Curse

M1h4iL · Nov 07, 2006, 01:57 PM // 13:57

Ok so here’s is my problem, I play Guild Wars and this game ran fine on my machine for over a year now. Ever since the expansion (Nightfall) the game has been very laggy. Here is what happens:

I start Guild Wars, and have Fraps in the background, getting around 60 fps
I log on and load into a city, however it takes around 3 full minutes to load, my fps is 0, and the game sits at loading screen, displaying 100% loaded
Once the game loads, my fps is still zero, but raises up to about 50
As soon as I make the slightest move, or open up inventory or move my camera the fps drops to zero

My specs are: 2500xp, 512ram, 6600gt and fast internet. The game has run fine for a year. Other intensive games such as CSS or BF2142 also ran fine, no lag or low fps.

Things I tried:
Installing latest NVIDIA drivers, and trying loading the old ones
Defragging my HDD
Thoroughly checking my machine for spy ware, viruses etc
Using the system restore feature
Tweaking the game settings and a few other minor things

Eventually I found the problem and this is why I am posting in this sub forum. When I run Guild Wars I opened up my Windows Task Manager and see that GW has its priority set to LOW. So I set it to High and the game runs fine for a few seconds with usual fps of 50 and no lag in movement or a sudden drop in fps. Then the game drops fps again and I check the priority setting for GW and it is set to LOW. I have tried it with every setting but it keeps setting it self to LOW as soon as I go into the game, and thus causing the game to run terribly. If I keep the Windows Task Manager open and set the priority to whatever it will stay like I appointed but as soon as I enter the game it goes to LOW. Other games run fine and actually “obey” my priority setting.

So my question, what is the problem here? Why is the priority setting set it self to Low making the game run like a slide show whereas it could run it just fine? Is this an error? I would greatly appreciate ANY help; I am lost here and have no idea how to fix this issue.
Thanks in advance.

Chris616263 · Nov 07, 2006, 05:35 PM // 17:35

You beat me to posting this very same topic.
I tried -everything-. I defragged GW.dat twice even though it was at 1 file before, I defragged my hard drive, ran a quick chkdsk scan, then the long chkdsk scan, even tried some lame software called GameGain (do NOT use this, its garbage).
I even tried to force GW to run in high-priority mode by rightclicking the desktop shortcut, hitting properties, and changing the target to:

Code:

C:\WINDOWS\system32\cmd.exe /c start "Guild Wars" /high "C:\Program Files\Guild Wars\Gw.exe"

and upon running the game and checking it with the Task Manager, it was still set to LOW.

Coolniceronguy · Nov 07, 2006, 05:56 PM // 17:56

Thank you to the OP for posting this. I noticed this issue a couple weeks ago, and forgot to bring it up on the forums.

I agree, I have tried all the things the OP was saying, yet the priority is reset to low. Having a high priority seems to improve frame rate, and gameplay.

poozle · Nov 07, 2006, 06:00 PM // 18:00

Its been like this for at LEAST 6 months because I noticed it a while back. I don't know why it does it but it is very annoying.

Truthfull healer · Nov 07, 2006, 07:47 PM // 19:47

I noticed exactly the same problem. When i set the priority to High it sinks back to normal and than back to low.

Can anyone help me/us with this problem.

awesome sauce · Nov 07, 2006, 08:27 PM // 20:27

Same problem here. It definitely seems like it should be at medium at least.

kirby2096 · Nov 07, 2006, 08:30 PM // 20:30

Time to get the ANet devs involved I think. Give us a fix quick! (please)

Slainster · Nov 07, 2006, 08:57 PM // 20:57

symptoms described are exactly the same for me too... it gets really frustrating when things finally load, and my guildies have already completed there shopping etc

any input for this would be great..

Gorebrex · Nov 07, 2006, 10:04 PM // 22:04

Ive never had any loading problems like whats described, but I just looked in Task Manager, and my GW is also set to "Low". No idea why, changed it to Normal, then exited manager, will look at it again a little later, see if it changes.

