TimothyGrossman

So I tried the exact same settings you told me to, and I'm still spiking... This is so (Edited out for foul language) annoying...

It's the yellow line spiking, which is CPU. So I'm having CPU lag spikes. :/

CPU: 2500K @ 4.4GHz, 1.35V.

 
The spikes are completely normal.
Turn OFF the performance index. Running with it on will drive you crazy.
 
*remember the pic I posted of the performance graphs were done well over a year ago, and testing now (after game patches) and with the newer drivers shows -much- greater CPU activity... it spikes bad all the time. Luckily performance levels are UP with the newer drivers over the older sets.... 

 
This were on ultra; it doesn't look like it's laggy/delayed when spiking, but it is. Trust me... 
 
Normally, both yellow (CPU) and green (GPU) is "normal"/straight line. But now with the 680, the CPU spikes.

Then please tell me, why am I the only one having this issue?

My friend uses same settings, except a 670 and 4XMSAA. No lag, no spike... no nothing.

*720p, all low, 2XMSAA.

 
As Maniac stated, turn the performance monitor OFF and dont use a OSD, and the game will run GREAT with the correct settings.

TimothyGrossman

Okay, so this is running "GREAT"?

This is absolutely not normal. Lag and frame drops as...

 
I am sorry bro, but you do not appear to have much experience with current game engines and high end graphics cards.
What is shown is 100% completely normal
-and your still using incorrect settings, which makes things worse-
The framerate variability shown in your video is a design function of what your rendering inside the engine
*You DO appear to have USB issue with your mouse (either settings, over polling or lack of driver) but thats only causing the skipping and has no real effect on fps.. 
 
If you cannot deal with running at extremely high framerates and normal fps variability...
Then you should enable Adaptive Vsync or Normal Vsync, as this will give you a nominal 60fps at almost all times.
 
Quote
 " I play Battlefield 3 competitive so I want buttery smooth gameplay. I use a 120Hz monitor; so I want +120 stable FPS. 
 I'm used to 1280x720 from CS, so I'm not going to change that, since it will mess up my sensitivity and muscle memory."
 
This is your problem. You are "stuck' in a play style thats -more- than 13 years out of date.... 
You have failed to adjust to the current state games and graphics cards. And you have failed to keep current on how modern multi core CPU's, game engines and modern graphics cards work.
 
I have explained the correct settings and why they are needed. It is your choice to mistakenly dismiss them.
 

 
 
 
 

TimothyGrossman

I'm not using incorret settings. This was with the settings you told me to use, but in 720p.

I do not have any USB issues, the mouse works fine.

I have the exact same problem if I use my native resolution. Running 1280x720, 800x600, 1600x900 432423x4389423423 or 1920x1080 does not help nor change my issue.

Running a "13 years out of date"-playstyle gives me an advandtge when I play comp. Bigger minimap, hitbox, higher FPS. There's even a few out there that still uses 800x600 and CRT's for Battlefield 3.

I'm out - there's no help to find here. I've done everything you told me to, yet nothing fixed my problem. And you guys keeps telling me that this is normal. It's not. Okay? I'ts not my mouse, my USB or 13 years old game style. There's a problem with my PC...

~

 
You have not been listening
The minute you drop screen resolution, you become CPU bound and this limits FPS -and- creates MORE fps fluctuations.
By running in such a manner, you prevent a GTX 680 from using its muscle and -decrease- performance.
 
BF3 is not CounterStrike
 
You certainly do have a USB polling issue (look at your video) notice how its dropping frames (skipping) on fast motions...
This does NOT occur with a properly configured rig.
 
You never even posted your complete specs, process status on a clean boot or connected devices....
 
The TRUTH is you can buy the latest extreme 6core I7 cpu (overclocked to 5.0ghz) running with 4 GTX 680's in Quad SLI and every single rig component the very best available, and you STILL will not always be able to keep above 120fps at all times and you will STILL see framerate variance...
Thats how the BF3 frostbite game engine works with todays finest hardware -period-
 
You came to the right place, but your in complete denial about the current state of high end BF3 gameplay and performance.
 
