Video Memory Explanation

[bobdobolina]

Hi there,

I was hoping someone could explain what happens with my FPS while playing games and perhaps give me an idea if it's possible to improve my situation...

When playing WoW I average about 60FPS, however, I've noticed that in a static situation (i.e. not moving or interacting) my framerate will remain quite high (90+) for several seconds, then take a hit and remain lower (64 fps) and rock steady for a few seconds, then shoot back up to 90+ again. I was wondering if that means my video memory is filling and then swapping out to RAM or perhaps my system RAM is running low causing the performance hit. Any ideas as to why this happens would be most enlightening...

Thanks!

Bob

Abit AN7
AthlonXP 2500+
2x512 Kingston PC3200
Radeon AIW X800XL (256 AGP)
2x SATA 80GB (non RAID)
1x PATA 60GB (OS etc)
Soundblaster Audigy Platinum EX

 

[Lord Banshee]

Probally you Video Card doing little work (so it is alot faster) then your video card doing lots of work (slower).

Same concept with the CPU, if you only do one task it is fast, then you do two task it gets slower.. so on and so on... This example isn't the best but that was the GPU is doing. When you are sitting still less has to be calculated... but moving around the GPU has to do more work.

You can lock it at 60FPS if you turn VSYNC... but not if GPU does not allow 60 or more then your FPS will not stay at 60 of coarse.

 

[bobdobolina]

I must not have been clear in my explanation. The fluxuation fo FPS is when I am doing NOTHING. Just standing there in the game with no other players etc. on the screen, the framerate will take a hit from time to time. I can't figure out what that could be. I am giving the program no input at all. Also, it seems to happen at a relatively regular interval.

Any further ideas?

Thanks!