Video Card

[peterigz]

Could be getting into the realm of 3rd party discussion here, but are you using the mq2 plugin that forces non focused clients to minimise the maxfps setting?

[conradd]

Could be getting into the realm of 3rd party discussion here, but are you using the mq2 plugin that forces non focused clients to minimise the maxfps setting?

I'm using mq2fps plugin for that purpose and mq2test to set clip plane to 0 on non focused toons.

[conradd]

How much CPU usage does each EQ client cost? Better yet, what are the top consumers in task manager?

For reference, my clients usually take 0.3-1.5% CPU usage.

CPU usage/session is between max 3.12% and min 1.80%.

18 toons loaded, CPU at 50% without doing anything... When I begin to move, buff, load macro, CPU is between 70% and 80%.

[conradd]

After some more tests and after I desactivate Avast : with 18 chars online, CPU between 50% and 70%.

I was testing memory and CPU load when I saw my FPS dropped under 10FPS.
I quickly jumped on GPU-Z and here is the result : 990Mb of memory card used / 1000Mb

[Subdued]

-I read this thread the other day and didn't pay much mind to it, but now I'm interested because yesterday my PC felt a bit slow and I checked task manager and.... 80% CPU load with 6 toons. I'll try to post my specs later when I get home.

Is that Core parking issue the only known problem for this lately? Or did anyone have any other suggestions? I don't use MQ2, and I tend to disable most of my 3rd party software from starting up at all with msconfig settings.

Actually, even this laptop has CPU load issues. I just loaded up my 6 boxes and it's at 90-100%. This laptop is an Intel Core 2 Duo @2.13GHz with 8GB Ram, Windows 7 64bit and an Nvidia GeForce GTX 260M video card.

[conradd]

Can you post here what is your CPUAffinity settings in your EQClient.ini plz ?

[Subdued]

These are my eqclient.ini settings:

[Defaults]
APVOptimizations=TRUE
Sound=TRUE
TextureQuality=1
VertexShaders=TRUE
20PixelShaders=TRUE
14PixelShaders=TRUE
1xPixelShaders=TRUE
MultiPassLighting=FALSE
UseLitBatches=TRUE

As far as what actually loads for each toon via ISBoxer, here is one for my main tank. If I need to post all 6, please let me know (they're very long!):

