Odd technical issue
By
Father Xmas,
Posted on: 2009-08-02 08:09 in ALL ACCESS Gameplay Technical Issues Bugs
100% CPU is normal for a single core of your speed so don't waste any time on that angle.
You have enough system memory.
Its more likely that your sound looping and crashing has to do with your video card, I would test by lowering your resolution and running on the lowest settings and see if that helps then increase resolution to your desired level and follow by increasing settings.
On that video card I wouldn't run anything on high and keep the particle count very low, detail at 100 or less etc.
Its a starting point, you can also post your Hijackthis and Dxdiag so we can have a look and see if there is anything special hiding on your system.
I'm guessing it's just flat out overloading that PC. A 6200 isn't even a graphics card, it's a little chip that makes your CPU do most of the graphics work. Like Hugginator said, turn down ALL your settings (starting in Safe mode will do that automatically) and slowly turn graphics settings up until the game starts slowing down. Also, make sure nothing else is running while you play. No browser, no instant messaging - just a virus scanner and a firewall to keep safe.
Then start looking for cash to buy a new PC, because that one isn't going to be gaming for very much longer.
No Zloth the 6200 is a standalone GPU, it's just not all that powerful, somewhere around the old GeForce 4 series but with Dx9.0c support. You are thinking of the integrated 6150.
Scimifish, post a CoHHelper and HiJackThis report, you can find the links to them in Zloth's sig.
As Hugs says, seeing 100% CPU usage on what is essentially a 1.8GHz Athlon 64 (single channel memory version, Socket 754) is to be expected.
Even though you have 1.5GB of memory, the longer you play the higher the likelihood that you are running out of "real" memory and start hitting the page file. Once that starts to happen you will notice a significant drop in general performance (choppy framerates), especially if you are around a lot of other players.
Father Xmas - Level 50 Ice/Ice Tanker - Victory
$725 and $1350 parts lists --- My guide to computer components
Tempus unum hominem manet
Ok, here are my reports. First is CoHHelper:
---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.1.1.8---
DxDiag gathered at August 6, 2009 22:19 (-04:00)
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.090206-1233)
System Manufacturer: EMACHINES
System Model: T3114
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Central Processor: AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3100+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 1536MB
.Net Memory Report: 1073MB out of 1535MB available
Page File: 3079MB (351MB currently in use)
C Drive: (WDC WD800BB-22JHC0) 33374MB out of 71547MB (46%) free
D Drive: (Maxtor 90650U2) 3593MB out of 6137MB (58%) free
E Drive: (WDC WD800BB-22JHC0) 2281MB out of 4759MB (47%) free
F Drive: (HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GWA-4165B) zero-size drive
Windows directory location: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DirectX Diag version: 5.03.2600.2180 (32-bit version)
Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor's Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Video Device Name: NVIDIA GeForce 6200
Manufacturer / Chip: NVIDIA / GeForce 6200
Video Memory: 256.0 MB
Driver Version: 6.14.0011.7813
Driver Date: 9/17/2008 11:55:00 PM
Driver Language: English
Sound Device Description: Vinyl AC'97 Audio (WAVE)
Driver File: vinyl97.sys
Driver Version: 6.14.0001.4200
Driver Date: 6/27/2007 2:42:00 PM
WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: MS-7142
Motherboard Version: 1.00
BIOS Manufacturer: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
BIOS Name: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
BIOS Version: VIAK8M - 42302e31
BIOS Release: 20050831000000.000000+000
Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1024x768
3D Resolution: 1024x768 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: No
Physics Quality: None
Maximum Particles: 100
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No
Anti-aliasing: None
Anisotropic Filtering: None
Texture LOD Bias: Crisp
Water Effects: None
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: No
Shader Detail: Lowest
World Texture Level: Low
Character Texture Level: Medium
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 0.500
Entity Detail Level: 0.500
Shadows Enabled: No
Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of Extra Player FX Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: Yes
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes
Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: Yes
FX Sound Volume: 1.000
Music Sound Volume: 0.600
Show Advanced Graphics Options: No
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.000
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 23766 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 19.20090702.5T2
Installation Directory: C:\Program Files\City of Heroes
Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found
Now, HijackThis:
Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 10:13:21 PM, on 8/6/2009
Platform: Windows XP SP2 (WinNT 5.01.2600)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v6.00 SP2 (6.00.2900.2180)
