Performance issues

[Gaas]

I'm having serious performance issues with this game. The map lags, especially when zoomed out. After some investigation I discovered this game only uses a single core and doesn't use my NVidia card at all. Was this a design decision or have I missed a setting?

[VPaulus]

Could you please post a DxDiag report file?

How to get a DirectX Diagnostic file:

1. click on "START" 2. click "run" 3. type in "dxdiag" and click "OK" 4. check through the tabs and perform all tests 5. click "Save all Information..." and save the text file to a location of your choice

We prefer that DxDiag files be posted as message attachments rather than pasted into the body of the post.

[Gaas]

I've included my Diag-file.

[VPaulus]

Your DxDiag report just shows Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 as your graphic chip display.
If you have a Nvidia card you should be able to access Nvidia panel in the Windows taskbar and set your Nvidia card as the Preferred Graphics Processor.
Please check the following page Dell page:
http://en.community.dell.com/support-fo ... 05027.aspx

[Gaas]

Thanks for the swift reply
Unfortunately it doesn't work, EAW still doesn't want to use my card. I've included a screencap of my processor and GPU use during gameplay. One core is maxed out and my GPU is idle.

[VPaulus]

Are you running with your battery or plugged with the power supply?

Have you assigned the game to the Nvidia graphics processor?

[Gaas]

My laptop is always plugged in while gaming. I assigned Nvidia as default GPU, made a profile for EAW.exe (with nvidia as default GPU), started EAW from the game directory with the context menu "Run with graphics processor" -> "High performance NVIDIA Processor", ... to no avail.

[VPaulus]

I'm afraid I'm out of ideas about why your system doesn't allow to use the Nvidia card with the game.
Perhaps you could try deactivating Intel card on the Windows device manager or in BIOS/CMOS (if possible), and see what happens.
Regarding the CPU, the game engine doesn't support multi-core, so no wonder why you are just seeing activity in one of the cores.

[zakblood]

HD4000 is integrated graphics that resides on the CPU and has no VRAM, so thats why you have lag, to be able to use the card in the laptop you own, first you need it to be the main device.

second is this your laptop?

http://www.dell.com/uk/p/inspiron-17r-s ... nchorZone3

if answer is yes, then read this,

http://en.community.dell.com/support-fo ... 03708.aspx

then if no solution. i'm sorry to say your not alone with a piece of unsupported hardware that doesn't work, or intermittently works [:(]

the temp fix is first see if the device is shown in your device manager, if yes delete it and rescan for new hardware and reinstall drivers, get latest ones to be sure there newer than what you have already.

if it's not shown, re scan for hardware and see if it shows up, if it doesn't then not a lot you can do tbh

drivers to update and scan for are Nvidia GT650M (M is for mobile) same as i7 chip (Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3630QM), this is how i knew it was a laptop, as most desktops don't have low powered cut down i7's in them either...

please remember i'm not support or from here either, my advice is my own and is offered in help format only, and isn't approved by the forum / admin, and only offered as help.... good luck

[Gaas]

Yeah, that's my laptop. Those issues are resolved with the latest BIOS update. I have zero problems with other, similar, games: Europa Universalis 4, Crusader Kings II, Hearts of Iron III, Victoria II, Civ V, ... all work great. Just tried Civil War II (bought it a couple of weeks ago), same problems as with EAW. Guess my laptop doesn't like the AGEod engine.

Thanks for the effort guys

[zakblood]

sounds like it, as with most dual card systems, the game has to be able to select the right hardware, as you don't seem to be able to out side of the game, and i'm sure you should be able to, but hardware can be a pain, this is why the laptop was discontinued, too many errors tbh from what i could find and read...

if in the bios you can force or disable the onboard graphics and only let it use the Nvidia one, all games on the laptop will run better as well...

Step 1
Restart or turn on the PC. Check the boot screen for a message such as "Press F8 to Enter Setup" or "BIOS Setup: F8." The function key varies depending on the motherboard manufacturer.

Step 2
Follow the on-screen prompt to access the BIOS. If the computer begins to boot into Windows, press "Ctrl-Alt-Del" to restart and try to enter the BIOS again.

Step 3
Use the arrow keys to select "Advanced," "Advanced BIOS Features" or a similar option from the menu. Press "Enter."

