Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Extremely helpful -- thanks for posting & sticky'ing this. =) Triple buffering just messed me up more, but the fakefullscreen=false tweak along with adjusting the frame rate under "troubleshoot" to match my video refresh rate has made a world of difference. =)
Originally Posted by smackphat
If you get the blank screen wait for your hard drive to stop, then push Enter. That will send an error report and gracefully land you back to your desktop. Sounds wonky, but it's true. Works every time I exit the game and the client crashes to blank screen. It's important not to push anything else aside from enter though. Otherwise you could lose the focus of the dialog box.
This may be old news by now, but I figured out the freeze/crash on exit [at least on my system] that happens sometimes is because LOTRO is conflicting with the system's DEP (Data Execution Protection [in "advanced system settings"]). While I wouldn't necessarily advocate telling anybody to bypass their system's DEP, once I added lotroclient.exe to the list of exception items (not monitored by DEP) my crashes/freezes upon exit greatly decreased.
(*note: I'm on Vista32 -- don't know if this would necessarily apply to XP, etc.)
Last edited by Graythandor; Aug 28 2007 at 12:14 AM.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Originally Posted by ChrisNYC75
Extremely helpful -- thanks for posting & sticky'ing this. =) Triple buffering just messed me up more, but the fakefullscreen=false tweak along with adjusting the frame rate under "troubleshoot" to match my video refresh rate has made a world of difference. =)
This may be old news by now, but I figured out the freeze/crash on exit [at least on my system] that happens sometimes is because LOTRO is conflicting with the system's DEP (Data Execution Protection [in "advanced system settings"]). While I wouldn't necessarily advocate telling anybody to bypass their system's DEP, once I added lotroclient.exe to the list of exception items (not monitored by DEP) my crashes/freezes upon exit greatly decreased.
(*note: I'm on Vista32 -- don't know if this would necessarily apply to XP, etc.)
Sorry for the slow reply. Thanks for the kudos!
I added your note about the DEP for the shutdown lockups. I changed a bit of it and made it 3rd persion so it read with the guide better.
Core2 Duo 6700 2.6ghz, ASUS P5N32-E SLI 680i, 2 eVGA 7950GT 512mb, OZC PC2-6400 2gb, WD SATA 250gb, 650w PS, WinXP Pro
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
allowfakefullscreen=false screws up my calibrated LCD ICC profile on vista. i used spyder 2 pro to calibrate the colors and gamma. i have to use TRUE to have my ICC work
even using MCW persistant profile override doesnt work in FALSE mode.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Originally Posted by damafan88
allowfakefullscreen=false screws up my calibrated LCD ICC profile on vista. i used spyder 2 pro to calibrate the colors and gamma. i have to use TRUE to have my ICC work
even using MCW persistant profile override doesnt work in FALSE mode.
Sorry to hear your troubles, I am not sure what the workaround is for this.
Core2 Duo 6700 2.6ghz, ASUS P5N32-E SLI 680i, 2 eVGA 7950GT 512mb, OZC PC2-6400 2gb, WD SATA 250gb, 650w PS, WinXP Pro
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
I had followed this guide previously and gotten my framerate up running with a single 7950GT. So, awesome guide!
However, I just got a second 7950GT today and believe I've set everything up correctly for SLI. I'm hoping that someone can help explain why my framerate *drops* about 25% (from ~40-45 to ~30-32 in SLI). This is consistent regardless of running SFR/AFR1/AFR2.
I enabled the SLI visual indicators and see the green bar, its just not doing much except in the loading screens. Even the character selection screen has a lower framerate than running single GPU.
I have AFFS set to False. SLI performance Mode set in the LOTRO profile of Nvidia CP.
Can anyone help explain what might be going on or what I can try differently? Otherwise, I'm a little disappointed to have bought a second card for no reason. Thanks!
[EDIT]
More information. I believe my SLI configuration is working as I get about a 50% framerate boost to Hellgate: London (from ~40-42 to ~60 in SLI). So this makes me think there is a LOTRO setting that I have wrong or the game simply doesn't benefit from SLI.
Last edited by Thaladar_LOTRO; Nov 06 2007 at 10:39 PM.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
I did the same thing adding a second 7950 to my system and experiencing the exactly the same things you are. I have not figured it out yet and have had the second card for months.
My buddy at work says that he built his SLI setup then installed OS and software and his works fine with two 7950s. He says I should wipe my drive and see if a clean install would clean it up but there is not any time for me to do that now so I also only use SLI on other games than LOTRO.
