DW2 CPU usage

[Buio]

I recently upgraded my 7 year old CPU and got a modern CPU with much higher performance and a lot more cores (got new motherboard, RAM etc of course). What surprised me was how the Distant Worlds 2 just scaled up and basically used more cores still at a fairly high load. I got the game set to use max CPU, because my old CPU was.. old. In other game benchmarks I get the reverse, the CPU load is reduced because the game does not need or use more CPU performance.

I believe this is due to the simulation engine in the game, that it scales up with CPU performance and number of cores. Something like doing more iterations of all systems. Just curious if there are any technical details on this that I missed. I don't mind the usage, I can turn it down in the settings.

[rxnnxs]

Can you still use your old pc or do oyu have some pictures from the usage back then?
I am interested in how it looked and how it looks.
I used sysinternals process explorer to see a bit more clearly how it runs.
You can there also look at your gpu usage.
This is the place to make some calculations

[ChrisGb]

I recently upgraded my 7 year old CPU and got a modern CPU with much higher performance and a lot more cores (got new motherboard, RAM etc of course). What surprised me was how the Distant Worlds 2 just scaled up and basically used more cores still at a fairly high load. I got the game set to use max CPU, because my old CPU was.. old. In other game benchmarks I get the reverse, the CPU load is reduced because the game does not need or use more CPU performance.

I believe this is due to the simulation engine in the game, that it scales up with CPU performance and number of cores. Something like doing more iterations of all systems. Just curious if there are any technical details on this that I missed. I don't mind the usage, I can turn it down in the settings.

Since you not provide any metric or data or specs your post literally says nothing.
If you would add system specs, game size, game stage (mid-late-ect) with some CPU use numbers/screen you would add some meaning to your statement.
Just sayin...

[Buio]

Since you not provide any metric or data or specs your post literally says nothing.
If you would add system specs, game size, game stage (mid-late-ect) with some CPU use numbers/screen you would add some meaning to your statement.
Just sayin...

It was not my intention to go into technical details. I was basically asking if there are any information on how the the game engine works with scaling between a lower end CPU vs a higher end CPU.

In many other games, the CPU usage is fairly locked, often because the game is set to work with console CPU and has a roof which it will not pass in CPU usage. In DW2 it seems the game can scale CPU usage without a roof/limit. And I'm curious where those extra CPU cycles are used for.

[Colwolf77]

I'm also curious about how the CPU scaling setting works. It mentions that it determines how much of the CPU processes are dedicated to the game and how much for rendering and background tasks. Does that mean me setting it to max is going to cause me rendering issues and problems with my systems background tasks?

[R_TEAM]

@Buio

The cpu usage is insane .....

have maked an video ... first only desktop ... then DW2 starting ... only in the main screen ... then start an new game ... looking at the cpu usage in pause mode ... then running the game .... closing ... starting stellaris ... only main screen ... starting new game ... cpu usage in pause .... then cpu usage in running the game .... closing stellaris ...

I have *zero" problem if the game use all my 16 cores full if its needed ..... but not to burn senseless power in pause mode or just after start the game (the same cpu usage as in pause ...) ....

youtube link removed as video was deleted (not more needed)

[ChrisGb]

The cpu usage is insane .....

Well, something seems off with these values. or may I say with your perception of them, my friend
And why is your GPU at 80+% at game start when this game literally not need any GPU power ?
Ref CPU usage, its irrelevant how many cores are engaged and what the % of CPU use is displayed, what matters is the power draw so Windows task manager is a terrible tool for measuring whats really going on.

Here, quick gamestart with 10x10 sectors, 20 races and 2000 stars just now.
Look at the GPU & CPU overall power draw...its laughable...even it says CPU use at 41% but then in late game it only goes up to 50%ish with little more power draw -(see at second image below)
of course, I limit to 60fps, if you not limit the fps it will use all at max power try to generate as many fps as possible.
This could explain the high CPU and GPU use but its like throwing energy out of the window for nothing. This not a competitive online FPS shooter

I have *zero" problem if the game use all my 16 cores full if its needed ..... but not to burn senseless power in pause mode or just after start the game (the same cpu usage as in pause ...) ....

