GTX 970 underperforming in WoW

[Deleted]

Good evening.

I've been noticing recently a terrible performance of my computer in what regards the Alliance Garrison. I sit at 60+ FPS at all times - with Vsync on. I have seen this on a lot of threads over the internet, both in forums and also Reddit, and I was ready to believe I was being unlucky.

However, my girlfriend acquired a PC, which has similar specs to mine, with the difference of running a GTX 960, against my 970. However, it runs better in all situations, not only Garrison, but also raids.

I sometimes drop to 40 FPS, something that shouldn't happen on a 970.

Also, Kazzak used to run fine at 60FPS, and now I can barely keep it at 45. GPU usage seems to be quite low.

Any ideas of what's causing this?

MSInfo:
http://jmp.sh/xNbRAcN

DxDiag:
http://jmp.sh/WUcksPA

A summary of what I've tried so far:

. Driver reinstallation
. Interface redefinition
. Game File Scanning
. Game reinstallation.

Second, I have ran around most of the causes suggested by Reddit/WoW forums:
. Change AA settings
. Change energy settings in System/Nvidia Control Panel
. Change other graphic settings in Nvidia Control Panel
. Redefinine the Processor core affinity
. Run 3d Mark Benchmark
. Run kboost on EVGA Precision X.

Nothing worked so far. Thank you in advance.

[Kagthul]

I sometimes drop to 40 FPS, something that shouldn't happen on a 970.

First, off, that's just not true at all. WoW is incredibly CPU dependent. You could have Quad-SLI 980Ti's and youll still dip to ~40fps in crowded areas, depending on your CPU muscle.

Secondly.. be VERY sure that the Render Scale is set to normal. Im going to bet that its set to 2.0, which means you're rendering the game at 4k and then downsampling.

I have a 970 in my rig, and the performance you're describing is exactly how it behaves if i set the render scale up.

[Deleted]

First, off, that's just not true at all. WoW is incredibly CPU dependent. You could have Quad-SLI 980Ti's and youll still dip to ~40fps in crowded areas, depending on your CPU muscle.

Secondly.. be VERY sure that the Render Scale is set to normal. Im going to bet that its set to 2.0, which means you're rendering the game at 4k and then downsampling.

I have a 970 in my rig, and the performance you're describing is exactly how it behaves if i set the render scale up.

Well, according to blues on the forums, CPU performance should matter less than GPU performance now. However, I can see how that means anything in crowded areas. It used to run fine on 60FPS on crowded Stormwind, but the Garrison dips a lot below that without anyone there.

In regards to the render scale, apart from the slider, how does one change that?

[lokatii]

Well, according to blues on the forums, CPU performance should matter less than GPU performance now. However, I can see how that means anything in crowded areas. It used to run fine on 60FPS on crowded Stormwind, but the Garrison dips a lot below that without anyone there.

In regards to the render scale, apart from the slider, how does one change that?

im using a gtx970 and its underperforming as well. would love to know how to change the render scale myself

[Lathais]

Well, according to blues on the forums, CPU performance should matter less than GPU performance now. However, I can see how that means anything in crowded areas. It used to run fine on 60FPS on crowded Stormwind, but the Garrison dips a lot below that without anyone there.

In regards to the render scale, apart from the slider, how does one change that?

Even though you dont see anyone there when you are in your garrison you are right next to everyone else that is in their garrison. They are all phased right on top of each other so to the CPU its the same thing as being in a crowded area.

[Kagthul]

Well, according to blues on the forums, CPU performance should matter less than GPU performance now.

if they're saying that, they're high. Benchmarks pretty much everywhere show that WoW is still incredibly CPU bound. A GTX 750Ti can run the game on Ultra sans AA, so its not a GPU intensive game.

However, I can see how that means anything in crowded areas. It used to run fine on 60FPS on crowded Stormwind, but the Garrison dips a lot below that without anyone there.

In regards to the render scale, apart from the slider, how does one change that?

The slider should be fine - but check your nVidia control panel and make sure you aren't using SSAO there. Its a bit of a PITA because you can set the setting in WoW (via render scale) or the nVidia control panel, and you may have it off in one and on in the other.

Even though you dont see anyone there when you are in your garrison you are right next to everyone else that is in their garrison. They are all phased right on top of each other so to the CPU its the same thing as being in a crowded area.

almost worse than the worst crowded areas, really, because its not just whoever happens to be in the city at the time - its literally everyone in their garrison.

