Framerate Issues Since Dawntrail Launch

[phoenykz]

So I have also been experiencing random 1 second stuttering for the past 2 weeks or so. Happened randomly after a series of things performed on my computer like Windows updates, to software updates, BIOS updates, driver updates like nVidia or chipset drivers, etc. Out of the blue it started happening whether in raiding, dungeons, frontlines... basically everywhere. It would happen once between 10-45 minutes. Even after reinstalling Windows 11, reinstalling drivers, even reinstalling FF14, the stuttering still happened.

Just now, I have been able to a confirmed solution that has resolved the stuttering issues for me and have been stutter-free for 12 hours now. This solution may only apply to those that uses Logitech peripherals. But here is my setup just in case someone has something similar is going through the same process trying to figure out what causing your stuttering:

CPU: AMD 7950x
Memory: 64GB
GPU: RTX 4090 (overclocked)
Mouse: Logitech G502 X Plus + Logitech Powerplay
Keyboard: Logitech G915
Audio: Logitech G560 (speakers), GOXLR
Other: Mutiple Elgato Stream Decks + Stream Pedal.
OS: Windows 11 23H2
Cooling: Corsair QL fans, Corsair pumps
Software: Logitech GHUB, Corsair ICUE, BitDefender, Wallpaper Engine (paused while 14 is in focus), Voicemeeter, EVGA Precision X1
Driver: nVidia 560.94, AMD chipset drivers 6.07.22.037
FF14: 2024.08.21.0000.0000 (10710093) non-steam version
FF14 Settings: Borderless Windowed, Resolution - 3840x1600, Frame Rate Cap - None, Graphic Settings - Custom, UI - High 4K, Graphics Upscaling - Nvidia DLSS, Frame Rate Threshold - Always Enabled, every graphics setting at highest, depth of field off,

If you have something similar, especially Logitech peripherals. Continue reading...

Troubleshooting

Step 1: Checking error logs
For those who uses Logitech mouse/keyboards or any Logitech peripherals, navigate to "Event Viewer". Under "Event Viewer (local)" tree navigate through "Applications and Service Logs" > Logitech > Lamparray > Driver (Logi-LampArray-Driver) > Errors. Check and see if you have any error events/logs listed there. If you do, click on some of the latest events and you should see the error log message that looks something like this:

Process 9999 has attempted an operation while not having exclusive control over device G915.

Process 9999 has attempted an operation while not having exclusive control over device POWERPLAY / G502 X PLUS.

Process 9999 has attempted an operation while not having exclusive control over device G560. Process name:

To verify whether the stutter is related to this event, leave your event viewer window opened and see if any additional errors pop up when a stutter happens while playing 14. You will need to refresh the event viewer (press F5 within event viewer) after a stutter happens. And if the time of the error happened is exactly when the stutter happened, then most likely it is related. (If not, ignore the rest and your stuttering issue is not related to this. But if you were like to do your own investigating, continue reading as it might help you pinpoint your root cause of the stutter.) Note down the process number shown in the error log. In the example above I have it shown as 9999. For you, it could be any number and will vary system to system, person to person. It could be a single digit or 5-digit long number. This is the process ID number. We will use to find the process in the next step.

Next step is to perform is identify the process that "could" be the root cause of the stuttering.

Step 2: Verifying the process/service
Open up task manager and navigate to "Details" on the left-hand side of the bar. This will list down all the services that is currently running on your system. You will notice a PID column which will have the process ID number of each individual services that is running on your computer. Click on the column header which will sort through each service in ascending/descending order. This will help with finding the process ID from previous step. Find the process number you found from the error log and identify the name of the service left of it. If the service name shows "logi_lamparray_service", BINGO. Check the status under the status column and see if the service is running. If it is, you have now found the process that is generating the error events and root cause of the stuttering.

Next we'll look into how to stop it and have it disabled.