This is late game with 13 empires alive and plenty wars going on, just have a look at the metrics overlay in the right bottom corner. In fact CPU power and GPU power draw are very low for whats going on.
GPU fans not even start spinning yet

[R_TEAM]

Sorry to say this ....
but a game in pause mode should draw "no" cpu power .... (and my GPU power usage is full irrelevant for this topic .....)
DW2 draws an massiv amount of cpu resources for "nothing" and in one point you are right ... it uses nearly the same cpu usage in an late game as from start ...
It is from the ultra good optimized game code to draw only a little part more late game as from an fresh start ... ??
-> NO !!
It is from the horrible bad coded engine thats burn senseless cpu power from start to end and utilize the not used cpu resousces sobadly ... (and here come the bad late game performance ...)
Dont trow smoke bombs to hide the bad engine code ... can i have an seriouse discussion partner ...

[R_TEAM]

Oh .. and to add it ...
yes .. you are right .. taskmanager is not an good way to measure the power drain ...
but it is a BIG diff if my core is on 800Mhz or at 4.7Ghz ... and with DW2 ALL 16 cores are constant on 4.7Ghz ...
AND this make an big impact on power drain ... but smart pc user know this ....

[Reppu]

Oh .. and to add it ...
yes .. you are right .. taskmanager is not an good way to measure the power drain ...
but it is a BIG diff if my core is on 800Mhz or at 4.7Ghz ... and with DW2 ALL 16 cores are constant on 4.7Ghz ...
AND this make an big impact on power drain ... but smart pc user know this ....

If you have not yet noticed that when you pause the game. It do not meant 'everything' stops. You can have 'pop ups' its still calculates budget projections, etc, etc,

It is a bit similar to Galactic Civilization where AI 'thinks' while players is making its turn.
Also 9800X3D has no problems even in 2000 stars 13 player galaxy.

EDIT:
It uses ~10% at menu which is quite bit sure...
And on large game 20% usage depending on speed it bouces between 30-60%

[R_TEAM]

Nonsens ... sorry ....
calculating budgets .....
AI thinks (strongly NO) .....

And this utilize an newest Xenon CPU 16 cores to around 30% ...
you are kidding or ....

And if i switch from pause to game play at 1x speed nothing changes (nothing you can realy see ...)

And again ............it is not cpu X have an problem ....
it is why my cpu musst burn power in this much scale if "nothing" happen in game (moving ships - path calculating)
(and if your idea from "AI thinks" is true ... how long it "thinks" ... hours (realtime)... days .... when it stop "thinking" ? )

Sorry - this is all nonsens ....
If the game is on pause ... on modern cpus it should use nearly no cpu power ... as you CAN see on stellaris ...
I dont play an game where it burns on "nothing" 30% cpu power and on heavy load (late game) 60% ..... ......
(the 60% is not the problem ... but best would be 3~4% on idle and 80~90% on heavy load ...)
I would realy like DW2 as it have many things that are better than other 4X Space games (even Stellaris) .... but i dont burn power for nothing ....
And i have Galactic Civilizations III too ......

[ChrisGb]

Nonsens ... sorry ....
calculating budgets .....
AI thinks (strongly NO) .....

And this utilize an newest Xenon CPU 16 cores to around 30% ...
you are kidding or ....

And if i switch from pause to game play at 1x speed nothing changes (nothing you can realy see ...)

And again ............it is not cpu X have an problem ....
it is why my cpu musst burn power in this much scale if "nothing" happen in game (moving ships - path calculating)
(and if your idea from "AI thinks" is true ... how long it "thinks" ... hours (realtime)... days .... when it stop "thinking" ? )

Sorry - this is all nonsens ....
If the game is on pause ... on modern cpus it should use nearly no cpu power ... as you CAN see on stellaris ...
I dont play an game where it burns on "nothing" 30% cpu power and on heavy load (late game) 60% ..... ......
(the 60% is not the problem ... but best would be 3~4% on idle and 80~90% on heavy load ...)
I would realy like DW2 as it have many things that are better than other 4X Space games (even Stellaris) .... but i dont burn power for nothing ....
And i have Galactic Civilizations III too ......

ok I see now who you are, I rest my case, no point interacting here, you have a good one

[Chris0War]

Nonsens ... sorry ....
calculating budgets .....
AI thinks (strongly NO) .....

