Nvidia choppy/low fps fix!!!

[style174]

For an explanation of recommended settings and my computer setups and configs, read below the fix.

The post below explains how to fix Warhammer Online problems using Nvidia cards that are experiencing Choppiness or Low FPS using either Windows XP or Windows Vista. Works for 32bit or 64bit.

This fix sems to work for only the RETAIL hard copy version of Warhammer Online, as the BETA client is setup differently. Make sure you are using the retail version if you are having issues, then do the following.

Follow these instructions:

1) Download the latest Official Nvidia driver for your card (You can go here)


2) Uninstall your current drivers by using the Control Panel and remove the Nvidia graphics drivers (or use another program if you prefer)

• Win XP go to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs
• Win Vista go to Control Panel > Programs and Features

3) Restart your computer

4) Double-click the downloaded driver from Nvidia (177.41_geforce_winvista_32bit_english_whql.exe)

5) Follow the instructions to install the driver and then restart your computer once again.

6) Now that you are running the latest Nvidia driver you will also have access to the Nvidia Control panel. You can access this through your control panel or by Right-clicking on any of the empty space on your desktop and selecting "NVIDIA Control Panel" from the pop-up menu.

7) Once in the Nvidia Control Panel, expand the top left catagory "3D Settings" so that you can select "Manage 3D Settings"

Click here to view a Screenshot

8 ) On the right side of the window you will currently be viewing your Global Settings for your graphics card. You will need to select the 2nd tab labeled "Program Settings"

Click here to view a Screenshot

9) As shown in the 2nd screenshot, we will now need to add a specific 3D profile for Warhammer Online by selecting WAR.EXE from the "add" option. The default location for this file is: (Yours may show up as just WAR, excluding the .exe)

C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Warhammer Online - Age of Reckoning\WAR.exe

Click here to view a Screenshot

Average video card





10a) If you do not have a top notch Nvidia card and you like to play at higher resolutions, you should make the following changes:

• On the Program settings for the war.exe that you just added, scroll down the list towards the bottom and change the Texture filtering to High Performance and then select Apply at the bottom right corner of the NVIDIA Control Panel.(Click here to view a screenshot)
• Start Warhammer Online and change your overall graphics settings to "Balanced" or less.

High end video card


10b) With a higher end video card you should be able to run the default settings with your preferred resolution with no problem, you can then select whichever graphics profile in Warhammer meets your desire.

************************************************** ***********

My personal experience with Nvidia and Warhammer Online.

After installing the retail version of Warhammer Online and jumping into the game, my excitement wore off quickly after discovering that my higher end system would sometimes run smooth, but consistently drop down to <10-15 FPS when zoomed in on NPCs or Trees etc, or in PVP and random zones like Chaos and Elf zones, those were horrible. I had similar issues with both of my computes, although the FPS drops and lag did not always happen in the same places. I knew something was wrong because of the power of my systems and began to troubleshoot until it was completely and 100% fixed simply by adding a profile for the war.exe in my NVIDIA control panel. This fixed worked on both of my computers listed below running Windows XP and Windows Vista 32 & 64. Before the fix, looking at the starting High Elf quest NPC zoomed in I got exactly 15FPS. After this change I got exactly 53FPS at the same spot looking at the same NPC at the same angle. My guess is that War.exe is a generic executable abused by other games/viruses and somehow got by graphics cards settings.

**I use Fraps to see my FPS in game

System 1) Windows Vista Ultimate 32Bit & 64Bit (Seperate HDD)

Intel E6850 @ Stock (3.0GHz)
4GB OCZ Reaper Memory
BFG GTX 280 OC
320GB Seagate Barricuda (32Bit Vista)
75GBx2 RAID 0 10,000RPM Rapter (64Bit Vista)
750W Thermaltake Tough Powersupply
25.5" Samsung T260 @ 1920x1200

System 1 Settings

Stays 38-60FPS through all zones/pvp (Maxed at 60FPS for Vertical Sync) Notice I have AFx16 and AAx4 Mutlisampling.

