• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

Weirdest performance problem I've ever seen.

Thatguy

New Member
Joined
Nov 24, 2010
Messages
666 (0.14/day)
That's not such a mad idea. Programs may run different code paths for different CPUs to either optimize for each one, or ahem, unoptimize for the other one...

its a bit compiler dependant and , ahem, certainly older compilers had some no so nice behaviors, so to speak.
 
Joined
May 13, 2010
Messages
5,632 (1.11/day)
System Name RemixedBeast-NX
Processor Intel Xeon E5-2690 @ 2.9Ghz (8C/16T)
Motherboard Dell Inc. 08HPGT (CPU 1)
Cooling Dell Standard
Memory 24GB ECC
Video Card(s) Gigabyte Nvidia RTX2060 6GB
Storage 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD//2TB WD Black HDD
Display(s) Samsung SyncMaster P2350 23in @ 1920x1080 + Dell E2013H 20 in @1600x900
Case Dell Precision T3600 Chassis
Audio Device(s) Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro 80 // Fiio E7 Amp/DAC
Power Supply 630w Dell T3600 PSU
Mouse Logitech G700s/G502
Keyboard Logitech K740
Software Linux Mint 20
Benchmark Scores Network: APs: Cisco Meraki MR32, Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC-LR and Lite Router/Sw:Meraki MX64 MS220-8P
What? lol

Turn off Data Execution Prevention for wow.

This was built into newer OSes to combat against malware, however it tends to make older apps and games a tad wonky.

right click on computer>properties>advanced settings>advanced tab>performance section>settings button>Data Execution Prevention tab>"add" button>browse to WoW .exe file>click on it>open to close dialog>ok to close other dialogs>done!

try this to see if it helps.
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
1,243 (0.20/day)
Location
Repentigny, QC, CANADA
System Name CTG Computer
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5800x
Motherboard Asus Strix B550-F
Cooling Noctua NH-U14S
Memory 2x 16gb G.SKILL F4-3600C16D-32GTZN
Video Card(s) Gigabyte RX6800XT Gaming OC
Storage WD Black SN850 1TB
Display(s) MAG274QRF-QD | Asus vg248qe
Case Fractal Meshify 2
Audio Device(s) Creative SoundBlasterx G6
Power Supply eVGA SuperNova 750w G2
Mouse Logitech G pro Wireless
Keyboard Corsair Strafe RGB MK2
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793.html

WoW loves Intel CPU (Starcraft 2 Also)

First, I would just disable VSync, Set AA to 1X, and everything else maxed with DX11 settings (Now available into the advance options I think since a patch, and DX11 settings gives some better performance..).

Remember that if you had same Visual settings with GTX 260, but on an older expansion, cataclysm is a bit more demanding (and AA in this game is just killing your system). My friend tried on his laptop with Intel GMA, was working fine at low settings, now he can't since cataclysm.

I play WoW on my rig and it's about 20-30fps in orgrimmar, and in the world like 60-100 depens where I look, BG is perfect, and Random heroic is fine also, I didn't tested 10 Man Raid or more, and for sure this with AA will kill system, since there is alot of thing (people casting, etc..)
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
1,380 (0.29/day)
System Name Desktop
Processor Intel Xeon E5-1680v2
Motherboard ASUS Sabertooth X79
Cooling Intel AIO
Memory 8x4GB DDR3 1866MHz
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 970 SC
Storage Crucial MX500 1TB + 2x WD RE 4TB HDD
Display(s) HP ZR24w
Case Fractal Define XL Black
Audio Device(s) Schiit Modi Uber/Sony CDP-XA20ES/Pioneer CT-656>Sony TA-F630ESD>Sennheiser HD600
Power Supply Corsair HX850
Mouse Logitech G603
Keyboard Logitech G613
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
Like I said before, and I'll say it again: WoW is very CPU intensive and it only loves fast cores (AMD's core is slower than Intel's which results in more FPS on Intel).
I remember running WoW on my PC, I got like 30FPS in cities, don't know about raids and stuff, probably even lower.
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
1,243 (0.20/day)
Location
Repentigny, QC, CANADA
System Name CTG Computer
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5800x
Motherboard Asus Strix B550-F
Cooling Noctua NH-U14S
Memory 2x 16gb G.SKILL F4-3600C16D-32GTZN
Video Card(s) Gigabyte RX6800XT Gaming OC
Storage WD Black SN850 1TB
Display(s) MAG274QRF-QD | Asus vg248qe
Case Fractal Meshify 2
Audio Device(s) Creative SoundBlasterx G6
Power Supply eVGA SuperNova 750w G2
Mouse Logitech G pro Wireless
Keyboard Corsair Strafe RGB MK2
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
Yup it is very CPU demanding and AMD gets max FPS with 6 core, while Intel at 4 (and 2 core getting better performance than 6core AMD, on the i7 980x.
 