Boot mode: Normal
Running processes:
C:\WINDOWS\System32\smss.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\winlogon.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\services.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\lsass.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\TPSrv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\spoolsv.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\svchost.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PsCtrls.exe
C:\WINDOWS\Explorer.EXE
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PavFnSvr.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Panda Security\PavShld\pavprsrv.exe
C:\Program Files\Common Files\New Boundary\PrismXL\PRISMXL.SYS
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PsImSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PskSvc.exe
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\pavsrv51.exe
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\AVENGINE.EXE
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\Firewall\PSHOST.EXE
C:\Program Files\VIA\VIAudioi\SBADeck\ADeck.exe
C:\Program Files\Nitro PDF\Professional\NitroPDFPrinterMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.exe
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wuauclt.exe
C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\soffice.bin
C:\WINDOWS\system32\wscntfy.exe
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\avciman.exe
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\psimreal.exe
C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHlprObj Class - {06849E9F-C8D7-4D59-B87D-784B7D6BE0B3} - C:\Program
Files\Adobe\Acrobat 6.0\Reader\ActiveX\AcroIEHelper.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-9C25C1C588A9} -
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: JQSIEStartDetectorImpl - {E7E6F031-17CE-4C07-BC86-EABFE594F69C} - C:\Program
Files\Java\jre6\lib\deploy\jqs\ie\jqs_plugin.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [APVXDWIN] "C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro
2009\APVXDWIN.EXE" /s
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SCANINICIO] "C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro
2009\Inicio.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AudioDeck] C:\Program Files\VIA\VIAudioi\SBADeck\ADeck.exe 1
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Nitro PDF Printer Monitor] "C:\Program Files\Nitro
PDF\Professional\NitroPDFPrinterMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvCplDaemon] RUNDLL32.EXE C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvCpl.dll,NvStartup
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [nwiz] nwiz.exe /install
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [NvMediaCenter] RUNDLL32.EXE
C:\WINDOWS\system32\NvMcTray.dll,NvTaskbarInit
O4 - Startup: OpenOffice.org 3.1.lnk = C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org
3\program\quickstart.exe
O9 - Extra button: Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} - C:\Program
Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Windows Messenger - {FB5F1910-F110-11d2-BB9E-00C04F795683} -
C:\Program Files\Messenger\msmsgs.exe
O16 - DPF: {1E54D648-B804-468d-BC78-4AFFED8E262F} (System Requirements Lab) -
http://www.nvidia.com/content/Driver...reqlab_nvd.cab
O16 - DPF: {2D8ED06D-3C30-438B-96AE-4D110FDC1FB8} (ActiveScan 2.0 Installer Class) -
http://acs.pandasoftware.com/actives.../as2stubie.cab
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. -
C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (NVSvc) - NVIDIA Corporation -
C:\WINDOWS\system32\nvsvc32.exe
O23 - Service: Panda Software Controller - Panda Security, S.L. - C:\Program Files\Panda
Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PsCtrls.exe
O23 - Service: Panda Function Service (PAVFNSVR) - Panda Security, S.L. - C:\Program
Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PavFnSvr.exe
O23 - Service: Panda Process Protection Service (PavPrSrv) - Panda Security, S.L. -
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Panda Security\PavShld\pavprsrv.exe
O23 - Service: Panda On-Access Anti-Malware Service (PAVSRV) - Panda Security, S.L. -
C:\Program Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\pavsrv51.exe
O23 - Service: PrismXL - New Boundary Technologies, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Common Files\New
Boundary\PrismXL\PRISMXL.SYS
O23 - Service: Panda Host Service (PSHost) - Panda Software International - C:\Program
Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\Firewall\PSHOST.EXE
O23 - Service: Panda IManager Service (PSIMSVC) - Panda Security S.L. - C:\Program
Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PsImSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Panda PSK service (PskSvcRetail) - Panda Security, S.L. - C:\Program
Files\Panda Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\PskSvc.exe
O23 - Service: Panda TPSrv (TPSrv) - Panda Security, S.L. - C:\Program Files\Panda
Security\Panda Antivirus Pro 2009\TPSrv.exe
--
End of file - 5160 bytes
@Scimifish
Zak the Space Varmit AR/Energy Blaster
Apocryphus Energy/Energy Blaster
Swordwraith Broadsword/DA Scrapper
Brother Bullet AR/Dev Blaster
Sinistrahd DB/WP Brute
Solar Despot En/En Brute
Ok, new forums suck for posting this stuff. Just so we all are aware of that... with that done...
