Battlefield Bad company 2 Micro Stuttering

[NoScream~SPARTA~]

If you didn't know, I had 'Battlefield Bad company 2 Micro Stuttering'

 

I have win 7 64bit & never had the problem with my 88000GTX or 9800GX2 but I bought a high performance DX11 card 'ATI HD5970' Black edition, a very powerful card and all was well till I got to BFBC2 & played online.

 

I experienced something called 'micro stuttering' where my frames would drop & monitoring the GPU I could see it dive from 95/100% occupancy (normal) to 50/70%

 

I thought it was mu PSU not supplying enough power so I changed it, no improvement.

I thought it was my DDR3 running @ 1.5v instead of 1.65 so I raised it, no improvement

I thought it was my DDR bus speed so I dropped it down, no improvement.

 

I did alot of reading and then I found this article.

 

it was claimed that, AS OF PATCH 1.1.015 THIS FIX SHOULD BE REDUNDANT:

 

but many still suffer especially on high end PC's

 

but this fixed it !!

 

http://futuremark.yougamers.com/forum/show...ad.php?t=124367

 

I've been playing SH on minimal settings since launch and still had a noticeable stutter while in-game which hampered gameplay quite a bit and felt like typical low fps.

 

I put it down to having a reasonably 'old' rig.

 

I recently picked up BFBC2 and had an identical 'stutter'. This time however, the stutter did not appear in the single player game. Just multiplayer. It also was totally independant of graphics settings (bad fps even under dx9 on low).

 

Further rants on the forums revealed this 'issue' regarding Microsoft Multimedia Network Throttling.

 

Now i don't understand exactly how it works because the issue is also linked to sounds in-game. Basically if you have an unfortunate (but popular) combination of sound tech and network tech then you will experience this 'low fps' stutter on various games (depending on how they process their audio afaik).

 

Fortunately there is a fix. After I applied it, BFBC2 ran like a dream. I then played SH and whadyaknow there was zero stutter there too.

 

So, if you have bad 'stutter' i suggest you give this a go:

 

You can test for the issue in two ways:

 

1) Disable all audio devices in your device manager and try playing. If you don't stutter anymore then you have the problem and you need to do 2).

 

2) (and the fix) Edit the registry to disable multimedia network throttling:

 

* Open regedit (start -> run -> type "regedit")

 

* Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile

 

* There will be an entry for network performance throttling, default value is 10; set it to FFFFFFFF hex (willl look like 0xFFFFFFFF to the right of the entry)

 

* Reboot

 

If your stutter is gone, congrats, you had this problem and fixed it. If not... sorry I can't help you!

 

 

 

 

Threads regarding this problem:

 

http://forum.ea.com/eaforum/posts/list/423863.page

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=317067

http://www.overclock.net/pc-games/698923-b...ering-chop.html

http://forums.techarena.in/video-games/1329901.htm

http://uk.gamespot.com/pages/forums/show_m...pic_id=27212630

 

Secondly !

 

Disable all sound devices not being used.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's sorted for me & I'm a happy bunny again !

 

Baby is rocking again !

 

 

 

MICROSOFT tech sheet on MMT (Multi Media Throttling)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/948066

 

[MedicSN6]

This is probably the same issue I was experiencing that I attributed to some form of lag. I just lowered my resolution and it has all but gone.

[Batwing~SPARTA~]

In the Universe of "Weird Science" is always nice to learn something new like this ! THANK YOU!

 

I do not believe I have the issue, but I promise, If I was spending my money for the 5970 and it would work weird, you would hear me scream from the other side of the emisphere !!! lol..

[MH6~SPARTA~]

Bet this is my problem. I have to play on low (sometimes medium) because I get random FPS drops. My friend, who has an 8800 GTS or some such plays on high with no trouble, but I, with my 280 GTX, play on low. :/

[NoScream~SPARTA~]

Other things to try for Bad company 2 is:

 

In your documents folder/ find the BFBC2 directory & in there settings.ini

 

Now change dxversion=auto to dxversion=9 or dxversion=10 or dxversion=11

of if it's already set to 9,10 or 11 then switch to AUTO.

