Lagasaurus Rex

[Sandoria]

Greetings FFXIV Technical know-hows and helpers.

I am not so savvy with such things and am in dire need of any assistance anyone can offer. Love this game to pieces but it's been so incredibly laggy trying to play it these past few months, I am afraid to join any dungeons. At first I thought my graphics card might be the culprit so I gave it a major upgrade. All my other specs are well above the minimum suggested. My Tracert isn't very pretty and I'm having difficulties faring any better on a VPN.

My Tracert:

1 2 ms 2 ms 2 ms 192.168.0.1
2 32 ms 10 ms 9 ms 10.150.0.1
3 10 ms 10 ms 13 ms 172.23.112.41
4 24 ms 22 ms 17 ms phm-b1-link.telia.net [62.115.60.81]
5 17 ms 17 ms 17 ms ash-bb3-link.telia.net [62.115.124.225]
6 22 ms 34 ms 51 ms ash-b1-link.telia.net [62.115.143.79]
7 37 ms 21 ms 18 ms ae-40.r05.asbnva02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.8.18]
8 15 ms 28 ms 18 ms ae-8.r23.asbnva02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.2.23]
9 79 ms 76 ms 77 ms ae-10.r22.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.6.237]
10 81 ms 100 ms 84 ms ae-19.r01.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.3.27]
11 82 ms 95 ms 80 ms ae-4.r00.scrmca02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.7.57]
12 82 ms 82 ms 84 ms xe-0-1-0-1-1.r00.scrmca02.us.ce.gin.ntt.net [129.250.195.46]
13 81 ms 83 ms 83 ms 204.2.229.234
14 * 87 ms 82 ms 204.2.229.9

Any help would be truly and deeply appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[Ariellendera]

Hello Sandoria, Thank you for posting on the Final Fantasy XIV Technical Support Forums

Can you elaborate on the kind of issue you are having?

Please provide:

- Platform (PC, PS4, Mac)
- the nature of the latency
- Type of connection (wired or wireless)
- Other programs running while the game is playing (if any)
- Everything you have tried to resolve the issue
- Error Code (if any)


Thank you for playing Final Fantasy XIV! Hope to see you online.

[Sandoria]

Hello there Ariellendera, and thank you for your quick and timely response!

♥I currently play on a Desktop PC

♥ The lag is very constant yet not consistent. I can lag in my private house just as badly as I lag in a dungeon. It's however considerably more noticeable in dungeons because people die. Some minutes, it can be blissfully smooth but it usually doesn't last longer than a few minutes before we're back to the slideshow and stuttering robotic sounds. There is a good chance all the crawlers I culled back in the day are climbing through my networks seeking revenge.
♥ I'm wired straight into the router.

♥ Followed all of these instructions from killping's site:

Make sure all of the drivers on your computer are up-to-date

Close any background application which is either using up your internet or is using up a
lot of your system’s space

Scan and defrag all of the drivers, especially the one where FFXIV is located

Switch “Power Options” to “High”

Adjust Windows for “Best Performance” rather than quality

Run FFXIV as Admin

Add FFXIV to “High Priority” from the Task Manager

Check if VPN is active. If so, then disable it for the time you are playing the game

Disable Windows Defender (temporarily)

Disable Firewall (temporarily)

Check Anti-virus settings for any blockages or network restrictions

I even completely reset my computer and fully reinstalled the game from scratch. The Lag Monster refuses to be defeated!

♥ Also, I don't stream or have anything going in the background whilst attempting to FFXIV. Upgraded graphics card and ram and am currently trying WTFast to see if I can bypass this slowness. Kind of running out of ideas and that's scary cause I really do want this to work.

♥ Sometimes it will disconnect if it lags long enough. Boots me to the login screen of flames. Usually it appears in the mysterious form of jittery animations and jagged robotic hitches in the sound effects. Everything from the UI to the music slows to a frame by frame crawl that usually leaves me standing in bad things. I'm sure the healers of the random Duty Finder love me. Shout out to all the parties that kept me alive Monster Hunting.