Solution

Step 3: Finding the logi_lamparray_service in Services
Within task manger, under "Details" tab, right click on "logi_lamparray_service", navigate to properties to "Go to service(s)". This will jump you to the "Services" tab and highlight the service tied to the process which should have the name shown as "logi_lamparray_service" and description "Logitech LampArray Service". Right click on the service and navigate to "Open Services". This will open the "Services" window which will now list out all the services you have running and not running. Find theLogitech LampArray Service under the "Name" column. Right click and select "Properties".

Step 4: Stopping the logi_lamparray_service and disabling it
On the general tab for the Logitech LampArray Service Properties windows, change Startup type to "Disable" and Click on the "Stop" button to stop the service if the Service Status shows as running. Click OK once this is done.

Testing

Step 5: Validate if the solution works
Start by playing 14 and run some dungeons, frontlines, raids, whatever it was when you were experiencing the stuttering. Test it out at least for at least for 4-8 hours. If you aren't experiencing any stuttering any more, then you have finally fixed "YOUR" issue that is causing the stuttering.

The Why

What is "logi_lamparray_service". Logitech LampArray service is a service that handles the lighting for your devices. From my understanding it is a service that allows other applications (Discord, ICUE, or any lighting controlling software) or the OS (in this case, Dynamic Lighting feature in Windows 11) to control the lighting on your Logitech peripherals to sync based on events or notifications or even games. However, for some odd reason, whatever software or the OS is unable make the necessary changes to the lighting of the of your Logitech peripherals causing it to "stun" your PC due to software or OS is spamming some sort of configuration change request to change your lights on your Logitech peripherals. I believe this could be a Logitech bug introduced in an update 2 weeks ago as this was the first time I have experience a "table flipping", "hair pulling" stuttering with 14. If you have no use for having software like Discord, ICUE, Wallpaper Engine or even Windows 11 to dynamically change the color of the lights based on mood or whats on your screen, go ahead and stop it, disabled it, and prevent it from starting up every time you boot your computer.

Other Possible Solutions
If the above didn't fix the stuttering you have, check some of the points below after doing intensive research trying to fix my issue but didn't work for me, but may work for you:
- Stop or uninstalling Corsair ICUE (didn't work for me, verified and reinstalled it)
- Disable Dynamic Lights within Windows 11 (didn't work for me, let it disabled since I didn't need it)
- Stop or uninstall any overclocking software like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X1. Noticed that from a lot of post that software sensor that happens at an interval can cause stuttering. (didn't work for me, turned it back after verifying)
- Stop or pause Wallpaper Engine (didn't work for me, turned it back after verifying)
- Disabling Microsoft Device Association Root Enumerator and Microsoft RRAS Root Enumerator (didn't work for me, turned it back after verifying)

I wanted to share this just in case this is a solution to someone out there as I truly understand how frustrating it could be especially not being to play the game in the best experience as possible. May be this why SE hasn't really come out and address the issue/bug as there a million variables out there. No one has the same setup, or software installed. There are even different of version of the software you have, drivers and even OS. Maybe it is because of the Dawntrail update that causing issue. If so, it is going to be very difficult to pinpoint what the issue is and will have to rely on people's feedback. For me, it wasn't Dawntrail.

If this solution helped you, please let me know and everyone else here. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and I hope you find a solution. Maybe the steps above will help you identify what your issue could be. Good luck!

[crc0427]

I only have a logitech camera, and it stutters when it's not plugged in. I can't believe SE hasn't addressed this yet. That's more frustrating than the stutter itself.

[Dusteh]

So I have also been experiencing random 1 second stuttering for the past 2 weeks or so. Happened randomly after a series of things performed on my computer like Windows updates, to software updates, BIOS updates, driver updates like nVidia or chipset drivers, etc. Out of the blue it started happening whether in raiding, dungeons, frontlines... basically everywhere. It would happen once between 10-45 minutes. Even after reinstalling Windows 11, reinstalling drivers, even reinstalling FF14, the stuttering still happened.

