FPS drop, EE High but CPU Utilisation drop

[we_ezzz]

Hi Guys,

I would be thankful if someone can give a hint/explanation on how to fix this, since i'm not sure whether the problem is in my system requirement, PCSX2 config or performance plan, etc.

Ok so this is my stats:

Computer
ASUS VivoBook A442U
Intel® Core™ i7-7500U CPU @2.70 GHZ (4CPU)~ 2.90 GHZ Up to 3.5 GHZ
Windows 10 Professional - 64bit Operating System Build 17134
RAM 8 GB
NVIDIA GeForce 940MX 2GB
DirectX12
Performance Plan/Power Plan: High Performance


PCSX2
Version : 1.4.0

(see configuration attachment.pdf)

Game
Persona 4

I can run the game, FPS works normal 60FPS at this time CPU utilisation is always about 25-40%, but in some situation FPS drop significantly to about 10 FPS and EE is about 70-90%, I thought that this happened because of the CPU is overload but I checked the CPU utilisation was decreasing to 10% at the same time the FPS drop.
Sometimes, the FPS will go back to 60FPS again and CPU Utilisation back to 30-40%, this happened back and forth.

I have tried different configuration but this still happened, and this is also happen even when i try to emulate Code Breaker v10 which i believe is a light thing to emulate. (see attachment screenshot)

Please find below my emulog file:

Code:

PCSX2 1.4.0-20160105132032- compiled on Jan  5 2016
Savestate version: 0x9a0b0000

Host Machine Init:
Operating System =  Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (build 17134), 64-bit
Physical RAM     =  8073 MB
CPU name         =  Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-7500U CPU @ 2.70GHz
Vendor/Model     =  GenuineIntel (stepping 09)
CPU speed        =  2.902 ghz (4 logical threads)
x86PType         =  Standard OEM
x86Flags         =  bfebfbff 7ffafbbf
x86EFlags        =  2c100000

x86 Features Detected:
SSE2.. SSE3.. SSSE3.. SSE4.1.. SSE4.2.. AVX.. AVX2.. FMA

Reserving memory for recompilers...

Loading plugins...
Binding   GS: D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\Plugins\gsdx32-avx.dll
Windows 10.0.17134
Binding  PAD: D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\Plugins\lilypad.dll
Binding SPU2: D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\Plugins\spu2-x.dll
Binding CDVD: D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\Plugins\cdvdGigaherz.dll
Binding  USB: D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\Plugins\USBnull.dll
Binding   FW: D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\Plugins\FWnull.dll
Binding DEV9: D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\Plugins\DEV9null.dll
Plugins loaded successfully.

(GameDB) 9693 games on record (loaded in 200ms)
HLE Notice: ELF does not have a path.


Initializing plugins...
Init GS
Windows 10.0.17134
Init PAD
Init SPU2
Init CDVD
Init USB
Init FW
Init DEV9
Plugins initialized successfully.

Opening plugins...
Opening GS
Opening PAD
Opening SPU2
Opening CDVD
isoFile open ok: D:\Games\PS2\ROM\Shin Megami Tensei - Persona 4.iso
Image type  = DVD
* CDVD Disk Open: DVD, Single layer or unknown:
* * Track 1: Data (Mode 1) (2151344 sectors)
Opening USB
Opening FW
Opening DEV9
Current Renderer: Direct3D11 (Hardware mode)
McdSlot 0 [File]: D:\William Suhaidir\Documents\PCSX2\memcards\WSU Memory Card.ps2
McdSlot 1 [File]: D:\William Suhaidir\Documents\PCSX2\memcards\Mcd002.ps2
Plugins opened successfully.
EE/iR5900-32 Recompiler Reset
Bios Found: USA     v01.60(07/02/2002)  Console
BIOS rom1 module not found, skipping...
BIOS rom2 module not found, skipping...
BIOS erom module not found, skipping...
(UpdateVSyncRate) Mode Changed to NTSC.
(UpdateVSyncRate) FPS Limit Changed : 59.94 fps
# Initialize memory (rev:3.63, ctm:392Mhz, cpuclk:294Mhz detected)

PlayStation 2 ======== Hard reset boot
ROMGEN=2002-0207, IOP info (CPUID=1f, CACH_CONFIG=0, 2MB, IOP mode)
<20020207-164243,ROMconf,PS20160AC20020207.bin:11552>
# Total accessable memory size: 32 MB (B:2:8:0) (363:2:7c30)
# TLB spad=0 kernel=1:12 default=13:30 extended=31:38
# Initialize Start.
# Initialize GS ...
# Initialize INTC ...
# Initialize TIMER ...
# Initialize DMAC ...
# Initialize VU1 ...
# Initialize VIF1 ...
# Initialize GIF ...
# Initialize VU0 ...
# Initialize VIF0 ...
# Initialize IPU ...
# Initialize FPU ...
# Initialize User Memory ...
# Initialize Scratch Pad ...
# Initialize Done.