 

I set mine to auto and it helped too , remember don't set it to a dxversion your card can not handle.

 

Also drop screen resolution and see if that helps, 1920x1200 to 1650x1080 etc etc....

 

Make sure your sound card drivers are up to date, your BIOS is the latest official & your PC video card is not over heating,

(run MSI AFTERBURNER utility) http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm it's free. Ideally a second screen would be useful so you could monitor the utilities like MSI Afterburner while playing in the main screen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally:

 

 

Check memory voltage is correct for your memory

Check your memory speed is not overclocked to eliminate that

Check Your PSU is adequate

Check you have latest drivers

Check your PC/ Video card is not over heating

Check your memory & CPU are not over heating.

Check your DX version

disable 'multimedia network throttling' as mentioned in the opening post (if needed)

Mover your soundcard if it's a Creative to a PCI slot below your Graphics (yes a x1 & x4 X-fi card can use a X16 connector) be sure to power down your PC by unplugging the mains lead.

 

Triple buffer your video drivers for smoother play.

http://www.anandtech.com/show/2794

 

 

 

 

Most are precautions to eliminate but hopefully you will have stutter free gaming.

 

As a side note I found this for ARMA freaks....

 

FPS Limiter : Smoother gameplay in ArmA2 (not for Punkbuster games, PB see's it as an exploit potential).

http://www.caveofdistraction.com/2009/07/2...d-other-titles/

 

 

[Halli~SPARTA~]

I have no Multimedia...but have the old XP..

[Batwing~SPARTA~]

Well,

 

Although Viiper post is amazingly detailed, this thing makes me smile..a sort of bitter smile.

 

It looks like you have to have a BS in Computer Science and maybe a Master at Harvard to have frekking game working the way is suuposed to.

 

There is something wrong here, lol ! I am all for troubleshooting and that s my passion, but hey... a game is a game for God sake !

It is supposed to give me pleasure and enjoyment, not a headache curable with a box of Tylenol!

 

It should never get at such point of troubleshooting having a game u pay 50 bucks to work. I would not expect such crap not even from an Alpha version!

[NoScream~SPARTA~]

I agree, but all games have their CROSS to bare.

 

I'm just happy that this problem is now behind me....

[IDAN]

Other things to try for Bad company 2 is:

 

In your documents folder/ find the BFBC2 directory & in there settings.ini

 

Now change dxversion=auto to dxversion=9 or dxversion=10 or dxversion=11

of if it's already set to 9,10 or 11 then switch to AUTO.

 

I set mine to auto and it helped too , remember don't set it to a dxversion your card can not handle.

 

Also drop screen resolution and see if that helps, 1920x1200 to 1650x1080 etc etc....

 

Make sure your sound card drivers are up to date, your BIOS is the latest official & your PC video card is not over heating,

(run MSI AFTERBURNER utility) <a href="http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm" target="_blank">http://event.msi.com/vga/afterburner/download.htm</a> it's free. Ideally a second screen would be useful so you could monitor the utilities like MSI Afterburner while playing in the main screen.

 

<!--ImageUrlBegin--><a href="http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/noscream/msia.png" target="_new"><!--ImageUrlEBegin--><img width="565" class="attach" src="http://i795.photobucket.com/albums/yy235/noscream/msia.png" border='0' alt="User posted image" /><!--ImageUrlEnd--></a><!--ImageUrlEEnd-->

 

 

 

 

 

Finally:

 

 

Check memory voltage is correct for your memory

Check your memory speed is not overclocked to eliminate that

Check Your PSU is adequate

Check you have latest drivers

Check your PC/ Video card is not over heating

Check your memory & CPU are not over heating.

Check your DX version

disable 'multimedia network throttling' as mentioned in the opening post (if needed)

Mover your soundcard if it's a Creative to a PCI slot below your Graphics (yes a x1 & x4 X-fi card can use a X16 connector) be sure to power down your PC by unplugging the mains lead.

 

Triple buffer your video drivers for smoother play.

<a href="http://www.anandtech.com/show/2794" target="_blank">http://www.anandtech.com/show/2794</a>

 

 

 

 

Most are precautions to eliminate but hopefully you will have stutter free gaming.