Hearts and PURPA text added for flare! Because these lag threads need some color and pizzazz! Also, even if we can't solve this, I seriously thank you for taking the time and effort to read this and try for me. You are awesome!

[Brucedx]

Are you in southern California? I've started to have bad lag this last week. This was an issue a few months back for people in LA and Orange County.

[Einmimiria]

Thank you for the update Sandoria.

Where are you currently located? You trace route has you going though what looks like European nodes, but I'm not sure if that's accurate (although it would explain your lag issues). It may be that you have some sort of routing issue, however it may still be worth trying some connection troubleshooting on your own PC.

The game will use the Internet Explorer web browser to connect to the internet. Open Internet Explorer, then open the "Tools" setting, go to "Internet Options" and adjust the following settings:
- Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
- Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
- Under the "Privacy" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or to "Allow All Cookies"
- Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
- Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED. [SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
- Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
- Right-Click on the FFXIV launcher icon and select "Properties"
- Go to the "Compatibility" tab, and change the compatibility mode to "Windows 7"
- Hit "Apply", then "OK" to save the changes.
- Please RESTART your PC now. Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"

Reset your router by turning it off for a few minutes, then back on.

Make sure your anti-virus/firewall has the appropriate exceptions for Final Fantasy XIV (you can temporarily disable them while you try to connect as well).

Check the following Port Ranges on your router/modem to ensure that the following Port Ranges have been opened:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040

Your ISP may forward these ports for you.

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

[Plastic_Fork]

It's not just you. It's everyone. People have been posting about it for months. I live in central USA. Same issue every night around 7pm CST-10pm CST. The problem is California. The high latency starts as soon as it reaches San Jose, CA or Sacramento, CA. I have zero latency or lag issues with anything else I do, including other games, latency tests, websites, streaming, or anything else. It's just FF14 and the nodes on the way to their servers. No lag during daytime hours weekdays or weekends. Just this time of the evening/night. Sometimes it's consistent, sometimes it only lasts for a little bit, then the high latency returns a little later.

I'll post again for the sake of posting, but nothing's been done anywhere to resolve it and it's been an issue for me for almost a year now.

• Platform: PC (Windows 7 Ultimate x64)
• Nature of the latency: high latency at evening hours the same times every night
• Type of connection: wired (Comcast)
• Other programs running while the game is playing (if any): none
• Everything you have tried to resolve the issue:

  reinstalling FF14, swapping network cards, updating drivers, relaxing security, forwarding ports, game running as Administrator, game runs in DX11, pretty much everything else that's been suggested

• Error Code (if any): none

Traceroute from about 30 minutes ago:

Tracing route to 204.2.229.96 over a maximum of 30 hops

  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.0.10
  2    10 ms    11 ms    10 ms  96.120.53.45
  3    13 ms    11 ms    13 ms  68.86.195.241
  4    16 ms    16 ms    15 ms  ae-32-ar02.goodslettvll.tn.nash.comcast.net [162.151.23.26]
  5    31 ms    25 ms    23 ms  be-22909-cr02.56marietta.ga.ibone.comcast.net [68.86.91.245]
  6    31 ms    23 ms    22 ms  be-11486-pe03.56marietta.ga.ibone.comcast.net [68.86.85.254]
  7    23 ms    22 ms    24 ms  50.242.151.58
  8    23 ms    29 ms    26 ms  ae-11.r03.atlnga05.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.5.57]
  9    32 ms    23 ms    27 ms  ae-3.r21.atlnga05.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.5.211]
 10    40 ms    39 ms    47 ms  ae-6.r23.dllstx09.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.4.116]
 11    97 ms   109 ms   109 ms  ae-8.r23.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.4.154]
 12   197 ms   209 ms   198 ms  ae-41.r02.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.6.119]
 13     *      202 ms   208 ms  ae-3.r00.scrmca02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.7.11]
 14     *      203 ms   191 ms  xe-0-1-0-1-1.r00.scrmca02.us.ce.gin.ntt.net 129.250.195.46]
 15   124 ms   102 ms   118 ms  204.2.229.234
 16   203 ms   210 ms   200 ms  204.2.229.96

Trace complete.

