Lag after an hour

Been playing Guild Wars for over a year, just reinstalled it after a 5 month absence and a new computer.
Specs of my computer (Sorry, don't know the exact details)
512 RAM
256 Nvidia Video Card
3.06 GHZ processor
over the reqs for it.


Anyway, now after an hour of Gameplay, I get some lag. Pretty bad, I might say. I hope to get into FoW and UW, but with this lag after an hour of gameplay will make it impossible.

I have no clue what this could be. It's perfect until that hour mark, when the lag comes fullforce. I've played with the settings, and it makes no difference.


So, anyone have any ideas? -.-;

Feel free to E-mail me at [email protected]

Thanks for any help, and lem'me know if there's anything I can do.

Are you getting any balloon tooltip sounds saying your pagefile is too small or Windows is increasing it?

Windows XP could really use 1GB of RAM for gaming.

Nope. I know what you're talking about, though.
I know, but I played it on 256 and did fine. It's really odd.
Anyway, planning on getting a gig stick for it.

Right click My Computer > Properties > Advanced > Performance > Settings > Advanced > Virtual Memory

What are your settings?

If you don't want to worry about it, set it to "System Managed Size".

Also Ideally if you want to set it Manually, which is more ideal then letting Windows do it for you.

You need to make sure the min page file size is set to the same as your current RAM amount, so in your case 512MB, and then set the max to twice your RAM, so 1024MB.

Setting it to "System Managed Size" is not recommended. Windows uses a lot of CPU time and resources to manage the page file size itself, and therefore the cause of your lag could be the fact your Physical memory runs out of space at that time, and then Windows kicks in.

However I would still highly recommend you get another 512 stick of RAM and upgrade your memory to 1GB, as its recommended amount for most games these days.

Beleive me, I know. I've been stressing getting another one, but money's a bit tight for me. I should be at least getting another 512 stcik within the next few months. Thanks for the help, and I'll defiantley try this out. I'll post my results later.

Sounds like the old sound-fps bug. Try turning your sound properties down or play with the -nosound command line switch to diagnose.

Alot of stuff you can try... I know that i get lowered FPS with an X1800 crossfire setup after about an hour. If it's an older system (been sitting in one place for awhile, try cleaning it out, get the dust/dirt out of the fans and heat sinks. Check system temps and fan speeds to see if you're running hot (70c +). Run an error chdsk and defrag. Set your virtual mem to 1024 intial 3072 max. Usually it can be down to a general maintenence type thing if it runs fine intially, then starts to lag over time. Heat being a major culprit.

System's pretty new, just built it 2 months ago. I'll try the new Virt. memory, as I ran into the problem again, just at about the 2 hours mark. Defragged my computer two days ago, and I doubt it's really heat, as when I was running WoW I didn't get anything like this. Anywho, I updated my Virt. Memory and I'll reply back when I try it out. Thanks everyone.

UPDATE: Nothing's worked. -_- Well, nothing's solved the problem permanently. The best luck I've had was changing my Virt. Memory to 512/1024. Anyone else have any ideas? >.<!

Are you cycling in and out of the game? Like for web browsing, voice software? I'm not positive why this happens on my system at the moment, but if i do some alt+tab'ing it will get really laggy. If you build the system recently, did you put in a new hard drive also (have a low RPM drive or low transfer rates)? If you're hitting VM as you continue to play, you might be taking a good performance hit there. If you are in fact getting better luck with a very low page file as mentioned, you may be hitting the VM a little later then usual.

You might want to, if you haven't yet, test out the breaking time when GW runs out of memory (if it does at all) by running without a page file. If it's in-line with the time you start to experience the game play lag you mentioned, then most likely it's a VM issue, which tossing more physical RAM (obviously) at it will help out a lot.

Actualy, now that I think about it, I get the lag sooner when I cycle.
I always use X-fire to talk, especialy while I farm Totem's. Could that have anything to do with it? And thanks for you're help Gabrial Heart.

No. No no no, just plain wrong and no. System Managed Size is a GOOD thing.

Stop spouting this incorrect information. It's a myth.

Some people like the "2x rule" where you set the minimum to 2x your max RAM, and the maximum for your pagefile to 2x the minimum.

You do not need to mess with the settings at all. Let Windows handle it, because it will know when it needs more memory. (What, you think you will?) Also, with today's hard drive sizes nearing a terabyte of storage, you don't need to worry about the pagefile taking up space.

You can educate yourself by reading the SH/SC Wiki page on Windows Memory Management.

