Heroes of might and magic: Quest for the dragonbone staff FPS issues

[Kazhang]

I get 60 as the game starts, but as soon as it gets to choosing my hero, down to 25... nothing seems to fix it...

Any ideas?

[Alakazander]

What to post when asking for help.

Specifically, we need your system specs, PCSX2 version, and any non-default settings you have enabled. Get those and come back to us.

[Kazhang]

What to post when asking for help.

Specifically, we need your system specs, PCSX2 version, and any non-default settings you have enabled. Get those and come back to us.

Sorry, I did it fast.

8 GB DDR3 System Memory at 1333 MHz (4 GB x 2)

Windows 7 64 bit.

Intel® Core™ i7 Processor 2630QM (2 GHz, 6 MB L3 Cache) Quad core btw.

NVIDIA® GeForce® GT 540M Graphics, Optimus™ technology
2 GB DDR3

PCSX2 0.9.8, nothing modified (tried speed hacks, did nothing, reverted to default after)

Update: I got it running at 300 FPS...I can choose my character, buy units from town, check the town just slightly to the south, and I go move west and east for a little, as soon as I move slightly out of the town (to where there is treasure/enemies) my fps drops from 200-25, in battle, drops to 6FPS.

[Alakazander]

Alright, so you're on a laptop, right?

Try changing your power plan to "High Performance", that way you can get to max Turbo Frequency.

Also, your GPU isn't the greatest, so I would try going to Config --> Video (GS) --> Plugin Settings... and under "Original PS2 resolution" tick "Native".


EDIT:
Also, PCSX2 version 1.0.0 has been released, so you may want to try that out.

[Kazhang]

Alright, so you're on a laptop, right?

Try changing your power plan to "High Performance", that way you can get to max Turbo Frequency.

Also, your GPU isn't the greatest, so I would try going to Config --> Video (GS) --> Plugin Settings... and under "Original PS2 resolution" tick "Native".


EDIT:
Also, PCSX2 version 1.0.0 has been released, so you may want to try that out.

Nothing. I`m using 1.0.0 now, but it randomly started crashing whenever I hit New Game... not even sure what's causing it.

[Alakazander]

The game or the program?
Does the game lock-up, or do you get a message saying "PCSX2 is not responding", etc.?

[Kazhang]

The game or the program?
Does the game lock-up, or do you get a message saying "PCSX2 is not responding", etc.?

1. Tyrndamere :3

2. Pscx2 locks up. I'll click "new game" and nothing, it stops responding.

I can play without any hacks on, but...I lack any FPS, it's the only way I can actually get into the game, just not playable.

[Alakazander]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you... did the game not freeze before you put your power plan to "High Performance" and set the Internal PS2 resolution to "Native"?
You said you were not using speedhacks before, and now you are using them? Did the speedhacks start making a difference? Because when you said the game was freezing, you didn't mention them.
There is some step in the process that I'm missing here.

Right now, go to speedhacks, and revert everything to default. Then tick the MTVU hack, that should be the only one you need.

[Kazhang]

Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you... did the game not freeze before you put your power plan to "High Performance" and set the Internal PS2 resolution to "Native"?
You said you were not using speedhacks before, and now you are using them? Did the speedhacks start making a difference? Because when you said the game was freezing, you didn't mention them.
There is some step in the process that I'm missing here.

Right now, go to speedhacks, and revert everything to default. Then tick the MTVU hack, that should be the only one you need.

High performance made no different (mainly because I was already on it )

I had speedhacks on, it didn't make a difference so I reset to default then turned them off.

I have MTVU hack on, no difference, still sitting extremely low on my FPS.

Pscx2 freezing seems to be random, Although I did a save state and it tends to avoid the freezing when I load the state.

[Knightshade]

this is old and from another site but this may help.

Configure PCSX2 like this:

a) Graphics - ZeroGS 0.97.1 (the other plugins have problems)

Select "Configure..." and experiment with the settings. I used the following settings :

- Interlace Enable
- Anti-Aliasing 4X = Anti-Aliasing None
- Save Snapshots as BMP
- Fullscreen

Click on OK and test it after that (press "Test..."). It should be alright.

b) Sound - P.E.Op.S. SPU2 1.9.0

Don't forget to test it.

c) First Controller - SSSPSX PAD Plugin 1.7.0

Click on "Configure..." to set your buttons. I have a Logitech Chillstream Gamepad and I didn't use the keyboard.

d) Cdvdrom - Gigaherz's CDVD Plugin

Click on "Configure..." and select your drive (physical or virtual). I used a DTools virtual SCSI drive.

note the bold and extra anti aliasing which would be the only thing I would change to increase fps also note that the numbers after the plug-in names maybe different as there have been newer releases of the emulator and these plug-ins (this was for pcsx0.9.6) the important thing is the plug-in itself and not the release #.

let us know if this helps any

[Alakazander]

High performance made no different (mainly because I was already on it )
I had speedhacks on, it didn't make a difference so I reset to default then turned them off.
I have MTVU hack on, no difference, still sitting extremely low on my FPS.
Pscx2 freezing seems to be random, Although I did a save state and it tends to avoid the freezing when I load the state.

Well, this is a conundrum. There are ways around freezing, and their are ways of getting higher FPS, but they may not go well together.

Low FPS:
From what I've read, this game is poorly optimized, so you may not be able to get 40+ FPS constantly. But there are some things to note:
First, never set the VU Cycle stealing to 3 ever, under any circumstances. It will only report false FPS and probably break your game.
In fact, the only slider I recommend even touching is the EE Cyclerate, and I would usually only recommend putting it to 2. However, you can try putting EE Cyclerate to 3 and VU Cycle Stealing to 2 with the MTVU hack enabled.
Sorry if all of ^That^ is just repeating what you have already done.

Now, under both EE/IOP and VUs, set the Clamping Mode to "None".
Personally, I've had very inconsistent results with this, and it may not work with whatever fixes your freezing.

PCSX2 Freezing:
Actually, now that I go back and read your post you didn't quite answer my question. Or, more accurately, you didn't make the distinction I was asking for.
Do you get something like this:

Or does the game freeze, but the program continues to run?

EDIT:

note the bold and extra anti aliasing which would be the only thing I would change to increase fps also note that the numbers after the plug-in names maybe different as there have been newer releases of the emulator and these plug-ins (this was for pcsx0.9.6) the important thing is the plug-in itself and not the release #.

ZeroGS hasn't been updated in 2 or 3 years (I'm pretty sure ZeroGS 0.97.1 was the last release), that's why it's not included in the plugin pack any longer.
It may keep the game from freezing, but it will definitely not increase his FPS.