A) NVIDIA Control Panel settings shown here: Click for Screenshot





B) Warhammer Online settings

• 1920x1200
• High Quality Setting - VRAM Setting - maxed

System 2) Windows XP PRO SP2


Intel E6750 @ Stock (2.66GHz)
2GB Corsair XM2 Memory
EVGA Superclocked 8800 GTS 320MB
250GB Seagate Barricuda
500W Antec Earthwatts
Dell 20" @ 1600x1200

System 2 Settings

Stays 34-100+ FPS through all zones/pvp. Notice I have turned off AF and AA.

A) NVIDIA Control Panel settings shown here: Click for Screenshot





B) Warhammer Online settings

• 1600x1200
• Balanced Setting - VRAM Setting - Default

[Drowz]

Question for you. I have Vista 64 and an 8800GTS 512MB. Can I still use the 177.41 which is meant for the 200 series card on my hardware? Did you test this?

[style174]

Good catch, I forgot to list the 200 Series as being a different driver from the 9000 and below series; edited and fixed. I just wrote the Driver versions as a reference.

You will need to run 175.19 for your card.

[Drowz]

Originally Posted by style174

Good catch, I forgot to add the driver for 200 Series seperate from the others, edited and fixed.

You will need to run 175.19 for your card.

Thank you for the quick response.

I have the following system:

AMD 5000+ BE 2.66ghz
4gigs Crucial Ballistix Tracers
EVGA 8800GTS 512MB
Corsair 520 Watt PSU
2 x 160 WD HD's
Samsung 226BW monitor

I tried the 177.92 drivers and saw no improvement whatsoever in RvR siege. My FPS during those moments inside the siege keep was 13FPS max. Open world, I had the same issues as you did. 30-40 FPS and dipping into the 15's when theres trees and stuff going on. Im going to try your method and see if it works.

[style174]

Very important, the key is creating the seperate 3D program setting for the War.exe, I have no idea why, but it worked 100% on all 3 operating systems and both computers. RVR sucked before that

[Drowz]

Originally Posted by style174

Very important, the key is creating the seperate 3D program setting for the War.exe, I have no idea why, but it worked 100% on all 3 operating systems and both computers. RVR sucked before that

Your fix worked for me. Thank you for researching this bud.

I thought I was going to have to suffer playing Keep Sieges at a 13FPS avg. Ive got everything turned on to high in the game. The profile that I put with my giving system (look at my previous post) is currently AF 16x AA x4, and the settings you have for your first system. FPS did not drop below 30 in Ostland. Everyone knows Ostland is full of foilage and pretty much an FPS nightmare. I want to be able to try it tomorrow on a Keep Siege and see what the performance is like there.

[Eleventy]

Hello,

I followed everything you said, when I try to go the Manage 3D settings (on the Nvidia control panel) the program freezes up. I've restarted my computer once, any suggestions?

Thanks,

Eleventy

[style174]

1) Try uninstalling your video drivers again.

2) Make sure you are using the correct video driver from Nvidia for your card and operating system.

With a complete uninstall and reinstall, you shouldn't be freezing up, that's a bad sign if it's not driver related!

[Evoere]

I have a question...what do you consider to be a high end card. I have a 8800gts 640 would that be a low card?

[Brooder]

no it isn't low end, it's around medium/lower medium

[Artax]

don't do all this just go here see if that helps

[Mandrakan]

Many ppl already noticed that setting anizo to 16x fixed stuttering/low fps issues for many decent gpu users.

[banditscoots23]

This seemed to work wonders for me, I set lightmaps and specular to false in my usersettings.xml file. I then put ANISO to 16X and AA to 2 on 1280 X 1024 and everything else high and game runs like a dream and now only takes up like 1 gig of ram versus the 1.5 it was taking up before.

I can also Alt tab back and forth with no problems. I am getting 50 to 60 FPS at all times go figure. It looks like their lighting engine and specular engine as well is boinked on certain systems. I dont mind playing with it off since it doesnt look that different a little bland here and there but it looks okay and plays like a dream. Guess I will have to wait for them to fix their lighting engine. Obviously it was not tested well in house.

[style174]

Why would you want to download a 3rd party program and go through all that?... when you can just use the built in NVIDIA Control panel and add the 3D profile for this game specifically? Makes me wonder why they had to design a program that does the same thing as what your video card software can already do.

[banditscoots23]

No dude there's no third party program to download. Just go to your install directory for WAR in the user folder is a file called Usersettings.XML, just edit it. Also just go to Nvidia control panel 3d settings and apply it to your WAR.exe.