Step 4
Select "North Bridge Configuration," "Video Configuration," "Internal Graphics" or similar option from the sub-menu, if available. Press "Enter."

Step 5
Look for and highlight an option such as "Primary Video Controller," "Primary Video Adapter" or "Initiate Graphic Adapter." Press "Enter."

Step 6
Select "GFX0" or "PEG" to switch to a peripheral component interconnect express card, "PCI" to switch to a PCI card, "AGP" to switch to an accelerated graphics port card or "GPP" to use multiple graphics adapters.

Step 7
Press "Enter" to change the graphics settings. Press "F10" and press "Enter" again to disable on-board graphics.

this is the but part and it can be a big but as well, some laptop m/b cannot have the integrated graphics disabled, your's maybe one of them, so may not have the option in there...

if not options in bios for it, try hardware managers in windows and see if you can see both in there, screenshot if you're not sure and i'll point to the one to disable...

good luck[;)]

ORIGINAL: Gaas

Yeah, that's my laptop. Those issues are resolved with the latest BIOS update. I have zero problems with other, similar, games: Europa Universalis 4, Crusader Kings II, Hearts of Iron III, Victoria II, Civ V, ... all work great. Just tried Civil War II (bought it a couple of weeks ago), same problems as with EAW. Guess my laptop doesn't like the AGEod engine.

Thanks for the effort guys

[Gaas]

Thanks zakblood. Unfortunately Dell has blocked most settings in the BIOS. I've tried installing an unlocked BIOS but bricked my laptop (black screen, doesn't even get past POST). I'm looking at a replacement right now with a dedicated GPU to get rid of this Optimus-integrated-GPU-crap. Probably going to buy a MSI GE70, it has a good GPU / CPU combo for a budget gaming laptop: i7 4700HQ and a GTX 860M. I guess my issue has been "solved" for now [:D]

[zakblood]

i have a asus laptop with integrated and card built in, they work 100% well together, but was designed from the outset to be that way, when you update the drivers it does both, so its a proper dual video type, while you don't get dual display etc as its not needed in a laptop, you do get boosted visuals and speed from a cut down chip set and both share the same memory as well, not adhoc or one being memory disabled...

dell should refund those who bought it tbh

and yes, i7 4700HQ and a GTX 860M and a good SDD for me would be a good combination, 8gb of ram and a good screen size, mines 17" so not so portable either and battery life is next to nothing but has 2

mines only a cut down low end one, as i don't play games on it, it's the GF's who only uses facebook games tbh, but uses the amd a10 chip with onboard graphics and a HD 8750M card, it has great performance tbh for the price and i could play most games from here on it with no problems at all... so doesn't have to cost a bomb for laptop gaming

[Gaas]

Yeah, it was a pretty crappy laptop, the Dell forums are filled with people having problems with it: disappearing IC, games not using Geforce, boost-mode not initializing after unplugging and replugging, locked bios,... It was on sale when I bought it and it ran most games decent after some tweaking.

I think that the problem with EAW was that it doesn't use enough GPU-power to switch to the NVidia. So it gets stuck using the IC and it's shared memory. Why on earth is there no option to turn Optimus off, that would solve a lot of problems.

I agree, a gaming laptop can be cheap. Just depends on what games you want to play and on which settings. I mostly play Paradox, Matrix and Battlefront games, they don't require a beefy rig.

[zakblood]

the spec is very good tbh, and should have been a great gaming laptop, i have 2, a low end posted above for GF and mine, but don't play games on it, i have a few desktops for that, good luck with the next one you buy and fingers crossed you get better luck...

search for (Razer Edge Pro) Ultimate Gaming Tablet

for me i still prefer desktops so have the advantage of upgrading and cheaper to replace and repair, but have seen some great laptops and gaming tablets mind you, if money was no object i'd try a few like the one posted above and i could mention others mind you i'd be living on my own as GF would kill me, as i spend enough time and money already[8|]

[Gaas]

Yup, pretty decent for a mid-range gaming laptop. Found one online for 1.349€ and they deliver on Sundays. I used to build my own rigs too but I prefer the portability of laptops now. Downside is the lack of upgrading possibilities, price and lower performance.

That tablet looks sweet! Bit expensive though

Separate bank accounts, my friend! That's how I do it