Something capping the FPS? : Fallout 3

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 4:33 pm

I just changed my GPU from the GF9600 GT to an HD5850. Every game so far (including Fallout 3) now runs smoothly with everything maxed-out.

Fallout 3, however, gets fixed 30 FPS -- outdoors as indoors, not 29 nor 31: stays at 30.

Even Metro 2033 with everything maxed out and playing outdoors (DX10) shows much better results (although both -- and all the others, for that matter -- shows no lagging of any kind, so the practical results are the same).

The only thing I can think of is that something here is getting in the way. I just want to know (for the sake of curiosity), since, like I said, there's no lagging (so I'm not worrying).

Any thoughts will be much appreciated.

Here's my list:

Fallout3.esm
Anchorage.esm
ThePitt.esm
BrokenSteel.esm
PointLookout.esm
Zeta.esm
CRAFT.esm
CALIBR.esm
FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esm
Mart's Mutant Mod.esm
Enhanced Weather - Rain and Snow.esm
CRAFT - Activation Perk.esp
FO3 Wanderers Edition - Main File.esp
FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Anchorage.esp
FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC The Pitt.esp
FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Broken Steel.esp
FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Point Lookout.esp
FO3 Wanderers Edition - DLC Mothership Zeta.esp
WeaponModKits.esp
WeaponModKits - FWE Master Release.esp
WeaponModKits - OperationAnchorage.esp
WeaponModKits - ThePitt.esp
WeaponModKits - BrokenSteel.esp
WeaponModKits - PointLookout.esp
WeaponModKits - Zeta.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Anchorage.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC The Pitt.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Broken Steel.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Point Lookout.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod - DLC Zeta.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod - FWE Master Release.esp
Mart's Mutant Mod - Hunting & Looting.esp
oroLookoutFix.esp
DLC Water Fix.esp
PassiveCritters-Both.esp
Grouse Slaver Radio.esp
Headshot Realist.esp
English Body parts Only Humans.esp
KillableKidsOptional.esp
Mesmetron Works on Everyone.esp
Enhanced Weather - Rain and Snow in Fallout.esp
Enhanced Weather - Weather Sounds in Interiors.esp
Enhanced Weather - Sneak Bonus during Storms.esp
Fellout-Anchorage.esp
Fellout-BrokenSteel.esp
Fellout-pipboylight.esp
Fellout-PointLookout.esp
Fellout-SOTD.esp
Arwen_VisionFX.esp
OutFits.esp
CWS.esp
WasteWearGloves.esp
BA_BlackSurgicalMask.esp
CombatDuster.esp
MissingUniqueArmorClothing-Enhanced-NSF.esp
leatherjacket.esp
Tailor Maid Black Retex.esp
Tailor Maid.esp
Sniper's Bliss.esp
tubunarFWE.esp
Merged Patch July 11th.esp

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 5:18 am

That's easy - You have V-sync on. In the ini file, change iPresentInterval to 0 and set it to "Default Off" in the Catalyst Control Center.

V-sync limits your framerate to an exact fraction of the display refresh, usually 60Hz. If your system can't maintain 60 FPS then it'll drop down. Commonly seen are 45, 30 and 15, but 30 is the most common.

Oh, and you're loading Fellout in the wrong order. The main ESP (the outdated SOTD in your case) needs to be first.

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:25 am

If that's not it, do you have Fallout Stutter Remover installed?

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 3:50 pm

That's easy - You have V-sync on. In the ini file, change iPresentInterval to 0 and set it to "Default Off" in the Catalyst Control Center.

V-sync limits your framerate to an exact fraction of the display refresh, usually 60Hz. If your system can't maintain 60 FPS then it'll drop down. Commonly seen are 45, 30 and 15, but 30 is the most common.

Oh, and you're loading Fellout in the wrong order. The main ESP (the outdated SOTD in your case) needs to be first.

No, V-synch is off...
Thanks for the tip about Fellout, I will fix it right away. About it being outdated, I heard the the new Fellout doesn't have the optional SOTD (less dark nights), that's why I'm keeping it. Is that info true, that now it has only the pitch-black nights?

If that's not it, do you have Fallout Stutter Remover installed?

Possibly... I remember vaguely something about that (I'm resuming playing after several months)... please refresh my memory, what is that again? It wouldn't show in the list?

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 7:52 pm

Possibly... I remember vaguely something about that (I'm resuming playing after several months)... please refresh my memory, what is that again? It wouldn't show in the list?