No problem. I don't use (or have ever used x-fire) so i don't know how it works. We all (our guild) uses teampeak w/ teamspeak overlay to communicate, which allows a push to talk function. With overlay, you get the info on whos talking, what server your connected to, which channel your currently in and FPS. Making it so you don't have to cycle or run in windowed mode to see whats going on in teamspeak. Also, i have a mac sitting next to me and my g/f so we can read stuff on guru, check maps and find skills for capping, kinda freakish, especially since our desk looks like computer central, LOL!

Oh i forgot to mention, just closing and reopening gw seems to fix the screen lag it just fine.

...
Really?
D:
And, I guess I'll try your way Tarun.
Thanks for hte help again, all.

Er... no, no and no again... I don't require educating thank you

It is not incorrect information at all! It's not a myth. It's simply another method.

You have two options, let Windows do it, or manually set it. Both methods work fine.

I've been using the manual setup method for months, years even. Its never even me any issues.

Having Windows do all the work has given me issues in the past.

Both methods work think fine.

Its not a matter of harddisks running out of space, I simply don't want Windows wasting resources and CPU time contantly dynamic making my page file bigger and smaller.

This has nothing to do with harddisk space! No one has a small harddisk these days

The company I work for (IBM) happily uses the manual set method on many of our workstations. So please don't downplay with method, with its perfectly fine to use.

Educate yourself with this page on Page file Optimization: http://www.petri.co.il/pagefile_optimization.htm

Note that the page above is slightly outdated, read the guy's rant below about it. Its best to use the 2x method.

Actually, you really do need to learn a lot about the pagefile and memory management if you think that page is correct. It's not right!

I've seen and read over that page before. It's so wrong it's not even funny. What makes it that much worse is that people actually believe it's correct.

So what you work for IBM, that has nothing relevant here. You could be a janitor there for all we know and still "work" there. I wouldn't be surprise either, no offense. But from what you've said about the pagefile; you really aren't showing any real computer knowledge. You sound like most end users I encounter every day and have to correct about the pagefile.

It tells you to use the 1.5x method for setting your pagefile which is incorrect.

Wow, he even talks about using the Task Manager to understand your pagefile. That's sad.

The method is not perfectly fine for use when it's incorrect. Let Windows handle your pagefile, or use a 2x method (which you really don't need to do).

You are right to point out that the 1.5x method is outdated for systems such as Windows XP and 2003, but it was more suited to systems such as NT and below.

So yes you are right about that. However I never said anything about the 1.5x method.

Never at any point did I say everything in the page is correct.... you making speculation and putting words in my month. I selected that page because it was the best I could find at the time...

Also the IBM point was to say that the 2x method is used here, not that I was saying me working for them makes any damn difference.

So yes the 2x works, but 1.5x is outdated, so the page is a bit wrong. I'll hold my hands up to that, but its unfair to make flat out claims that I don't know what I'm taking about purely based on 2 forum posts in a thread... that is sad.

Also when did I say anything about the Task Manager? Please get your facts right. Heck I've even removed the link if it bothers you that much.

I'm only trying to help, like everyone else here. You need to get past your ego.

Allowing Windows to do it, or 2x method works. Depends which one your more happy to use. The fact remains that you PC does do slightly more work if you let Windows do it.

That is the only point I was making before. Don't try to be clever, because it makes you seem arrogant.

I don't want to get in between your little war in here, but perhaps Guild Wars is filling up your caches at a rate that usually takes about an hour (give or take whatever program you are running). Flushing the caches may help.
Or is Guild Wars more sophisticated than that? I used that method via an in-game function ( tab -> flush ) on other games I have played.

*dons precautionary flameproof jacket*

Re-read my post, as you missed the key points. I'll even put them in bold and italics for you.

"Actually, you really do need to learn a lot about the pagefile and memory management if you think that page is correct."

That's not saying that you said it is correct. Simply if you think it's correct, it's not.

Re: Task Manager
Wow, he even talks about using the Task Manager to understand your pagefile. That's sad.

Now, he is not you; right? You didn't write that page, did you? I hope not.

Case in point is that you (said in general so no one gets upset and throws a hissy fit) do not need to change the settings of your pagefile. Let Windows manage it for the best results.

Yeah, i think the OP has long abadoned this thread, now it's just a clash of will. I think we established between alt+tabbing and extended play gw will get laggy on a 512MB machine.

Unfortunately gabrial, it happens very often when it comes to any pagefile discussion. Knowing what's right and what other educated techs practice is more than good enough for me.