The high latency subsided a little bit. And came back.
Here's another traceroute 90 minutes later. Raids, dungeons, and PvP are totally unplayable.

Tracing route to 204.2.229.96 over a maximum of 30 hops

  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.0.10
  2    18 ms     9 ms    15 ms  96.120.53.45
  3    11 ms    11 ms    12 ms  68.86.195.241
  4    24 ms    68 ms    16 ms  ae-32-ar02.goodslettvll.tn.nash.comcast.net [162.151.23.26]
  5    25 ms    23 ms    23 ms  be-22909-cr02.56marietta.ga.ibone.comcast.net [68.86.91.245]
  6    23 ms    31 ms    27 ms  be-11486-pe03.56marietta.ga.ibone.comcast.net [68.86.85.254]
  7    24 ms    22 ms    23 ms  50.242.151.58
  8    27 ms    23 ms    22 ms  ae-11.r03.atlnga05.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.5.57]
  9    30 ms    29 ms    28 ms  ae-3.r21.atlnga05.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.5.211]
 10    41 ms    39 ms    40 ms  ae-6.r23.dllstx09.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.4.116]
 11   174 ms   160 ms   181 ms  ae-8.r23.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.4.154]
 12   188 ms   198 ms   192 ms  ae-41.r02.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.6.119]
 13   205 ms     *      199 ms  ae-3.r00.scrmca02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.7.11]
 14   194 ms   198 ms   195 ms  xe-0-1-0-1-1.r00.scrmca02.us.ce.gin.ntt.net [129.250.195.46]
 15   191 ms   174 ms   169 ms  204.2.229.234
 16     *      205 ms   195 ms  204.2.229.96

Trace complete.

Here's another traceroute done 30 minutes later while things calmed back down.
This is what a normal traceroute and latency looks like for me for my server when the high latency spikes aren't happening in California.

Tracing route to 204.2.229.96 over a maximum of 30 hops

  1    <1 ms    <1 ms    <1 ms  192.168.0.10
  2    11 ms     9 ms    11 ms  96.120.53.45
  3    13 ms    12 ms    11 ms  68.86.195.241
  4    16 ms    16 ms    16 ms  ae-32-ar02.goodslettvll.tn.nash.comcast.net [162.151.23.26]
  5    26 ms    24 ms    23 ms  be-22909-cr02.56marietta.ga.ibone.comcast.net [68.86.91.245]
  6    22 ms    22 ms    32 ms  be-11486-pe03.56marietta.ga.ibone.comcast.net [68.86.85.254]
  7    23 ms    24 ms    23 ms  50.242.151.58
  8    25 ms    23 ms    23 ms  ae-11.r03.atlnga05.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.5.57]
  9    35 ms    22 ms    23 ms  ae-3.r21.atlnga05.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.5.211]
 10    48 ms    40 ms    40 ms  ae-6.r23.dllstx09.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.4.116]
 11    78 ms    78 ms    90 ms  ae-8.r23.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.4.154]
 12    82 ms    83 ms    81 ms  ae-41.r02.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.6.119]
 13    81 ms    80 ms    82 ms  ae-3.r00.scrmca02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.7.11]
 14    82 ms    82 ms    88 ms  xe-0-1-0-1-1.r00.scrmca02.us.ce.gin.ntt.net [129.250.195.46]
 15    80 ms    83 ms    83 ms  204.2.229.234
 16    85 ms    88 ms    83 ms  204.2.229.96

Trace complete.

[Sandoria]

Thank you all for this input. And thank you Einmimiria!

I will try all of these suggestions and get back to you shortly on how any of it works. It does seem we all have the California hops in common so that very likely might be the issue. Gonna try a few things and report any findings. Thank you all again!

[Sandoria]

As an update, I went ahead and tried all of these!

Thank you for the update Sandoria.

Where are you currently located? You trace route has you going though what looks like European nodes, but I'm not sure if that's accurate (although it would explain your lag issues). It may be that you have some sort of routing issue, however it may still be worth trying some connection troubleshooting on your own PC.