Just now, I have been able to a confirmed solution that has resolved the stuttering issues for me and have been stutter-free for 12 hours now. This solution may only apply to those that uses Logitech peripherals. But here is my setup just in case someone has something similar is going through the same process trying to figure out what causing your stuttering:

CPU: AMD 7950x
Memory: 64GB
GPU: RTX 4090 (overclocked)
Mouse: Logitech G502 X Plus + Logitech Powerplay
Keyboard: Logitech G915
Audio: Logitech G560 (speakers), GOXLR
Other: Mutiple Elgato Stream Decks + Stream Pedal.
OS: Windows 11 23H2
Cooling: Corsair QL fans, Corsair pumps
Software: Logitech GHUB, Corsair ICUE, BitDefender, Wallpaper Engine (paused while 14 is in focus), Voicemeeter, EVGA Precision X1
Driver: nVidia 560.94, AMD chipset drivers 6.07.22.037
FF14: 2024.08.21.0000.0000 (10710093) non-steam version
FF14 Settings: Borderless Windowed, Resolution - 3840x1600, Frame Rate Cap - None, Graphic Settings - Custom, UI - High 4K, Graphics Upscaling - Nvidia DLSS, Frame Rate Threshold - Always Enabled, every graphics setting at highest, depth of field off,

If you have something similar, especially Logitech peripherals. Continue reading...

Troubleshooting

Step 1: Checking error logs
For those who uses Logitech mouse/keyboards or any Logitech peripherals, navigate to "Event Viewer". Under "Event Viewer (local)" tree navigate through "Applications and Service Logs" > Logitech > Lamparray > Driver (Logi-LampArray-Driver) > Errors. Check and see if you have any error events/logs listed there. If you do, click on some of the latest events and you should see the error log message that looks something like this:

Process 9999 has attempted an operation while not having exclusive control over device G915.

Process 9999 has attempted an operation while not having exclusive control over device POWERPLAY / G502 X PLUS.

Process 9999 has attempted an operation while not having exclusive control over device G560. Process name:

To verify whether the stutter is related to this event, leave your event viewer window opened and see if any additional errors pop up when a stutter happens while playing 14. You will need to refresh the event viewer (press F5 within event viewer) after a stutter happens. And if the time of the error happened is exactly when the stutter happened, then most likely it is related. (If not, ignore the rest and your stuttering issue is not related to this. But if you were like to do your own investigating, continue reading as it might help you pinpoint your root cause of the stutter.) Note down the process number shown in the error log. In the example above I have it shown as 9999. For you, it could be any number and will vary system to system, person to person. It could be a single digit or 5-digit long number. This is the process ID number. We will use to find the process in the next step.

Next step is to perform is identify the process that "could" be the root cause of the stuttering.

Step 2: Verifying the process/service
Open up task manager and navigate to "Details" on the left-hand side of the bar. This will list down all the services that is currently running on your system. You will notice a PID column which will have the process ID number of each individual services that is running on your computer. Click on the column header which will sort through each service in ascending/descending order. This will help with finding the process ID from previous step. Find the process number you found from the error log and identify the name of the service left of it. If the service name shows "logi_lamparray_service", BINGO. Check the status under the status column and see if the service is running. If it is, you have now found the process that is generating the error events and root cause of the stuttering.

Next we'll look into how to stop it and have it disabled.

Solution

Step 3: Finding the logi_lamparray_service in Services
Within task manger, under "Details" tab, right click on "logi_lamparray_service", navigate to properties to "Go to service(s)". This will jump you to the "Services" tab and highlight the service tied to the process which should have the name shown as "logi_lamparray_service" and description "Logitech LampArray Service". Right click on the service and navigate to "Open Services". This will open the "Services" window which will now list out all the services you have running and not running. Find theLogitech LampArray Service under the "Name" column. Right click and select "Properties".

Step 4: Stopping the logi_lamparray_service and disabling it
On the general tab for the Logitech LampArray Service Properties windows, change Startup type to "Disable" and Click on the "Stop" button to stop the service if the Service Status shows as running. Click OK once this is done.