[Defaults]
APVOptimizations=TRUE
Sound=TRUE
TextureQuality=1
VertexShaders=TRUE
20PixelShaders=TRUE
14PixelShaders=TRUE
1xPixelShaders=TRUE
MultiPassLighting=FALSE
UseLitBatches=TRUE
InspectOthers=TRUE
Log=FALSE
AttackOnAssist=FALSE
ShowInspectMessage=TRUE
LockWindows=FALSE
InvWinLabels=TRUE
HidePlayerWin=FALSE
HidePartyWin=FALSE
HideTargetWin=FALSE
HideSpellsWin=FALSE
HideHotboxWin=FALSE
HideChatWin=FALSE
HideMainMenuWin=FALSE
ChatLineSpacing=0
ShowDynamicLights=TRUE
ChatFontSize=3
ShowNamesLevel=4
VideoMode=0
MousePointerSpeedMod=0
ShowSpellEffects=1
CombatMusic=TRUE
MixAhead=8
ServerFilter=0
TrackPlayers=TRUE
TrackSortType=NORMAL
TrackFilterType=0
DefaultLanguage=0
ShowGrass=0
DisableTattoos=FALSE
UseArrowCamera=FALSE
NetStat=FALSE
DoProperTinting=FALSE
Sound44k=0
SpeakerType=0
LoadSocialAnimations=FALSE
AllLuclinPcModelsOff=FALSE
UseLuclinHumanMale=TRUE
UseLuclinHumanFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinBarbarianMale=TRUE
UseLuclinBarbarianFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinEruditeMale=TRUE
UseLuclinEruditeFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinWoodElfMale=TRUE
UseLuclinWoodElfFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinHighElfMale=TRUE
UseLuclinHighElfFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinDarkElfMale=TRUE
UseLuclinDarkElfFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinHalfElfMale=TRUE
UseLuclinHalfElfFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinDwarfMale=TRUE
UseLuclinDwarfFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinTrollMale=TRUE
UseLuclinTrollFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinOgreMale=TRUE
UseLuclinOgreFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinHalflingMale=TRUE
UseLuclinHalflingFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinGnomeMale=TRUE
UseLuclinGnomeFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinIksarMale=TRUE
UseLuclinIksarFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinVahShirMale=TRUE
UseLuclinVahShirFemale=TRUE
UseLuclinElementals=TRUE
LoadVeliousArmorsWithLuclin=FALSE
DefaultChannel=8
LastCharSel=0
Music=10
SoundVolume=10
Gamma=11
SpellParticleOpacity=1.000000
EnvironmentParticleOpacity=1.000000
ActorParticleOpacity=1.000000
ShowAlarmWindow=false
WindowedModeXOffset=0
WindowedModeYOffset=0
WindowedMode=TRUE
SpellParticleDensity=0.250000
SpellParticleNearClipPlane=2.000000
SpellParticleCastFilter=1
EnvironmentParticleDensity=0.250000
EnvironmentParticleNearClipPlane=2.000000
EnvironmentParticleCastFilter=24
ActorParticleDensity=0.250000
ActorParticleNearClipPlane=2.000000
ActorParticleCastFilter=1
HideAltAdvWin=TRUE
TerrainTextureQuality=1
[HitsMode]
MyHitsMode=1
MyHitsAlwaysDraw=0
MyHitsX=4
MyHitsY=60
MyHitsCount=3
MyHitsFontSize=1
MyHitsShowHeader=1
MyHitsShowBG=0
MyHitsBGWidth=330
OtherHitsMeMode=1
OtherHitsMeAlwaysDraw=0
OtherHitsMeX=4
OtherHitsMeY=112
OtherHitsMeCount=3
OtherHitsMeFontSize=1
OtherHitsMeShowHeader=1
OtherHitsMeShowBG=0
OtherHitsMeBGWidth=330
OtherHitsOtherMode=1
OtherHitsOtherAlwaysDraw=0
OtherHitsOtherX=4
OtherHitsOtherY=164
OtherHitsOtherCount=3
OtherHitsOtherFontSize=1
OtherHitsOtherShowHeader=1
OtherHitsOtherShowBG=0
OtherHitsOtherBGWidth=330
[TextColors]
User_1_Red=255
User_1_Green=255
User_1_Blue=255
User_2_Red=190
User_2_Green=40
User_2_Blue=190
User_3_Red=0
User_3_Green=255
User_3_Blue=255
User_4_Red=40
User_4_Green=240
User_4_Blue=40
User_5_Red=0
User_5_Green=128
User_5_Blue=0
User_6_Red=0
User_6_Green=128
User_6_Blue=0
User_7_Red=255
User_7_Green=0
User_7_Blue=0
User_8_Red=90
User_8_Green=90
User_8_Blue=255
User_9_Red=90
User_9_Green=90
User_9_Blue=255
User_10_Red=240
User_10_Green=240
User_10_Blue=0
User_11_Red=255
User_11_Green=0
User_11_Blue=0
User_12_Red=255
User_12_Green=255
User_12_Blue=255
User_13_Red=240
User_13_Green=0
User_13_Blue=0
User_14_Red=255
User_14_Green=255
User_14_Blue=0
User_15_Red=90
User_15_Green=90
User_15_Blue=255
User_16_Red=255
User_16_Green=255
User_16_Blue=255
User_17_Red=255
User_17_Green=255
User_17_Blue=255
User_18_Red=255
User_18_Green=255
User_18_Blue=255
User_19_Red=255
User_19_Green=255
User_19_Blue=255
User_20_Red=240
User_20_Green=240
User_20_Blue=0
User_21_Red=240
User_21_Green=240
User_21_Blue=0
User_22_Red=255
User_22_Green=255
User_22_Blue=255
User_23_Red=255
User_23_Green=255
User_23_Blue=255
User_24_Red=255
User_24_Green=255
User_24_Blue=255
User_25_Red=255
User_25_Green=255
User_25_Blue=255
User_26_Red=128
User_26_Green=0
User_26_Blue=128
User_27_Red=255
User_27_Green=255
User_27_Blue=255
