Peculiar performance drop to fps, with plateauing

I am having a really puzzling performance issue, never seen anything like it in my years of CoH playing.

When I log into the game, my performance is usually quite good for my settings, in the 70-100 frames per second range. After a period of time, the fps drops to 20, and stays that way for awhile. It will spontaneously reset the rate every so often. I can fairly reliably get the framerate to drop by using an O-portal to get to Ouroboros. When I port out of the O, my framerate will sometimes go back up, but not usually. Changing characters or servers does not seem to have any resetting effect. After leaving the character in place and tabbing out to research these issues, I sometimes come back to find the frame rate up again. I have seen the change happen once, just while moving around in a zone, doing nothing particularly dramatic. Other than getting the fps drop to trigger by using an O-portal, there's been no particular activity that seems to set this off.


Does this sort of behavior ring any bells for anyone? I have not been able to replicate it in any other game so far. Possibly an OpenGL issue? Windows downclocking something?

This quest for answers is compounded by recent changes to my computer. My old, dieing XFX4870 video card has just been replaced with an XFX6790, but in the interim I was using a backup card, an old msi9600GT. So I have recently swept and replaced the AMD drivers with Nvidia drivers, and then swept and gone back to AMD drivers. This behavior has lasted through my installation of 12.3, 12.1 and (currently) 11.9 drivers. Since the card is a new install, I checked for hardware problems by reseating the card, changing power cabling, and using a different monitor connection, to no discernable effect. Haven't seen issues with other games (though I am only on Day2 of troubleshooting).

Will run diagnositics on my computer when I get back home, if that'll help. It's such an odd pattern that I thought someone might just recognize the issue. Thanks!

Adding CoHHelper info:

---System information gathered by CoH Helper version 0.2.0.2---

DxDiag gathered at April 27, 2012 15:26 (-05:00)
Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.110622-1503)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: P35-DS3L
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Central Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory: 8192MB
.Net Memory Report: 6253MB out of 8190MB available
Page File: 14167MB (2211MB currently in use)
Windows directory location: C:\Windows
DirectX: DirectX 11
DirectX Diag version: 6.01.7600.16385 (64-bit version)

Display Notes: No problems found.
Sound Notes: No problems found.

No problems found.
Input Notes: No problems found.

Monitor:
Monitor's Max Resolution: (blank)
Video Device Name: AMD Radeon HD 6700 Series
Manufacturer / Chip: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. / ATI display adapter (0x673E)
Video Memory: 751 MB
Driver Version: 8.961.0.0
Driver Date: 4/5/2012 9:20:04 PM
Driver Language: English

Sound Device Description: Speakers (Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM))
Driver File: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1361
Driver Date: 8/21/2008 4:12:52 PM

Sound Device Description: SPDIF Out (Creative SB Audigy 2 (WDM))
Driver File: ctaud2k.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1361
Driver Date: 8/21/2008 4:12:52 PM


WMI Information
Motherboard Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
Motherboard Model: (empty)
Motherboard Product: P35-DS3L
Motherboard Version: x.x
BIOS Manufacturer: Award Software International, Inc.
BIOS Name: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS Version: GBT - 42302e31
BIOS Release: 20080710000000.000000+000


Registry Information for Current User
Resolution: 1680x1050
3D Resolution: 1680x1050 (Not using renderscale)
Full Screen: Yes
Maximized: No
Screen Position: 0, 0
Refresh Rate: 60Hz
Vertical Sync Enabled: No


Physics Quality: Low
Maximum Particles: 11124
Max Particle Fill? 10.000
Physics Card Enabled: No


Anti-aliasing: Off
Anisotropic Filtering: None
Texture LOD Bias: Smooth
Water Effects: Low quality
Bloom: 1.000 (turned off)
Depth of Field Enabled: No
Desaturation Effects (Sepia) Enabled: Yes
Shader Detail: High


World Texture Level: High
Character Texture Level: Very High
World Detail Level (Vis_Scale): 1.000
Entity Detail Level: 1.128
Shadows Enabled: Yes
Shadow Mode: Shadow maps
Shadow Map Shader: Low quality
Environmental Reflections: Medium quality
Advanced Occlusion Settings: No
Ambient Occlusion: Balanced
Occlusion Strength: Medium
Blur: Bilateral
Ambient Resolution: Performance


Gamma Correction: 1.000
Geometry Buffers (VBOs) Enabled: Yes
Suppression of FX When Camera Close Enabled: Yes
Close Suppression Range: 3.000
Show Advertisements: Yes

Audio Mode: Performance
3D Audio: No
FX Sound Volume: 0.280
Music Sound Volume: 0.000

Show Advanced Graphics Options: Yes
Overall Graphics Quality: 0.750
Reverse Mouse Buttons: No
Save Login Username: Yes
Transfer Rate: 350508 bytes/second
Current Game Version: 2000.201104090113.1
Installation Directory: D:\Games\City of Heroes