And this utilize an newest Xenon CPU 16 cores to around 30% ...
you are kidding or ....

And if i switch from pause to game play at 1x speed nothing changes (nothing you can realy see ...)

And again ............it is not cpu X have an problem ....
it is why my cpu musst burn power in this much scale if "nothing" happen in game (moving ships - path calculating)
(and if your idea from "AI thinks" is true ... how long it "thinks" ... hours (realtime)... days .... when it stop "thinking" ? )

Sorry - this is all nonsens ....
If the game is on pause ... on modern cpus it should use nearly no cpu power ... as you CAN see on stellaris ...
I dont play an game where it burns on "nothing" 30% cpu power and on heavy load (late game) 60% ..... ......
(the 60% is not the problem ... but best would be 3~4% on idle and 80~90% on heavy load ...)
I would realy like DW2 as it have many things that are better than other 4X Space games (even Stellaris) .... but i dont burn power for nothing ....
And i have Galactic Civilizations III too ......

Most EA games i tried also come with what seems as a fixed 'draw' on the CPU, about30 to 50% which is a lot! if compared to other titles. Cyberpunk 2077 is another title that really 'leans' on the CPU.

But do realize that you can decrease or increase the 'load' you want it to have on your CPU in Distant Worlds 2.

chapter 5
you are the master of your own destiny

[R_TEAM]

Would you have watched my video .... you would have seen, i have adjusted the slider ... with "zero" effect ...
The slider only adjust how much from the actual "draw" is get the rendering task and how much the calculating task .. (IMHO)
Its change nothing from the "draw" self ...
And yea .. i think the problem is the similar ... but even if an title is unoptimized and have an realy bad engine (like an "brand new" engine for an "new" game with DX11 and the Vulcan support musst be patched in with an 3. party hack ... ...) - in pause mode it is not realy anything to calculate to give any workload on an modern cpu ...

[Chris0War]

Would you have watched my video .... you would have seen, i have adjusted the slider ... with "zero" effect ...
The slider only adjust how much from the actual "draw" is get the rendering task and how much the calculating task .. (IMHO)
Its change nothing from the "draw" self ...
And yea .. i think the problem is the similar ... but even if an title is unoptimized and have an realy bad engine (like an "brand new" engine for an "new" game with DX11 and the Vulcan support musst be patched in with an 3. party hack ... ...) - in pause mode it is not realy anything to calculate to give any workload on an modern cpu ...

Zero effect? It may or may not, i work/game on a i9 ultra 285k. One of the first things i did was boot distant worlds 2 to see how it would run, i was used to my 10900k which worked quite well and silent but boy, the ultra boosted immediately to TDP and beyond.

I tried several solutions, removing the CPU boost, removing the thermal cpu boost, lowering clock temperatures, increasing, decreasing ram speeds

long story short
atm i'm playing with a 'low' windows energy profile and 35% on the CPU limiter ingame this keeps the temperatures over longer periods at around 62 degrees which is about, 80W draw me guesses

I also remember having to disable the thermal boost feature which enables the CPU boost feature which overrides other limiters as long as the temps are okay before the ingame slider did its job

To be honest though, maybe the slider is indeed still inoperative, maybe my newfound easy temperature of 62 degrees C is partly due to the last gamepatch, i aint sure as long as it works like this i'm mighty fine

[R_TEAM]

"If" i musst massive change how windows utilize the cpu for "one" game ..... where is then the culprit of this problem .....?
I see this more as an indication of where the fundamental problem comes from .... and not a solution for it.

