Talsworthy Talsworthy

Performance improved by /nosound

▼

Performance improved by /nosound

from Demigod Forums

I've been having issues with Demigod performance. I had assumed it was my processor as its an AMD 3200+, 8800GT and 2 GB Ram.

However after seeing a similar post I tried the following.

Skirmish Map - Brothers.

First with sound

Game starts at Sim Speed of 4, then  I go and cap the Portal to the right as I approach it moves down till hit hits 0 and stays there.

Then without sound using the /nosound option

Game starts at Sim Speed 4, I cap - still a steady 4 and fps 45. I then wade into battle and it remains at 4 with fps above 40.

My card is a Creative Labs Xfi Xtreme Gamer card (latest drivers Dec 2008) - so a good card. I have tried various options such as no hardware acceleration (much worse!) and turning off EAX etc. Tonight i'll turn back reverb back on to see if that has an effect.

So anyone else seeing a difference in performance with /nosound. Also Are there any other options on the switches - the sound options don't seem to make a difference.

I'll also try the onboard sound card tonight and post my findings. However IMHO the game performance should not be effected to this degree

Tals

 

If you are not sure how to implement the /nosound option then this post should assist http://forums.demigodthegame.com/348389

If you do have the issue Stardock have also made this post

for those of you experiencing the audio performance issues, could you please email support@stardock.com with the following information.  Entitle your email NOSOUND PERFORMANCE ISSUE.

Before sending this information, please do the following if you have not already:

1) Update your sound drivers to the latest available.

2) Make sure your motherboard and chipset drivers are the latest available.  (These are drivers such as Intel Chipset XXX where xxx is your motherboard chipset.)

Once you have the latest drivers, run Demigod and reproduce the issue.  Then exit Demigod and create / obtain the following files.  Please attach the following information to your email:

1) Please run the DXDiag.exe utility and save the output to a file.

2) Attach your DemiGodLog.TXT which can be found here:

%userprofile%\My Documents\my games\Gas Powered Games\Demigod\DemiGodLog.TXT

Thank you for your assistence in helping us address this issue for the community.

End of quote
439,049 views 171 replies
Reply #101 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Dahkar, reply 25
Dear GPG/Stardock,

Thanks for listening to all of our posts on the subject. If the new beta build gets up today, we'll let you know how it turns out. Hurray for a company that actually listens to ppl that have problems, investigates, and fixes those problems!

Dahkar
End of Dahkar's quote

 

I doubt this patch today solves any sound issues. As far as I understand, it only fixes (part of) the connectivity issues and the favour bug. We'll be waiting a few weeks more to actually play the game, I think.

Reply #102 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Aryanna, reply 1

Quoting Dahkar, reply 25Dear GPG/Stardock,

Thanks for listening to all of our posts on the subject. If the new beta build gets up today, we'll let you know how it turns out. Hurray for a company that actually listens to ppl that have problems, investigates, and fixes those problems!

Dahkar
 

I doubt this patch today solves any sound issues. As far as I understand, it only fixes (part of) the connectivity issues and the favour bug. We'll be waiting a few weeks more to actually play the game, I think.
End of Aryanna's quote

You need to read the post again

from developer Gas Powered Games and you wouldn’t believe how much they got done in a week.  People with sound problems on lower end CPUs? No problem, GPG went back and re-did huge parts of the sound system and even the original tracks to help with that.
End of quote

 

The beta version will get the new Demigod build that GPG sent plus the connectivity updates. The release version will likely only have the connectivity update.
End of quote

If true will be one of the most amazing updates - I will bow down in reverance :)

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #103 from Demigod Forums Top

OK just did a quick test of the newlt released beta. Sound issue appears to have been sorted.

 

I bow down to GPG and Stardock - well done guys, totally unexpected.

 

Reply #104 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Talsworthy, reply 3
OK just did a quick test of the newlt released beta. Sound issue appears to have been sorted.

 

I bow down to GPG and Stardock - well done guys, totally unexpected.