I don’t think I am much help; you might post your question as a new thread in the video area so others will notice it better and help.
Core2 Duo 6700 2.6ghz, ASUS P5N32-E SLI 680i, 2 eVGA 7950GT 512mb, OZC PC2-6400 2gb, WD SATA 250gb, 650w PS, WinXP Pro
Re: Voice chat -" how to" (origionally posted by Tiggs)
good post
one common thing i see (hear) is people on voice chat who are very quiet.
Many microphones need the 'boost' enabled in windows.
Don't forget to test your audio in game - to get a feel for how it sounds
screenshots
Last edited by demosthenes; Nov 14 2007 at 11:52 PM.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
While following this excellent guide and the various suggestions, I did not find any solutions that worked for me.
However, I was able to successfully solve my video stuttering, and hopefully this will work for others.
I noticed that the in-game movies never played well in full-screen mode, and played just fine in windowed mode _only_ when the mouse wasn't over the window.
On a hunch, I turned off the mouse pointer trails and -- voila! -- movies henceforth played without a hitch.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Id like to share a theory I have discovered after my run of greater borrows last night regarding hitching and hesitation.
I recently bought a new computer system that is more than enough power to run just about any directx 10 game cept maybe crysis in maxed out mode. I still have my old system I was playing Rings on which is four years old and running a 7600gs card in it. My new system which is a Quade Core q6600 with 2 gigs 1066mhz ram and an 8800gtx graphics card has just as many hitching and hesitation issues as my old system did. There was no improvement at all. I am able to run the game at native 1600x1200 resolution on ultra high graphics and get 60fps no problems. However anytime I am in a "busy" map of the game I get horrible hitching and hesitation where I get a momentary frame rate drop of 15 to 20 fps. The less crowded the map the less the hitching. I am able to set the game to 1024x768 and low graphics settings and I still get the hesitation and hitching when in crowded areas.
Last night while running GB with my kinship there was absolutely no hitching or sudden frame rate drops at all! This leads me to believe that not all hitching issues are due to an individual system and its configuration. I do believe that part of it has to do with server lag and bandwidth issues. Now im sure there are some issues people are having with their own graphics drivers and such, however this will effect ones own FPS more then getting server lag related hitching. The servers may be becoming over crowded or just not able to handle the load as well as they could. I have also noticed that when logged on early in the morning with a lower amount of players online the hitching is much less, anytime going to bree or other populated city you will experience this more due to the server trying to synchronize all the players locations and data.
If you also notice this please respond and lets make some awareness to the issue. Maybe the developers will take note and try and patch the problems, or at least put some kind of indicator to how populated a specific server is when creating a toon to play with.
Again this is just my personal theory so please dont attack me if you disagree, however I would like feedback.
Re: Voice chat -" how to" (origionally posted by Tiggs)
I dont have a mic, but recently ive been having problems hearing fellow members talking to me over voice chat. ive tried turning it off and off, relogging and leaving and entering the group again but nothing seems to be working. any ideas?
im assuming my headphones work because i can hear combat sounds but i have my in-game music option on zero because i usually have my mp3 stuck into my other ear.. is that the problem?
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
This is the same issue I'm having with my twin 8800gtx's. Any have an answer to this?
I had followed this guide previously and gotten my framerate up running with a single 7950GT. So, awesome guide!
However, I just got a second 7950GT today and believe I've set everything up correctly for SLI. I'm hoping that someone can help explain why my framerate *drops* about 25% (from ~40-45 to ~30-32 in SLI). This is consistent regardless of running SFR/AFR1/AFR2.
I enabled the SLI visual indicators and see the green bar, its just not doing much except in the loading screens. Even the character selection screen has a lower framerate than running single GPU.
I have AFFS set to False. SLI performance Mode set in the LOTRO profile of Nvidia CP.
Can anyone help explain what might be going on or what I can try differently? Otherwise, I'm a little disappointed to have bought a second card for no reason. Thanks!
[EDIT]
More information. I believe my SLI configuration is working as I get about a 50% framerate boost to Hellgate: London (from ~40-42 to ~60 in SLI). So this makes me think there is a LOTRO setting that I have wrong or the game simply doesn't benefit from SLI.
Re: Voice chat -" how to" (origionally posted by Tiggs)
Originally Posted by Fernelf
** Originally POsted by Tiggs!**
To set up voice chat in game:
Before using voice chat, you must first make sure that your microphone is set up in correctly in Windows, and then turn on the correct settings in-game:
Check that your headphone and microphone jacks are plugged in correctly – on most headsets and soundcards, the headphone jack is light green and the microphone jack is orange.