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
1,380 (0.29/day)
System Name Desktop
Processor Intel Xeon E5-1680v2
Motherboard ASUS Sabertooth X79
Cooling Intel AIO
Memory 8x4GB DDR3 1866MHz
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 970 SC
Storage Crucial MX500 1TB + 2x WD RE 4TB HDD
Display(s) HP ZR24w
Case Fractal Define XL Black
Audio Device(s) Schiit Modi Uber/Sony CDP-XA20ES/Pioneer CT-656>Sony TA-F630ESD>Sennheiser HD600
Power Supply Corsair HX850
Mouse Logitech G603
Keyboard Logitech G613
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
But I find that weird, Wow runs only on like 2 cores, it would not benefit from 6 cores, I don't get this.
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2007
Messages
1,243 (0.20/day)
Location
Repentigny, QC, CANADA
System Name CTG Computer
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 5800x
Motherboard Asus Strix B550-F
Cooling Noctua NH-U14S
Memory 2x 16gb G.SKILL F4-3600C16D-32GTZN
Video Card(s) Gigabyte RX6800XT Gaming OC
Storage WD Black SN850 1TB
Display(s) MAG274QRF-QD | Asus vg248qe
Case Fractal Meshify 2
Audio Device(s) Creative SoundBlasterx G6
Power Supply eVGA SuperNova 750w G2
Mouse Logitech G pro Wireless
Keyboard Corsair Strafe RGB MK2
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
there must be an answer to this, I'll test on my x4 635 with 2 core and 4 core to see if the performance change..
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
Turn off Data Execution Prevention for wow.

This was built into newer OSes to combat against malware, however it tends to make older apps and games a tad wonky.

right click on computer>properties>advanced settings>advanced tab>performance section>settings button>Data Execution Prevention tab>"add" button>browse to WoW .exe file>click on it>open to close dialog>ok to close other dialogs>done!

try this to see if it helps.

Ok, I tried this and windows tells me that wow.exe MUST run with DEP and that I cannot turn it off; however, I can turn the WoW launcher's DEP off. I'm not sure if that'll help though.
 

EastCoasthandle

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
6,885 (1.00/day)
System Name MY PC
Processor E8400 @ 3.80Ghz > Q9650 3.60Ghz
Motherboard Maximus Formula
Cooling D5, 7/16" ID Tubing, Maze4 with Fuzion CPU WB
Memory XMS 8500C5D @ 1066MHz
Video Card(s) HD 2900 XT 858/900 to 4870 to 5870 (Keep Vreg area clean)
Storage 2
Display(s) 24"
Case P180
Audio Device(s) X-fi Plantinum
Power Supply Silencer 750
Software XP Pro SP3 to Windows 7
Benchmark Scores This varies from one driver to another.
Does wow have a profile folder? A profile folder is usually found somewhere: C:\...\your name\My Documents\(OR)My Games or C:\...\your name\Saved Games that wasn't deleted when the game was uninstalled?
Also look in: C:\ProgramData\... Are there any wow folders there?
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
Does wow have a profile folder? A profile folder is usually found somewhere: C:\...\your name\My Documents\(OR)My Games or C:\...\your name\Saved Games that wasn't deleted when the game was uninstalled?
Also look in: C:\ProgramData\... Are there any wow folders there?

Yes, there's a folder in the Program files (x86) / World of Warcraft

That leads to the wow.exe program with the launcher and other software that came with the game like the repair tool.
 