[Deleted]

Even though you dont see anyone there when you are in your garrison you are right next to everyone else that is in their garrison. They are all phased right on top of each other so to the CPU its the same thing as being in a crowded area.

Fair enough. However, I've been checking and comparing and other people with similar specs can handle this better. Same with Kazzak. Or the first «room» in Hellfire Citadel - the open one with Assault and Iron Reaver.

- - - Updated - - -

The slider should be fine - but check your nVidia control panel and make sure you aren't using SSAO there. Its a bit of a PITA because you can set the setting in WoW (via render scale) or the nVidia control panel, and you may have it off in one and on in the other.

I can't find SSAO within the Control Panel. I do have it on ingame.

[truulte]

I have the same build, and 40 fps in the garrison and the most crowded area in Stormshield is completely normal with maxed out settings and AA @1080p. You probably have settings tuned higher/different servers/time/amount of people online etc.

[Deleted]

I have the same build, and 40 fps in the garrison and the most crowded area in Stormshield is completely normal with maxed out settings and AA @1080p. You probably have settings tuned higher/different servers/time/amount of people online etc.

You can run the most crowded zone of Stormshield with 60FPS?

Also, it isn't about the people online and whatnot, since it happens at all times.

Let me upload a screenshot of what I have.



I just completely reinstalled WoW too.

[Kagthul]

Fair enough. However, I've been checking and comparing and other people with similar specs can handle this better. Same with Kazzak. Or the first «room» in Hellfire Citadel - the open one with Assault and Iron Reaver.

- - - Updated - - -



I can't find SSAO within the Control Panel. I do have it on ingame.

SSAO = Render Scale. Same exact thing. Try MSAA 8x with Render Scale set to normal. Watch those framerates soar.

[truulte]

You can run the most crowded zone of Stormshield with 60FPS?

Also, it isn't about the people online and whatnot, since it happens at all times.

Let me upload a screenshot of what I have.



I just completely reinstalled WoW too.

Turn shadows to low, and you'll see...

[Deleted]

SSAO = Render Scale. Same exact thing. Try MSAA 8x with Render Scale set to normal. Watch those framerates soar.

I have Render Scale at 100%. Can't also find Render Scale in Nvidia panel.

[Paula Deen]

SSAO = Render Scale. Same exact thing. Try MSAA 8x with Render Scale set to normal. Watch those framerates soar.

No, it isn't. Please stop talking.

I am getting similar performance to others in the thread, however the only time I ever dip to 40 is in Nagrand Downsampled. It is always above 60 otherwise, even in 40m Raids.

[Deleted]

No, it isn't. Please stop talking.

I am getting similar performance to others in the thread, however the only time I ever dip to 40 is in Nagrand Downsampled. It is always above 60 otherwise, even in 40m Raids.

What are your specs?

[truulte]

It's not your 970 underperforming. The CPU is the bottleneck, in an old, cpu-intensive game where you simply can't turn everything to the right with shadows on ultra if you want a constant 60 fps. There is nothing wrong with your hardware.

[Deleted]

It's not your 970 underperforming. The CPU is the bottleneck, in an old, cpu-intensive game where you simply can't turn everything to the right with shadows on ultra if you want a constant 60 fps. There is nothing wrong with your hardware.

If it was a CPU bottleneck, wouldn't the statistics show that? Also, I have a PC with a it 4690 at my side running WoW with everything on Ultra and 60fps+ everywhere.

[truulte]

GPU usage seems to be quite low.

That's the statistic you're looking for.
Low CPU usage = GPU bottleneck
Low GPU usage= CPU bottleneck

[Deleted]

That's the statistic you're looking for.
Low CPU usage = GPU bottleneck
Low GPU usage= CPU bottleneck

How is that, if the CPU is also at low usage? Also, the GPU used to run WoW at 90%+ until two weeks ago, or so. I'm pretty inclined to believe is the Low GPU usage, but I have no clue on how to fix it.

[Paula Deen]

What are your specs?

i5 3570k OC'd. 970, 16GB of RAM, rest is pointless. Its a 970 problem, its been known since WoD launched.

[Deleted]

i5 3570k OC'd. 970, 16GB of RAM, rest is pointless. Its a 970 problem, its been known since WoD launched.

I've looked at it for a while now. What's your GPU usage while running WoW?

Are the 960's free from that scourge?