Return of initial loading fps drop?

DeadzoneDeadzone Join Date: 2003-07-03 Member: 17911Members, Reinforced - Shadow
in NS2 General Discussion
A sudden fps loss upon loading a model/animation for the first time used to be a huge problem. In 216, this was fixed. In 217 it's back with a vengeance!

I hopped in my first exo, saw an alien, spun up my gun, and my screen locked till I was dead. I know exo's are not the be-all end-all, but I wanted my first experience to be better than that :\
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Comments

  • MrYiffMrYiff Join Date: 2004-08-24 Member: 30867Members, NS2 Playtester
    Chances are this was just the initial shaders being compiled, normally this is done during map load but sometimes there is still some hitching when you first use them in game. It should just be a one time thing (unless they get changed again in a later patch), so hopefully if you play some more you should see them not happen.
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  • ObraxisObraxis Subnautica Animator & Generalist, NS2 Person Join Date: 2004-07-24 Member: 30071Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, WC 2013 - Supporter, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    It should only do this the very first time you play 217. After that your shaders will be cached.
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  • _Necro__Necro_ Join Date: 2011-02-15 Member: 81895Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    Wouldn't precaching while loading the game be better? I think everyone likes it more when you need to wait longer at the first time you start the game instead of having random stutter in your first game in moments where it counts.

    This doesn't make the best impression for new players or players that only want to test the game for one round to see if the performance got better.
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  • ObraxisObraxis Subnautica Animator & Generalist, NS2 Person Join Date: 2004-07-24 Member: 30071Super Administrators, Forum Admins, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, NS2 Developer, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Silver, WC 2013 - Supporter, Subnautica Developer, Pistachionauts
    <!--quoteo(post=1968096:date=Aug 29 2012, 10:55 AM:name=_Necro_)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (_Necro_ @ Aug 29 2012, 10:55 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1968096"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Wouldn't precaching while loading the game be better? I think everyone likes it more when you need to wait longer at the first time you start the game instead of having random stutter in your first game in moments where it counts.

    This doesn't make the best impression for new players or players that only want to test the game for one round to see if the performance got better.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Pre-caching is already in the game for some things and will be added for others as we get towards release.
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  • DeadzoneDeadzone Join Date: 2003-07-03 Member: 17911Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1968094:date=Aug 29 2012, 04:52 AM:name=Obraxis)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Obraxis @ Aug 29 2012, 04:52 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1968094"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It should only do this the very first time you play 217. After that your shaders will be cached.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Ah, that's a relief. If it's only a one-time deal, I can live with that. Thanks for the clarification!
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  • ellnicellnic Join Date: 2010-07-19 Member: 72559Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    My proformance in 217 if pretty good but my first match it was slightly laggy but it had nothing to do with my connection.
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  • Kouji_SanKouji_San Sr. Hινε Uρкεερεг - EUPT Deputy The Netherlands Join Date: 2003-05-13 Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited August 2012
    Yeah it's odd, with me testing my stock speeds. The first match was laggy/hitchy, then the second round and the third round after a map change, and everything was smooth sailing. Like everything that is ingame was finally loaded into memory after the first match with all tech on the field...
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  • _Necro__Necro_ Join Date: 2011-02-15 Member: 81895Members, Reinforced - Shadow
    <!--quoteo(post=1968104:date=Aug 29 2012, 12:08 PM:name=Obraxis)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Obraxis @ Aug 29 2012, 12:08 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1968104"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Pre-caching is already in the game for some things and will be added for others as we get towards release.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Maybe I used the wrong words. The game is calculating shaders (?) the first time you see them in game. This is the cause of the first game has some serious fps spikes and hitches.
    Despite that I have understood that this is only the first time you see a model, this could be enough to repel any new player or old ones that just want to test if the performance got better.

    It would be better to create the new shaders while loading the game/map. It would take longer the first time you start NS2 but you wouldn't have such spikes while actually playing.
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  • Onii-chanOnii-chan Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7164Members
    I used to have a lot of hitching, especially when going from one big room to another but I've fixed it by setting my textures to medium.

    Got an old Q6600 (OC'd to 3.3Ghz), 4GB RAM and 560ti, barely any hitching and pretty decent FPS with med textures, AA, AO and atmospherics off, very rarely goes under 20 FPS, especially after the recent improvements.

    Bit odd since I'm clearly CPU limited, but whatever works.
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