Check that your headset’s external volume control (if present) is turned up.
Check that your headset’s external microphone ON/OFF switch (if present) is turned ON.
Go to Start >> Control Panel >> Sounds and Audio Devices.
On the Audio tab, click on the Volume button in the Sound Recording section. This should open up the Recording Control window.
Check that the Microphone option is checked. If you don’t see the Microphone entry, select Advanced Controls from the Options menu.
Close the Recording Control window and click on the Volume button in the Sound Playback section of the Sounds and Audio Devices control panel. This should open up the Volume Control window:
Check that the Mute checkbox under the microphone slider is checked.
Open up the Windows Sound Recorder. You can find it by going to Start >> All Programs >> Accessories >> Entertainment >> Sound Recorder.
Click the Record button (red circle) in the lower right-hand corner of the window and speak a few words into your microphone. Hit the Stop button and then the Play button to play back your recording. If your microphone is set up correctly in Windows, you will hear yourself speaking.
Close the Windows Sound Recorder. You do not need to save your sound file.
Log into LOTRO.
Open up the Options panel and click on the Audio button.
Click on the Mic Test checkbox and a volume meter will appear. Speak into your microphone – if your microphone is working correctly in LOTRO, you will see the volume meter go up while you are speaking. Turn off the Mic Test when you’re done.
Next click the Enable Voice Chat and Hands Free Voice checkboxes to turn on voice chat.
To enable a keybinding for voice chat click on the keybindings tab
Using Voice Chat
Now that you’ve completed your setup, you’ll probably to start using voice chat. In order to do this, you simply need to find a party that is using voice chat, or start one of your own.
Please make sure that you have voice chat turned on before you join the party – otherwise it probably won’t work right. If you want to turn on voice chat while you’re already in a party, you should leave the party, turn voice chat on, and join the party again. If you forget to do this and your voice chat breaks, logging out and logging back in again should fix the problem.
Voice chat options are turned off by default.
Hopefully someone will read this, but I walked through this entire voice chat instruction (really good btw) and my mic works fine in Windows XP, but I get nothing ingame. I checked the mic test ingame and nothing happens when I speak into my mic. When I'm in a fellowship, I can hear everyone fine, but I'm not making any sound. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
I'm using a logitech mic if that makes any difference.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Step 3: Reset The Game Display Settings
Launch the LOTRO game launcher and open the options window. Select the repair tab and set the “Reset the game display settings” option. Continue to login and startup LOTRO and agree to the popup about resetting the game display settings.
Since it is hard to tell what has been set on each system it is wise to do a clean start on the graphics options. A good thing to remember is that the “Reset The Game Display Settings” option is also useful when trying to figure out crashes and lockups.
I did not see the 'Reset the Game Display settings' is it still there in the current client? Was this seen only before login to your character or onto the server itself?
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Originally Posted by Lightwalker
Step 3: Reset The Game Display Settings
I did not see the 'Reset the Game Display settings' is it still there in the current client? Was this seen only before login to your character or onto the server itself?
I used the "default graphics" button. I'm not sure if that was what was intended, but that is what I used for that particular step.
I just wanted to say thank you to the OP for this thread. I have been playing for about 3 months now and have enjoyed the game enough that I built an entirely new system in hopes of running the game better. Imagine my disappointment when I was only able to run the game between the medium and high graphics settings, with occasional stuttering/lock-ups. After following this guide, I am now running on ultra high graphics settings. I don't usually post, but I had to get my two cents in. Thanks again!
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Hey guys i usualy im just a Lurker on these boards. i play alot of LOTRO but latley i have been getting bad hitching especially on horseback. and aslo been getting werid back and forth FPS. anyone have any idea what i did wrong to make my game all of a sudden get like this? before it was running really good with no hitching at all. here is my DXDIAG information. any advise would be helpful
------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 1/15/2008, 12:00:04
Machine name: BRANDONS-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.071009-1548)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Inspiron 531
BIOS: oC)Phoenix - AwardBIOSTeDell System v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ (2 CPUs), ~2.3GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
Page File: 654MB used, 4391MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 6.00.6000.16386 32bit Unicode
------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
BDA Transport Information Renderers:
BDA MPEG2 Transport Information Filter,0x00600000,2,0,psisrndr .ax,6.06.6000.16398
MPEG-2 Sections and Tables,0x00600000,1,0,Mpeg2Dat a.ax,6.06.6000.16398
Re: Voice chat -" how to" (origionally posted by Tiggs)
This is driving me nuts. I have been using vchat forever no probs.