DutchGun · Nov 07, 2006, 10:47 PM // 22:47

GW runs in normal priority mode (which applications are supposed to). It only runs in low priority when it doesn't have focus (which is when people typically look at the priority list). You can confirm this for yourself by running in windowed mode, then opening the task list (and adding priority of the list of items to watch).

Since this window always stays on top, you can now select and deselect GW to see how it dynamically manages it's priority.

moriz · Nov 07, 2006, 10:49 PM // 22:49

GW.exe will always be listed as "low" priority, because as soon as you minimizes it, it automatically sets itself as "low". that's just its built in mechanism for saving system resources. if you maximize it, it will return to normal.

unfortunately, you'll never actually see it do this.

kaya · Nov 07, 2006, 11:23 PM // 23:23

create a .bat file using notepad.

type: cmd /c start /High gw.exe
save as: "gw.bat"

load the game like with this file, and it should keep gw always at a high priority.

Now that I've done this, I tested it and noticed that even using this .bat file to open gw, the task manager still displays the prority as low when not in gw, and normal when in gw. I will have to do some more testing to see if this method actually increases gameplay speed or not. If it does, then it's probably just an reading error with the task manager. If it doesn't then we probably need the dev's to figure out why its overriding our command.

Nov 07, 2006, 11:32 PM // 23:32

well i havent noticed the priority thing but the lag you describe is the same ive been getting.

im currently going thru a session with support and will update when i can.

Dark vengeeeance · Nov 08, 2006, 02:01 AM // 02:01

Heres something that might answer.. this... question....

Guild Wars DOES run on normal, even if you cant see it, I have been able to see it though, just set Task Manager to be ON TOP window mode.

Switch to i.e winamp/explorer. Click the "Set priority" thing on task manager for GW. Its low.

Now switch to gw, make SURE task manager is on top and switch to gw, now do the same in task manager, try to set priority and you will see that its Normal. If you done it right..

This isnt something that they will fix or get a "patch" for. Its something that will make it better for the players and their gear.
So changing and stuff in the data files of guildwars is unnessesary since it is MENT to be this way. And changing in gw data files might screw up your game. Asking for a patch to "fix" this is also not necessary since this is a smart thing gw has.. instead of sitting here writing with huge lag, even if your computer rocks, we all prefer that gw is on low while we do it, dont we.

Nov 08, 2006, 03:12 AM // 03:12

i would rather a cure to this lag then have it switch priority when not in view.

why? cause i didnt have a problem before. with nf, i do.

DutchGun · Nov 08, 2006, 08:48 AM // 08:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chop it Off

i would rather a cure to this lag then have it switch priority when not in view.

why? cause i didnt have a problem before. with nf, i do.

The priority switching has nothing to do with lag (either framerate lag or network lag). It's certainly not a new thing - it's always been like this, so that's not an issue.

Dark V is correct - this is nothing that needs fixing. If you're having framerate issues, then it's likely some issue with graphics, since those are new and improved (thus stressing the video card in ways it hasn't been before). Or, it could be sound, although I don't think the audio system has really changed - but they are probably playing more sounds than before simultaneously.