LordJummy

New Member
Joined
May 13, 2011
Messages
1,403 (0.30/day)
Location
US of A
System Name Workstation1 | Asus G55VW-DS71
Processor i7 970 3.8GHz | i7 3610QM
Motherboard RIII Formula
Cooling EK 360 Supreme HF | Asus G55VW
Memory 24GB Dominator | 12GB DDR3
Video Card(s) 2x Diamond HD 6970 | GTX 660M
Storage 2x Vertex4 256GB | 256GB Vertex4 & 750GB HDD
Display(s) 3x Crossover 27" LED S-IPS + 30" DELL IPS
Case Corsair Obsidian 800D
Audio Device(s) X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro + Gigaworks G550W
Power Supply HX1000 + NZXT Black Sleeved Extensions
Software Win7Ult64Bit
Benchmark Scores ballz
WoW is fully self contained in it's own directory. As far as I know it doesn't store external profiles or configs anywhere else. It's great because you can move it from HD to HD very easily. I keep a copy of mine on an external drive in case I ever want to play again.
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/world-of-warcraft-cataclysm-directx-11-performance,2793.html

WoW loves Intel CPU (Starcraft 2 Also)

First, I would just disable VSync, Set AA to 1X, and everything else maxed with DX11 settings (Now available into the advance options I think since a patch, and DX11 settings gives some better performance..).

Remember that if you had same Visual settings with GTX 260, but on an older expansion, cataclysm is a bit more demanding (and AA in this game is just killing your system).

I have tried all of this, and it all barely helps. What DOES help is turning the particle density down. I believe that is THE ONLY thing that ever helps my framerates (in small amounts of course..)
 

EastCoasthandle

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
6,885 (1.00/day)
System Name MY PC
Processor E8400 @ 3.80Ghz > Q9650 3.60Ghz
Motherboard Maximus Formula
Cooling D5, 7/16" ID Tubing, Maze4 with Fuzion CPU WB
Memory XMS 8500C5D @ 1066MHz
Video Card(s) HD 2900 XT 858/900 to 4870 to 5870 (Keep Vreg area clean)
Storage 2
Display(s) 24"
Case P180
Audio Device(s) X-fi Plantinum
Power Supply Silencer 750
Software XP Pro SP3 to Windows 7
Benchmark Scores This varies from one driver to another.
Usually when you uninstall a game those folders are left installed. Problem is sometimes (depending on the game) that folder has information saying that your game is based on old hardware if you upgrade. What you should do is place that folder in the trash can. Then start Wow. Most game recreate that folder and take note of hardware changes. If it doesn't work then uninstall Wow, reboot, defrag hard drive then reinstall wow. With no other wow folders installed.
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
Usually when you uninstall a game those folders are left installed. Problem is sometimes (depending on the game) that folder has information saying that your game is based on old hardware if you upgrade. What you should do is place that folder in the trash can. Then start Wow. Most game recreate that folder and take note of hardware changes. If it doesn't work then uninstall Wow, reboot, defrag hard drive then reinstall wow. With no other wow folders installed.

OK when I was messing with the cores in my BIOS last night, I'd start the game up and WoW wanted to load to default settings. I of course said no because there wasn't really a hardware switch. But what you're saying now, is to delete WoW and defrag my machine?

Will your method work if I delete WoW, defrag my drive, and then just use the same WoW folder again?

EDIT: I also don't know what folder I'd have to place in the trash can that specifies what hardware I'm using :( Although I believe if the config.wtf file is deleted, video settings in the game are reset.

I can also go and mess with the cores again so that I get the pop-up message and actually have the game revert to default settings if you think that may help.
 

EastCoasthandle

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
6,885 (1.00/day)
System Name MY PC
Processor E8400 @ 3.80Ghz > Q9650 3.60Ghz
Motherboard Maximus Formula
Cooling D5, 7/16" ID Tubing, Maze4 with Fuzion CPU WB
Memory XMS 8500C5D @ 1066MHz
Video Card(s) HD 2900 XT 858/900 to 4870 to 5870 (Keep Vreg area clean)
Storage 2
Display(s) 24"
Case P180
Audio Device(s) X-fi Plantinum
Power Supply Silencer 750
Software XP Pro SP3 to Windows 7
Benchmark Scores This varies from one driver to another.
OK when I was messing with the cores in my BIOS last night, I'd start the game up and WoW wanted to load to default settings. I of course said no because there wasn't really a hardware switch. But what you're saying now, is to delete WoW and defrag my machine?

Will your method work if I delete WoW, defrag my drive, and then just use the same WoW folder again?

EDIT: I also don't know what folder I'd have to place in the trash can that specifies what hardware I'm using :( Although I believe if the config.wtf file is deleted, video settings in the game are reset.

I can also go and mess with the cores again so that I get the pop-up message and actually have the game revert to default settings if you think that may help.


