4fps ftl

I'm using a fairly recent system, a stock Gateway GT5628:
Motherboard: Intel(r) DPP3510J (Schroeder Town)
CPU: Intel Core2 Quad Processor Q6600
Ram: 3GB
Video: NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT
Monitor: HP w2207 wide LCD

Normally, with graphics options cranked up to the max, I get FPS anywhere from around 17 fps to upwards of 50 fps, depending on the area. About the 13th, I noticed a tiny problem. Nothing spectacular. Nothing large. In-fact, it was quite small. I started getting about 2 frames a second. Or rather, what looked like two frames a second. Actually, I get one frame at normal speed, and the next frame takes half a second, followed by another frame at normal speed, so I really get 4 fps, but it looks and works just like 2 fps.
Needless to say, this makes some things in the game difficult (turning, selecting targets, using skills timely, etc...)

Happily, this problem doesn't occur constantly. Sometimes it occurs for 3 minutes of every 8 minutes (3 minutes at 4fps, 5 minutes at normal fps), other times it goes on for 2 minutes of every twenty.

Naturally, the question is what has changed:
No new drivers, no new software. Just a couple windows updates, and an updated GuildWars executable.
So...
Back out the windows updates: No luck. Try the latest video drivers, no luck. Try the previous generation video drivers, try with sound off, with low res and low graphics settings, try with the -dx8 and -noshaders switches, try from a minimal boot (boot programs off, minimal services), etc, etc, etc...

At the moment, I'm looking for two things in posting here:
1) Has anyone else encountered this problem?
2) I can't exactly go back to the last version of gw.exe, but timing of the problem and general lack of other suspects implies (rightly or wrongly) this is the likely cause. The GuildWars site lists the update as a fix for a crash bug. Is there any way to know what kind of crash bug they fixed?

//Yamagawa

I know exactly where your coming from...
I am having the same problem...only mine has been happening fro about 2 months now..needless to say, weekends are the worst..dont know if that should have anything to do with it. I have done the same as you testing wise to try to fix the problem, but it seems with each new update and each new bug fix it gets steadily worse. And like you, i sure wish i knew what the problem was.

You gave us a lot of info, but you forgot to mention a few things:

1. Do other 3D graphics-intensive games work normally? (which might rule out overheating.)

2. Have you cleaned the dust, etc., out of computer and checked that ALL the cooling fans (cpu, gpu, power supply, etc.) are running?

3. Do you notice problems with your browser, such as pages taking longer to load, or downloads taking longer? (Which would indicate that it's a connection problem.)

At any rate, the first things I would look at are overheating issues and connection issues. Note that the connection issues could be specific to the particular route your game takes to get to GW and may not be a problem with either end.

I agree with Quaker's comments and I'll add one.. have you tried the -repair command line?

Other 3d games??
There are such beasts?


Re heat:
I'm normally not one to open my computer up, as I've got nothing that would rate as a 'clean room', given I've got gobs of carpet for mr static to have fun with...

This began at the start of a cold spell. Normally I run some background tasks that push cpu temps up to ~65C without issue, and I've killed the m for this. With GW running, my temps are:
HD0 temp: 40C
Core 0: 45C
Core 1: 44C
Core 2: 45C
Core 3: 45C
GPU temp: I have no such beast to monitor this....
...
quick download later
120C at effective idle....this can not be good.

Pop the warranty seal (warranty ended three months back)... Never woulda figured fans could actually melt. Kk, as half of the fan is attached fairly firmly to the card, I think this calls for an upgrade.

(Still, with problems starting less than 60 minutes after loading the GW update, and being consistant despite graphics settings, I had to suspect the GW update....)
//Yamagawa

I have the same problem. A friend said me that are the graphics card's main memory. I need to change it :|

I use Speed fan to monitor my temperatures. You'll surely find out with it

http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

whoa - you say that your card is hitting 120 Celsius??? That is some serious heat there even under full load.... I fear your card may be dead or fast about to be.

IMO the best free program for taking temps and much much more is Everest Ultimate... check it out, just to verify those toasty temps before you rip things out of your case.

Yeppers, had that happen to me on a couple of cards. Never with an ATI card, allways seems to be an nVidia card.

I'm surprised the card is cranking out any fps at all at that temperature. Frankly, getting an aftermarket hsf for it would be pointless, the thing would cost about as much as the card itself. Just buy a new card.

The fan. Has melted. Into two pieces.

I don't think that happens at nice cuddly 80C temps that the equipment can more typically be be seen operating at. In fact, every plastic part of the fan has deformed.

//Yamagawa

If the card is still in warranty, try to get it replaced. Melted fans just don't "happen on thier own."