Doom 3 Stuttering?

[Stretchman]

I posted this earlier in troubleshooting, and was told this might be a better place to post my question.

Hey guys,

I recently downloaded the Doom 3 demo, and tweaked it a bit, so that i'm playing at 1680x1050 widescreen. The game looks fantastic, but I noticed that there seems to be some "stuttering" while I walk around the facility.

It's a very subtle effect, not the kind of stuttering that produces pauses in game play. I showed this to my brother, and he noticed it as well. It seems to occur most noticeably when I face a wall and walk back and forth. The scenery seems to shift in the direction i'm strafing, likes its trying to catch up.

Running at high quality settings w/ V sync enable and no anti-aliasing.

Specs: AMD FX-55, 2gb Corsair DDR ram, Nvidia 7800 GTX KO

A few videos of it:

http://www.zippyvideos.com/2063976041562916/doom1a/

http://www.zippyvideos.com/8070921941562966/doom3a/

 

[BFG10K]

If you're running ultra settings turn it down to high quality.

 

[SickBeast]

Oops...nevermind.

I thought it was teh v-sync but he says it's enabled.

 

[Stretchman]

Hehe, that's ok. I appreciate all input. It's been bugging me ever since I installed the demo. Its more noticeable with larger/better quality video, but I hope the stutter is still evident in the smaller videos.


Edit:

Oh Also: I tried again using a clean Doom.config (no changing the rez or fov) and it still popped up. Very odd.

 

[SickBeast]

Maybe try re-installing Doom 3. It sounds like you've been monkeying around w/ Carmack's precious code, that's a big no-no.

 

[ITPaladin]

tried that pci latency tool?

 

[ScrewFace]

Wow! I wish I had your system:Q! Iagree. Uninstall Doom3 and reinstall it again. Play at 1600x1200, High Quality, no AA or AF as it's to dark to notice anyhow.

 

[Cheesetogo]

With your system, you should be able to play at 1600x1200 Ultra quality and 4xAA. Try getting the full version with all the updates, the demo's probably messed up.

 

[Stretchman]

Wow! I wish I had your system

Hehe, thanks! What's amazing is how eerily quiet the system is inside the Antec case.

I appeciate your input guys - I went ahead and purchased the full version today (only 20 dollars at Gamestop and/or Target). Am going to install on my system now and will try your suggestions once i've patched it up to the latest update. I noticed that Activision is ID's publisher, I was glad to see that, as they seem to have a pretty good support network for troubleshooting.

 

[BFG10K]

You'll probably find the full version patched to 1.3 fixes your issue.

 

[soccerballtux]

My friend had this exact same problem with his 6800GT and Doom 3 and even Unreal Tournament (1).

Through relentless searching, the only cause I could find for what would cause this is a PSU issue. Simply not enough power or something of the sort. I got a 6800GT as well (upgraded my PSU to make sure nothing happened) and I [thankfully] I don't have a problem at all. I believe 24A on the 12V rail would be sufficient; thats what everyone recommended to me to be safe for my 6800GT (and the 7800GT/X both suck about the same power as the 6800GT/Ultra). Check out the Puma II from newegg.com, its a very nice deal. Linkage.

 

[Nox1]

Try this:

At the console (press Ctrl + Alt + ~)try setting "com_fixedtic -1". Be sure vsync is still enabled.

What this does is remove the game's 60fps lock (single player mode only) and with vsync enabled, the frames will render at the precise rate as the refresh of your monitor (60hz, 75hz, 85hz etc.).

 

[CP5670]

This is actually a well known problem that's specific to Doom 3 with Nvidia cards in certain cases. I used to get it too and it made the game totally unplayable for me. There is some doomconfig.cfg command or combination of commands that fixes it, but it's been a while since I played D3 and I can't remember exactly what I did, although it took a long time to get it working right. This is a lengthy thread on it here.

 

[Stretchman]

Ok, full version all installed and patched u to 1.03. It took a little while longer b/c I wanted to watch the whole Angels game tonight.

Playing at 1600x1200 with High Quality and V-Sync Enabled. 78.01 Forceware Drivers.

Originally posted by: Nox1
Try this:

At the console (press Ctrl + Alt + ~)try setting "com_fixedtic -1". Be sure vsync is still enabled.

What this does is remove the game's 60fps lock (single player mode only) and with vsync enabled, the frames will render at the precise rate as the refresh of your monitor (60hz, 75hz, 85hz etc.).

Thanks. I tried your suggestion, but unfortunately it didn't seem to work.

My friend had this exact same problem with his 6800GT and Doom 3 and even Unreal Tournament (1).

Its good to hear that i'm not the only one experiencing this issue. For a few moments I thought it was just me being too picky, but after playing some other high-profile shooters on my PC (HL 2, FEAR Demo, BF 2) I can definitely say that there is a certain "Fluidity of Motion" inherent in each of them that Doom 3 is lacking. Basically, it stutters, and that ain't cool.

I'm not too sure it's my power supply (though I could be wrong). I'm using the Antec Neo-Power 480watt PSU, and it seems to provide enough juice for all my components. Again, this isn't my area of expertise, so I'm open to any info.

Here is another short video I made, documenting the stuttering that occurs. It's a bit larger and with better quality, and I hope it helps to illustrate what i'm experiencing. Its seems to be more noticeable if you keep you eye on the two side walls of the center walkway, the ones with vents on them.

http://www.zippyvideos.com/1504690271577776/doom_3_stutter_full_version_1.03/

Of course, in-game I won't be strafing back and forth all the time staring at walls, but the effect still occurs even while i'm walking down hallways and such, so i'm pretty sure it would detract from the experience. It might be a little preemptive on my part, but I'm hoping to solve this issue b/c of concerns about how other games using the Doom 3 engine might perform.

