Inactive FFXI Windowed mode still polling keyboard input?

[Kaisha]

Details:
This has one been bugging me since the windowed mode's inception, and hey! We got this nice little forum here now to post on.

Anyways, I multi-task a lot when I'm playing games, usually working in Photoshop or web-browsing at the same time. My problem here is that FFXI appears to still process keyboard input when the window is inactive. For my computer (as well as my laptop), this ends up making anything I enter with my keyboard (be it typing quickly, or holding down a modifier key for Photoshop) get a bit of a delay, and in the case of holding down a key, slowing my application down to a crawl until I let go and wait for a couple moments.

FFXI likes to do this regardless of resolution or window state (normal size, minimized, maximized), and it's more pronounced in busier locations within the game. The game itself may skip frames during the delayed input also. Shutting down the game alleviates the problem, but then I cannot play of course.


Steps:
1. Load up Final Fantasy XI
2. Go somewhere busy (like Port Jeuno, or an area with lots of monsters) to make the problem more pronounced
3. Do something in another application that makes heavy use of the keyboard
(ex. A Web browser. Bashing the keyboard while in the URL address box worked dandy for demonstrating the problem on my end)
4. Hopefully the symptom will appear.

Date & Time: Date of this post. (well, even since the windowed mode was implemented)
Frequency: Always
Platform: PC
PC Manufacturer & Model Number: Homebuilt Computer (AMD64 3700+ CPU, 2gb DDR-400 RAM)
OS: Windows XP SP3 (32-bit)
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8800GT (512mb memory)
ISP: RipNET
Type of Internet Connection: Local Wireless

[Kaisha]

So I'm taking it that I'm the sole FFXI user who uses the built-in windowed mode?

[Dragoy]

Surely you/we are not (I hope). ^^;
I actually thought I replied to this when I first stumbled upon it, but I guess I forgot.


Anyways, I have never used any other than the built-in one, and while I multi-task a lot as well, I haven't really noticed such a problem, even when using a similar hardware and OS set-up (nowadays I use Linux only, with a six-core Phenom CPU and a GTX275 GPU).
While I do actually get Opera browser to use 100% of one of the cores while holding down a key while in the address-bar (which I find very peculiar indeed), I cannot make it happen elsewhere (such as here where I am typing this post at) and most certainly not just by typing quickly. It doesn't happen quite to the same extent with Icecat/Firefox.

The fact that I have a few more CPU-cores of course easily make a difference, but can you confirm that this is this what is happening to you? The application(s) are using most, or all of your CPU resources?
And can you see it happening without the game running?
If I remember right, FFXI should lower the 'priority' even while in the background. If it is for some reason not doing this for you, it might be a clue as to why it is happening.

I have never really used Photoshop myself, only tried once for a while many years ago, so I can't really say much about that specifically.


There's some quick thoughts; I will post for more if/when I do some more tests and if/when I think of something more to say.

Good luck!

[Kaisha]

It happens only when FFXI running, the second I log it off all my applications perform normally.

For some reason it's more prominent while running on my MacBook Pro under Windows XP, even though it's a more powerful system (and is dual-core also. Setting core affinities did nothing to help) and running MUCH less in the background to help rule out any possible software conflicts.
(just your barebones Comodo firewall, MSE antivirus, Apple's drivers, and Fraps)

FFXI does go into lower priority when inactive, and forcing the priorities differently on my other applications did nothing to help either. I'm firmly under the belief FFXI is the culprit here. I have never come across this problem at all for any other Windows PC game running windowed, even ones that have to maintain an online connection, including games that my PC is under the system requirements for (aka, modern video games and FFXIV).

As for CPU resources go, even on my single core PC, nothing is peaking out when the slowdown on the keyboard occurs, nor is the CPU being 100% in use.

[Dragoy]

I was going to mention trying out different graphics card drivers (newer, older, beta) since I have a faint memory of having some weird issues with some drivers while using a GF8800. However, you mention you can actually re-produce it on another machine? What similarities do they have, if any, and are there any differences with the issue or does it appear exactly the same way?

I have not been able to re-produce it myself still. For the time being, I do not have a machine running with winxp, though, and it has indeed been closer to 2 or many more years since I last time ran FFXI under that OS. I will keep on trying things though, and maybe install a winxp somewhere even which might be something I would have to do to be able to re-produce the issue from the looks of it.


I am more and more thinking of an issue related to software drivers such as the graphics, or keyboard, or the other, but can't really think of anything specific to try other than different versions of drivers and just general trying-to-eliminate-the-possibilities game.


Sorry for no real ideas at the moment; just some thoughts~

[Kaisha]

Only similarity between the two is that they're running the same OS (WinXP SP3) and both have an nVidia graphics card (8800GT on the PC, 8600m on the Mac) and are running different drivers.

I don't see how a video card driver would be the fault of one specific application running abnormally when it is inactive though. Content update did nothing on this end of things either.


Granted the lack of support overall for FFXI config controls has been very lacking also. Still no HUD scaling option for those of us that want to run a high resolution and still be able to read the chat, zero performance improvements over the years (a lot of them seemingly based on video card drivers, but there's a thing called writing work-arounds that aren't so picky with a good variety of cards, as we've seen in the past with BRD Song/GA3 spell performance complaints over the years), no gamma control while the game is running (have to exit the game fully to adjust it for windowed mode), and it's still very CPU dependent to this day, which is a waste of resources with our video card sitting there mostly idling by.

[Dragoy]

Sorry, I have not had the time to really look into this still.

But yeah, I agree that it is rather phenomenal, the state the game is still. This is of course no doubt due to something holding it back. It seems though as if they have been experimenting with at least some improvements, and even implemented some (PC, NPC, etc. names and icons). Purrrhaps there is a lot more to come!

As for the drivers affecting only a single application, yeah, it is a bit of a long-shot but after starting to use Linux a year ago, I have noticed it is more possible than I ever thought myself. 'Breakage' does happen, for all OSs after all.

As for nVidia and FFXI specifically, this is from the Release Highlights of GeForce/ION Driver Release 265 (http://www.nvidia.co.uk/object/winxp-266.35-beta-driver-uk.html):


Performance


Improves performance in Final Fantasy XI on GeForce 400 Series and 500 Series GPUs.


It's likely related to a bug or a glitch concerning the newer GPU arch but nevertheless, it was surprising to notice this back when I did, and also, it does indicate that there indeed can be notable differences. In the past, I have dealt with the nVidia Customer Service and they would often suggest trying some other/certain drivers to see if there is a difference.


But I am starting to digress, but I wanted to mention that. ^^
I have not forgotten this, but as I am sure you know, I can't promise anything. =/

Good luck!

[SE_James]

Kaisha,

If you believe there is an ongoing issue with FINAL FANTASY XI, we’d like to help fix it. The best way to do that is by submitting this as a bug in our In-Game Bugs section of the forums. We have gone ahead and moved this thread to that forum so that the proper attention can be given.

For future reference, please direct all posts related to bugs with FINAL FANTASY XI to the forums located at:
In-Game Bugs ( http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/forums/80-In-Game-Bugs)

[Baccanale]

Greetings, Kaisha!
Thank you for posting your concerns about your FFXI Windowed mode. I have made sure to submit all of your information to the development team, and they will make sure to thoroughly investigate this matter, based on your report. Unfortunately, I cannot guarantee that a direct response will be posted on this thread, but I do recommend consulting www.PlayOnline.com or http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxi/forums/84-Version-Updates for any details regarding the development team's investigation. Thanks again for your report!