M1h4iL · Nov 08, 2006, 10:46 AM // 10:46

Thanks for the replies guys, didn't expect so many replies and people suffering form the same “problem”, I am kind of glad though, I thought I was the only one.
I agree with the people who say that GW sets it self to LOW when you minimize it, so that you can perform other tasks. I ran the game in windowed mode, set to high priority, but you can see in the Windows task manager the game sets it self to Normal, which is inadequate to play the game normally and still causes massive FPS issues and very jerky movement, a slideshow.
I should also mention that this FPS issue has begun on the NF preview event, which started out ok but after 2 hours in started lagging. Ever since then the game had low fps and sudden fps drops when you turn or move. On two occasions the game was normal, first time I changed my video settings, worked normal for half a day then begun to have fps issues again, and second time when I set the priority mode to high, also worked normal for a few hours than back to slideshow mode.
This fps issue occurs everywhere, Tyria, Cantha and any PVP, not just in NF. Even after the NF preview I had fps issues playing in Tyria. I have resorted to only playing PVE, hoping the game would be fixed, I assumed it was on “their end” not mine. PVP is slideshow and by the time I load into a map it is already over. PVE also lags and takes 3 minutes to load but at least its playable to some degree. In PVE when I zone, the pc lags but eventually gets “used” to the game and is quite playable with around 50 fps, however sudden fps drop outs do occasionally happen, in particular during the first fight with a mob.
I have sent the same question as I first posted to Anet support team, and got a pretty good response I thought. It talks about running DirectX Diagnostic Tool and using Hijackthis. I have heard of Hijackthis before, but luckily never had to use it, basically it analyses how, when, where and what your machine does while doing something. Both suggestions make sense and after finishing writing this up I will send in my results to Anet.

Here is the speedy response I got from Anet, for those interested in trying to fix the problem I am having.

Subject
Set Priority" problem, Automatically sets to "Low"
Discussion Thread
Response (Hayden)

Hello Misha,

The Windows Task manager setting the priority to low has always been a side effect of whetever is cause the slow down of the game. I'd like you to send us the DxDiag.txt file created when running a report within DirectX. This may give us some more information as to why you are having this problem.
To do this,

- Click Start -> Run
- Type 'DxDiag' in the box and click OK.

While you are in the DirectX Diagnostic Tool,

- Click "Save All Information". This will ask where you would like the DxDiag.txt file saved. Remember where you save it so that you can find it later to send to us.
- Add this DxDiag.txt file to your response when you write us back.

And I'd like you to run a program called Hijackthis. It will allow us to see what application may be the cause of this issue.

Download the program Hijackthis from here:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=3155

Once you choose a link to download from be sure to check the top of the next page as the middle of it will be taken up by an add that has nothing to do with Hijackthis.
Run it and send us a copy of the log it produces.

Thank you.
The Guild Wars Support Team

I will update this thread as to what is happening, what replies I got and whether I fixed the problem so that those with the same problem can fix it.

Arcador · Nov 08, 2006, 01:50 PM // 13:50

Unfortunatelly I got such problem too. Even I put the graphics on LOWEST possible mode - when I am static - it is above 100 fps, but when I try to move...the hard begins to cry. Tryied to increase swap file, alocate more and more ram (since most of the times hard disk "cry" is connected with less ram"
But well...the problem remains.

Defraging gw.dat file also helped my fps, but again - only when NOT moving.

I will get repeative but informative - In large towns I get the same choppy stuff. In PvE I got it only when loading area (first 1-2 mins). In PvP I get it constantly. It is a d4mn non playable.

This problem is since factions, but it actually stoped when I allocated 1000 mb swap file. In NF this does not seem to help :/

Interesting thing: FPS drop is only shown on external FPS program. Using the ingame FPS monitor f10+shift, does not "register" the huge fps drops I see, it drops down to 30 max, when I and external programs see it is 0.

I will also send a ticket but not today. (my isp seem to have route problems to the gw servers which also brings "pressure" on me).

I hope things will get resolved soon

Dazzler · Nov 08, 2006, 07:15 PM // 19:15

I've noticed that things are slow in Nightfall areas, but if I go back to older areas or RA for example, things are faster.

I can only assume that NF is chock full of newer and better effects or high poly-count terrain which is causing some of the slowdown. Time for me to upgrade my video card. I'm liking the looks of those new ATI x1950 PRO AGP coming out. Should make a great replacement for my aging Radeon 9600XT which gets me between 5-15 fps in the Nightfall areas (20+ fps in the older areas).

Rakeris · Nov 09, 2006, 12:19 AM // 00:19

I have the same problem, it doesn't make me lag at all, but a friend of mine has a crappy PC and it really hurts him.