Testing

Step 5: Validate if the solution works
Start by playing 14 and run some dungeons, frontlines, raids, whatever it was when you were experiencing the stuttering. Test it out at least for at least for 4-8 hours. If you aren't experiencing any stuttering any more, then you have finally fixed "YOUR" issue that is causing the stuttering.

The Why

What is "logi_lamparray_service". Logitech LampArray service is a service that handles the lighting for your devices. From my understanding it is a service that allows other applications (Discord, ICUE, or any lighting controlling software) or the OS (in this case, Dynamic Lighting feature in Windows 11) to control the lighting on your Logitech peripherals to sync based on events or notifications or even games. However, for some odd reason, whatever software or the OS is unable make the necessary changes to the lighting of the of your Logitech peripherals causing it to "stun" your PC due to software or OS is spamming some sort of configuration change request to change your lights on your Logitech peripherals. I believe this could be a Logitech bug introduced in an update 2 weeks ago as this was the first time I have experience a "table flipping", "hair pulling" stuttering with 14. If you have no use for having software like Discord, ICUE, Wallpaper Engine or even Windows 11 to dynamically change the color of the lights based on mood or whats on your screen, go ahead and stop it, disabled it, and prevent it from starting up every time you boot your computer.

Other Possible Solutions
If the above didn't fix the stuttering you have, check some of the points below after doing intensive research trying to fix my issue but didn't work for me, but may work for you:
- Stop or uninstalling Corsair ICUE (didn't work for me, verified and reinstalled it)
- Disable Dynamic Lights within Windows 11 (didn't work for me, let it disabled since I didn't need it)
- Stop or uninstall any overclocking software like MSI Afterburner or EVGA Precision X1. Noticed that from a lot of post that software sensor that happens at an interval can cause stuttering. (didn't work for me, turned it back after verifying)
- Stop or pause Wallpaper Engine (didn't work for me, turned it back after verifying)
- Disabling Microsoft Device Association Root Enumerator and Microsoft RRAS Root Enumerator (didn't work for me, turned it back after verifying)

I wanted to share this just in case this is a solution to someone out there as I truly understand how frustrating it could be especially not being to play the game in the best experience as possible. May be this why SE hasn't really come out and address the issue/bug as there a million variables out there. No one has the same setup, or software installed. There are even different of version of the software you have, drivers and even OS. Maybe it is because of the Dawntrail update that causing issue. If so, it is going to be very difficult to pinpoint what the issue is and will have to rely on people's feedback. For me, it wasn't Dawntrail.

If this solution helped you, please let me know and everyone else here. If it doesn't, I'm sorry and I hope you find a solution. Maybe the steps above will help you identify what your issue could be. Good luck!

I do have a 502 as well, so I'll take a poke at this later and see.

[crc0427]

I'm going to try capping my FPS at 60 and see if the stutter goes away.

[Lucis_B]

Okay so i switched from my older intel cpu to ryzen 7800x3d and a new mainboard. Did a clean win 11 install, clean FF14 install, did multiple checks like ram/cpu/gpu, also checked all temps and updated everything incl. bios and the microstutter and the fps drops are still there. So definitely not a hardware issue. Im pretty sure its because of the graphics update that came with DT. Before, I had a very buttery smooth experience playing ff14, now it feels like a step backwards.

[crc0427]

Yep, I've experienced the game stutter on 5 different computers that are my own and 3 test computers from my company. Friends also have the same issue. Clean installations don't fix anything, as it's an issue with the game.

SE just seems to be content to ignore it.

[Dusteh]

Either that Logitech fix or replacing the cable going into my gamepad seems to have resolved the issue. Did both at the same time so hard to say, but figured I'd update. Whether it's a device change issue or an issue with a driver, still something SE should fix.

[LVNeptune]

14900K/4090 120hz 4K microstutter. Didn’t exist before expansion

Also happens on my laptop 14900HX/4090

Neither have controllers plugged in.

[Lennoxl]

Still getting these freezes mid raid, today during m4s. Wiped us. So frustrating despite having tried everything.

[Thom-Karnel]

But at least they are fixing the polygons in the eye bags being slightly wrong