Fixing FPS issues with patch 3.1
by Mike Schramm 
Apr 18th 2009 at 2:00PM
A few people are experiencing slowdown issues with patch 3.1, and since our last bit of technical help went over so well, we figured we'd do a little troubleshooting for you on this one, too. If your computer is running slower since you updated into patch 3.1, the first thing to do is check your video options -- Blizzard has tweaked a few things in there, and chances are that by tweaking them again, you might be able to fix your problem (or at least make it a little better). Specifically keep an eye out for the new Video Mode Ultra setting -- that specifically is not designed to be used unless your computer is current and top-of-the-line. Shadows also are quite a drag on the video card and CPU, and turning them down won't affect gameplay that much.If your options are already low, the next thing you might do is check your videocard's make and driver version (scroll down to the "manually" section there -- you don't need to run Intel's program). Nvidia, who makes the common GeForce series of video cards just updated their drivers to version 182.50 on April 2nd, so if you have an earlier version than that, running the update will probably help. If you have an ATI card, you can find the drivers over on their site.
And of course if all of your software is set up and you're still having issues, there's always the possibility of updating your hardware. That can be quite an ordeal, though, so if you're not so sure on how to install new RAM or can't recognize the difference between SATA and IDE, you might want to enlist a friendly techie for a little help. WoW is still very forgiving, but Blizzard has been slowly adding on the graphical goodness, so if you've been playing with the same PC since launch four years ago, it might just be time for an upgrade.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Expansions, Hardware
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
sjb Apr 18th 2009 2:14PM
I had noticed that since the patch, I could no longer see my own Consecrate on the ground. Looking in the video options, I noticed that there was a new checkbox at the bottom called "Show projected textures" or something like that, and it was disabled by default apparently. Switching that on let's me see consecrate again. Figured I'd share that if anyone else was having the same issue.
Arashikou Apr 18th 2009 3:34PM
Yeah, I'm really surprised it's off by default. Previously, of course, it was controlled by the "Spell Detail" slider, and most people had it on - but apparently in the 3.1 upgrade, it didn't respect people's existing setting but rather turned it off by default for everyone, requiring a trip to video settings to reactivate it. A bit silly, since it drastically changes how many spells and effects look.
Shionia Apr 18th 2009 7:19PM
So the setting formerly known as Spell Detail isn't "Particle Density" but rather "Projected Textures"?
AyaJulia Apr 18th 2009 9:01PM
@Shionia: I suspect that "Particle density" covers things like 3 particle effects (surprise) like plague clouds, void zones, and blue fire. Things you need to move out of.
"Projected textures" are things that just lay over top of the ground, like Death and Decay, Desecration, and Consecration.
Same spell detail, divided up into two different settings.
Arivia Apr 19th 2009 3:13AM
The good thing about that is that as someone who has an older computer, it caused some issues tanking on my paladin - I couldn't track consecrate if I had my settings at a good level. Now I can turn down the effects I don't need to see, and keep the ones I do.
Yinxie Apr 18th 2009 2:14PM
Well, I bought by computer back in 2005, so I guess this IS time for an upgrade HAHA.
Yinx
seanfury Apr 18th 2009 2:15PM
It's hard to do a lot of stuff playing on the lowest settings. It's not really fair that so many spells you can barely see unless your settings are up. Like I have the money to buy a thousand some dollar computer.
Karavanth Apr 18th 2009 2:27PM
Yeah, I like to use Death and Decay and Consecrate to target my Hurricane. Also, you know, not seeing the fire can be detrimental to your health.
My lappy is two years old, and the whole experience is slowing starting to remind me why I prefer to stick to consoles.
danawhitaker Apr 18th 2009 5:44PM
Melodramatic much? I built my current system a little under a year ago for less than $900 and can almost run the game at full settings - except in Northrend, I had to turn it down a bit there. The settings are still high, however, and I get very good framerates. You don't need to spend thousands of dollars on a new system - you just probably need to not buy some pre-built piece of overpriced junk that someone could build you for hundreds of dollars less with better quality components.
slartibart Apr 19th 2009 2:44AM
Go ahead, buy a console, and then 6 years later, when you're playing a game that was released on said console back then, you can bitch on their message boards about it. I mean seriously? Just go back to consoles, we won't miss you.