User_28_Red=90
User_28_Green=90
User_28_Blue=255
User_29_Red=240
User_29_Green=240
User_29_Blue=0
User_30_Red=0
User_30_Green=140
User_30_Blue=0
User_31_Red=90
User_31_Green=90
User_31_Blue=255
User_32_Red=255
User_32_Green=0
User_32_Blue=0
User_33_Red=90
User_33_Green=90
User_33_Blue=255
User_34_Red=255
User_34_Green=0
User_34_Blue=0
User_35_Red=215
User_35_Green=154
User_35_Blue=66
User_36_Red=110
User_36_Green=143
User_36_Blue=176
User_37_Red=110
User_37_Green=143
User_37_Blue=176
User_38_Red=110
User_38_Green=143
User_38_Blue=176
User_39_Red=110
User_39_Green=143
User_39_Blue=176
User_40_Red=110
User_40_Green=143
User_40_Blue=176
User_41_Red=110
User_41_Green=143
User_41_Blue=176
User_42_Red=110
User_42_Green=143
User_42_Blue=176
User_43_Red=110
User_43_Green=143
User_43_Blue=176
User_44_Red=110
User_44_Green=143
User_44_Blue=176
User_45_Red=110
User_45_Green=143
User_45_Blue=176
User_46_Red=255
User_46_Green=255
User_46_Blue=255
User_47_Red=255
User_47_Green=255
User_47_Blue=255
User_48_Red=255
User_48_Green=0
User_48_Blue=0
User_49_Red=255
User_49_Green=0
User_49_Blue=0
User_50_Red=255
User_50_Green=0
User_50_Blue=0
User_51_Red=255
User_51_Green=0
User_51_Blue=0
User_52_Red=255
User_52_Green=255
User_52_Blue=255
User_53_Red=255
User_53_Green=255
User_53_Blue=255
User_54_Red=255
User_54_Green=255
User_54_Blue=255
User_55_Red=255
User_55_Green=255
User_55_Blue=255
User_56_Red=255
User_56_Green=255
User_56_Blue=255
User_57_Red=255
User_57_Green=255
User_57_Blue=255
User_58_Red=255
User_58_Green=255
User_58_Blue=255
User_59_Red=255
User_59_Green=255
User_59_Blue=255
User_60_Red=215
User_60_Green=154
User_60_Blue=66
User_61_Red=215
User_61_Green=154
User_61_Blue=66
User_62_Red=215
User_62_Green=154
User_62_Blue=66
User_63_Red=215
User_63_Green=154
User_63_Blue=66
User_64_Red=215
User_64_Green=154
User_64_Blue=66
User_65_Red=215
User_65_Green=154
User_65_Blue=66
User_66_Red=215
User_66_Green=154
User_66_Blue=66
User_67_Red=215
User_67_Green=154
User_67_Blue=66
User_68_Red=215
User_68_Green=154
User_68_Blue=66
User_69_Red=215
User_69_Green=154
User_69_Blue=66
User_70_Red=255
User_70_Green=255
User_70_Blue=0
User_71_Red=255
User_71_Green=0
User_71_Blue=255
User_72_Red=0
User_72_Green=200
User_72_Blue=200
User_73_Red=255
User_73_Green=255
User_73_Blue=255
User_74_Red=255
User_74_Green=255
User_74_Blue=255
User_75_Red=0
User_75_Green=255
User_75_Blue=255
User_76_Red=255
User_76_Green=0
User_76_Blue=0
User_77_Red=255
User_77_Green=255
User_77_Blue=255
User_78_Red=90
User_78_Green=90
User_78_Blue=255
User_79_Red=255
User_79_Green=255
User_79_Blue=0
User_80_Red=255
User_80_Green=255
User_80_Blue=0
User_81_Red=255
User_81_Green=255
User_81_Blue=255
User_82_Red=255
User_82_Green=255
User_82_Blue=255
User_83_Red=255
User_83_Green=255
User_83_Blue=255
User_84_Red=255
User_84_Green=255
User_84_Blue=255
User_85_Red=255
User_85_Green=255
User_85_Blue=255
User_86_Red=255
User_86_Green=155
User_86_Blue=155
User_87_Red=90
User_87_Green=90
User_87_Blue=255
User_88_Red=255
User_88_Green=255
User_88_Blue=255
User_89_Red=255
User_89_Green=255
User_89_Blue=255
User_90_Red=0
User_90_Green=0
User_90_Blue=0
[Options]
IgnoreFile1=1
Camera1-Distance=30.000000
Camera1-DirHeading=192.000000
Camera1-Heading=0.000000
Camera1-Pitch=0.000000
Camera1-Height=5.000000
Camera1-Zoom=90.000000
Camera1-Change=1
Camera2-Distance=82.000000
Camera2-DirHeading=277.000000
Camera2-Heading=0.000000
Camera2-Pitch=0.000000
Camera2-Height=18.000000
Camera2-Zoom=90.000000
Camera2-Change=1
Realism=1
ClipPlane=13
FogScale=2.600000
MaxFPS=100
LODBias=10
MouseSensitivity=4
Anonymous=0
Trade=2
GuildInvites=1
Sky=1
ParticleDensity=3
LoD=1
SameResolution=1
PCNames=1
NPCNames=1
InverseMouse=0
LookSpring=0
MouseActive=1
Destroy=0
AANoConfirm=0
pointMerchantNoConfirm=0
MouseWheelZoom=1
MouseRightHanded=1
LoadScreenMode=0
Channel00=1
Channel01=1
Channel02=1
Channel03=1
Channel04=1
Channel05=1
BadWord=0
PCSpells=0
NPCSpells=0
BardSongs=0
CriticalSpells=0
CriticalMelee=0
SpellDamage=0
Channel06=1
Channel07=0
Channel08=0
Channel09=1
HideDamageShield=0
DotDamage=0
PetAttacks=0
PetMisses=0
FocusEffects=0
PetSpells=0
HealOverTimeSpells=0
ItemSpeech=0
Strikethrough=0
Stun=0
BardSongsOnPets=0
SwarmPetDeath=0
FellowshipChat=0
DotMyDamage=0
ShadowClipPlane=21
ActorClipPlane=31
[VideoMode]
Width=1920
Height=864
FullscreenRefreshRate=0
FullscreenBitsPerPixel=32
WindowedWidth=1920
WindowedHeight=1080
[News]
LastRead=00000000
Automatic=0
[KeyMaps]
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLETARGET_1=41
KEYMAPPING_TARGETNPC_2=0