 
End of Talsworthy's quote

 

Is it safe to install the beta?

 

EDIT: Never mind, I'm just taking my chances. Whether I have an unplayable game because of sound issues or an unplayable game because of a broken beta...I haven't got anything to lose either way :)

Reply #105 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Talsworthy, reply 3
OK just did a quick test of the newlt released beta. Sound issue appears to have been sorted.

 
End of Talsworthy's quote

 

Tried one match only so far, but it seems to be solved. Getting 20-30 FPS, 4-5 sim speed, AND sound, all the way through.

Reply #106 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Aryanna, reply 4

Quoting Talsworthy, reply 3OK just did a quick test of the newlt released beta. Sound issue appears to have been sorted.

 

I bow down to GPG and Stardock - well done guys, totally unexpected.

 
 

Is it safe to install the beta?

 

EDIT: Never mind, I'm just taking my chances. Whether I have an unplayable game because of sound issues or an unplayable game because of a broken beta...I haven't got anything to lose either way
End of Aryanna's quote

 

Agreed that was my way of looking at it. The more people that can get into beta the more that can test it before release on MOnday. When full release is out it will just install over the beta so nothing to loose and without sound the game was a real downer:(

Reply #108 from Demigod Forums Top

I am now having sound issues that I didn't have before the new patch.  Sound cuts out for a couple seconds, then comes back with a loud pop.  Happens every now and then.

Reply #109 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting PistolPeteX8, reply 7
How can we get the beta?
End of PistolPeteX8's quote

Start Impulse, then go to the menu (round button with logo in the top left) and choose 'Preferences...'. Then tick the box 'Show pre-release versions'. You now should get the beta versions in My Games.

 

Reply #110 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Shirley, reply 1
From the info we're getting back from customers, it appears that some people are running with hardware acceleration for sound turned off.  Turning this on may help with these issues.  To do so, open Control Panel and double click "Sound and Audio Devices"



Reduced 70%

Original 850 x 572

Once you are here, under the volume tab, under the speaker settings grouping, click the "Advanced..." button



Reduced 96%

Original 367 x 455

Once there, click the performance tab and make sure the slider for Hardware Acceleration is set to "Full"



Reduced 96%

Original 412 x 455

Once you do this, click "Apply" and then "OK" and try launching Demigod again, and see if the performance increases.
End of Shirley's quote

 

Shirley can you Test the REVERB coding again...

 

i have not done the above instructions. My Hardware acceleration is still on.

Turn off REVERB and i dont get the FPS drop. Turn it on i do.

Reply #111 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting xalzias, reply 10

Quoting Shirley, reply 1From the info we're getting back from customers, it appears that some people are running with hardware acceleration for sound turned off.  Turning this on may help with these issues.  To do so, open Control Panel and double click "Sound and Audio Devices"



Reduced 70%

Original 850 x 572

Once you are here, under the volume tab, under the speaker settings grouping, click the "Advanced..." button



Reduced 96%

Original 367 x 455

Once there, click the performance tab and make sure the slider for Hardware Acceleration is set to "Full"



Reduced 96%

Original 412 x 455

Once you do this, click "Apply" and then "OK" and try launching Demigod again, and see if the performance increases.

 

Shirley can you Test the REVERB coding again...

 

i have not done the above instructions. My Hardware acceleration is still on.

Turn off REVERB and i dont get the FPS drop. Turn it on i do.
End of xalzias's quote

 

Do you still have issues when running the new beta patch?

 

Reply #112 from Demigod Forums Top

Since i turned of Reverb (sorry to harp on about it) i have had no issues with the game slowing right down.

Played it online once last night and the conn issues horrible, once players with oevr 100ms were dropped by the game did it improve..

the patch has had no effect that i can see. Hence why i asking devs to Check the coding of reverb for loops.

Reply #113 from Stardock Forums Top

xalzias: do you have the latest patch from today (1.00.075)?  If so, please drop an e-mail to support@stardock.com with your DxDiag info.

