FFXI Glitches about every 2 seconds

[FrankReynolds]

Date & Time: 10/13/2011, 20:15 EST (8:15 PM EST)

Frequency: The game hangs for about 1/2 second every 2-3 seconds.

Platform: PC

PC Manufacturer & Model Number: HP Pavilion dv7

OS: Windows 7 64-bit

Graphics Card: Radeon HD 6490M

ISP: Comcast

Type of Internet Connection: Cable


The game seems to freeze for just a split second about once every 2 seconds, making it really difficult to play, and annoying to look at. I had the same problem with the 2 previous laptops that I installed FFXI on, one of which used intel mobile graphics 4200, and I can't remember the other one. I've tried stripping the computer down, by removing every program I could conceive of while still maintaining functionality, and can't seem to isolate the problem. I also tried using Process explorer to disable running services 1 by one and had no luck there either. This is really frustrating because I would really like to be able to play when I am away from home, or just in another room, but the problem seems to happen on every laptop I have gotten. I am inclined to believe that it has something to do with shared video memory handling in windows 7, but that is just a guess.

I also tried a suggestion from another thread where someone said to shut down HID devices (you can't actually shut all of them down, because the keyboard mouse and controller are HID devices) but that didn't work either. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[RAIST]

CCC used to cause issues with framerate in some games in the past (think it had something to do with the overdrive monitoring fans/temps/clocks or something). Could try removing it so you are just running the bare drivers and then use a third party tool like ATI Tray Tools or something to configure the AA/AF and such.

[misfitwonder]

I'm having the same problem myself. I'm running the game on a mid-2010 imac running Windows 7 x64 Pro. All drivers are barebone directly from apple that are on the bootcamp installation. I've tried everything I could...reinstalled windows, reinstalled ffxi, installed all directX updates, nothing's working.

[misfitwonder]

I think I have the problem solved for my end, all bootcamp drivers prior to 4.0 contain decent ATI display drivers, however the 4.0 bootcamp drivers absolutely kill my graphics card, and it isn't apple's fault. On the 4.0 version, my windows experience index for graphics and gaming graphics go from 7.2 to 5.9, and the VRAM reported is 741, when it's usually much higher...I believe around 2000. I rolled back to the earlier drivers and after I reinstall ffxi, I should be good to go (crosses my fingers)

[Runespider]

This is caused by certain usb accessories (joypads/mice) havig problems with FFXI.

[misfitwonder]

Finally figured it out on my end. It wasn't anything attached via USB, nor was it any hardware at all (though I'm still keeping my older drivers), it turns out that a program that I was running: RS Audials 9 was conflicting with FF11 really bad. I would say for those who are having problems--back up EVERYTHING, reformat, then install drivers first, then FFXI. After that, one by one, install your programs, re-run FFXI after each install to see if the problem can be replicated. After finding out which program it is, restore your PC from the backup, uninstall the conflicting program. If it solves the problem, you're golden. Just install an alternative program (in my case, I installed "tunebite").

[RAIST]

more often, it is due to a service or app runing in the background related to that app....could just disable it when you aren't using it.

[Dhragon]

Just to throw this out there. I was running in to this issue with my laptop. After reading this thread, I thought about what the last thing I installed that would have had drivers as part of it. I installed Oracle VM Virtualbox to mess with some other OS's on my laptop. I uninstalled Virtualbox and my problem went away. For anyone else still having this trouble, try and remember the last thing you installed that would have needed drivers to install.

[krayzie]

This is my problem. exactly spot on. i'v been searching for a thread regarding it everywhere. and just the other day finally stumbled upon here, excitedly hoping to solve my problem. well after reading this thread 3 times over. i still cant fix this problem. ive uninstalled multiple programs, audials being one of them. no luck. ive uninstalled and re installed java, directx, and multiple drivers multiple times, and still cant get rid of that odd lag. i know its not my PC specs, they are well above what is needed, i mean i am running a gaming rig. ive played crysis without problem and played the FF14 beta beautifully. yet i just can't figure this game out. ive run outa ideas on what to do so i finally gave in and posted here. help would be extremely appreciated.

[Dragoy]

One thing that I have read to cause such an issue, is the anti-viral solution called Avast.

There was a case where a user would experience similar problems, and after uninstall Avast, it was gone.
I personally tried Avast only shortly years ago, and these days I use Gentoo Linux so unless I go out of my way for that, I can't really verify what setting/feature possibly causes it.

Either way, if any of you have Avast installed, try looking into that.

I would also recommend trying a different graphics adapter, if only possible.
This would help greatly to narrow down the issue where applicable.

For Laptops, this obviously isn't too simple to try, but even for those there sometimes are dual-graphics which can/need to be selected from the BIOS, or otherwise configured.

Other than that, as more or less already mentioned, try different drivers, older, newer, ßeta, everything!


Just some thoughts~

[RAIST]

been running the free avast version for about 2 years now, no such issues. But, I'm on older hardware. specifically:

Gigabyte EP45-UD3P, Intel E8400 (3GHz, OC to 4GHz), 4GB G-Skill DDR2-1100 (OC to 1180), Visiontek ATI 4850 (512MB) with Catalyst 9.1, no CC installed (managed with ATT), XP Pro SP3, Killer NIC (PCI), 1TB Hitachi 7200 RPM SATA

Note that sometimes GPU monitoring tools can inject a spot of lag sometimes. This was a common problem with Catalyst Control Center at one time--something with the fan speed monitoring or something like that. The fix was to not use Overdrive, or remove CCC completely (just install the drivers) and use a third party tool (like ATI Tray Tools) to set the fan speed. But, even then, it did not always solve all issues--ie: depending on how you did your fan control in ATT, you could take a slight FPS hit sometimes (dynamic speed based on temp vs. just locking down a set speed).

[Dragoy]

The user in question, I forgot to mention, was using Windows 7.

A friend of mine had a similar issue with Avast and Windows 7 actually, freezy moments though in that case, it was happening with everything, not just a game.

Monitoring software is something I have had issues with certain OS/Hardware\Software combinations as well so that is a good point.

[krayzie]

i dont use avast. i am on a desktop, i do have dual graphic cards, there nvidia 8800 gt. i dont use ccc or att. i actually just have a massive fan sitting in front of my pc blowin a shit ton of air in >.< lmao. it works, keeps my pc like 40 degrees cooler. i have a program called core temp that allows me to see my pc's internal temp, idk if that would cause an issue or not. ill try running ff with it off. doubt it would do much though. and just to add on, im on vista.


edit

ok so i tried running ffxi with core temp and another program i have called smart ram, off. and it still hangs.

[RAIST]

FFXI has been shown to have issues with dual-cards in the past as well. Just out of curiosity, have you tried running on just one?

[krayzie]

i was thinkin about doing that. how do i go about doing that? do i just take one out? and to note, the 2 cards i have are linked together my a small, idk what u want to call it, but its like a clip. kinda bridges em together or something. or is there something i can do in the bios that only uses one card?

[krayzie]

i pulled out a graphics card to see what would happen. nothing. game still has the same half second hang every 1-2 seconds

[RAIST]

there should be options in the driver to disable it. Forget how it's worded...something about mulitple monitors and such.