For this the engine should simply doing what most engines doing ... use cpu power only if it is used .... and not burn senseless power for nothing ...
(i know i have not an very economical cpu, it is an workhorse and it is good in this ... not in save energy ... but "many" user wrote over the nice energy saving of this or this cpu and how important it is today ... and then it is no problem if an game use the cpu in pause the same amount as it is running ... the whole time .... strange ... musst be different users ....)

[rxnnxs]

I think we all in here have really not that much of a clue how it works.
And the engine, stride, or the game that utilizes the engine, is not really optimized. Does not really cares if amd or intel, I also think it is bad design to keep the cpu working while on pause.
It really is not optimized to anything.
It is not even taking care of the sliders.
I made a video where I ask me the same question - and sure, there is a minor change in cpu usage. but not a major, just a minor. Here.
And how is the fps affecting the game?
Those two sliders do really nothing right now. Stride is hard to master, the other dotnet-stuff from microsoft comes on top of it, then the gpu manufacturers are another thing, the operating system demands also some stuff.. this is something no developer wants to waste too much time with.

Oh, I wrote again more than I wanted to..

And now I am going to try the same save-game with a different system. Better GPU, other intel-cpu.

first time its a crash (gpu mem is full)
link

second time (sliders to low) it loads very fast. dia-show
link

P.S.: Do you also have the sound lags?

[R_TEAM]

No problem with sound .... lag ... or "unexpected" slowdowns (even in late game - i know stellaris and this can be the same in late game - so not realy a difference)
But i have an system who is very good in number crunching - things consumer systems not realy musst do today (the most games limits over the GPU)
Anyway - have DW2 again deinstalled and will test it again if anything interesting happen from updates ....
(will play again Stellaris ... it is not bad ... but with an "working" engine and the maaany problems even the actual build [after how many month past full relase ??] have fixed, DW2 would be superior ..... "would" ....)

[Chris0War]

"If" i musst massive change how windows utilize the cpu for "one" game ..... where is then the culprit of this problem .....?
I see this more as an indication of where the fundamental problem comes from .... and not a solution for it.

For this the engine should simply doing what most engines doing ... use cpu power only if it is used .... and not burn senseless power for nothing ...
(i know i have not an very economical cpu, it is an workhorse and it is good in this ... not in save energy ... but "many" user wrote over the nice energy saving of this or this cpu and how important it is today ... and then it is no problem if an game use the cpu in pause the same amount as it is running ... the whole time .... strange ... musst be different users ....)

I have to say, my journey with the ultra 285k has been a 'loud' one so far. The fans had a tendency of ramping up with every process that includes file transfers, be it downloads or installation and moving folders,booting windows. Games from EA especially the last ones such as Veilguard also lie a lot of weight on the CPU and there is of course DW 2. I had to identify several culprits before i managed to have a reasonable fan output, keeping temps just below 70 degrees C in most situations. If i play DW2 atm on 'stock' settings i also end up with CPU temps around 67 68 degrees C. To me this is acceptable

[R_TEAM]

again ....
it is not how much cpu temp i get (i have an full custom watercooling with an MoRa420 and here i get on full cpu load with over 500W only 69~70°C...)
It is that DW2 utilize the cpu even in pause mode or the main screen without an start of an game with an load that the cpu boost up to 4.7Ghz ... this is not happen in stellaris, galactic civilization III, EuropaUniversalis IV, HoI IV, Age of Wonders 4, ARA History Untold, Homeworld RM, Steel Division 2, Total WAR {various titles], path of Exile II - to naming a couple of title i play ..... even Cities Skylines 2 is "normal" to cpu usage [but draw heavy on GPU even in main screen] .....

All - and it is "all", other Games that i have utilize the cpu ONLY if it is needed ....
It is no logical reason why on the simple main screen of DW2 an halfway modern cpu should draw an enourmous power of cpu usage ... 30% from 32 cores (16 real + hyperthreading) from an high end cpu ..... ..... ...... this is the full workload of an 8 core cpu with 5Ghz only to show the main screen .... and dont try to say me the game musst doing this much calculation here .....
That is the simple problem ....
That it can get "hot" in later game phases with many ships, coloniezed planets, war and so one is not an "real" problem (sure - better optimization is always welcome ...)