 

As a side note I found this for ARMA freaks....

 

<b>FPS Limiter : Smoother gameplay in ArmA2 </b> (not for Punkbuster games, PB see's it as an exploit potential).

<a href="http://www.caveofdistraction.com/2009/07/22/fps-limiter-smoother-gameplay-in-arma2-and-other-titles/" target="_blank">http://www.caveofdistraction.com/2009/07/2...d-other-titles/</a>

 

 

<img src="http://www.legionofspartans.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smile.gif" />

FPS limiter is not working on windows 7

[NoScream~SPARTA~]

An artical on Micro stuttering.

 

 

http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1317582

 

 

The Multi-GPU "Variance" is much greater than that of the Single GPU solution. The greater the difference from one variance to the next, the greater the stutter. The difference between the average variance and the variance at any one frame is the phenomina of microstuttering.

 

How does microstuttering impact me in game?

Microstuttering can make playing what fraps is calling a 60fps game feel identical to playing a 30 fps game (literally, this is a potential true case mathmatically).

 

Why does microstuttering happen?

It's a product of the failure of a multi GPU solution to syncronize properly. Frame syncronization is the act of making sure that the time between frames is identical no matter where you take a measurement. In a single GPU solution one GPU builds the image, and then sends it off to the monitor. It then builds another and sends it off as well. Thus, a single GPU solution does not suffer from microstutter. In a dual GPU solution, two GPUs build seperate images. In Alternate Frame Rendering (AFR), GPU "A" must send its image to the monitor exactly half way between the previous frame from GPU "B", and the next frame (which will be from GPU "B" as well).

 

Note: 20 milliseconds is .02 seconds, or 1/50th of a second.

In my example lets go with a game running at 50 FPS. A frame is built and displayed by GPU "A". Exactly 20 miliseconds (ms) later GPU "B" must have completed building and displaying its frame. Exactly 20 ms after that GPU "A" must have finished building and displaying the next frame, and so on. Each frame must be displayed in exactly 20 ms after the previous one.

 

I'm currently working on a flash demo to illustrate the point. When its done I'll export it to .gif and post it here... assuming [H] supports gifs lol.

 

Do all Multi GPU rigs experiance microstuttering?

It looks like it, yes. The extent to which might be different on one system than on another, they might even be different every time you start your machine or run the game engine.

 

If I notice microstuttering, can I minimize/eliminate it?

Yes. By running the game at a setting where your graphics cards are able to output more than the monitors refresh rate (that is, the maximum FPS the monitors are capible of; the pixels on your screen can only change so fast) microstuttering is eliminated completely. Most monitors have a refresh rate of 60 or 70Hz, meaning you would need 70 or 80 FPS to eliminate microstuttering. Also, running the game in Split Frame Rendering (SFR), with the top half being rendered by one card and the bottom half being rendered by the other, will eliminate microstuttering, but opens the door to tearing and a performance hit. I don't know if SFR is even still supported...

 

If theres any other point anyone would like me to make, by all means post it and i'll include it.

[NoScream~SPARTA~]

I had micro stutter (MS) in BFBC2 with NVIDIA & ATI both were dual GPU's

 

Nvidia 9800 GX2 was cured with RENDER AHEAD settings moved to zero from 3.

 

ATI 5970 was cured by moving my soundcard from the X16 slot next to my GPU to the bottom slot X8

 

I'm still testing but previously M.Stuttering came up around 30sec-60sec into game & was very bad,

to the effect that it was unplayable.

 

Stuttering can be caused by three main issues, you may have one or all.

 

CPU stuttering

GPU stuttering

Timing stuttering

 

CPU stuttering can be seen with CPU load, does it hit 100%?

GPU stuttering is linked with timing & dual GPU's rendering ahead out of sync in buffer

Timing Stuttering is caused by conflicts linked to the software/game your trying to run, addressing hardware in a strange way for your PC.

 

 

 

So far BFBC2 is free of stuttering !!! (dam Creative sound card)

[Cylawyer~SPARTA~]

cool!