Doom3world

Running Doom3, even on the lowest Doom3 video settings stalls every 15-20 seconds of play for about 10-15 seconds.

Symptom: start running Doom3 Recruit (with showFPS = "1"). Starts at 60+ FPS then suddenly FPS drops down to like 2-3 FPS, game runs wicked sluggish like this for about 10-15 seconds, then all the sudden it recovers and I'm running sweet with 60+ FPS. Runs like this for about 15-20 seconds, then all the sudden FPS drops back down to 2-3 FPS. Cycle continues on and on. Very frustrating. Game is not usable like this.

I really need someone to help me out. I have completely wiped this PC clean, low level formatted the Hard drive, relaoded windows and installed Doom3 alone. So, I know I have no viruses, no software conflicts, nothing external that could contribute to my problem other than a compatibility problem between this 7900 GTX card, it's drivers, it's settings, and Doom3.

My hardware config:
ASUS M2N-MX SE Plus Socket AM2+ NVidia GeForce 6100 Chipset DDR2-1066 PCI.e Motherboard
AMD Athlon64 X2 6000+ socket AM2 Dual-core CPU @ 3.01 Ghz
2GB PC6400 800Mhz DDR2 memory
Nvidia GeForce 7900 GTX PCI-e x16 add-on video card w/512MB video ram
WD VelociRaptor 300GB SataII 10K rpm hard drive

My software config:
Windows XP SP3
Nvidia video driver version 6.14.10.9163 (yes, very old)
Nvidia Display Control Panel Version 91.36 (yes, very old)
Nvidia chipset drivers from 2008 driver CD (all drivers appear to be 2006-11-xx dated) (yes, very old)

video driver notes: I have tried much newer drivers and older drivers (before reloading this PC). No relief. I figured I'd stick with older drivers, since others have suggested using an older driver for this old game.
I've tried the following drivers previously:
91.36_forceware_quadro_winxp2k_english_whql.exe
101.02-XP-x32-[Guru3D.com].exe
160.02_quadro_winxp2k_english.exe
169.38_forceware_winxp_32bit-[Guru3D.com].exe
174.74_geforce_winxp_32bit_english_whql.exe
182.50_geforce_winxp_32bit_english_whql.exe
296.10-desktop-winxp-32bit-english-whql.exe (current, most recent)

My Video config:
Windows screen resolution: 1280 x 1024
Windows screen refresh rate: 75 hz
Nvidia Image settings: performance
Nvidia Antialiasing Settings: off (I've tried 2x and application controlled - same behavior)
Nvidia Anisotropic Settings: off (I've tried 2x and application controlled - same behavior)
GeForce Display Mode Timing: Auto-detect
GeForce 3D global settings:
Anisotropic filtering: off (I've tried 2x and application controlled - same behavior)
Anisotropic mip filter optimization: on
Anisotropic sample optimization: off
Antialiasing settings: none (I've tried 2x and application controlled - same behavior)
Conformant texture clamping: Use hardware
Error reporting: off
Extension Limit: off
Force mipmaps: none
Gamma correct antialiasing: off
Hardware acceleration: Compatibility performance (also tried single display performance - same behavior)
Negative LOD bias: Clamp
Texture filtering: performance (also tried quality - same behavior)
Threaded optimization: auto
Transparency antialiasing: off
Trilinear optimization: on
Triple buffering: off
Vertical sync: force off
...I made sure that the Doom3 3D program settings were all set to use global settings

