Installed much better CPU, game is super slow now

[brandbll 10]

So a few months ago i upgraded my GPU from a 512 MB GPU to a Nvidia GTX550 TI and i got a Phenom II 955 3.1 x4. I went from a 2.1 x3 CPU, so i feel like i should have seen better performance. I installed the GPU, no problems and i got better graphics. Unfortunately for the CPU i found out i had to flash the BIOS in order to make my moterboard AM3 compatible(Foxconn A7GM-S). That seemed scary as shit to a computer illiterate like me, so i put that off for quite a few months. During that time i played tons of Arma 2 OA Wasteland. Never really had bad lag or anything unless i was in a really populated game. And my internet connection is superb.

Then i gathered up the courage, did extensive research, and flashed my BIOS. Popped the CPU in and everything seemed to be wroking fine...until i loaded up Wasteland. All the servers i normally use to go to, were laggy and choppy as all hell, it's unplayable. I've gone through and updated the AMD Chipset driver for my (ww.foxconnchannel.com/ProductDetail.aspx?T=motherboard&U=en-us0000371), although i didn't DL the RAID driver thing. I downloaded the latest driver for my CPU. I've checked everything on the BIOS menu tens of times and everything looks right and i just DLed CPU-Z last night and everything looked right on there.

I've reinstalled the game twice now, although for some reason Steam doesn't like to uninstall everything because when i re-DL it all my settings are the same. Which, btw, i've tinkered with the visual settings and dropped them down to rock bottom even though they weren't at that before when things were running decently. The biggest difference i've noticed is the load time. It takes FOREVER for me to load into a game when before i typically got into a game faster than anyone i played with. And if i press escape while it's loading my guy is there with a pistol or i am a crow on the ground and then when i back out i go back to a black screen that is initializing or still loading. Oh, i forgot to say that the other online game i play a lot, War Thunder, also has been loading really slow although it is at least still playable.

I'm at a loss here boys. I'm knee deep in my own shit and i need someone to hand me a shovel! Any help is much appreciated!

Edited May 21, 2013 by brandbll

[Sakai 1]

Allow me to ask.. How much of thermal paste have you thrown? It can overheat and be choppy, that what has happened to me "once"

[brandbll 10]

I just used what was already on it when it came from the company...

[Sakai 1]

I just used what was already on it when it came from the company...

Well I guess thats not a lot but either way it is not the problem than but let me tell you a thing, remove the the CPU cooler, remove the thermal paste from the cooler and CPU and buy a new better thermal paste because the stock ones are worthless shit's

Hope you will get your problem solved.

[brandbll 10]

K, so you don't think that's the problem but you recommend doing that? What would you recommend i use to get the old thermal paste off?

[Sakai 1]

K, so you don't think that's the problem but you recommend doing that? What would you recommend i use to get the old thermal paste off?

Alcohol and some fiber that you for example clean glass with. I think pure Ethanol is safe or simply buy a product special for that job. E.G. google - thermal paste remover and go to shopping.

But make sure you have no static charge while doing it.

[mobile_medic 43]

Rubbing Alcohol and coffee filters work well for cleaning thermal paste off of heat sinks.

Make sure you are keeping an eye on your temperatures, with a new cpu installation. Especially, as a first-timer. Real Temp is a good free option that I will recommend for that. That will help you be confident that your thermal application is good. Expect some break in period.

It does not take a lot of thermal paste at all. You might consider buying a tube of Arctic Silver 5 off of Amazon or something <link>, and doing a fresh application as per their recommendations for your specific processor if you don't feel very confident in your original application. I would recommend that you "prime" the area first (after you've cleaned off the old paste) by putting a small dot in the center, and spreading it into a thin film across the surface area. This will help to fill in small imperfections in the surface. Lightly wipe off the excess with a dry (no alcohol applied this time. the alcohol is for the initial cleaning) piece of coffee filter. Once that is done, apply a small bead in the center (doing a quick search for your processor, it looks like a bead a little smaller than a bb is called for). Then, cleanly install the heatsink (you do not need to spread this bead. the installation of the heatsink will take care of that for you).

[brandbll 10]

I'm still going to do that, but i just DLed speedfan and my core temp is running at 31' C W/ the game running.

[mobile_medic 43]

sounds like a great temp. just keep an eye on it over the next week or so.