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLETWOTARGETS_1=0
KEYMAPPING_CYCLEPCTARGETS_1=0
KEYMAPPING_CYCLENPCTARGETS_1=15
KEYMAPPING_CYCLEREPLY_1=0
KEYMAPPING_AUTOPRIM_1=30
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_BANDOLIER_1=1073741872
KEYMAPPING_OPEN_INV_BAGS_1=48
KEYMAPPING_CLOSE_INV_BAGS_1=49
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_HOTBOX2WIN_1=1610612739
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_HOTBOX3WIN_1=1610612740
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_HOTBOX4WIN_1=1610612741
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_HOTBOX1WIN_1=1610612738
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_1_1=268435535
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_2_1=268435536
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_3_1=268435537
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_4_1=268435531
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_5_1=268435532
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_6_1=268435533
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_7_1=268435527
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_8_1=268435528
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_9_1=268435529
KEYMAPPING_HOT2_10_1=44
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_1_1=536870991
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_2_1=536870992
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_3_1=536870993
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_4_1=536870987
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_5_1=536870988
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_6_1=536870989
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_7_1=536870983
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_8_1=536870984
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_9_1=536870985
KEYMAPPING_HOT3_10_1=45
KEYMAPPING_FORWARD_1=0
KEYMAPPING_BACK_1=0
KEYMAPPING_RIGHT_1=0
KEYMAPPING_LEFT_1=0
KEYMAPPING_PITCHUP_1=73
KEYMAPPING_PITCHDOWN_1=81
KEYMAPPING_CENTERVIEW_1=76
KEYMAPPING_ZOOMIN_1=0
KEYMAPPING_ZOOMOUT_1=0
KEYMAPPING_HISTORY_UP_1=0
KEYMAPPING_HISTORY_DOWN_1=0
KEYMAPPING_PAGEUP_1=0
KEYMAPPING_PAGEDOWN_1=0
KEYMAPPING_FORWARD_CAM_1=0
KEYMAPPING_BACK_CAM_1=0
KEYMAPPING_RIGHT_CAM_1=0
KEYMAPPING_LEFT_CAM_1=0
KEYMAPPING_PITCHUP_CAM_1=0
KEYMAPPING_PITCHDOWN_CAM_1=0
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_1_1=1073741903
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_2_1=1073741904
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_3_1=1073741905
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_4_1=1073741899
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_5_1=1073741900
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_6_1=1073741901
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_7_1=1073741895
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_8_1=1073741896
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_9_1=1073741897
KEYMAPPING_HOT4_10_1=31
KEYMAPPING_HOT1_7_1=8
KEYMAPPING_HOT1_8_1=9
KEYMAPPING_HOT1_9_1=10
KEYMAPPING_HOT1_10_1=11
KEYMAPPING_COMBAT_1=0
KEYMAPPING_SOCIALS_1=0
KEYMAPPING_ABILITIES_1=0
KEYMAPPING_CAMP_1=0
KEYMAPPING_WHO_1=0
KEYMAPPING_SPELLBOOK_1=805306416
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_PLAYERWIN_1=805306389
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_PARTYWIN_1=805306393
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_TARGETWIN_1=805306388
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_SPELLSWIN_1=805306399
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_BUFFWIN_1=0
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_FRIENDSWIN_1=0
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_OPTIONSWIN_1=268435480
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_SELECTORWIN_1=805306385
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_BAZAARSEARCHWIN_1=805306398
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_COMPASSWIN_1=805306400
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_RAIDWIN_1=805306387
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_SDBUFFWIN_1=805306386
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_STORYWIN_1=805306417
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_GUILDMGMTWIN_1=805306402
KEYMAPPING_TOGGLE_ADVREQUESTWIN_1=805306415
KEYMAPPING_CMD_TOGGLE_FIND_WINDOW_1=805306413
KEYMAPPING_CMD_TOGGLEVOICEWIN_1=0
KEYMAPPING_CMD_TOGGLE_COMBAT_ABILITY_WIN_1=805306414
KEYMAPPING_CMD_TOGGLE_DYNAMIC_ZONE_WIN_1=805306412