Mod files in the Data directory
No modifications found

Logfile of Trend Micro HijackThis v2.0.2
Scan saved at 8:53:00 AM, on 4/21/2012
Platform: Unknown Windows (WinNT 6.01.3504)
MSIE: Internet Explorer v8.00 (8.00.7600.16912)
Boot mode: Normal

Running processes:
C:\Users\Sean\AppData\Local\Akamai\netsession_win. exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\OnlineBackupStandalone\TrueImageMoni tor.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis\TrueImageHome\TrueImageMonitor.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avgnt.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe
C:\Users\Sean\AppData\Local\Akamai\netsession_win. exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Belkin\Nostromo\nost_LM.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Trend Micro\HijackThis\HijackThis.exe
C:\Program Files (x86)\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe

R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Page_URL =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Default_Search_URL =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R1 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Search Page =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=54896
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Start Page =

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=69157
R0 - HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main,Local Page = C:\Windows

\SysWOW64\blank.htm
R1 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Int ernet

Settings,ProxyOverride = 127.0.0.1:9421;<local>
R0 - HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Toolbar,LinksFolderName =
O2 - BHO: AcroIEHelperStub - {18DF081C-E8AD-4283-A596-FA578C2EBDC3} - C:

\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Acrobat\ActiveX\AcroIEHelperShim.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {619D5FA6-6A11-550A-1D2F-

594B3C6F49B2} - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\scchannel.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In SSV Helper - {761497BB-D6F0-462C-B6EB-D4DAF1D92D43}

- C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O2 - BHO: Windows Live ID Sign-in Helper - {9030D464-4C02-4ABF-8ECC-

5164760863C6} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows

Live\WindowsLiveLogin.dll
O2 - BHO: Java(tm) Plug-In 2 SSV Helper - {DBC80044-A445-435b-BC74-

9C25C1C588A9} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\jp2ssv.dll
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [AsioThk32Reg] REGSVR32.EXE /S CTASIO.DLL
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SAOB Monitor] C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis

\OnlineBackupStandalone\TrueImageMonitor.exe
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [TrueImageMonitor.exe] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Acronis

\TrueImageHome\TrueImageMonitor.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [avgnt] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop

\avgnt.exe" /min
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [Adobe Reader Speed Launcher] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe

\Reader 9.0\Reader\Reader_sl.exe"
O4 - HKLM\..\Run: [SunJavaUpdateSched] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files

\Java\Java Update\jusched.exe"
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [AlcoholAutomount] "C:\Program Files (x86)\Alcohol Soft

\Alcohol 52\axcmd.exe" /automount
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Eraser] C:\Program Files\Eraser\Eraser.exe -hide
O4 - HKCU\..\Run: [Akamai NetSession Interface] "C:\Users\Sean\AppData\Local

\Akamai\netsession_win.exe"
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-3966530562-796877671-2298437012-1005\..\Run: [Sidebar]

%ProgramFiles%\Windows Sidebar\Sidebar.exe /autoRun (User 'UpdatusUser')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-21-3966530562-796877671-2298437012-1005\..\RunOnce: [mctadmin]

C:\Windows\System32\mctadmin.exe (User 'UpdatusUser')
O4 - HKUS\S-1-5-18\..\Run: [DevconDefaultDB] C:\Windows\system32\READREG

/SILENT /FAIL=1 (User 'SYSTEM')
O4 - HKUS\.DEFAULT\..\Run: [DevconDefaultDB] C:\Windows\system32\READREG

/SILENT /FAIL=1 (User 'Default user')
O4 - Global Startup: AML Device Install.lnk = C:\Program Files (x86)\AMD AVT

\bin\kdbsync.exe
O4 - Global Startup: Nostromo Loadout Manager.lnk = ?
O9 - Extra button: (no name) - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-00401C608501} - C:

\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O9 - Extra 'Tools' menuitem: Sun Java Console - {08B0E5C0-4FCB-11CF-AAA5-

00401C608501} - C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\ssv.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files

\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O10 - Unknown file in Winsock LSP: c:\program files (x86)\common files

\microsoft shared\windows live\wlidnsp.dll
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.clonewarsadventures.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.freerealms.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.soe.com
O15 - Trusted Zone: *.sony.com
O16 - DPF: {39B0684F-D7BF-4743-B050-FDC3F48F7E3B} (CDownloadCtrl Object) -

http://www.fileplanet.com/fpdlmgr/ca...2.3.10.115.cab
O16 - DPF: {40F576AD-8680-4F9E-9490-99D069CD665F} (System Requirements Lab

Class) - http://srtest-

cdn.systemrequirementslab.com.s3.amazonaws.com/bin/sysreqlabdetect.cab
O16 - DPF: {B01AAFA1-2478-44A3-8894-BE4D4C23C271} (HLauncher Control) -

http://mythos.t3fun.com/ActiveX/HLauncher.cab
O16 - DPF: {D27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000} (Shockwave Flash Object) -

http://fpdownload2.macromedia.com/ge...sh/swflash.cab
O16 - DPF: {E2883E8F-472F-4FB0-9522-AC9BF37916A7} -

http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.cab
O23 - Service: Acronis OS Selector Reinstall Service (AcronisOSSReinstallSvc) -

Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\Acronis Disk

Director\oss_reinstall_svc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Acronis Scheduler2 Service (AcrSch2Svc) - Acronis - C:\Program

Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\Schedule2\schedul2.exe
O23 - Service: Adobe Flash Player Update Service (AdobeFlashPlayerUpdateSvc) -

Adobe Systems Incorporated - C:\Windows\SysWOW64\Macromed\Flash

\FlashPlayerUpdateService.exe
O23 - Service: Acronis Nonstop Backup service (afcdpsrv) - Acronis - C:\Program

Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\CDP\afcdpsrv.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Alg.exe,-112 (ALG) - Unknown owner - C:

\Windows\System32\alg.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Amazon Download Agent - Amazon.com - C:\Program Files

(x86)\Amazon\Amazon Games & Software Downloader\AmazonGSDownloaderService.exe
O23 - Service: Avira Scheduler (AntiVirSchedulerService) - Avira Operations

GmbH & Co. KG - C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\sched.exe
O23 - Service: Avira Realtime Protection (AntiVirService) - Avira Operations

GmbH & Co. KG - C:\Program Files (x86)\Avira\AntiVir Desktop\avguard.exe
O23 - Service: Dragon Age: Origins - Content Updater (DAUpdaterSvc) - BioWare -

D:\Games\Dragon Age\bin_ship\DAUpdaterSvc.Service.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\efssvc.dll,-100 (EFS) - Unknown owner -

C:\Windows\System32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\fxsresm.dll,-118 (Fax) - Unknown owner -

C:\Windows\system32\fxssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdate) (gupdate) - Google Inc. - C:

\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: Google Update Service (gupdatem) (gupdatem) - Google Inc. - C:

\Program Files (x86)\Google\Update\GoogleUpdate.exe
O23 - Service: InstallDriver Table Manager (IDriverT) - Macrovision Corporation

- C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\InstallShield\Driver\1050\Intel

32\IDriverT.exe
O23 - Service: @keyiso.dll,-100 (KeyIso) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows

\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: MIDISPORT Audio Device Monitor (MIDISPORTAudioDevMon) - M-Audio

- C:\Program Files (x86)\M-Audio\MIDISPORT\AudioDevMon.exe
O23 - Service: @comres.dll,-2797 (MSDTC) - Unknown owner - C:\Windows

\System32\msdtc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\System32\netlogon.dll,-102 (Netlogon) - Unknown

owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: nProtect GameGuard Service (npggsvc) - Unknown owner - C:

\Windows\system32\GameMon.des.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Display Driver Service (nvsvc) - Unknown owner - C:

\Windows\system32\nvvsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: NVIDIA Update Service Daemon (nvUpdatusService) - NVIDIA

Corporation - C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\NVIDIA Update Core

\daemonu.exe
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\psbase.dll,-300 (ProtectedStorage) -

Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\Locator.exe,-2 (RpcLocator) - Unknown

owner - C:\Windows\system32\locator.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\samsrv.dll,-1 (SamSs) - Unknown owner -

C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\snmptrap.exe,-3 (SNMPTRAP) - Unknown

owner - C:\Windows\System32\snmptrap.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\spoolsv.exe,-1 (Spooler) - Unknown owner

- C:\Windows\System32\spoolsv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\sppsvc.exe,-101 (sppsvc) - Unknown owner

- C:\Windows\system32\sppsvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: Steam Client Service - Valve Corporation - C:\Program Files

(x86)\Common Files\Steam\SteamService.exe
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\ui0detect.exe,-101 (UI0Detect) - Unknown

owner - C:\Windows\system32\UI0Detect.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vaultsvc.dll,-1003 (VaultSvc) - Unknown

owner - C:\Windows\system32\lsass.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\vds.exe,-100 (vds) - Unknown owner - C:

\Windows\System32\vds.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\vssvc.exe,-102 (VSS) - Unknown owner -

C:\Windows\system32\vssvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%SystemRoot%\system32\Wat\WatUX.exe,-601 (WatAdminSvc) -

Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\Wat\WatAdminSvc.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%systemroot%\system32\wbengine.exe,-104 (wbengine) - Unknown

owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbengine.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%Systemroot%\system32\wbem\wmiapsrv.exe,-110 (wmiApSrv) -

Unknown owner - C:\Windows\system32\wbem\WmiApSrv.exe (file missing)
O23 - Service: @%PROGRAMFILES%\Windows Media Player\wmpnetwk.exe,-101

(WMPNetworkSvc) - Unknown owner - C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Media Player

\wmpnetwk.exe (file missing)

--
End of file - 10078 bytes