Except how do I get just the vchat to come through my USB headset not the game sounds. It works sometimes if i plug my USB headset in after the game has started but not always. My PC also sometimes has a BSOD if I hotplug the USB headset in too much. I have tried alot of things but nothing seems to work. I guess this is only available if you arent using the onboard sound - it is so nice and I would love to get it working again.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Wow... i set fakefullscreen to false, and now the game wont progress past the loading screen. it gives me that music u hear when u have to choose a character to log in with, but it doesnt show the screen, just the main lotro loading screen... this is ********
Re: Voice chat -" how to" (origionally posted by Tiggs)
Originally Posted by RobinThorp
Hopefully someone will read this, but I walked through this entire voice chat instruction (really good btw) and my mic works fine in Windows XP, but I get nothing ingame. I checked the mic test ingame and nothing happens when I speak into my mic. When I'm in a fellowship, I can hear everyone fine, but I'm not making any sound. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
I'm using a logitech mic if that makes any difference.
Yes I've been having the exact same problem. My mic works fine in Windows, and even in TS and Vent, but when I log onto LotRO I get nothing. Just in case, I am also using a logitech mic.
"I've brushed with death so often, I should start giving him high-fives when I pass..."
"Take that lorebreaker! Behold the wrath of Tolkien!" ~Harumph
Re: Voice chat -" how to" (origionally posted by Tiggs)
Originally Posted by Arvaen
Yes I've been having the exact same problem. My mic works fine in Windows, and even in TS and Vent, but when I log onto LotRO I get nothing. Just in case, I am also using a logitech mic.
Hey Arvaen! I got mine to work! In my case, I played around with the Latency and Voice Capture Threshold bars with the mic test on and suddenly it started working. My Latency is really low and my Capture Threshold is not quite at full. Try moving those a bit with all Voice Enabled and with the Mic Test on. Let me know if that works.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Originally Posted by TheScyphozoa
I just want to know... what is "Fake Full Screen"? I mean what does it do if it's enabled?
It doesn't actually run in full-screen mode (in terms of how the program is handled and resources are allocated to it). "Fake full screen" means it's still running in windowed mode, but the window size is set to the monitor size and the window borders are removed. Setting the option to false will allow the program to actually run in full-screen mode.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
There's some biased, untrue information in this thread.
For example, it's listed that a 60c load is maximum and included the 6x series of cards... the 6600GT for example idles at about 55c in a well cooled system, and revs up (once again, in a well cooled system) to about 85c without any problems at all. nVidia clearly stated at the time of release that alot of the 6x series is fine running at Low-Mid 80's celcius, because of the way the GDDR3 memory is utilized and the weaker on-card fans. Also, the 7600GT is confirmed not only by nVidia, but by Turbine and Blizzard tech to be running fine at 85c load, because once again, how the memory is utilized by the card.
If you want any help tech-wise, feel free to PM me on the forums. I won't laugh at your system, I won't use nerd lingo to mock you.
Last edited by Branno; Apr 28 2008 at 05:02 AM.
You are the only one with the ability to turn this tide.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Hey, thanks for the guide! I was experiencing some severe hitching beginning about a month or so ago and hadn't been able to get it fixed. So I saw this guide and decided to give it a try. However, I decided to first remove a wireless network card that I had installed a while back but didn't need in the system anymore. Well, what do you know, when I opened the case, the main fan was no longer running, lol. So I replaced the fan and everything seems fine again. Then, looking through the guide I see that heat is one of the last items listed, lol. This is a simple thing to look for and for some reason it didn't pop into my head to check out the fans.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Great guide Hey, I set my windowed resolution to the same as full screen mode, 1280 x 1024, which is my max res. But as soon as I go to windowed mode, it starts displaying my windowed resolution as custom. This happened when Fakefullscreen was on, and it still happens with it set to false now. Anyone know why?
85 Callo Istur of Mirkwood Elf Lore-Master Officer of Into the West Elendilmir
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
It's probably because of the window's title bar. It creates a space where the game can't extend into, so the resolution is actually a few pixels less than your screen resolution. I don't think Allowfakefullscreen affects anything when you are in windowed mode.
Not a player of LOTRO, an inhabitant of Middle-earth. Who hates the new forum software.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
I don't know folks. I should have "0" issues running this at Ultra High with my current system.
I have a freshly formatted HD with Vista SP1 and all current drivers including video, chipset and audio. It doesn't make sense that I should have to tweak anything to get it to run properly. I am not bragging by any means, I'm only saying that my old system had this problem and upgrading did nothing for the skipping. As a matter of fact, I can't play using DX10 without taking such a Framerate hit; it (for the most part) becomes unplayable.
