Huge FPS drops after some time/memory leak

Ahmbor · February 2017

Hello guys,
I have a big problem. After 20-30 minutes my fps dropped from 70-100 down to 20-30. After a restart, everything run fine again.
This problem ruins my immersion and fun that I have with this game!!!

My rig:
i5 4570
8 GB Ram
GTX 1070
Windows 10 x64

Darkstorne · February 2017

The Official ZOS Response: It's an issue caused by your addons. There used to be a memory leak in the game's particle system, but we fixed that last year. You might be able to fix the FPS drop by typing /reloadui in game to refresh your screen and get your FPS back to normal. Otherwise you'll have to disable whichever addon is causing the issue for you, because it's not the base game's fault.

Every Player's Response to the Official ZOS Reponse: Thanks, but /reloadui doesn't change anything, only a complete game restart gets my FPS back to normal. I've also tried playing without any addons installed and at best that only delays the point that my framerate reaches an unplayabale level, and often there's no change at all - the FPS still degrades over time. I hate having to constantly restart the game, so could you please look into this further?

Official ZOS Response to Every Player's Response to the Official ZOS Reponse: ...

Ahmbor · February 2017

How should I remain? I like this game, but it is so annoying to see how it beginns to stutter and than restart after some minutes.

Is there perhaps a constant to nail or fix the problem? Some driver issue? Windows 10? DirectX?

Darkstorne · February 2017

Some people seem to think Windows 10 might be the issue, with the way it emulates DX11 instead of running it natively. Understandably very few people want to switch to an older version of Windows for possibly better performance in a single game, so the jury is still out on whether that's the cause.

There are graphic settings you can lower to delay the loss, mostly shadow detail and draw distance (which has little noticeable difference past 50%, since it doesn't change the fog distance at all), if you usually lock your FPS at 60. Just means the game finds it easier to stay at 60 for a little longer before the degradation becomes noticeable. Sadly it will always be a problem in towns and busy areas like Cyrodiil, since 60fps is almost impossible there at the best of times.

Otherwise we've got to hope ZOS can find the root cause and fix up the engine. Unless they still plan on moving to DX12 like they promised though, I don't think they care. They've been ignoring this issue for well over a year now.

GrimJaw · March 2017

bump

Wojownik303 · March 2017

Got same problem and it's very strange.
For example there is a Fisherman's Island outside of Wayrest i recently go there for fishing and when i look in direction of city, fps drops to 20-30, even that's what I see it's just a WALLS!
It's so WEIRD!

Best thing is my PC:
i7 6700k
32 GB RAM
GTX 1080
Windows 10x64
650W PSU

and I play on 2560x1440 resolution.

ZOS_PeterT · March 2017

We recommend that you exit the game and run a repair on the game launcher to ensure that it is completely up to date.

If the problem persists, please let us know and we'll be sure to investigate further. In the meantime, here are some tips that may help reduce and minimize the effects of the memory leak. Start by adjusting the graphics settings. This will reduce the strain on the computer:

•Change the display mode to Windowed (Fullscreen)
•Turn on Vertical Sync
•Reduce quality settings for SubSampling, Shadow Quality, and Water Reflection Quality

In addition to this, it may be helpful to launch the game directly using eso.exe from the installation directory (located here by default: C:\Program Files (x86)\Zenimax Online\The Elder Scrolls Online\game\client). Alternatively, it could help to alt-tab out to the game launcher once the game has launched.

Similarly, the you may want to try closing out of any programs not being used to avoid overtasking the computer. The simplest way to do this is to run the computer in selective startup, which will limit the number of programs which will start when rebooting the computer.