[conradd]

There is no CPUAffinity configuration in this file.

What is taking care of your CPU load balancing ? isboxer ? MQ2CPUloader ?

[Subdued]

ISBoxer is as far as I know. I used to have 3 characters set to Core 1 and 3 characters to Core 2. When I had some performance issues I set all 6 characters to use both Cores. That hasn't seemed to help much either, though.

[Noren]

UPDATE: I ran some tests. This post is more relevant: viewtopic.php?p=69869#p69869

The original (outdated) post is below, within the code tags.

Code: Select all

Take this with a big grain of salt because I never tested the effects, but my client currently uses these settings (Underfoot) for CPUAffinity:

CPUAffinity0=7
CPUAffinity1=1
CPUAffinity2=2
CPUAffinity3=3
CPUAffinity4=4
CPUAffinity5=5
CPUAffinity6=6
CPUAffinity7=7
CPUAffinity8=1
CPUAffinity9=2
CPUAffinity10=3
CPUAffinity11=4
CPUAffinity12=5
CPUAffinity13=6
CPUAffinity14=7
CPUAffinity15=1
CPUAffinity16=2
CPUAffinity17=3
CPUAffinity18=4

Here's what I think it does...
CPUAffinityX=Y tells client number X to use core number Y. My understanding is that Y refers to a numbered logical processor on hyperthreaded machines. That means your dual core CPU has 4 logical processors and your quad core CPU has 8 logical processors.

Supposedly CPUAffinity and logical processor counting starts at zero.

If you have 3 clients running, then CPUAffinity1, CPUAffinity2, and CPUAffinity3 will be used.

If you have a dual core, hyperthreaded machine, then yours might look something like this for 6 clients:
CPUAffinity0=1
CPUAffinity1=2
CPUAffinity2=3
CPUAffinity3=1
CPUAffinity4=2
CPUAffinity5=3

What I did with my CPUAffinity settings above is deliberate. I have a quad core CPU with 8 logical processors. My settings can account for 18 clients. I left logical processor 0 unused, because my understanding is that it is most often used for system and various other processes. After skipping 0, I then re-use 1-7 over and over, spreading the clients out as evenly as possible.

Does it work? Don't know, didn't test it. But I can say that my i7 3770s (far from the best i7 around) doesn't break a sweat. 18 idle EQ clients and Windows 8, chrome, music, and various other things still hover below 15% CPU utilization. But, I play with graphic settings pretty low and mq2fps to manage well... fps :).

Feel free to try out my CPUAffinity settings and see if you can get any improvement. Of course, adapt it to the number of logical processors you have where fit. I'm curious what your results will be.