Doom3 config:
Patched to version 1.3.1
DoomConfig.cfg:
unbindall
bind "TAB" "_impulse19"
bind "ENTER" "_button2"
bind "ESCAPE" "togglemenu"
bind "SPACE" "_moveup"
bind "/" "_impulse14"
bind "0" "_impulse10"
bind "1" "_impulse0"
bind "2" "_impulse1"
bind "3" "_impulse2"
bind "4" "_impulse3"
bind "5" "_impulse4"
bind "6" "_impulse5"
bind "7" "_impulse6"
bind "8" "_impulse7"
bind "9" "_impulse8"
bind "[" "_impulse15"
bind "\" "_mlook"
bind "]" "_impulse14"
bind "a" "_moveleft"
bind "c" "_movedown"
bind "d" "_moveright"
bind "f" "_impulse11"
bind "q" "_impulse9"
bind "r" "_impulse13"
bind "s" "_back"
bind "t" "clientMessageMode"
bind "w" "_forward"
bind "y" "clientMessageMode 1"
bind "z" "_zoom"
bind "BACKSPACE" "clientDropWeapon"
bind "PAUSE" "pause"
bind "UPARROW" "_forward"
bind "DOWNARROW" "_back"
bind "LEFTARROW" "_left"
bind "RIGHTARROW" "_right"
bind "ALT" "_strafe"
bind "CTRL" "_attack"
bind "SHIFT" "_speed"
bind "DEL" "_lookdown"
bind "PGDN" "_lookup"
bind "END" "_impulse18"
bind "F1" "_impulse28"
bind "F2" "_impulse29"
bind "F3" "_impulse17"
bind "F5" "savegame quick"
bind "F6" "_impulse20"
bind "F7" "_impulse22"
bind "F9" "loadgame quick"
bind "F12" "screenshot"
bind "MOUSE1" "_attack"
bind "MOUSE2" "_moveup"
bind "MOUSE3" "_zoom"
bind "MWHEELDOWN" "_impulse14"
bind "MWHEELUP" "_impulse15"
seta radiant_entityMode "0"
seta gui_mediumFontLimit "0.60"
seta gui_smallFontLimit "0.30"
seta net_socksPassword ""
seta net_socksUsername ""
seta net_socksPort "1080"
seta net_socksServer ""
seta net_socksEnabled "0"
seta win_ypos "22"
seta win_xpos "3"
seta sys_lang "english"
seta s_decompressionLimit "6"
seta s_useEAXReverb "0"
seta s_useOpenAL "0"
seta s_libOpenAL "openal32.dll"
seta s_numberOfSpeakers "2"
seta s_doorDistanceAdd "150"
seta s_globalFraction "0.8"
seta s_subFraction "0.75"
seta s_playDefaultSound "1"
seta s_volume_dB "0"
seta s_meterTopTime "2000"
seta s_reverse "0"
seta s_spatializationDecay "2"
seta s_maxSoundsPerShader "0"
seta r_debugArrowStep "120"
seta r_debugLineWidth "1"
seta r_debugLineDepthTest "0"
seta r_cgFragmentProfile "best"
seta r_cgVertexProfile "best"
seta r_forceLoadImages "0"
seta r_shadows "1"
seta r_skipBump "0"
seta r_skipSpecular "0"
seta r_skipNewAmbient "0"
seta r_renderer "best"
seta r_brightness "1"
seta r_gamma "1"
seta r_swapInterval "0"
seta r_useIndexBuffers "0"
seta r_customHeight "486"
seta r_customWidth "720"
seta r_fullscreen "1"
seta r_mode "3"
seta r_multiSamples "0"
seta image_downSizeLimit "256"
seta image_ignoreHighQuality "0"
seta image_downSizeBumpLimit "256"
seta image_downSizeSpecularLimit "64"
seta image_downSizeBump "0"
seta image_downSizeSpecular "0"
seta image_useCache "0"
seta image_cacheMegs "20"
seta image_cacheMinK "200"
seta image_usePrecompressedTextures "1"
seta image_useNormalCompression "2"
seta image_useAllFormats "1"
seta image_useCompression "1"
seta image_preload "1"
seta image_roundDown "1"
seta image_forceDownSize "0"
seta image_downSize "0"
seta image_lodbias "0"
seta image_anisotropy "1"
seta image_filter "GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_LINEAR"
seta gui_filter_game "0"
seta gui_filter_idle "0"
seta gui_filter_gameType "0"
seta gui_filter_players "0"
seta gui_filter_password "0"
seta net_clientDownload "1"
seta net_master4 ""
seta net_master3 ""
seta net_master2 ""
seta net_master1 ""
seta net_clientMaxRate "16000"
seta net_serverMaxClientRate "16000"
seta m_strafeSmooth "4"
seta m_smooth "1"
seta m_strafeScale "6.25"
seta m_yaw "0.022"
seta m_pitch "0.022"
seta sensitivity "5"
seta in_toggleZoom "0"
seta in_toggleCrouch "0"
seta in_toggleRun "0"
seta in_alwaysRun "0"
seta in_freeLook "1"
seta in_anglespeedkey "1.5"
seta in_pitchspeed "140"
seta in_yawspeed "140"
seta gui_configServerRate "0"
seta com_guid "BC41uFqhn7Y"
seta com_preloadDemos "0"
seta com_compressDemos "1"
seta com_product_lang_ext "1"
seta sv_punkbuster "0"
seta cl_punkbuster "0"
seta com_videoRam "512"
seta com_showFPS "1"
seta com_purgeAll "0"
seta com_machineSpec "1"
seta net_serverDlTable ""
seta net_serverDlBaseURL ""
seta net_serverDownload "0"
seta mod_validSkins "skins/characters/player/marine_mp;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_green;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_blue;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_red;skins/characters/player/marine_mp_yellow"
seta g_mapCycle "mapcycle"
seta g_voteFlags "0"
seta g_gameReviewPause "10"
seta g_countDown "10"
seta g_password ""
seta g_showBrass "1"
seta g_showProjectilePct "0"
seta g_showHud "1"
seta g_showPlayerShadow "0"
seta g_showcamerainfo "0"
seta g_healthTakeLimit "25"
seta g_healthTakeAmt "5"
seta g_healthTakeTime "5"
seta g_useDynamicProtection "1"
seta g_armorProtectionMP "0.6"
seta g_armorProtection "0.3"
seta g_damageScale "1"
seta g_nightmare "0"
seta g_decals "1"
seta g_doubleVision "1"
seta g_bloodEffects "1"
seta g_projectileLights "1"
seta g_muzzleFlash "1"
seta r_aspectRatio "0"
seta ui_showGun "1"
seta ui_autoReload "1"
seta ui_autoSwitch "1"
seta ui_team "Red"
seta ui_skin "skins/characters/player/marine_mp"
seta ui_name "Player"
seta si_serverURL ""
seta si_spectators "1"
seta si_usePass "0"
seta si_warmup "0"
seta si_teamDamage "0"
seta si_timeLimit "10"
seta si_fragLimit "10"
seta si_maxPlayers "4"
seta si_map "game/mp/d3dm1"
seta si_gameType "singleplayer"
seta si_name "DOOM Server"
seta g_spectatorChat "0"
seta net_clientLagOMeter "1"