No, I'm not talking about the Program files folder. Leave that alone. I'm talking about possible profile folders found else where on the hard drive.

Also, what did you do exactly in the bios to make wow reconfigure itself?
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
WoW only wanted to reconfigure itself to default settings, but I told it not to. I was trying out enabling/disabling one core at a time to see if anything helped my framerate.

So you're talking about other possible profile folders that are found on my drive that a defrag would eliminate? (possibly)?

I also ended up keeping the throttle to "manual" and having all cores enabled at all times so that there's no "auto" going on. I believe it may have helped the framerate, but I won't be sure until I test tonight in a crowded area.
 

EastCoasthandle

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
6,885 (1.00/day)
System Name MY PC
Processor E8400 @ 3.80Ghz > Q9650 3.60Ghz
Motherboard Maximus Formula
Cooling D5, 7/16" ID Tubing, Maze4 with Fuzion CPU WB
Memory XMS 8500C5D @ 1066MHz
Video Card(s) HD 2900 XT 858/900 to 4870 to 5870 (Keep Vreg area clean)
Storage 2
Display(s) 24"
Case P180
Audio Device(s) X-fi Plantinum
Power Supply Silencer 750
Software XP Pro SP3 to Windows 7
Benchmark Scores This varies from one driver to another.
WoW only wanted to reconfigure itself to default settings, but I told it not to. I was trying out enabling/disabling one core at a time to see if anything helped my framerate.

So you're talking about other possible profile folders that are found on my drive that a defrag would eliminate? (possibly)?

I see. And, no...I'm talking about games that can store profiles found somewhere else other then the main install location of the game. Have a look at:
C:\users\your name\
C:\users\your name\My Documents
C:\users\your name\Saved Games
For examples of other games if you have any others installed. I get the impression that Wow doesn't have a secondary location for profile(s). I also believe that the cache is also found in the main directory for the game. So there is no further need to search.

As for the issue you are having I have to ask if you messed with any of the CCC's settings (if it hasn't been asked already)?
 

LordJummy

New Member
Joined
May 13, 2011
Messages
1,403 (0.30/day)
Location
US of A
System Name Workstation1 | Asus G55VW-DS71
Processor i7 970 3.8GHz | i7 3610QM
Motherboard RIII Formula
Cooling EK 360 Supreme HF | Asus G55VW
Memory 24GB Dominator | 12GB DDR3
Video Card(s) 2x Diamond HD 6970 | GTX 660M
Storage 2x Vertex4 256GB | 256GB Vertex4 & 750GB HDD
Display(s) 3x Crossover 27" LED S-IPS + 30" DELL IPS
Case Corsair Obsidian 800D
Audio Device(s) X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Pro + Gigaworks G550W
Power Supply HX1000 + NZXT Black Sleeved Extensions
Software Win7Ult64Bit
Benchmark Scores ballz
No, I'm not talking about the Program files folder. Leave that alone. I'm talking about possible profile folders found else where on the hard drive.

Also, what did you do exactly in the bios to make wow reconfigure itself?

WoW stores all configurations in its' own self contained directory structure. It doesn't store anything outside of it like most applications do in AppData, etc. At least not that I'm aware of.
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
As for the issue you are having I have to ask if you messed with any of the CCC's settings (if it hasn't been asked already).

Yes. I've increased the GPU and memory clocks to be maxed (GPU is at 950 mghz and the Memory clocks at 1450 MHz)

I've set the fan speed to 60% to keep the GPU a bit cooler even though it runs cool already when playing WoW because it doesn't seem to turn on by itself when it's on auto, so the temp could get near 60 degrees celsius without ever increasing past 50%.
 

EastCoasthandle

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
6,885 (1.00/day)
System Name MY PC
Processor E8400 @ 3.80Ghz > Q9650 3.60Ghz
Motherboard Maximus Formula
Cooling D5, 7/16" ID Tubing, Maze4 with Fuzion CPU WB
Memory XMS 8500C5D @ 1066MHz
Video Card(s) HD 2900 XT 858/900 to 4870 to 5870 (Keep Vreg area clean)
Storage 2
Display(s) 24"
Case P180
Audio Device(s) X-fi Plantinum
Power Supply Silencer 750
Software XP Pro SP3 to Windows 7
Benchmark Scores This varies from one driver to another.
WoW stores all configurations in its' own self contained directory structure. It doesn't store anything outside of it like most applications do in AppData, etc. At least not that I'm aware of.
Yeah, I figured as much thanks.
 
