately; it happens rarely.

 

4. Lastly; while walking and running around, I seem to notice a very tiny stutter or hiccup where the game slows/freezes for only a fraction of a second. It's barely noticeable and doesn't seem to hurt anything, but it's there.

 

I don't suppose anyone out there has run into any of these?

 

Thanks!

[StormWolf01]

Heya Jacob. Oof, this sounds like a pain in the rump! I'm so sorry.

My first guess would be the local system the game is running on. Video card, or system Ram. Perhaps (HOPEFULLY) a background process that kicks on for a moment or two, saps resources, and then shuts itself down for a while. Second guess is that you're having a momentary hardware failure. Third guess, is that maybe you have a loose or weak connection somewhere on your motherboard, particularly between mobo and vid card. [Edit] Also double check the connection from the computer to the TV. And possibly try a different cable, if the connection is secure, and problem persists [/Edit]

My laptop will also start to suffer performance loss due to heat build up, and the system trying to cut power output to compensate for it. Dunno if that might be something in your case as well. Tho the lapses would be much longer than just a moment or two.

 

Start monitoring your background processes, and video card performance. Task manager for the former and windows has tools for monitoring part of the latter, and your video card manufacturer should have tools for doing so as well.

 

Number 2, I believe is connected to number 1. [Edit] Essentially: It's Lag. :sad: [/edit]

 

Number 3: This is most likely due to the game running at a different resolution to your monitor, or in this case, your TV. The game itself is currently controlling the resolution settings. If it locks up, freezes, (and sometimes when it crashes) those settings are still being held because the game is still controlling them. Until it is fully released by the game completely shutting down. This has been a problem between games and windows, for DECADES.

There MAY be a setting in your TV's menus to alter the resolution to match or closely match the settings ur using in the game, when connected to an external source. I do not know for sure or not. You'd have to test that on your own to find out.

 

Number 4 is probably lag.

Now, one other thing that I do want to mention. Is that there are also several vanilla areas and who knows how many mod areas that can cause performance hits and lag. Either due to a congestion of lighting, enb, and other environmental conditions that Bethe$da has not seen fit to patch with proper optimization.

Another thing that can cause performance hits, is a large amount of scripts all being running in the same cell. Amazing how a bunch of KB sized files can smack the hell out of system resources, when they over do it.

 

Again, I'm sorry for not having a definitive answer for you. Its hard without actually BEING there to see what's happening. But that's what comes first and foremost in my mind from you telling us about the problems.

Edited March 28, 2022 by StormWolf01

[JacobKirwin]

Heya Jacob. Oof, this sounds like a pain in the rump! I'm so sorry.

My first guess would be the local system the game is running on. Video card, or system Ram. Perhaps (HOPEFULLY) a background process that kicks on for a moment or two, saps resources, and then shuts itself down for a while. Second guess is that you're having a momentary hardware failure. Third guess, is that maybe you have a loose or weak connection somewhere on your motherboard, particularly between mobo and vid card. [Edit] Also double check the connection from the computer to the TV. And possibly try a different cable, if the connection is secure, and problem persists [/Edit]

My laptop will also start to suffer performance loss due to heat build up, and the system trying to cut power output to compensate for it. Dunno if that might be something in your case as well. Tho the lapses would be much longer than just a moment or two.

 

Start monitoring your background processes, and video card performance. Task manager for the former and windows has tools for monitoring part of the latter, and your video card manufacturer should have tools for doing so as well.

 

Number 2, I believe is connected to number 1. [Edit] Essentially: It's Lag. :sad: [/edit]

 

Number 3: This is most likely due to the game running at a different resolution to your monitor, or in this case, your TV. The game itself is currently controlling the resolution settings. If it locks up, freezes, (and sometimes when it crashes) those settings are still being held because the game is still controlling them. Until it is fully released by the game completely shutting down. This has been a problem between games and windows, for DECADES.

There MAY be a setting in your TV's menus to alter the resolution to match or closely match the settings ur using in the game, when connected to an external source. I do not know for sure or not. You'd have to test that on your own to find out.

 

Number 4 is probably lag.

Now, one other thing that I do want to mention. Is that there are also several vanilla areas and who knows how many mod areas that can cause performance hits and lag. Either due to a congestion of lighting, enb, and other environmental conditions that Bethe$da has not seen fit to patch with proper optimization.

Another thing that can cause performance hits, is a large amount of scripts all being running in the same cell. Amazing how a bunch of KB sized files can smack the hell out of system resources, when they over do it.

 

Again, I'm sorry for not having a definitive answer for you. Its hard without actually BEING there to see what's happening. But that's what comes first and foremost in my mind from you telling us about the problems.