The game will use the Internet Explorer web browser to connect to the internet. Open Internet Explorer, then open the "Tools" setting, go to "Internet Options" and adjust the following settings:
- Under the "General" tab, please delete ALL browser history.
- Under the "Security" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or no higher than "Medium"
- Under the "Privacy" tab, please move the slider to the lowest possible settings or to "Allow All Cookies"
- Under the "Advanced" tab, please make sure that "Allow software to run or install even if signature is invalid" is CHECKED.
- Make sure that all SSL and TLS (EXCEPT SSL 3.0) are CHECKED. [SSL 3.0 should be UNCHECKED]
- Hit "Apply" to save the settings, and then "OK, to close the Internet Options menu.
- Right-Click on the FFXIV launcher icon and select "Properties"
- Go to the "Compatibility" tab, and change the compatibility mode to "Windows 7"
- Hit "Apply", then "OK" to save the changes.
- Please RESTART your PC now. Once your PC has been restarted, Right-Click the FFXIV launcher icon once more and select "Run as Administrator"

Reset your router by turning it off for a few minutes, then back on.

Make sure your anti-virus/firewall has the appropriate exceptions for Final Fantasy XIV (you can temporarily disable them while you try to connect as well).

Check the following Port Ranges on your router/modem to ensure that the following Port Ranges have been opened:
▼TCP
54992 through 54994,
55006 through 55007,
55021 through 55040

Your ISP may forward these ports for you.

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

While I learned some pretty nifty stuff about my router and computer and I'm most thankful for the knowledge (Thank you!), I'm afraid the problem remains as strong as ever. Same packet loss. Same jittery sound and animation lockups in game. Not sure if it helps, but this is the tracert I did this morning after trying all the above stuff.

tracert 204.2.229.96

Tracing route to 204.2.229.96 over a maximum of 30 hops

1 1 ms 2 ms 1 ms 192.168.1.1
2 10 ms 11 ms 8 ms 10.150.0.1
3 12 ms 12 ms 15 ms 172.23.112.41
4 14 ms 11 ms 13 ms phm-b1-link.telia.net [62.115.60.81]
5 15 ms 14 ms 14 ms ash-bb4-link.telia.net [62.115.114.29]
6 * 18 ms 19 ms ash-b1-link.telia.net [62.115.143.121]
7 22 ms 16 ms 14 ms ae-40.r05.asbnva02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.8.18]
8 16 ms 14 ms 15 ms ae-8.r23.asbnva02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.2.23]
9 81 ms 83 ms 86 ms ae-10.r22.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.6.237]
10 92 ms 88 ms 85 ms ae-40.r02.snjsca04.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.3.121]
11 85 ms 85 ms 86 ms ae-3.r00.scrmca02.us.bb.gin.ntt.net [129.250.7.11]
12 86 ms 86 ms 88 ms xe-0-1-0-1-1.r00.scrmca02.us.ce.gin.ntt.net [129.250.195.46]
13 87 ms 84 ms 87 ms 204.2.229.234
14 86 ms 85 ms 85 ms 204.2.229.96

As a side note, thank you for taking the time to help me. Even if it hasn't worked, at least I can know I'm trying everything possible on my end. To that effect, thank you very much.

[silverlunarfox]

Your Ping isnt much higher than mine, are you sure its not hardware related as well? You didnt post your PC specs on here. Jittery sound and animation lock ups, esp with the sound would make me lean towards more of a hardware issue.

In no way am I ruling out an issue on California's side. It's a known issue. It could always be both as well.

[Sandoria]

Oh I would almost love it to be hardware related as that means I could fix it. As for the specs to the old girl:

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-4670K CPU @ 3.40GHz, 3401 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s)

Installed Physical Memory: (RAM) 16.0 GB
Available Physical Memory: 11.6 GB
Total Virtual Memory: 27.2 GB
Available Virtual Memory: 20.9 GB
Page File Space: 11.3 GB
Current Disk Space: 649 GB free of 930 GB

Graphics Card: MSI GeForce GTX 1050 Ti DirectX 12 GTX 1050 Ti

IOS: Windows 10


I'm not sure what other specs might be necessary here but I'm willing to look into anything that could be the potential culprit. Thank you all for taking the time to read and look into this.