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
1,380 (0.29/day)
System Name Desktop
Processor Intel Xeon E5-1680v2
Motherboard ASUS Sabertooth X79
Cooling Intel AIO
Memory 8x4GB DDR3 1866MHz
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 970 SC
Storage Crucial MX500 1TB + 2x WD RE 4TB HDD
Display(s) HP ZR24w
Case Fractal Define XL Black
Audio Device(s) Schiit Modi Uber/Sony CDP-XA20ES/Pioneer CT-656>Sony TA-F630ESD>Sennheiser HD600
Power Supply Corsair HX850
Mouse Logitech G603
Keyboard Logitech G613
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
Yes. I've increased the GPU and memory clocks to be maxed (GPU is at 950 mghz and the Memory clocks at 1450 MHz)

I've set the fan speed to 60% to keep the GPU a bit cooler even though it runs cool already when playing WoW because it doesn't seem to turn on by itself when it's on auto, so the temp could get near 60 degrees celsius without ever increasing past 50%.

And how much is the GPU being utilized?

My bet is still on the CPU being the culprit here.
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
And how much is the GPU being utilized?

My bet is still on the CPU being the culprit here.

I'm not sure of how to tell how much of the GPU is being utilized (I'm somewhat of a noob) hehe. BUT while getting 45 fps in a city right now (using my regular settings, not ultra,) my CPU usage is between 28-34% while the memory is at 2.69 GB.
 

EastCoasthandle

New Member
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Messages
6,885 (1.00/day)
System Name MY PC
Processor E8400 @ 3.80Ghz > Q9650 3.60Ghz
Motherboard Maximus Formula
Cooling D5, 7/16" ID Tubing, Maze4 with Fuzion CPU WB
Memory XMS 8500C5D @ 1066MHz
Video Card(s) HD 2900 XT 858/900 to 4870 to 5870 (Keep Vreg area clean)
Storage 2
Display(s) 24"
Case P180
Audio Device(s) X-fi Plantinum
Power Supply Silencer 750
Software XP Pro SP3 to Windows 7
Benchmark Scores This varies from one driver to another.
Yes. I've increased the GPU and memory clocks to be maxed (GPU is at 950 mghz and the Memory clocks at 1450 MHz)

I've set the fan speed to 60% to keep the GPU a bit cooler even though it runs cool already when playing WoW because it doesn't seem to turn on by itself when it's on auto, so the temp could get near 60 degrees celsius without ever increasing past 50%.


Start a program called Resource Monitor. Go to the CPU tab. Then run Wow in window mode. I want you to tell me the maximum frequency. I want you to look at the CPU - Total graph and I want you to take note of where the blue and green are in that graph. All this while gaming in wow not at the main menu.
 

Zaios

New Member
Joined
Nov 21, 2009
Messages
57 (0.01/day)
The maximum frequency BOX is set at 100%. I'm not seeing ANY blue in the graph, and my CPU usage is, again, jumping between 26-34% (keep in mind that I have defraggler going right now)
 
Joined
Apr 7, 2011
Messages
1,380 (0.29/day)
System Name Desktop
Processor Intel Xeon E5-1680v2
Motherboard ASUS Sabertooth X79
Cooling Intel AIO
Memory 8x4GB DDR3 1866MHz
Video Card(s) EVGA GTX 970 SC
Storage Crucial MX500 1TB + 2x WD RE 4TB HDD
Display(s) HP ZR24w
Case Fractal Define XL Black
Audio Device(s) Schiit Modi Uber/Sony CDP-XA20ES/Pioneer CT-656>Sony TA-F630ESD>Sennheiser HD600
Power Supply Corsair HX850
Mouse Logitech G603
Keyboard Logitech G613
Software Windows 10 Pro x64
I'm not sure of how to tell how much of the GPU is being utilized (I'm somewhat of a noob) hehe. BUT while getting 45 fps in a city right now (using my regular settings, not ultra,) my CPU usage is between 28-34% while the memory is at 2.69 GB.

Check in task manager to see how many cores are being used, I bet 2 of them are hammered to 100%. You can check GPU utilization with GPU-Z. Just run it, switch the view to sensors (make sure you ticked the box at the bottom for continuous refreshing. Then run the game and play for a while (preferably in the city where you get low FPS), then exit the game and check how much utilization there was.
I'm guessing the utilization will be like 60%.
 
Top