WoW performance issues

[BenSkywalker]

I'm trying to remote troubleshoot major performance issues for one of my friends systems running WoW. He has been running integrated graphics paired with a P4 3.06 and 1.5GB of RAM and he wanted to get better performance for his new 19" monitor. His system lacks PCI-E or even AGP slots so he was limited to PCI only options, the best of which available is the x1300. Obviously the performance expectations need to be quite low but the issue is that the x1300 is significantly slower then his integrated graphics were. He has lost about 50% of his framerate. He has noted that the game looks significantly better, even with all settings at their lowest(it still looks better then everything maxed on his old setup) but the issue is that he was looking for performance, not IQ.

Does anyone know of any way to force the game to run in a DX7 based mode? I have tried forcing it into OpenGL on my rig and it takes my 1800xt to its knees(sub 30 average). He is peaking right now @20FPS with everything all the way down, ~15FPS with everything up and averages of ~12 and 8 respectively. I know the PCI only option is going to be an issue, but it should be able to muster a lot better framerates then that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[imported_goku]

What brand computer is it? I understand that this may be a pain to ask, but unless it's an OEM computer, might I suggest he upgrade the motherboard? WOW is pretty intense and it would appear the PCI bus is killing his system. In the ATI driver are the Mipmap and texture preference setting set to High performance? Might want to try that, also try to increase the catalyst AI to HIGH. Can't think of any other tweaks at the moment, also is he trying the very lowest resolution possible? Does increasing the resolution from 640 to 800 change the FPS?

 

[Raptor45]

When getting a big monitor, LCD anyway, it can be a double edged sword. You have to factor in more than just the price of the monitor. If you want to use a 19" LCD at native res in gaming you need to be prepared to shell out for a comparable graphics card to feed it. Your friend is probably going to have to either switch to a smaller monitor for gaming, or upgrade his motherboard and graphics card.

 

[BenSkywalker]

He is running a HP OEM system, uATX- it would require a full system build to get him better slots.

I walked him through CCC and had him set everything to the highest performance settings, didn't make a difference. He changes the resolution with nigh no difference in the framerate at all- it is really weird. Also, he was running the new monitor with the integrated graphics and it was still significantly faster- that is the thing that is bugging me. I know performance is going to suck by our standards, but a dedicated x1300 losing to an integrated Intel graphics part? Something is wrong there.

 

[bobsmith1492]

It's probably running inherently better graphics, like DX9/shader 2.0, resulting in the better quality you noticed. Of course, that would also mean it would run more slowly. I'd look online for some way to force DX8 mode on it.

EDIT: Sorry, I suck at reading everything. Here, from this page:

D'oh, nevermind, that's CS:Source... you google it! I've gotta go to bed!

 

[imported_goku]

You might want to try this site out: http://www.wownation.net/world-of-warcraft-default-command.html

 

[CKXP]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/video/display/20060630145245.html

i know this isn't much help for your situation, but ouch!!!

The product is not positioned as an upgrade option for a machine intended for gaming, but rather than a device to replace a damaged graphics card in an office computer.

 

[BFG10K]

Have you updated the BIOS and chipset drivers to the latest version?

 

[Sentry2]

doh, damn quick reply...

 

[Sentry2]

Originally posted by: bobsmith1492
It's probably running inherently better graphics, like DX9/shader 2.0, resulting in the better quality you noticed. Of course, that would also mean it would run more slowly. I'd look online for some way to force DX8 mode on it.

That would be my guess.

 

[BenSkywalker]

Turned off all the shader effects- that is in the graphics options window, didn't do much.

For updating the BIOS and chipset drivers, I would have to get ahold of the rig myself which I will likely end up doing. This isn't someone who I would try and walk through either a BIOS flash or even a chipset update. Not that he couldn't handle it by any means, but he pretty much has never done anything like that before. Only problem is he lives about an hour and a half away from me.

After swapping back to the Intel integrated chipset he was managing to pull down an average of ~30FPS- a 50% improvement. Then he physically removed the x1300 and was managing to hit ~40FPS average in the same spot. I had him check the PSU and he is running a 250Watt 'Bestec' unit, I think we may be looking at a lack of power to drive the board.

 

[quattro1]

What resolution are you running the game at? Have you tried the 19" on both the x1300 and integrated? If so, the integrated most likely has a max resolution of 1024x768, which it runs WoW on, heck may even be 800x600. The x1300 most likely can run the 19" at its native res which I assume is 1280x1024. If this is true, you are comparing perf on one card running 10x7(or less) and another running 1280x1024.

You have stated everything about your system except at what res both cards are running at. So, what resolution are BOTH cards running?

 

[bobsmith1492]

Lack of power to the board wouldn't make it run more slowly.

 

[BFG10K]

It's possible if the board clocks down when it doesn't have enough power.

 

[bobsmith1492]

I've never heard of such a thing, though, unless the card has an external supply connector that isn't hooked up; I'm sure the 1300 has no need of that.

 

[BenSkywalker]

You have stated everything about your system except at what res both cards are running at. So, what resolution are BOTH cards running?

My system is running 2048x1536 w 2x AA and 16x HQ AF on a x1800xt, not running it on any other board ATM- my FPS is nigh always locked @64.1FPS. His system he has tried every resolution down to 800x600(lowest supported by WoW) with his new card and nigh no difference in framerate(it goes up, ~10% moving from 1440x900 32bit to 800x600 16bit).

I've never heard of such a thing

Almost every card made for the last few years will do that(as will a good deal of processors), although I was under the assumption that a x1300 wouldn't be enough to push this rig over the edge. I also would not expect it to have a 250Watt PSU for the system though(I have that for my vid card alone). It's possible that a lack of power is clock throttling the P4 down so much that it is causing the massive performance drop- that would actually make sense as the res changes have almost no impact on performance.

 

[quattro1]

Which HP system does he have? Trying to find out which integreated Intel chipset is on there.

 

[LLoose]

Its probably an intel 900gsm or 950 (essentially the same thing). There isnt much of a performance boost between the 850 and 950 and the 850 is old. I can play on my laptop OK, but much prefer to run it on my desktop.

I would recommend getting a new motherboard.