To put a computer in selective startup mode, follow these steps:
•Click Start and type "msconfig" in the search box
•Right click on the "msconfig.exe" program and choose "Run as administrator"
•On the General Tab at the top, click on the Selective startup button
•Uncheck "Load startup items"
•Click on the Services tab and check the "Hide all Microsoft services" box
•Click the "Disable all" button at the bottom
•Click Apply, then click OK.
•Restart your computer

When the computer boots up again, it will be in selective startup. Try the game again and see if this helps limit the memory leak problem. After playing, selective startup can be turned off. This is done by opening the msconfig window again and selecting the Normal startup button. Click Apply, then click OK, and restart the computer again.

For more detailed instructions on this process, visit the Microsoft support page here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929135.

Note: Spending a long time at the character selection screen seems to increase the effects of the memory leak.

Darkstorne · March 2017

ZOS_PeterT wrote: »

Note: Spending a long time at the character selection screen seems to increase the effects of the memory leak.

@ZOS_PeterT Does this mean you guys are acknowledging that there really is a memory leak? In the past other ZOS employees have been adamant that the only memory leak (related to particles) was fixed long ago.

Reinstalling the game doesn't eliminate the issue unfortunately (I moved it to an SSD), and disabling background processes like lowering graphics settings will only delay how long it takes for the FPS to degrade. It still happens, and I still can't play more than two hours max (usually around 1 hour) before having to restart the game to get the FPS back up to a solid 60 in exterior environments. All these "fixes" in your post are helpful, but they're stop-gaps at best. They're treating the symptoms, not the cause. Something is going on with this game that causes constant FPS degradation, and it's definitely on ZOS' end. I do think Windows 10 seems to be a common factor though.

RinaldoGandolphi · March 2017

I have been told that the Windows 10 Creators Update (which will be coming out soon) will include some fixes for Windows 10 DirectX. It probably will solve the issues with ESO FPS degradation. What i was told was vague, but it was pretty much:

"Includes performance improvements for DX11 games running on Windows 10 as well as bug fixes for Direct X 12"

cross our fingers.

Nutshotz · March 2017

For people who are experiencing FPS issues. Here are some links that helped me out with the fps issues

https://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/3zxh44/usersettingstxt/

http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/comment/1427382/#Comment_1427382

https://www.reddit.com/r/elderscrollsonline/comments/22cdqn/increase_fps_with_edits_to_usersettingstxt/

http://www.dungeoncrawlernetwork.com/tweaks-teso-part-1/

There are more tweaks. Hope this helps

Lord_Wrath · March 2017

I experience fps drops randomly, for 10-15 seconds fps goes below 20 and then BAM its normal for a good while again.

Ive been through the steps.

Saraya · April 2017

I've noticed this recently as well - happening to me right now in fact. I am out at the edge of the map, not many mobs around, and I'm the only PC/player here. When I load in two things happen.

Mobs do not show immediately when entering the game world. They come into view after about five seconds.
My ping is high for a few seconds during that period. This did not used to happen.
Frames per second and performance is pegged until I start to do something like battle or interact with something. Then I can turn around and in the same spot/area that was maxed fps a moment ago, it's now down ...sometimes in the region of 20+ fps. I also notice that the fps will fluctuate constantly, in small steps/numbers (alongside the big loss).

Confirmed that only restarting the client works.

ESO64.exe
i7 2600k @4.8ghz
GTX 1080 TI
Win 10 Anniversay 64

If and when I upgrade to Creator's Windows 10, I'll report back.

Gargath · April 2017

Darkstorne wrote: »

ZOS_PeterT wrote: »

Note: Spending a long time at the character selection screen seems to increase the effects of the memory leak.

@ZOS_PeterT Does this mean you guys are acknowledging that there really is a memory leak? In the past other ZOS employees have been adamant that the only memory leak (related to particles) was fixed long ago.

I'm also shocked, did they really mention that memory leak is an issue?

Was observing memory leak in my game countless times.
Not speaking that I observe a huge fps drop after grouping in Large Group.

QuebraRegra · April 2017

aren't we experiencing somethings that smell an awful lot like a memory leak on console?

The freezing/crashing, visual glitching, and long loads after playing for "x" amount of time. I guess XBOX ONE is Windows 10, but we have no recourse to the "work around" setting changes.