Is anyone else still experiencing issues after the release today regarding sound/performance?

Reply #114 from Demigod Forums Top

I still experience the sound issue. I found a solution that works for me though. I can now play with sound, yay!

Renaming the movie folder stops the stuttering sound and performance drops (at the cost of not having the intro movies, menu backgrounds and animated demigod portraits).

According to a developer from another game with similar problems (where deleting the movie folder helped me too) it is a conflict between the FMOD sound system and the BINK video system.

 

Reply #115 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Shirley, reply 13
xalzias: do you have the latest patch from today (1.00.075)?  If so, please drop an e-mail to support@stardock.com with your DxDiag info.

Is anyone else still experiencing issues after the release today regarding sound/performance?
End of Shirley's quote

 

Just had demigod updated to this patch this morning... from saturday to today not had an issue since reverb was turned off.

heres my dx diag... not going to Post ALL the info as it takes far too much room on forums...

 

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 5/12/2009, 09:18:49
       Machine name: EOINS
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: 939A8
       System Model: 939A8X-M
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3500+,  MMX,  3DNow, ~2.2GHz
             Memory: 3072MB RAM
          Page File: 670MB used, 5312MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: Radeon X1650 Series
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x71C6)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_71C6&SUBSYS_0850174B&REV_00
   Display Memory: 512.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1440 x 900 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6925 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 2/25/2009 22:41:10, 325120 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 2/25/2009 23:58:57, 3565568 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-3286-11CF-F66F-5A28A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x71C6
        SubSys ID: 0x0850174B
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel:
 Deinterlace Caps: n/a
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SB Audigy Audio [D880]
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_00531102&REV_03
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
         Driver Version: 6.00.0001.1361 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: No
          Date and Size: 7/7/2008 10:31:10, 532376 bytes   >>>> HAVE not needed to update these drivers and Game works
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Creative
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 191999
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 62
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 62
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

Reply #116 from Stardock Forums Top

Testing Game with Medium sound after patch 75  with reverb on / off

Game is running smooth now with these sound settings and reverb on. I also updated my Bios on the mother board 939A8X-M

to P2.10 (so i can upgrade my CPU) :D so far games running smooth...

 

Reply #117 from Demigod Forums Top

Hello,

The sound improved with the beta patch, but I have the same bug as Harkonis, "Sound cuts out for a couple seconds, then comes back with a loud pop.". Plus, there is a big difference with the /nosound and the sound : my simspeed goes to 1-0 with the sound (with 8 players in a game, lot of creeps, etc.), and to 5-6 with /nosound. I suppose I will have to play without the sound, or to buy a new comp' with a decent CPU.  :|

Reply #118 from Demigod Forums Top

I am still having issues even after the patch.

I'll post my diagnostic info when I can.

Reply #119 from Demigod Forums Top

portepoisse post up your Sound DX data only...is it onboard sound ur using?

 

Same with you too Ino209

Reply #120 from Demigod Forums Top

Here is my DXDiag data:

 

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Realtek HD Audio output
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0883&SUBSYS_1458E601&REV_1000
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: RtkHDAud.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.0000.5793 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 2/17/2009 16:55:54, 5026816 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

Reply #121 from Stardock Forums Top

Ino209 , are you seeing better results if you use the /nosound option?   Does turning off reverb or lowering sound fidelity help?

Reply #122 from Demigod Forums Top

If I run it with /nosound, I get a sim speed of 5 or 6 and the game runs very smooth. 

If I run it without the /nosound switch, I get a sim speed of 0 or -1, and it's very choppy.  This is with the sound quality at Low and the reverb (I think the option is "System Reverb"?) set to off.

Reply #125 from Demigod Forums Top

Here is my dxdiag. And yes, it is an onboard audio card.

 

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0059&SUBSYS_2052161F&REV_A2
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: smwdm.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.5500 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 3/9/2006 10:18:00, 222848 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Analog Devices
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run