Goodluck to you
 

My specs:

AX850
GTX 680 SC
Vertex 4, 256GB
16GB RAM, 1600MHz
2500K, 4.4GHz, 1.35V
GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3, rev. 1.3

TimothyGrossman

My specs:

AX850
GTX 680 SC
Vertex 4, 256GB
16GB RAM, 1600MHz
2500K, 4.4GHz, 1.35V
GA-Z68X-UD3H-B3, rev. 1.3

 
So a non HT quad at 4.4
What is the exact OS version you are running?
How full is the SSD (how much free space is showing?) Have you correctly set the pagefile to 1000mb for SSD use?       
16gigs of RAM, does the OS report all of it?
What is the make/model number of the exact RAM sticks and at what timings and voltage are you running them?
Is your Intel "Virtu" disabled in BIOS?
 
Do a reboot to the desktop
Dont do -anything- but Ctrl/Alt/Del to the task manager/processes tab and take a screenshot (it might take 2 screenshots) example below
*this must be done after a reboot to properly show your boot status loading.

*since you appear to have USB issues, run the polling test while the task manager processes tab is open
While the process tab is open, move your mouse pointer in a 4 inch circle -continuously- and note the highest CPU usage % value shown while moving the mouse. I have seen polling issues use 25% of a quad i7 rigs CPU
**Normal CPU use during the mouse test should NOT go above 3-4% max
-->and at idle on the desktop should never show more than 0% CPU use  
 
You also need to go to MSCONFIG and post a screenshot of your START UP tab (again it may take more than one)
example below (make sure to pull the CMD line over so we can see the path (Red arrow) and ALL boxes that have a check mark must be shown. 

 
Please describe -every single device attached to your computer- (dont skip any)
USB polling issues arise from the total number/type and polling rates, and what ports they are connected to.
 
High end gaming config is a art, you will only get out a systems best performance if you understand ALL of the components and how they work together to produce a end result....

TimothyGrossman

Windows 7, 64-bit, Home Premium.

Yes, I have. There's 179GB left.

Yes, all 16,0GB is reported.

Can't seem to find model/make - but they're running 9-9-9-24 and volt of 1.5.

Can't seem to find any Intel "Virtu" in my BIOS.

CPU-usage while circling was at MAX 3%.

--

A SteelSeries Sensei Raw (in the back of the motherboard, USB)
A Filco, Majestouch 2 (in the back of the motherboard, USB)
A Logitech G35 (in the back of the motherboard, USB)

That's it.

~

 
Well you have some problems for sure
 
First off, you dont have a driver for your mouse in the startup
You must download the correct driver and install it to fix that problem.
Second, you do not have a audio device driver
You must also go to your MB homepage and download the correct Audio driver for your -exact- model# of motherboard.
No driver for the keyboard is fine, thats the way I run mine...
Now I posted a screenshot showing you that we need to SEE whats in the Command line
*you put your mouse on the divider and pull it over to show more of the CMD line (the red arrow)

You ARE running your internal on-board intel graphics, one or more of those hidden CMD line entries are hiding the laucher
I cannot tell you which ones to uncheck, until I can see the CMD lines..... 
 
Next up is your Processes list

The entry marked in RED is the driver for your on board intel graphics (thats how we know its in your StartUp list)
We need to get that unchecked in the MSCONFIG Startup Tab to fix it properly
 
Running with the on-board graphics is hurting your performance
Running using the Windows default Audio driver will hurt performance
Running without a driver for your mouse is causing "skipping" because the sensor is running at like 5700dpi, but the Windows default HID mouse driver your currently running is only good for 300. Installing the correct mouse driver will FIX that problem and result in much much better performance -and- smoothness when in game
*Lack of the correct mouse driver looks to be the worst performance mistake, using such a high dpi sensor with the windows default driver.  
 
 
 
 

TimothyGrossman

I'll edit this post later, but I just need to tell you that I don't need any driver for the mouse.

It works fine without any drivers. That's why there's a onboard memory for settings, etc. I did update the firmware, but never downloaded the SteelSeries Engine.

All the stuff I don't have installed now, WAS installed before. I just did a quick re-install of Windows. I haven't downloaded driver for my Logitech G35 and all other devices, but I had them installed before.

It's NOT my mouse that's skipping. That's the LAG I'm telling you about. My mouse have nothing to do about it.