Anethum · April 2017

Yea, same problem.
And in some content it's a huge problem, like dragonstar arena or veteran trials (Especially on Maelstrom Arena, before last arena, i've restarted client at all, because fps dropped evrytime from 90 to 5-15 all the time. After reloggin 60-90), because when u come to last bosses, fps is too bad for comfortable gameplay, and u cannot restart game because trying to get best results in leaderbords and don't get them because of that.

It happends even with turned off all addons. Any difference
In clear client (win 10, good hardware) with the time fps become lower and lower.
Or by reloggin from one character to another, or porting from many locations.
It feel like, some data does not deleting after usage until out of memory. I think it's wrong resourse management by eso.
Restarting game helps. Reloadui not.

Saraya · May 2017

Still happening here. In the most simple example, I can load the game, hang about for a few minutes and performance is great. Then it drops a bit - enough to induce frame latency hikes that cause a bit of stutter and take away that glorious smoothness.

Nothing but a client restart fixes it.

I know they say it's addons, but we've all tried it without addons and have the same issue.

Ahmbor · June 2017

The memory leak is back. After playing 40 min the fps drops from over 60 to 20~ in the same area.

Tamantha · June 2017

Anybody try using a dummy for dps analysis? My FPS really shows its true colours then. Cannot work out any rotations as the frame rate drop makes it impossible to co-ordinate timings. I have been having these issues from since I started playing some 6 months ago. Just upgraded my machine as well to a high specification. No difference.

ArchaicSEAL · June 2017

I am getting the same problem. Game starts fine and i am fluctuating at 95 - 99 fps, even in towns and cities. After about an hour of gaming, I am suddenly fluctuating around 50-60 fps and if i am in a town or city it goes to around 30 - 45 fps. I can do a /reloadui and nothing gets better. If i logout and back in i am back to 95-99 fps again for up to another hour before it starts to come down again just like before. Having to log out and back in every 45 minutes to an hour is really starting to get old... if i cant find a solution to this I think I will cancel my subscription and move on to other games.

I have tried running the gane with addons all deactivated. I have checked my cpu and gpu temps (just mentioning it here, but my system is entirely watercooled, so my temps are not an issue). I have run the repair, i have cleared the shaders.cooked, I have lowered settings in game (which is really friggin ridiculous to do considering my hardware). I am at wits end with this, which really sucks because I want to support ZOS and ESO and happen to enjoy the game very much... but the framerate drops are killing me...

My System:
Windows 10 Pro (64 bit)
i7-4790k watercooled via Corsair H90i
16 GB System memory
EVGA 1080 Ti SC2 Hybrid (watercooled GPU/Memory and air cooled VRMs)
Samsung EVO Pro 512GB SSD
Acer Predator X34 monitor @ 3440x1440 - 100hz

*note: though I have my system normally overclocked, I have removed any overclocking profiles I use and have gone back to standard clock rates on CPU, Memory and GPU to test/troubleshoot this problem. The frame rate drop persists both while overclocked and while non-overclocked. Matter of fact, nothing really changes when I am running overclocked - the game still gives me the same initial fps and fps drops over time. Also, I do not have any issues with other high end game titles (such as: The Division, The Witcher 3, Battlefield 1 - to name a few).

SpagEddy · June 2017

K. So this is pretty ridiculous already. I was having this obnoxious memory leak/FPS drop/whatever the hell it is 3 months ago, couldn't find a solution anywhere, and finally gave up and left ESO because of how annoying it was. With the new Morrowind expansion out, I became nostalgic/excited to try the game again, only to be faced with the same god damn problem.