 

Hi StormWolf. First, I wanted to thank you answering; you help a lot of folks on here from what I see, and it sure is appreciated. I wanted to let you know that I got the controller issue fixed. After digging into things a bit, I learned that the Xbox Elite 2 needed to be USB connected to the PC and then updated via a separate app from the Windows store called Xbox Accessories. After this was done; no more weird loss of control issues. Turns out it was something to do with the sensitivity settings for the paddles being just a touch off.

 

I'm still working on the other bits, but I'll update you if/when I find fixes. I'm exploring the ideas you mentioned. Thanks again for your help!

[StormWolf01]

Heyas Jacob!

Ahhhh, so it's related to the controller itself. The Elite has a LOT of settings to it, from what I have heard. Tho I don't have any personal experience with it, directly.

Tho, I am really glad to hear that you are on the path to getting some of it sorted out! :D

 

I've re-read your original post. And something occurred to me: Are you playing on PC or a Console? The part about you playing via your TV made me wonder about that.

 

Here's a couple of things that I will go ahead and add in, in case that you don't want to always go in to the software.

I got a set of these, I have them on my cheap little Logitech controller, and on my Wolverine Ultimate. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TRMS8PS/ref=twister_B091FZ8L5R?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&coliid=I3G5QPY1FGLAES&colid=1UKDZG2C08WGI

I bought a set of the green ones, but in hindsight, I should have gotten the mixed set. They most definitely help to slow down the movement of the stick, by forcing you to push slightly harder on it, once the cuff meets the ring around the stick. I've noticed quite a bit of improvement with the green ones, but still not what I would consider to be fully playable.

But yeah, if you don't want to always go jumping in to mess around with sensitivity settings, these will help some.

Another thing that will also help, is to go long stick. Adding a longer joystick, or length to the joystick will decrease the amount of input by the distance your finger travels. In other words, in shooter games, the crosshairs travel slower, or in driving games, you get more control over your steer.

KontrolFreek also sells add-ons to attach to your stick(s) tho there's a wide variety. So you kinda have to guess around with what will suit your individual taste. I haven't experimented around with them yet.

 

But yeah, most definitely hope you get the other factors sorted out.

If you're playing on PC, I can probly throw more advice your way. If it's an Xbox, I'm afraid I don't have very much experience with those :(

[JacobKirwin]

Thank you! I play on PC. I just use my 4K TV as a monitor. I have Buffout 4 installed. I play on 1080 resolution, because anything better slows my fps dramatically.

[StormWolf01]

Heyas Jacob!

Ahhh ok, cool, about the TV. Glad of that, that gives us more options as far as what we can work on :)

you might take a look at this video (it's not my video, I don't know the author, and they don't know me) Its got a few modifications listed and detailed that were created to help out with people having FPS and Performance issues with this game.

 

Thank YOU, for posting about Buffout. My other laptop is having some pretty serious issues with F04. So some of the things described in Buffout may be helpful to me :)

 

Another thing to check out is to see whether or not your vid card has settings to be able to disable Vsync (or vertical sync), and if it can cap an applications FPS. vsync kinda sorta does that, by trying to match the applications FPS to the settings of the monitor. So like, your TV probly has a refresh rate of 90, or even 60. 120 if it's a really newer TV. Vsync tries to cap the game's FPS to that, to create a more even, steady, experience. Manual frame capping (not available on all vid card softwares) does all of that, except you have to input the values yourself.

[JacobKirwin]

Heyas Jacob!

Ahhh ok, cool, about the TV. Glad of that, that gives us more options as far as what we can work on :smile:

you might take a look at this video (it's not my video, I don't know the author, and they don't know me) Its got a few modifications listed and detailed that were created to help out with people having FPS and Performance issues with this game.

 

Thank YOU, for posting about Buffout. My other laptop is having some pretty serious issues with F04. So some of the things described in Buffout may be helpful to me :smile:

 

Another thing to check out is to see whether or not your vid card has settings to be able to disable Vsync (or vertical sync), and if it can cap an applications FPS. vsync kinda sorta does that, by trying to match the applications FPS to the settings of the monitor. So like, your TV probly has a refresh rate of 90, or even 60. 120 if it's a really newer TV. Vsync tries to cap the game's FPS to that, to create a more even, steady, experience. Manual frame capping (not available on all vid card softwares) does all of that, except you have to input the values yourself.

 

Much appreciated! Buffout 4 is great. The Crash logs helped me a ton with getting rid of some toxic mod combo. Big thanks for jumping in here and help folks out my friend. I'll check into those FPS mods tonight. I hope you don't mind, I have one last question to ask and I've really been appreciating the advice you've given. The last thing I was thinking of altering is my ENB Preset. I use a pretty lightweight one, but I've heard great things about how little the mod Subtle ENB impacts fps. The problem is that I already have an ENB preset installed and (being a bit of newb still), I'm worried about switching between them. I suppose my only real question is this: When switching ENB Presets, do I need to do anything OTHER than remove the original files I copied over to install the preset? Or do the presets for ENB mess with other files that I'll need to track down and fix (i.e. do ENB Presets impact things like INI settings or add other files I need to search for and remove)? If I can simply delete the original Preset files I installed in the first place, it would make switching to a lighter weight Preset easy enough and (hopefully) that may help with some of my stutters and such.