1) Single core, slower CPU is your biggest foe, and it is unlikely that you will *ever* overcome your problems with this machine in regards to Co*. I would, in your case, be saving up for a dual core Intel box with an Intel chipset for optimum performance, but at the very least a dual core of the last 2 years would be perfect. Since that's not an option here...
2) The onboard sound chip is going to take up quite a bit of CPU time as well as the PCI Latency (which is probably set to 32 or 64 default) This is a thorny issue, but googling for the PCI Latency Tool (guru3d.com) is probably your best bet. Setting the video card to 128, and the sound card to 32 should render some helpful delay to the looping problems, but won't solve the issue either. Another trick is, when the looping starts, MOVE AWAY from the offending sounds.
The *only* fix for this, so far as I've been able to determine, is a dual core fast CPU, like a Core 2 Duo of any speed. Problems solved... mostly(?)
3) I would be turning these off via MSConfig (Start, Run, MSConfig, startup and services tabs, respectively) You don't need them, and they're taking up precious memory and resources, including the CPU itself:
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AudioDeck] C:\Program Files\VIA\VIAudioi\SBADeck\ADeck.exe 1
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Nitro PDF Printer Monitor] "C:\Program Files\Nitro PDF\Professional\NitroPDFPrinterMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jusched.exe"
O4 - Startup: OpenOffice.org 3.1.lnk = C:\Program Files\OpenOffice.org 3\program\quickstart.exe
O23 - Service: Java Quick Starter (JavaQuickStarterService) - Sun Microsystems, Inc. - C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\jqs.exe
And anything else you might think wasn't needed, but is running. *every erg counts* in a machine such as yours... You gotta be both ruthless and restrained in what you allow to run.
4) Service Pack 3 your XP.
5) If possible, get updated video and audio drivers. They are a little old. Although I'll certainly understand if they're not available. Check NVidia and ViaArena
6) If you can get one, a Sound Blaster X-Fi Gamer will help the CPU and Latency thing... but it won't elminate it. If you can get it, be sure to remove and disable the onboard sound card.
7) What Father said. The game is unfortunately going to be shuffled off to virtual memory (read Hard Drive Page File) and that is going to slideshow you badly. You're on the borderline to not bother with a page file with 1.5G of ram... don't suppose you can get to 2G can you?
The reason being that if, in XP, you can eliminate the page file, you can virtually eliminate any hard drive swappage. This works wonders. I successfully ran XP with no page file with 2G of ram and do not recommend anything less if you were to attempt it.
Vista doesn't seem to show signs of this issue, but your machine would be rather hard pressed to run it.
Unless you can do any or all of the above, the only thing you can possibly do is to, every hour, exit the game and restart to get it 'back to real memory'. Windows itself is the cause of this particular issue.
Dunno if that helps, but it's my $.12 (inflation, don't ya know.)
August 31, 2012. A Day that will Live in Infamy. Or Information. Possibly Influence. Well, Inf, anyway. Thank you, Paragon Studios, for what you did, and the enjoyment and camaraderie you brought.
This is houtex, aka Mike, signing off the forums. G'night all. - 10/26/2012
Well... perhaps I was premature about that whole 'signing off' thing... - 11-9-2012
I have been experiencing this issue for some time, been trying to figure it out on my own but I've not been able to resolve it. When I run City of Heroes, I notice once I'm in game I'm getting a huge amount of CPU usage, and I'm running into progressive lag issues that eventually crash either the client or my computer if I don't log off. They start with the sounds of the game, and I can't hear power activations, sounds of combat, and music. Then I start lagging to the point where it's a slide show more than anything else, and then I crash.
I've checked my virtual memory, updated drivers, and cleaned out my computer physically. I just recently did a system restore in order to clear a virus that was unremoveable by antivirus. I use Panda for that, and I turn it off when running the game.
System specs are as follows:
eMachines T3114
AMD Sempron 3100+ 1.8 GHz
1.5 g SDRAM
NVidia Geforce 6200
onboard sound run by Via Audio deck
Windows XP SP 2
I run with no other programs up and running active. Any ideas?
@Scimifish
Zak the Space Varmit AR/Energy Blaster
Apocryphus Energy/Energy Blaster
Swordwraith Broadsword/DA Scrapper
Brother Bullet AR/Dev Blaster
Sinistrahd DB/WP Brute
Solar Despot En/En Brute