The game runs at a solid 90-100 FPS outdoors, 60-70 in major cities, and then it just magically drops to anywhere between 30 and 50 FPS for no apparent reason, and I am forced to restart to resolve the issue. For what it's worth, I was hanging out in Ebonhart for a good hour with zero problems. I was watching the Rockies game in the background and kinda just walking around the city admiring the scenery and all the different models/textures (I'm a 3D-Modeler and tend to waste meaningless hours doing weird *** like this) and everything was fine. As soon as I hopped on my horse and crossed the bridge out of the city, my FPS went to *** and I had to restart. So I think it may have something to do with transitioning to a new area. I dunno. But they need to fix this (lol not that they will. But we can all dream!)

Specs, for anyone who cares:

GTX 1080
i7-6800k
32GB Memory
Windows 10
Crucial 500 GB SSD (Tried installing to my HDD, too. Made no difference)

PS: No add-ons installed. I am playing complete vanilla ESO, and still have this issue. I run Witcher 3 and Doom perfectly fine, zero problems. So this is definitely an ESO problem.

Ahmbor · June 2017

GUYS? I found the solution.

I switched the sampling rate from my soundcard from 48KHz to 44.1KHz.

I guess it is some buffer problem of the DirectX sound library.

Betheny · June 2017

Ahmbor wrote: »

GUYS? I found the solution.

I switched the sampling rate from my soundcard from 48KHz to 44.1KHz.

I guess it is some buffer problem of the DirectX sound library.

I'll try this (had mine set at substantially more than this).

Ubung · June 2017

Ive had this same problem. Tried changing it to 44.1khz. Now just need to be on long enough for a proper test. Will do tomorrow.

k4Ku.exGb16_ESO · June 2017

Did

Ahmbor wrote: »

I switched the sampling rate from my soundcard from 48KHz to 44.1KHz.

Did this really solve it? I'm just curious. I'll try it and post something here. Won't that too ling to find out.

Edit: Nope this doesn't fix it.

Ahmbor · June 2017

k4Ku.exGb16_ESO wrote: »

Did

Ahmbor wrote: »

I switched the sampling rate from my soundcard from 48KHz to 44.1KHz.

Did this really solve it? I'm just curious. I'll try it and post something here. Won't that too ling to find out.

Edit: Nope this doesn't fix it.

You need to switch it in the windows settings AND the driver panel.

Ubung · June 2017

Ahmbor wrote: »

GUYS? I found the solution.

I switched the sampling rate from my soundcard from 48KHz to 44.1KHz.

I guess it is some buffer problem of the DirectX sound library.

Wow im impressed. It looks like your fix worked for me. 2 hours of play now and its a constant 60 fps. No drops at all.

Thank you.

Ubung · June 2017

Wait no after testing for longer ive found it still happens it just greatly extended the time before it happens. Went 3 hours before it went bad.

And I did change it in windows and soundcard settings.

k4Ku.exGb16_ESO · June 2017

Yea, it's weird that if this fix works for you it still doesn't work for me. Seem like this problem has multiple sources. I shall try to throw in another hard disk and install win8.1. Heard it was connected to some issue with win10.

MercTheMage · June 2017

This is my response to anyone complaining about fps drops, and 80% of the time, it does the trick.

DISABLE Minimap / Harvest map

Betheny · June 2017

MercTheMage wrote: »

This is my response to anyone complaining about fps drops, and 80% of the time, it does the trick.

DISABLE Minimap / Harvest map

Not sure you understand the problem, it isn't low fps (most of us here seem to have top systems), the problem is fps drops permanently for the play session and stays comparatively low until we reload game.

k4Ku.exGb16_ESO · June 2017

Well, I've found out that Windows 10 is aparently not the issue. The same thing happens under a fresh install of Windows 8.1 and Windows 7.

I can't believe I've actually tried both..

The thing that bugs me most is that my gf has no issues with older hardware. Somehow I fear its my GTX970. There was this thing with it having this separate memory where its 3.5gb + 500mb and the 500 are somehow really slow. But then, others have the same issues with other hardware that doesn't have weird gimped memory.

Edit: Nah can't be that either. The game barely fills up half of my vram.