Yeah, pretty much the game simply doesn't like running on 512Mb.

And I've given up on this as well, some people on the Internet can be plain rude. And I got other threads to look at.

Hope the op sorts out his problem.

Thanks for all the help. I haven't abondened this thread, just been playing around on Guild Wars too much. ;P

I just realised something, I only get the lag (After 1 hour of course) When I move, not anyone else. It runs like normal, but when I move or rotate camera, that's when I get the lag. Didn't realise that till now.
Anyway, thanks for all your help guys.

Edit: Just saw this [nubness] how exactly does one flush their cache?[/nubness] This sounds like it might just solve my problem, and right now I'm willing to try anything.

Personally, if people are having problems, offering multiple options to solve some of the issues is more important then what top techs are doing. Most people that post on these forums requiring help are just not top techs and not doing the things with their systems that top techs are doing.

Most of the guys I've spoken with run a user managed size for several reason. One is that they have a RAID or *PCI RAMDRIVE *not out on the market yet btw, or some alternative way to speed up disk thrashing VM. Another is page file adjustments and fragmentation causing the system to slow down dramatically, where as if a size is mapped out initially well above the most demanding apps, so there is no dynamic VM size changing, fragmentation or out of memory errors. I run a clean SATA-150 RAID 0 for VM, so allowing windows to handle it dramatically increases load times and app switching for me. This won't be the case for most of the average GW players out there.

In this case the OP has a 512MB system and mentions a few results when setting different levels of VM. He also mentioned by using a lower VM setting then recommend, he experienced less lag, which may not even include anything he may have been doing in the background when he had the problem (i.e. x-fire or alt+tabbing between apps). In this particular case he may benifit from running in managed size over having windows manage VM. Will this cause other issues with his system, most likely, but we need to address and offer solutions to his typical gaming needs.

There's another thread you posted on about a person with 2 gigs of ram, running 91 processes and of course his solution isn't going to benifit by arguing over his VM settings. Really my point is that each person has a different system and they each run GW differently, with different ways they play and background apps that are running, so to continue with the arguement over VM managment is rather pointless beyond proving one way or the other you are correct and RTS or anyone is giving out misleading info.

Anyway, i've been wrong plenty, let's just leave it at that and move on

I think the only solution is to get more RAM. However, I want to try the flushing cache method (Can someone tell me how? -.- as it'll be a while till I can get another 512 stick.

I've never heard of that option in gw, if one exists. If you want to flush the memory, easiest way is to close it and open it again.

Ergh. Well, thanks for all your help guys. Looks like there's pretty much nothign I can do. >.<

I had the same problem. It's the heat that makes your video card stop working at full power. For me it was like 110C. Imagine that... my card got over 110C. Well I modded it and it barely goes over 70 now. Once again IT IS THE HIT IMHO. Nvidia have this build in feature like processors except that it doesnt shut down the computer fully, it just stops working as high end card and starts working at low frequency.

Eugh. How exactly would I mod my case to help the heat? My dad pretty much built this computer, as he built many before, but yeah..
Any links on anywere to get something to help it would be great.
Just remembered, I do have a big fan in my system, right by the Video card/Motherboard. Might be dust blocking/Hampering it, so I'll try and see if it's working/Clogged.

Try fixing the size of your swap file. (lower number the same as the higher number)

If you allow your swapfile to dynamicaly grow and shrink, it will become fragmented. This means that bits and pieces of it could be all over the partition. Its like ripping the pages out of a book, and put them back in any order. Sure the individual pages will still be readable, but to read it as a whole you need to put the pages back in order.

A swap file with a fixed size will only read and write from the sectors it been asigned to.

To acomplish this, temporarly remove your swap file and use a tool to optimize the placement of files on your hard drive. Windows has a build in version. Rightclick the drive you like to work on in explorer > Properties > one of the tabs.

Could you be a bit more 'in-depth' please? ;

I'm no "expert" by any means, but I honestly doubt that this is an issue with the pagefile, windows swapfile, overheating, or whatever. When I play GW, I start off with around 400-500 mb of ram available, depending on the size of the town. After a while of playing (usually around an hour), my memory decreases to 200-300 mb available, and stays there for the rest of the time i play. Your problem seems like it's a memory issue. As GW runs, it slowly takes up more and more memory, and ultimately... in your case, it probably runs out. I would just deal with it now and buy more when you can.

Well.Thanks for hte help everyone. I guess I have to wait a few months to get this problem fixed. Thanks for you help. This can be deleted/Locked or whatever. >.>