I really REALLY need an expert to help me out here. I have been toiling with this for weeks, now. I went out and bought this 7900 GTX card to replace the onboard GeForce 6150 SE, but have no relief.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Hi,

You said this ( BTW, why not just updating the previous topic? ),

I've took a look to the manual of your Motherboard here, http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2/M2NMX_SE_Plus/#download, and it seems that you cannot disable the onboard graphics adapter, but you can set the priority of the graphics device. You should go in the "Advanced" section and check the display device priority, you should have something like [PCIE -> PCI -> IGP].

Thanx for the reply. I started a new thread to get rid of the "6150 se" concern all together and focus on the 7900 GTX.

Yup. The motherboard comes with e GeForce 6150 se integrated video component. And, the only way to "disable it" is to change the priority in the BIOS to select the PCIe slot first( [PCIE -> PCI -> IGP] ), and put a PCIe video card in it. Additionally, I made sure to remove any 6150 drivers. Now, Windows recognizes only the 7900 GTX, so I'm pretty confident I've ensured the 6150 isn't causing any problems. Could I be missing something?

It appears like your processor isn't fully supported even with the latest motherboard bios.
http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?boa ... uage=en-us

Holy Crow!!! tbelvin - thank you SO MUCH! I may not like it, but at least I have something to go on.
I never, in a million years, would have expected a CPU to MB compatibility issue.
I never would have thought to go to the ASUS forums - guess I need to broaden my horizons.
I am so grateful and so thankful to you (tbelvin) for considering my problem, looking into it, and for any research you did.
Knowing the problem is half the battle. Man, I was so close to giving up. Now, I have new hope and new life!
OK - off to ASUS to find a solution.

I love this forum and all of you who contribute! tbelvin, you rock!

I will post my progress and eventual solution for the benefit of others. Though probably most folks aren't using old equipment and OS (and games?) like me. :-\

FIXED, BABY, FIXED!!!
Again, total major thanx to tbelvin.
I tried flashing the bios with the absolute latest update, hoping maybe. NFG.
So, I went out and bought a used AMD Athlon64 X2 5600+ socket AM2 Dual-core CPU @ 2.8 Ghz.
I got it off eBay from a site in Korea, pretty cheap ($45 USD).
I plugged that bad-boy into the machine, and bing-o.

Man, Doom ROCKS!. I can play on Ultra-high video settings, all advanced settings on, and the performance is wicked.

Thank you God! Now, my hair can begin to grow back.

Why don't you update your drivers :/.

update drivers? I will, but right now the damn thing is working great. No need to fix what's not broken.
I'm just glad it's working!

This isn't direct at you, but I honestly wish MS would force end users to upgrade there drivers. Device Manufactures(*cough* ati) are natoreous for writing bad drivers, esp when it comes to OpenGL integration(which doesn't have to comply with a set standard like MS forces with DirectX), so each iteration of there drivers stuff gets fixes/implemeneted on a regular basis. So it will def be in your best interest to upgrade your video drivers, at the very least you might get a awesome speed up : ).

I hear ya regarding keeping drivers current. However, I've read a LOT out there where folks have found that Nvidia has made enhancements to their video drivers to improve performance of newer games, but at the expense of the older ones. Something about the "shader" version. Now, I'm no expert, so please forgive my ignorance and/or improper terms. Older games using version 1.1 seem to be suffering now with newer drivers. I've read quite a bit and found that most folks find the 182.50 to be the last version for this card the Nvidia supported the older games. current drivers are at version 296.10.

So, I'm a little nervous about upgrading the drivers. first, I'm going to let me son have some fun playing this damned game. Then, I plan on installing the 182.50. Will test that. Then, will install the latest 296.10. If performance suffers, I'll drop back down. this may take a week or two, but I'll post my results in this forum.