Constant stuttering in-game on windows 7 64-bit

[Renald]

same problem for me but not in ATI, in NVIDIA GT 425M (1GB didcated) i've been searching for reasons to find way to fix it but ended up with info in new driver that they released:
"New in Release 266.58 Driver:
Performance:
•Increases performance for GeForce 400 Series GPUs in several PC games vs. the latest Release 260 drivers.
•Improves performance in Final Fantasy XI on GeForce 400 Series GPUs."

so after updating the driver guess WHAT!!! still same >.> so its not a problem in driver maybe something related to windows 7 64 bit?

tested some other games and the problem didnt show up and only happen in FFXI.

[Lyndonn]

Devrom,

While we were investigating your problem, we noticed that TURKSAT comes up as a satellite-based Internet Service Provider. If this is the case, then it would explain the ‘stuttering’ problem you are experiencing. What is happening is that the software is trying to download the data from our servers, and the latency from the satellite connection is causing the software to pause while it waits for the next burst of data.

This is simply a result of how satellite-based connections function. Such a high-latency connection is not recommended for online gaming, and is definitely not supported by SQUARE ENIX for FINAL FANTASY XI. We can only recommend switching to a land-line-based, low-latency connection type.

I use Virgin-media Fiber Optic (cable) and i get this stuttering using my ATI 5850 but on my other PC only change is i use a 3800 and no stuttering on that, so its a problem with higher end graphics cards in my opinion, maybe a Patch can fix this issue.

[Devrom]

Devrom,

While we were investigating your problem, we noticed that TURKSAT comes up as a satellite-based Internet Service Provider. If this is the case, then it would explain the ‘stuttering’ problem you are experiencing. What is happening is that the software is trying to download the data from our servers, and the latency from the satellite connection is causing the software to pause while it waits for the next burst of data.

This is simply a result of how satellite-based connections function. Such a high-latency connection is not recommended for online gaming, and is definitely not supported by SQUARE ENIX for FINAL FANTASY XI. We can only recommend switching to a land-line-based, low-latency connection type.

Thanks for the reply but it doesn't really explain my problem :/

As I have already said in my initial post, I am using CATV connection and only up to 5 Mpbs (rarely goes that high, usually around 3). It is not really that high. Also, I am using the exact same connection on my laptop and playing FFXI without such a problem. So it can't be a high-latency issue. Furthermore, TURKSAT isn't really a satellite-based ISP. The internet service they provide is based on the good old cable TV infrastructure, copper cables and all. We are not directly connected to satellite or something.

PS: disabling WLAN AutoConfig service under Computer Management didn't work either. Although I think there is barely anything left to try as I have already tried 12314512 things to no avail, any other suggestions, anyone?...

[Frost]

It's the "Hot Potato" No one wants to admit it's their fault.

It IS a video problem.
It IS only FFXI.
It IS only Higher end graphics cards.

I would bet it has to do with how FFXI and DX 10+ get along. All the DX 9 cards seem to be ok.

It's NOT network lag, or latency. It's definitely a graphics thing.

[Devrom]

It's the "Hot Potato" No one wants to admit it's their fault.

It IS a video problem.
It IS only FFXI.
It IS only Higher end graphics cards.

I would bet it has to do with how FFXI and DX 10+ get along. All the DX 9 cards seem to be ok.

It's NOT network lag, or latency. It's definitely a graphics thing.

Seems like it... We should just switch to PS2, problem solved.

[Ziyyigo-Tipyigo]

I've experienced the same problem intermittently throughout various system rebuilds (I'm restless, what can I say?). On one system, the stuttering seemed to have been caused by specific versions of the ATI drivers, but I forget which of my three options (packaged, Windows Update drivers or downloaded from ATI's website) would fix the problem.

I've moved to a notebook, though, and after wiping the system and reinstalling Windows on it, the same "hiccup" problem showed itself where it wasn't before, and juggling drivers isn't doing the trick this time.

The really frustrating thing, in my opinion, is that it also happens on the title screen (which shouldn't be affected by bandwidth or latency issues). However, the performance of the old Vana'diel Benchmark 3 is unaffected, no hiccups, so that can't be used as a litmus test.

This is why I hate Windows gaming. But the alternatives are a three-second freeze every time I change areas on Xbox 360, or black screens when the PS2 tries to load cutscenes (e.g. chocobo raising), so... I dunno.

I'm about to try FFXI under WINE.

[Atomic_Skull]

It's caused by the ATI drivers lowering the GPU and VRAM clocks when it shouldn't. It happens on a lot of DirectX 8 games not just FFXI. It's actually a problem with ATI's power saving being too aggressive about lowering the clocks on the video card.

Basically what's happening is this.

"Ok an application is running, increase the clocks"
"Ok an application is still running"
"GPU isn't doing anything lower the clocks to save power"
"Ok an application is running, increase the clocks"
"Ok an application is still running"
"GPU isn't doing anything lower the clocks to save power"
"Ok an application is running, increase the clocks"

The problem is that DirectX 8 games don't use the GPU as heavily as a DirectX 9 or 10 games, so ATI's drivers will occasionally think that there aren't any 3D apps running and lower the clocks when it shouldn't. And every time it does this FFXI will hiccup.

ATI isn't likely to fix this because honestly they don't care about DirectX 8 anymore.



I think the real problem is that FFXI needs an engine refresh. I'm not talking about a graphics update or anything like that. Just updating to DirectX 9/10, MSAA support, 60FPS and more normal resolution select in the config.

Yes I know you can set any resolution you want but most people don't know how to do that and the way the config utility handles resolution selection is very confusing for new players. The maximum 1024x1024 that the config util allows is also rather low by today's standards.

[Arlaine]

I was also having these stuttering performance issues that seem to match your description pretty closely.
It only happened on one computer, the rest were fine, some things that were tried included:
Different computer, same GPU
Different computer, different GPU
XP, Vista, Windows 7
Different internet connections
Adjusting FFXI's config options [eg. mip mapping, hardware cursor, resolution, bump mapping, sound objects]


I understand a related fix was already posted in this thread but hopefully this will add some keywords or assist in some other way.

On my laptop running Windows 7 64bit [Core i3, ATI Mobility 5650]
Removed ICS(Internet Connection Sharing) from my network adapters.
Updated ATI Mobility drivers
Removed/Uninstalled VMWare
Removed/Uninstalled Oracle Virtualbox

It wasnt until I uninstalled VirtualBox that the problem went away.

I'm not going to say this is a fantastic idea based on anything intelligible but if you're having issues with the stuttering and it was anything close to mine and you want to try something silly, try this:
1. Install Oracle VirtualBox (its free)
2. Restart
3. Uninstall VirtualBox
4. Restart
5. Launch FFXI
6. Post results!

Best of luck!