[StormWolf01]

Heyas Jacob :)

As always, you're very welcome. :) And as always, I appreciate the appreciation :)

I am however, VERY sad to say, that I know very little about ENBs. :( My laptops have a hard time with the game already, so I have so far, steered away from most of the stuff that might cause additional strain.

What very little that I can tell you, is that you are correct, that you will need to remove the files installed by them. Whether that be from your mod installer's custom directory, or directly in the fallout 4 directory. I recommend opening the mod's page, click the FILES tab, and then click the Green FILE PREVIEW link, to see what the files are.

You can then copy and paste those names and throw it into a windows search on whatever drive you have them on, if you can't find them manually.

 

Now, however. Sometimes, ENBs have you do edits to your game's .ini files. Essentially, a .ini file is a .txt document (it opens in notepad if you set it to do so) that contains and instruction or record list. Most often, for settings.

There are two places that most of FO4's default ini files are located.

Documents/MyGames/Fallout4

This is what MY Fallout4 Docs folder looks like. You'll see how I have some duplicates. They end with either .baked or .base You most likely won't have those, but you may have some others. Essentially those are BACKUP files, created by software, so that I can have files that the game itself will not touch. You will probably one have 2 or 3 .ini files in yours.

 

Your Fallout 4 installation folder, has 3 vanilla ini files in it. High, Medium, and Low.

The .ini files shouldn't be a problem, as they are again, mostly all settings. However, if some of the edits direct to files installed along with the mods, you're going to know there's a problem, pretty quick. IF that happens, upload your .ini files to someplace that I can download them, and I'll be happy to see if there's anything that might need to be edited out. ;)

 

Whenever you are thinking about ENBs, make sure to read through all the comments posted about it. Some ENBs are not friendly with a few of the game's effects. Like NightVision, or the reflection on the screens of some of the pipboy replacers, or the stealth effect that makes reading a pipboy so hard when under chameleon (stealthboy) effect.

 

Also. IF you do have other .ini files there in your 2 folders. Don't just outright Delete them. Create a new folder to dump them into, and keep them, just in case. ;) Myself I either name such folder "Just in Case" or "I should have kept these!" LOL :laugh: :laugh:

[JacobKirwin]

Heyas Jacob :smile:

As always, you're very welcome. :smile: And as always, I appreciate the appreciation :smile:

I am however, VERY sad to say, that I know very little about ENBs. :sad: My laptops have a hard time with the game already, so I have so far, steered away from most of the stuff that might cause additional strain.

What very little that I can tell you, is that you are correct, that you will need to remove the files installed by them. Whether that be from your mod installer's custom directory, or directly in the fallout 4 directory. I recommend opening the mod's page, click the FILES tab, and then click the Green FILE PREVIEW link, to see what the files are.

You can then copy and paste those names and throw it into a windows search on whatever drive you have them on, if you can't find them manually.

 

Now, however. Sometimes, ENBs have you do edits to your game's .ini files. Essentially, a .ini file is a .txt document (it opens in notepad if you set it to do so) that contains and instruction or record list. Most often, for settings.

There are two places that most of FO4's default ini files are located.

Documents/MyGames/Fallout4

This is what MY Fallout4 Docs folder looks like. You'll see how I have some duplicates. They end with either .baked or .base You most likely won't have those, but you may have some others. Essentially those are BACKUP files, created by software, so that I can have files that the game itself will not touch. You will probably one have 2 or 3 .ini files in yours.

 

Your Fallout 4 installation folder, has 3 vanilla ini files in it. High, Medium, and Low.

The .ini files shouldn't be a problem, as they are again, mostly all settings. However, if some of the edits direct to files installed along with the mods, you're going to know there's a problem, pretty quick. IF that happens, upload your .ini files to someplace that I can download them, and I'll be happy to see if there's anything that might need to be edited out. :wink:

 

Whenever you are thinking about ENBs, make sure to read through all the comments posted about it. Some ENBs are not friendly with a few of the game's effects. Like NightVision, or the reflection on the screens of some of the pipboy replacers, or the stealth effect that makes reading a pipboy so hard when under chameleon (stealthboy) effect.

 

Also. IF you do have other .ini files there in your 2 folders. Don't just outright Delete them. Create a new folder to dump them into, and keep them, just in case. :wink: Myself I either name such folder "Just in Case" or "I should have kept these!" LOL :laugh: :laugh:

 

That's some very sound advice my friend. Thanks again!

[StormWolf01]

Not a problem! :)