Low FPS WoW Windows 7

[Adalan]

I recently built a new PC:

HIS H545H1G Radeon HD 5450 (Cedar) 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Video Card
OCZ Reaper HPC Edition 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Memory Model
Intel Core i3-550 Clarkdale 3.2GHz 4MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Processor
ASRock H55M/USB3 R2.0 LGA 1156 Intel H55 HDMI USB 3.0 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

I initially had Ubuntu 11 64bit installed and was running WoW via Wine. I never noticed a fps issue, I was constantly over 30 (not great but playable). I decided I wanted Windows 7 to get a couple peripherals working and did a clean install. Everything is working great, but I'm constantly running between 13 - 25 fps with my graphics set LOWER than what I had running on Ubuntu.

I did some research and most people suggested making sure my video drivers were the most current. [COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important][COLOR=blue ! important][FONT=inherit ! important]Windows[/FONT][/FONT][/COLOR][/COLOR] installed the drivers automatically and then I updated them to the latest ATI drivers from their site. That had no impact. I did some more research and increased the TCP packet size to see if that would help. It cut my latency by 1/3rd but didn't touch my fps.

My wife is using the same video card on an older dell machine with higher graphics hitting 30 - 45 fps so I know the card is capable. I'm just not sure what I could be missing.

Thanks,
Adam

 

[cronos]

Is the FPS consistently low? Like every time, everywhere?

Some people have mentioned to turn down the water and shadow options in the video settings and notice a great increase in FPS. You may want to try that if you haven't.

There is also always a possibility of the card overheating. If this is a new card then it's definitely a defect so you should be able to get a replacement from the manufacturer.

Oh and when exactly did you switch to Windows 7? Was this before or after patch 4.0.3?

 

[Adalan]

I average between 15 - 25 most everywhere, even low pop areas. I've dropped all the settings and I still get about the same. I'm going to grab my wifes card out tonight and pop it in my system as the next step. Just wasn't sure if anyone else had any ideas.

 

[Anubis]

what resolution are you playing at?

TBH my first guess is that your CPU just cant handle it, I know that sounds bad as its new but WoW is overly CPU intensive and the I3 inst exactly a powerhouse

water and shadow settings have HUGE effects on FPS as well but you said you already turned those down

 

[Adalan]

I'm running at 1920X1080. I mentioned that I was running this same res with slightly higher video quality on Ubuntu and hitting over 30 fps. Oddly enough, I don't see an improvement if I drop my res down a couple steps.

 

[Anubis]

I Oddly enough, I don't see an improvement if I drop my res down a couple steps.

something is wrong with a component then, because going from 1920*1080 to the 1650 res should at least dbl what you get for FPS

do you have the FPS limiter turned on by chance and have it set to say 30? its in the video options

 

[Qbah]

Did you install the latest DX Redistributable?

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...FamilyID=3b170b25-abab-4bc3-ae91-50ceb6d8fa8d

Also check if v-sync is not enabled or turned on in CCC and that AA isn't forced in drivers or enabled in-game.

 

[Schfifty Five]

Is the 64-bit memory interface on your vid card a typo?

I didn't think any current vid cards were at 64-bit memory.

 

[Adalan]

Nope: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161322

 

[lupi]

Somethings fubared, my e6600 w/280@19*12 gets 50-90 when out of the cities.

 

[Adalan]

Yup, that's the general consensus. I'm going to try my wifes card tonight to see if it is an bad card.

Are there any diags I should run that would give more information that could be used for troubleshooting?

 

[RavenSEAL]

Yea...HD 5450...not a good video card. HD5670 is the minimum i would recommend for ANY sort of gaming.

 

[Adalan]

I'd be happy with a consistent 30fps like my wife is getting with the same card. If I get a new card, what would you recommend with my current build?

 

[RavenSEAL]

I'd say and HD5770 for $130($100~ after rebate) or GTX460 for $160~ ($120 after rebate)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-338-_-Product

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814127512

That should give you framerates way above 60 even @ highest setting @ 1024

Be aware that the GTX460 requires a decent PSU, i don't know what you have.

 

[Adalan]

I've got a 700w psu in the system now.

 

[RavenSEAL]

Then the GTX460 shouldn't be an issue. You'd be set for years of WoW @ high settings.

 

[Adalan]

Update: I've tried my wife's card and it has the same results. I've updated the drivers and directx without any change. If I drop the resolution down to the lowest, I hit 30fps.

I'm no sitting on the fence of just ordering a new video card and seeing if that works.

 

[power_hour]

If I understand your issue correctly, the Ubuntu build runs WOW fine and the Windows 7 does not?

Have you considered dual booting?

 

[Vladda]

Update: I've tried my wife's card and it has the same results. I've updated the drivers and directx without any change. If I drop the resolution down to the lowest, I hit 30fps.

I'm no sitting on the fence of just ordering a new video card and seeing if that works.

ey man i have same shit problem,i buyed Radeon Sapphire HD 5450 1gb DDR3,6 GB RAM DDR2 800,AMD quad core 2.6,runing same resolucion on windows 7,low FPS even not on high settings like i put everything on good some on low and still fps 10-20,did you find some way to fix problem?

 

[Tweak155]

ey man i have same shit problem,i buyed Radeon Sapphire HD 5450 1gb DDR3,6 GB RAM DDR2 800,AMD quad core 2.6,runing same resolucion on windows 7,low FPS even not on high settings like i put everything on good some on low and still fps 10-20,did you find some way to fix problem?

Holy thread necro batman. That said, are you running it in windowed mode? It will run better full screen.

Also, what was your previous OS?

 

[Vladda]

Holy thread necro batman. That said, are you running it in windowed mode? It will run better full screen.

Also, what was your previous OS?

XP,i am runing in full screen buddy,point is i think this grafic is bad i tried loads of shit to improve fps,drivers everything

 

[AFurryReptile]

In every case that I've ever dropped the resolution, and seen no performance increase in a game, it has been CPU-related. I would agree that an i3 probably struggles with WoW.

edit: Ohai. Fooled by the necro.

 

[frozentundra123456]

Yea...HD 5450...not a good video card. HD5670 is the minimum i would recommend for ANY sort of gaming.

I would agree. The turning down the resolution and getting no change usually indicates a CPU bottleneck, but that is really a weak video card, not really meant for gaming. Could you borrow a stronger card and see what happens?

 

[shortylickens]

I have a 5450, its NOT for games. Its for HD full motion video and such, flash, mpeg, silverlight, etc.
It wont even run KOTOR at max settings with a playable frame rate.

HOWEVER, it does OK in many synthetic tests like 3Dmark, giving the illusion it could be used for gaming.

 

[Gryz]

Make sure you install all the drivers that come with your motherboard.

Sometimes when you miss the proper drivers, your PCIE bus will not function properly. That will bottleneck the available bandwidth between your CPU and GPU. There are tools to check if your PCIE-bus is running properly, but I can't tell the details by heart. Just start with installing the motherboard drivers. Sometimes multicore support also doesn't work properly without the correct motherboard drivers.

Let us know if it helped.