What are your temps at idle? I think 60c is the upper end of the range for your cpu under load. You might look into whether your processor is being properly utilized or not (not from the game, but your system in general). power settings in windows, or the bios could be possible culprits if this turns out to be the case. Or, your mobo (considering it needed a bios update) might be ill-suited. That is just speculation on my part though.

[brandbll 10]

HEre's some readings:

Core Voltage: 1.008 V

Core Speed: ~800 Mhz

multiplier: x4

Bus Speed: ~200

HT Link:~2000 Mhz

Cache:

L1 Data: 4x64 Kbytes 2 way

L1 Inst: 4x64Kbytes 2 way

Level 2: 4x512 Kbytes 16 way

Level 3: 6 Mbytes 48 way

[mobile_medic 43]

your processor is only running at 800mhz? If that is true, I'd say that's your primary problem :) I haven't owned an amd in some years now, though... perhaps that is reported differently.

But, looks like that 4x multiplier is the issue. bus at 200 x 4 = 800 mhz.

In contrast, mine (an intel, though, and as I said, I'm out of date on amd) is a 157.6 bus with a 25x multiplier = 3940mhz.

[[frl]myke 15]

your processor is only running at 800mhz? If that is true, I'd say that's your primary problem :) I haven't owned an amd in some years now, though... perhaps that is reported differently.

But, looks like that 4x multiplier is the issue. bus at 200 x 4 = 800 mhz.

In contrast, mine (an intel, though, and as I said, I'm out of date on amd) is a 157.6 bus with a 25x multiplier = 3940mhz.

Forget this. These 800MHz aren't ingame, this is idle speed. My 960 also goes down to 800 when idle and switches back to 3.4GHz when under load. Alt-Tab out of the game will have this effect too.

[mobile_medic 43]

I typically turn off any power saving features that throttle the CPU down, fwiw. Though, I do allow my gpu to throttle down when not in use by a game.

If what Myke has said is the case, I'm sure it would be fine, though. But, might want to make sure your cpu is clocking up under load, as you state the game is performing worse than it did on your older processor. And, that seems like a pretty amazing temp under load for that processor (from a quick google search). That is why I asked what your idle temps were.

[ast65 10]

HEre's some readings:

Core Voltage: 1.008 V

Core Speed: ~800 Mhz

multiplier: x4

Bus Speed: ~200

HT Link:~2000 Mhz

Cache:

L1 Data: 4x64 Kbytes 2 way

L1 Inst: 4x64Kbytes 2 way

Level 2: 4x512 Kbytes 16 way

Level 3: 6 Mbytes 48 way

before you go tinkering with your HW,

did you try deleting your cfg (under 'documents'),

it will be written new by game at next startup

(also because you said your settings are the same after re- DL)

[brandbll 10]

So Myke, what are you exactly saying? This isn't the problem?

That is why I asked what your idle temps were.

Idle temps and temps while game were running were 31'C, the same. Not much fluctuation in core temp at all.

Someone else who is helping me troubleshoot this has suggested checking the Power Options under the control panel and make sure they are set to 'High Performance'. He said when he lowered his down to "balanced" he was getting similar readings to me.

@ST: Not exactly sure what you are saying. So look for the cfg in the Arma folder or what? Remember, i'm not that bright when it comes with this stuff so you have to put it in terms a monkey could understand, LOL!!

Thanks again to everyone for the continuing help, really appreciate it!

[domokun 515]

Open Windows Explorer, browse to your My Documents folders and open the folder called "Arma 2".

There you should find a file called ArmA2OA.cfg and/r Arma2.cfg, e.g. C:\Users\Your_name\Documents\ArmA 2

Delete both of these files (but don't empty your recycle bin yet)

Run the OA (itll now generate a new ArmA2OA.cfg file).

Play the game and/or a run a benchmark to determine if it is still playing slowly.

If everything is fine, quit and empty the recycle bin.

Also try these tips to get the game running smoothly and looking good:

http://forums.bistudio.com/showthread.php?85124-ArmA2-OA-%28low%29-performance-issues&p=2081466#post2081466

Welcome to the community!

[mobile_medic 43]

Idle temps and temps while game were running were 31'C, the same. Not much fluctuation in core temp at all.

which, to me, indicates that your cpu is not clocking up to full power in game.

So, no... don't forget it :/