Constant FPS Dips

[luvskittles]

The last couple weeks my game has started dipping into the 15-17 fps range, bouncing back up to 50's, and yoyoing right back down.

I HAD fixed it by checking "Disable Desktop Compatibility" on the boot file, but since reinstalling Windows 7 the other day the issue came back and the same fix will not work now. I'm out of ideas.

I've tried: playing in every window-fullscreen mode, capping and upcapping fps, checking and unchecking limiting fps out of window, turning vsync on and off in geforce experience, all other programs closed, and administrator mode

Please help

[Einmimiria]

Good Morning luvskittles, and thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums.

I may need a bit more information to assist you. First, can you think of anything that has changed on your PC that coincides with the framerate dips? Maybe an update in your Operating System, Graphics Drivers or Anti-Virus?

Do the FPS drops have any kind of pattern to them? Are they more troublesome in certain areas or at certain times? Are they accompanied by any graphical issues or crashing?

Can you provide the specifications for your PC as well as some of the settings and resolutions you are using? What else have you tried to resolve the issue?

We hope we can be of assistance in helping you enjoy the exciting world of Final Fantasy XIV!

[luvskittles]

Hi there,

Nothing has changed that I can think of. This issue started overnight for me.

The FPS dips from the 50's-60 to 15ish about every 5 seconds or so, no matter where I am in the game. That's the only pattern I can make out. I tried updating my graphics driver and setting it back a version with no luck.

I'm playing on a 21:9 monitor but that had never been an issue. Most settings are on high.

Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
Intel Core i7 920
ASRock X58 Extreme
12.0GB RAM
GeForce GTX 960

I know my CPU and motherboard are old, but they have never posed an issue at all with this game.

[Einmimiria]

Thank you for the additional information,

Can you try switching to DirectX 9 mode and see if there is any difference, this can be done on the launcher under 'Config.' Simply turn off DirectX 11 mode. Additionally, try lowering some graphics settings or resolution (even if your PC can obviously handle it).

If those don't work, try temporarily disabling your anti-virus/firewall and see if the problem persists. I'd also try turning off any overlay program (such as the Geforce Experience you mentioned) as this may be potentially interfering with the game.

If all else fails, you may want to try reinstalling the whole game. Make sure to delete any remaining FFXIV files from your computer, including any potential files in your ‘Documents’ folder. Then reinstall the game from scratch. If you need a digital version of this, it can be found here: http://www.finalfantasyxiv.com/playersdownload/na/. Any updates or expansions will be downloaded to your computer once logged into the appropriate account.

Please let us know if one of these suggestions solves your issue so we may better assist others who run into the same problem.

[AnimaAnimus]

I have this same issue. FFXIV only, all other games are working fine. But I am going from 120 fps to 30 fps for a few minutes then restabilizing at 120. It fixes itself when I zone and is sometimes caused by zoning or other times it just happens at random.

To OP: Do a clean driver install and completely remove GeForce experience, it interferes more than anything and most gamers I know uncheck that box when updating drivers. Personally its been nothing but a problem for me and others I know. No idea why they continue to push it on us at this point.

[Xeon]

OP:

Is this issue happening with a clean install of windows 7?

Does it do it from the start of your gaming session, or does it do it when you've been playing for a few minutes or longer?

By your PC specs, using an older cpu with a new graphics card, I'm assuming you built the machine yourself? What you're describing strongly sounds like either a CPU throttling issue (where it gets too hot and clocks itself down).

Also, is the 960 GPU the 2gb or 4gb model? Curious because the 4gb models probably suffer the same fate the 970 does when it accesses the last .5 GB of memory because that last .5 runs much much slower and will cause what you described, but you'd be needing to be running higher than 1080p resolution, and I'm not sure what you're running at.

Answering these, even if silly, will help me try to answer and diagnose your problem.

[Xeon]

Oh and to add to all of this, I dont think downgrading to DX9 does anything to remedy this on a 9xx GPU. If performance is an indicator, I score higher and get better FPS using DX11 than DX9. Spikes and dips are also lessened in DX11.

[luvskittles]

Hi sorry for the late response!

Lowering to DX9 did make it much worse, it's a steady 15 fps.

Turning GeForce Experience off doesn't help.

This is still happening with a clean Windows 7 and graphics driver install.

My GPU is the 4gb version.

[CryBloodwing]

Hi sorry for the late response!

Lowering to DX9 did make it much worse, it's a steady 15 fps.

Turning GeForce Experience off doesn't help.

This is still happening with a clean Windows 7 and graphics driver install.

My GPU is the 4gb version.

I actually started getting more lag and FPS drop rates since the last update. Same for some people in my FC. I am on a Mac also.

[luvskittles]

This is still happening after another clean install of the game.