Low FPS on high spec computer and clean Steam install

[baldamundo]

I'm on a basically brand new Steam install, only mod I'm running is SpaceTiger's FPS viewer ( http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/116034 ) and I'm getting weirdly low FPS even on 'Normal' graphics settings.

30FPS at the main menu, 25FPS in the space centre, down to 15-20FPS if I load up the stock 87-part space shuttle in the VAB, and if I take it to the launch pad it never goes above 10FPS. That's from the launchpad, through launch, even after separating from all the boosters and just drifting in a stable orbit. And those results are from testing shortly after a fresh reboot, with nothing except Steam running in the background.

I'm on a pretty much brand new fairly high spec laptop (at least for KSP) - 16GB RAM, 3.2GHz processor, GeForce840M Graphics card - all well above even the recommended specs for KSP. (dxdiag system info: http://pastebin.com/46mHBpvy )

This is on Windows 8.1, the 32-bit version of KSP 1.0.4, frameless window mode, default terrain detail, terrain scatters disabled, render quality 'good', quarter texture quality, fallback shaders disabled, aerodynamic FX low, screen res 1920x1080 (native for the laptop), 2x anti-aliasing, 120FPS frame limit (ha!), VSync 'every second VBlank', 0.04 max delta-time per frame. I think that's everything?

Any ideas?

- - - Updated - - -

Just seen this thread which seems like basically the same issue http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/134733-KSP-running-at-around-10FPS so here's my output log https://www.dropbox.com/s/mw0bnsvlne6o6p9/output_log.txt?dl=0 and I'll try updating my drivers and having the task manager set KSP to high priority and see what happens.

[Guest]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-840M.105681.0.html

The perf of the 840m isn't very impressive

Have you tried lowering the resolution?

Also this may help a lot (or not at all) to improve CPU perf.

http://www.coderbag.com/Programming-C/Disable-CPU-Core-Parking-Utility

[baldamundo]

Aha. Might have solved it. Turned my 'energy manager' settings to 'high performance' and set KSP to 'high priority', and now the same launch is about 15-25FPS at launch through lower atmosphere, and 30FPS fairly consistently from first stage separation onwards, even with all of the graphics settings set to highest.

The only thing that puzzles me, though, is the FPS didn't increase at all in the main menu, space centre, VAB etc, as if it was capped at 30FPS, even though the limit in the options menu is set to 120FPS. Any idea why that is or if that's a problem?

Anyway, now that that seems to be working I'll go back to seeing if I can make my modded installation playable again...

[Padishar]

It is the vsync every second vblank setting. This effectively limits you to half of your screen's refresh rate. Set it to off instead or if you get nasty tearing then set it to every vblank.

[baldamundo]

Ahhh. What actually even is vsync and what are the advantages of it?

[sal_vager]

V-sync means vertical synchronization, basically the draw to the screen should only occur when v-sync is enabled, so tearing and similar unwanted effects are avoided.

[joe_da_cro]

if you do all the above and do not notice any improvements take a look at process lasso.

It is an application where you can force power profiles when running certain applications and it will also leverage priorities to improve system responsiveness given the task you are trying to do. great thing about it is that there is a gaming mode which will force a power scheme which has been designed to maximise performance even on laptops without having to fiddle with power profiles. On top of the gaming mode there is a idle mode which you can set it to a power saving power profile when you are afk from your PC.

basically i use idle so it cycles down and turns on core parking when im not using the PC and run the max settings when gaming mode is engaged.

i wont post a link to the application as it is geared towards payment (even though there is a free version) but its not hard to find via google.

TLDR. it takes the guess work out of troubleshooting laptop power features and also optimises your computer usage especially when multitasking.

[baldamundo]

Ooooh - that actually sounds really handy. Thanks!

[cantab]

Vsync is useful if the game would otherwise run at a much *higher* framerate than the screen can display, since without Vsync one refresh of the monitor will show parts of two or more frames of the game resulting in "tearing". If the framerate is *lower* than the screen refresh rate then vsync will cause judder and is probably better turned off.