Check for this folder: \Data\fose\plugins
and see if you have a sr_Fallout_Stutter_Remover.dll file
If so, the sr_Fallout_Stutter_Remover.ini will allow to change the screenrate cap:
MaximumFPS = 30
MinimumFPS = 10

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:32 am

Just curious, check your fallout.ini file, and what is the iFPSClamp set to? By default it should be =0, but I wonder if fallout stutter remover changes that, if in fact you used it. I think fallout stutter remover does limit the game to 30 fps, so....

edit: or just read the ninja above me

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 10:25 am

Check for this folder: \Data\fose\plugins
and see if you have a sr_Fallout_Stutter_Remover.dll file
If so, the sr_Fallout_Stutter_Remover.ini will allow to change the screenrate cap:
MaximumFPS = 30
MinimumFPS = 10

Man, that was exactly it!!

Here's what's in the ini (in that part):

bAllowSlowMotion = 1
MaximumFPS = 30
MinimumFPS = 10
iSmoothFrames = 0
iSmoothMode = 0
iSleepExtra = 2

So, with the new GPU is that even necessary? Should I uninstall it (if so, please tell me how) or just change the values?

Thanks a whole bunch! :thumbsup:

Just curious, check your fallout.ini file, and what is the iFPSClamp set to? By default it should be =0, but I wonder if fallout stutter remover changes that, if in fact you used it. I think fallout stutter remover does limit the game to 30 fps, so....

edit: or just read the ninja above me

Hahaha, ninja indeed, hehehe.

EDIT: BTW, iFPSClamp=0.

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 12:33 pm

Uninstalling is just a matter of removing the Stutter Remover related files from that folder.

FSR trades your maximum FPS for a smoother overall experience. If I were you I'd temporarily disable FSR (just move the files somewhere else for now) and play for a bit and see what kind of FPS you normally get. Then reinstall the FSR files again, and set your minimum and maximum to suit.

If you average around 50 fps with it removed, then when you put it back set your minimum to 30 and your max to 50. See how that feels.

Or just keep bumping it up until the game seems as smooth as possible to you. It's a bit subjective really.

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 10:12 am

I did a brief test after setting the max to 100: outdoors sometimes reached 90-95 FPS, and indoors I got 100 sometimes.

If it gives a smoother play then I'm keeping it.

Any values you suggest as min and max?

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 7:04 am

Multiples of your monitors refresh rate seem to work best.

For LCDs, I think that's 30 (half) 60 (full) 90 (one and a half) or 120 (double). Seems like you might be able to do 90, but it's really hard to see any difference above 60 anyway.

I'd be tempted to try Min = 30 and Max = 60 and see how that works for you. Sounds like it should run really smooth for you with that rig.

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 3:10 pm

Just tested. Did as you told, the gameplay is as smooth as it can be. When sprinting the FPS lowers a tiny bit (55, 56), but other than that it stays at 60, sometimes surpassing it a little (like 63, 64); although I typed 60 as max.

But anyway, all I want is to immerse myself in the game without being bothered by lagging.

Man, from the GF9600 GT to the HD5850, what a difference!! What a difference...

Thanks again for your help, Showler. I appreciate that. :thumbsup:

Now I'm diving back in, still have to finish Broken Steel.

Take care.

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 9:20 pm

For LCDs, I think that's 30 (half) 60 (full) 90 (one and a half) or 120 (double). Seems like you might be able to do 90, but it's really hard to see any difference above 60 anyway.

It's pointless setting it any higher than the refresh rate of your monitor, as your system can't render frames any higher than that. If you have an LCD with a fixed refresh rate of 60, that's the most FPS you'll ever be able to get from it. So the max value should always be the refresh rate of your monitor, and the lowest should be whatever you can accept as smooth gameplay.

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 8:56 pm

The video card will send the signals faster than the monitor can draw it (hence the reported 95 fps), but you'll never see it unless you have a 120hz monitor (I didn't want to assume).

The multiples suggestion seems to be a trick to minimize tearing.

With the monitor apparently being the limiting factor, I'd think that turning VSync on would actually be a good idea. Not sure about that, though.

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 5:39 pm

Actually you will see it. The frame will change while it's still being sent to the monitor, resulting in half of one frame and half of the next with a jarring line between them. This is known as tearing and it's why we have v-sync to begin with

» Sat Dec 25, 2010 6:48 am

Keep in mind pushing those refresh rates higher than your monitor can display can actually do damage over time. That is why they don't want you to do so easily. Well, easily for newbs to computers anyway. =)