Even with my Zowie AM that doesn't have any drivers, works as it should.



That's with my Zowie AM. When the CPU is spiking, there's a delay/lag.

 
I give up
 
You have -no idea- how hardware works together with drivers to produce performance
Run your system however you think works best for you

You refuse to listen
There will always be CPU spikes and there will always be variable fps   
What you want to do, is run your config as clean and possible, with the best drivers and the correct settings for your hardware. This will lessen the intensity of the spikes somewhat, but they cannot be eliminated..    
What you should be attempting to do is keep the lowest end (fps) performance levels as high as possible.  
 
Like I said before, you could spend $5000 for 2 TITANS and and a much better CPU/MB then you are running, and the CPU would still show spikes in the in-game performance monitor and the framerates would still be variable.
Thats how the game engine works -period-
 
For serious competitive play in BF3, proper exploration of the maps will allow one to determine the angles and locations which produce frame drops. This allows one to attack from a location/direction which drops performance for the enemy...
Quite handy for a advantage when needed, as a example approaching a flag from a certain direction will cause players shooting in your direction to seriously drop performance, if you know what that direction is beforehand  
 

Hello maniac,
 
For several months, I have had a stable overclock with my i7 960 processor @ 3.7 GHZ, now I would like to overclock my dual PNY GTX 580's in sli just to get that extra performance. Could you send me some settings for the the best but stable OC I can achieve? I use MSI Afterburner.
 
I hope this isn't too far off topic, because in a sense this is mainly for just getting that extra performance in bf3 but also to help my fps in Crysis 3.
 
I've also tried several times for a stable overclock, but the game eventually would just crash despite the great performance.

braz989

Lately battlefield 3 has been locking up mid play.  The screen goes completely black and everything freezes, can't even get caps lock to light up on my keyboard.  I am using drivers 314.07.  Any advice guys?  Thanks you!  (specs in my signature, except I have 2 470s in SLI)

 
Yeah, I used to run SLI 470's
 
I suggest using 313.96
-->installed in Custom Mode (everything unchecked but PhysX) and put a checkbox in "perform a clean install"
Reboot once
 
Next, Battlelog pushed out a update that mesed up peoples settings.
Check your in-game settings
I recommend the settings below for SLI 470's
 
 

willj169

Really nice thread here and your Ultimate Nvidia Guide too. I was wondering if you could answer a question or two to help me in my quest for ultimate mix of performance and quality.  I have used your guide for BF3 and have trouble getting anything much over 30 Fps, dips into the 20's and teens on high action and population.  I seem to not get much difference no matter how i set things up. I use TuneUp  Utilities 2013. It is a pretty decent program as far as maintenance type utilities go.  It has some really nice customization settings for replacing system icons and whatnot. It also has a Turbo Mode setting which turns about 70 windows processes off(supposedly anyway), turns off all unnecessary visual styles and effects, turns off sync with cameras, mobile devices, and other things of that nature. It also turns off a  lot of internet auto updates and system processes that use the internet.  I have tried with this Turbo Mode on and off, seems to not make much difference in game, my processors seems to run slightly less while playing tho.  I was wondering if you might know anything about this software at all to advise on using it, not using it, or just your wise opinion.  I know my rig isnt a beast gaming rig, may not even been up to specs anymore (its hard to keep up with how fast things upgrade and keep up with my family). Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated. Any info i can supply to help let me know.

AMD Phenom 9750 Quad 2400 MHz
8 Gig Ram
EVGA GTX 660 SC
7500 RPM, 3Gb/s 750Gb HDD
Realtek On Board HD Audio
Model - HP Pavilion Elite M7400f(for any info you might want on motherboard and ram, not sure on those as far as exact specs.)

 
The real issue here is your CPU running at 2.4ghz
This is killing your performance in game and CPU bottlenecking your videocard
->A GTX 660 is a very nice card for BF3 and with the right CPU can push above 100fps with High settings and average 60-70fps
 
Your getting such terrible framerates because the game and your videocard are starved for CPU horsepower
 
If possible a CPU overclock (if you have the cooling and PSU) would provide better performance

Set the fan profile as a separate profile from the Oc profile?