 

[Stretchman]

Originally posted by: CP5670
This is actually a well known problem that's specific to Doom 3 with Nvidia cards in certain cases. I used to get it too and it made the game totally unplayable for me. There is some doomconfig.cfg command or combination of commands that fixes it, but it's been a while since I played D3 and I can't remember exactly what I did, although it took a long time to get it working right. This is a lengthy thread on it here.

Wow, thanks CP5670, you must have posted that right before me, hehe. Frame Skipping. Now that sounds like a better description...been searching for the right words. Thank goodness i'm not the only one with this difficulty.

It looks like i've got a long thread to wade through. It's nice to know that its solvable. The AVI's on the original poster's thread seem to be gone. Do you remember if they looked similar to mine. Thanks again, that info is MUCH appreciated. :thumbsup:

 

[BFG10K]

At the console (press Ctrl + Alt + ~)try setting "com_fixedtic -1". Be sure vsync is still enabled.

This won't work on version 1.3 as it'll cause faster than realtime game updates.

 

[Stretchman]

Drat! I was hoping the thread at Doom 3 world would end with a "Ok, so we solved it, here's how others can too" type of post, but it still seems subject to debate.

It doesn't look like Activision has the answer to this either, based upon the original poster's experience with them. Hmmm. Not too good. Not too good at all.

Trying one of the commands, COM_PRECISETIC 0, seems to have alleviated it somewhat. I've noticed significantly less "Frame Skipping". But some of it's still there. I think i'll play through some of the early levels, and see how things bear out.

 

[moonboy403]

disabling v-sync would probably solve your problem

 

[BFG10K]

If you're running vsync try enabling triple buffering.

 

[Nox1]

Originally posted by: BFG10K

At the console (press Ctrl + Alt + ~)try setting "com_fixedtic -1". Be sure vsync is still enabled.

This won't work on version 1.3 as it'll cause faster than realtime game updates.

That stinks... I thought sinking the video with the monitor refresh rate without a fps lock would avoid a frame skip.

I recall a simular issue with Quake2 and Quake3. Setting te vsync on and locking the max_fps to the monitor's refresh rate smoothed it out entirely.

Stretchman: Out of curiosity, are you running an LCD monitor? I don't know if it makes a difference, but try it on a CRT to see if it helps out some.

 

[JRW]

I see the exact same symptoms in Doom 3 regardless of settings or vsync on / off, running a 6800 GT / P4 HT @ 3.3ghz.

I played through all of Doom 3 without Vsync as this does keep the framerate much more consistent, I just kept the refresh rate high on my CRT to reduce screen tearing issues (1600x1200 @ 100Hz) of course I still get the same quick 'stutters' as shown in the original posters videos.

 

[Stretchman]

Originally posted by: Nox1

Originally posted by: BFG10K

At the console (press Ctrl + Alt + ~)try setting "com_fixedtic -1". Be sure vsync is still enabled.

This won't work on version 1.3 as it'll cause faster than realtime game updates.

That stinks... I thought sinking the video with the monitor refresh rate without a fps lock would avoid a frame skip.

I recall a simular issue with Quake2 and Quake3. Setting te vsync on and locking the max_fps to the monitor's refresh rate smoothed it out entirely.

Stretchman: Out of curiosity, are you running an LCD monitor? I don't know if it makes a difference, but try it on a CRT to see if it helps out some.

Hi nox,

Unfortunately our household went LCD a long time ago, so I don't have any immediate access to a CRT.

BUT....You know what? Your suggestion just might have done the trick for me. This morning I tried typing in "com_fixedTic 1" in the console again, and the stuttering (or frame skipping) seems to have vanished!

I'm not sure why it didn't work last time I tried. The only difference this time was capitalizing the T in Tic. (as I disovered in the thread at Doom 3 world) I tried strafing against walls and walking around the Mars facility, and everything seems to be smooth now. The first thing I did was call in my brother from the other room, so he could observe me as I walked around. He observed the same thing...everything nice and smooth now, not a hitch.

(Also, last night I tried another command, "com_precisetic 0", which seemed to alleviate much of the frame skipping, but not solve it entirely)

Will try and make another movie now to show everyone the difference.

 

[JRW]

I tried this com_fixedtic 1 command but it messes up the timing in the game, you run much faster than you should and the speed fluctuates up and down depending on area, The stuttering did go away but this isnt a proper fix , Close but no cigar!

 

[Stretchman]

Could you give me a specific in-game example of the off-timing in the game. I'm just walking around the lobby area right now, and haven't actually gotten to the point where I fight monsters.

Just so I know what to look for - do you mean to say that the enemy AI becomes faster?

Update

Here are some updated videos after applying the "com_fixedTic 1" command in the console.

A couple of notes:

- Using fraps seems to cause a few subtle 'bumps' or 'stutters' in the movies. In game, the motion is completely smooth.

- I have to type in the "com_fixedTic 1" command each time I start the game. Wonder if there is a way to get around this.


Me Doing the Wall dance again:

http://www.zippyvideos.com/1611840171587476/doom3_with_comfixedtic/

http://www.zippyvideos.com/3269352061587626/doom3_with_comfixedtic_1/


Here is some practical in-game movement. Notice when I get to A. Chang and start to move left. Normally the wall in front of me would be jumping like crazy, but in-game it stays put.


http://www.zippyvideos.com/8904974221587946/doom3_hallway/

 

[shimsham]

dual monitors? i remember people having the same issues, and disabling the second monitor stopped it.