Here is my older and newer specs. As you can see, I upgraded the CPU, MB and RAM Only:
My older specs were:
AMD64 Dual Core 4800
DFI LANPARTY UT CFX3200-DR/G
ATI 2900XT-1024 MB Version - Crossfire (2 GB Video Memory Total)
SB Fatality
4 GB DDR400
RAID 0 - 2 SATA 300 - 320 GB
Thermaltake W0156RU - 1200 Watt Power Supply
24" Monitor - 1920x1200 Resolution
Vista 64 SP1
My newer specs are:
ASUS P5E3 Premium/WiFi-AP @n Motherboard.
Intel Q6600 @ 3.00
ATI 2900XT-1024 MB Version - Crossfire (2 GB Video Memory Total)
SB Fatality
4 GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333-DHX Series
RAID 0 - 2 SATA 300 - 320 GB
Thermaltake W0156RU - 1200 Watt Power Supply
24" Monitor - 1920x1200 Resolution
Vista 64 SP1
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Has there been any feedback from Turbine on what they're doing about this issue? It seems odd that I find reports of hitching all over the web still and this sticky has had several thousand views...I really don't think its a user hardware issue.
I love this game but I'm not willing to just tolerate an annoying glitch when my system has no problem running anything else, including the mighty (boring) AoC.
Core2Duo 2.13ghz, 4gb ram, 512mb 8800gt, Vista 32.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Originally Posted by TheScyphozoa
It's probably because of the window's title bar. It creates a space where the game can't extend into, so the resolution is actually a few pixels less than your screen resolution.
Makes sense. Thanks
85 Callo Istur of Mirkwood Elf Lore-Master Officer of Into the West Elendilmir
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
I am at a loss to what my problem is. I have a AMD FX-62, with two evga gts 8800 OOC KO 640mb cards in SLi. I am only getting 30 FPS max and my problem is it keeps hiccuping to 7 FPS (in that area) for 2 seconds or so. I did not always have this problem, seems like after the latest patch i started getting these issues. I tried removing my creative sound card because i was getting crackling and thought maybe that was the cause, but that has not done any difference. I have been playing around with pretty much every option in the game and nvidia control panel (including the stuff listed in the guide) and got nothing accomplished. I'm wondering if anyone else has any more suggestions?
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
Originally Posted by Gatorhorde
Has there been any feedback from Turbine on what they're doing about this issue? It seems odd that I find reports of hitching all over the web still and this sticky has had several thousand views...I really don't think its a user hardware issue.
I love this game but I'm not willing to just tolerate an annoying glitch when my system has no problem running anything else, including the mighty (boring) AoC.
Core2Duo 2.13ghz, 4gb ram, 512mb 8800gt, Vista 32.
I'm going to have to agree, this is still an issue a year after launch and yet my system runs the poorly optimized AoC at a steady 70fps with no hitching at the same general settings (1680x1050, high/very high with 2xAA/16xAF).
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
I'm gonna copy my post from another thread. People running in Dx10 might find it interesting.
Update, I decided to try switching from Dx10 to Dx9, and it seems DX10 might have been the culprit. Downgrading to Dx9 actually seemed like an upgrade, my visuals are much better, everything looks better, my combat animations more details..etc. I only played around for a couple minutes but it seemed smooth as a baby's bare- you get the idea. In dx10 I was running everything maxed out in ultra, but I couldn't turn on post processing effects because it gutted my fps by like 25. When I made the switch down to Dx9 I decided to turn it on just to see, now everything looks way way better and it didn't dent my fps at all. I think my problem had to do with Dx10. I had tried reinstalling directx like I said in my other post but it detected I was already up to date and canceled. Dx10 is new to lotro though right? Maybe its poorly optimized? I dunno, seemed really wierd, not sure if its on my side or not, you guys at turbine might want to look into this.
Re: How To Guide: Improving Video Hitching, Glitching, Stuttering
When I set FakeFullScreen=False I get color distortion like red clouds, character skin is blue and green and other strange happenings. Below is my system:
AMD Athalon 64 X2 5000+ (Dual core 2.6GHz)
Radeon HD 2600 XT 512MB x2 in Crossfire
4GB RAM
Vista x64
7200 RPM Seagate Barracuda with 32MB Cache
Anyone ever found a reason for this happening, or am I the only one with the problem?
***Note
My wife has an identical system and has the same issue. I think that it may be related to our graphics cards, but would love to know how to fix.