LiquidChaos Apr 18th 2009 2:29PM
Im running a Q9550 2.83Ghz Quad Core overclocked to 3.5Ghz, 4GB RAM, and Dual GTX 260 Core 216's overclocked in 2 way SLI. Ive noticed drops down to 10-20fps in many places. What worked for me to boost it back up to 60+ is to go from 8xAA to 4xAA and back to 8XAA. For some reason after doing this, I was fine. This may only be an issue with SLI related systems, but could help on non SLI as well. Have not tested on single card systems at all. Also note this worked pre-3.1 as well.
Arashikou Apr 18th 2009 3:56PM
Ah, yes - the infamous "WoW runs better on nVidia hardware after visiting 4xAA" phenomenon. I wish I knew if there was any truth to this - It makes no sense, sounds like gamer superstition, but I've seen several people report it independently now and I swear it works on my machine as well.
For the record, I've also heard other people claim that just setting WoW to 4xAA is enough - you don't have to actually use 4xAA at any point. (So, for example, you can set WoW to 4xAA and then use the nVidia driver profiles to override this to something higher or lower. I've actually found I like 2x2 Supersampling in nHancer because I can turn off Transparency AA without losing perceptible quality, and Transparency AA seems to dramatically affect my FPS in WoW. Of course, that only works if your rig isn't AA-bound with supersampling... your dual GTX 260s would probably be fine, depending on what SLI Mode you're in.)
maeby Apr 18th 2009 2:29PM
ive got a p4 quad core, 8800gtx, 4gb ram, and when i had the shadows on the highest setting it brought my fps down to like 12 in dalaran. it was crazy, putting them back to the next lowest setting brought the fps right back up to around 57. you cant even tell that big off a difference.
i have everything else turned all the up aswell, the shadows make a HUGE diff in fps, if your having probs drop the shadows down a notch and it should fix it
Thander Apr 18th 2009 5:40PM
I have a similar computer and just put shadows at the first notch. That just displays character/npc shadows. Even at the highest shadow setting, the shadows seemed to "pop-in" to view a lot. It was really annoying even if I had perfect fps. The default ground shadows don't have this "pop-in" so I prefer them even if they are blocky looking. Character shadows actually behave normally. They usually just fade in as you get close.
Suzaku Apr 19th 2009 4:43PM
They added a new level of shadow quality, so setting shadows at the highest setting is now a grade above what it used to be. The new max setting is much more CPU intensive than the old max setting.
AltairAntares Apr 18th 2009 2:30PM
Where do you get graphics drivers for nvidea laptop graphics cards?
jo mamma Apr 19th 2009 2:45AM
uh...try Nvidia maybe?
Hoggersbud Apr 18th 2009 3:22PM
Actually, depending on your luck, and your laptop, it's quite possible to use the default Laptop video drivers from Nvidia. I'm running them now, no problems.
Not sure if I could get better performance out of the OEM's though, I haven't checked to see how up to date theirs are lately anyway.
Arashikou Apr 18th 2009 3:37PM
Oh, has nVidia started distributing generic drivers? Great! It's about time - their drivers have had that capability for years already, but they never used it.
Disregard what I said, Altair. Looks like my info is out of date. You should be able to get mobile drivers from nVidia's website. When you go to select what model of hardware you are looking for drivers for, look for the ones that say "(mobile)" next to them.
Hoggersbud Apr 18th 2009 7:52PM
Well, actually looking for the word mobile will be a waste of time as well. They use "Notebook" almost exclusively for laptops. If you picked up their "Mobile" drivers you'd end up with something for Smartphones, MP3 players and the like.
Yeah, I know, small difference in words, but it's how Nvidia is doing things.
Don't ask me about ATI though.