EE DECI2 Manager version 0.06 Feb  7 2002 16:41:20
 CPUID=2e20, BoardID=0, ROMGEN=2002-0207, 32M

(SYSTEM.CNF) Detected PS2 Disc = cdrom0:\SLUS_217.82;1
(SYSTEM.CNF) Software version = 1.00
(SYSTEM.CNF) Disc region type = NTSC
ELF (cdrom0:\SLUS_217.82;1) Game CRC = 0xDEDC3B71, EntryPoint = 0x00100008
(SYSTEM.CNF) Detected PS2 Disc = cdrom0:\SLUS_217.82;1
(SYSTEM.CNF) Software version = 1.00
(SYSTEM.CNF) Disc region type = NTSC

IOP Realtime Kernel Ver.0.9.1
   Copyright 1999 (C) Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Reboot service module.(99/11/10)
cdvd driver module version 0.1.1 (C)SCEI
Load File service.(99/11/05)
Multi Threaded Fileio module.(99/11/15)
iop heap service (99/11/03)
loadelf: fname cdrom0:¥SLUS_217.82;1 secname all
loadelf version 3.30
Input ELF format filename = cdrom0:¥SLUS_217.82;1
0 00100000 00838a00 ....................................................................................................................................
Loaded, cdrom0:¥SLUS_217.82;1
start address 0x100008
gp address 00000000
# Restart Without Memory Clear.
# Initialize GS ...
# Initialize INTC ...
# Initialize TIMER ...
# Initialize DMAC ...
# Initialize VU1 ...
# Initialize VIF1 ...
# Initialize GIF ...
# Initialize VU0 ...
# Initialize VIF0 ...
# Initialize IPU ...
# Initialize FPU ...
# Initialize Scratch Pad ...
# Restart Without Memory Clear Done.
(GameDB) Enabled Gamefix: VuClipFlagHack
Not found Cheats file: D:\William Suhaidir\Documents\PCSX2\cheats\DEDC3B71.pnach
Overall 0 Cheats loaded
Overall 0 Widescreen hacks loaded
Loading patch 'DEDC3B71.pnach' from archive 'D:\Games\PS2\PCSX2 1.4.0\cheats_ws.zip'
(Wide Screen Cheats DB) Patches Loaded: 58
project start.
free area = 16255f0
Get Reboot Request From EE
ROM directory not found

PlayStation 2 ======== Update rebooting..

PlayStation 2 ======== Update reboot complete
cdvdman Init

IOP Realtime Kernel Ver. 2.2
   Copyright 1999-2002 (C) Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Reboot service module.(99/11/10)
cdvd driver module version 0.1.1 (C)SCEI
Load File service.(99/11/05)
Multi Threaded Fileio module.(99/11/15)
iop heap service (99/11/03)
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥SIO2MAN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 25, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥SIO2D.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 26, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥PADMAN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 27, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥DBCMAN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 28, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥MC2_S1.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 29, ret 2
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥LIBSD.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 30, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥CRI_ADXI.IRX;1 args 20 arg sdinit=0 spucore=1
CRI ADX Driver Ver.10.52(Mar 11 2008 19:41:08)
CRI ADX Driver : sceSdInit Call = 0
CRI ADX Driver : Main Thread Priority = 39
CRI ADX Driver : PSM Thread Priority  = 39
CRI ADX Driver : DTX Thread Priority  = 48
CRI ADX Driver : SPU CORE Number = 0
loadmodule: id 31, ret 2
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥SDRDRV.IRX;1 args 0 arg
SDR driver version 4.0.1 (C) SCEI
Exit rsd_main
loadmodule: id 32, ret 2
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥MODHSYN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 33, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥MODMSIN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 34, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥MODSESQ.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 35, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥SKSOUND.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 36, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥SKHSYNTH.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 37, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥SKHSYNTH.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 38, ret 1
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥LIB31¥SKSESQ.IRX;1 args 24 arg maxtrack=16
loadmodule: id 39, ret 0
(UpdateVSyncRate) Mode Changed to NTSC Progressive Scan.
### hdd fs get file object
### hdd fs get file object
### hdd fs get file object
### hdd fs get file object
### hdd fs get file object
SDR callback thread created
PS2RNA: sceSifAllocIopHeap(266304) ret=0x000be700
PS2RNA: sceSifAllocIopHeap(2256) ret=0x000ff800
PS2RNA: sceSifAllocIopHeap(16448) ret=0x00100100
DVCI: File cache was not hit. "¥DATA.CVM;1"
DVCI: File cache was not hit. "¥BGM.CVM;1"
DVCI: File cache was not hit. "¥BTL.CVM;1"
DVCI: File cache was not hit. "¥ENV.CVM;1"
Closing plugins...
Closing DEV9
Closing FW
Closing USB
Closing CDVD
Closing SPU2
Closing PAD
Closing GS
Plugins closed successfully.

I'm a bit confused since i believe that my hardware specification should be fine since it can play 60FPS for a period of time, I would appreciate if someone can give me a solution/recommendation where to look. 

Thanks

[pandubz]

Sounds a lot like thermal throttle to me. Can you monitor your temperatures while the issue occurs? Most laptops automatically start thermal throttle around 90-95 C.

[we_ezzz]

Sounds a lot like thermal throttle to me. Can you monitor your temperatures while the issue occurs? Most laptops automatically start thermal throttle around 90-95 C.

Thanks for the reply, I might check this tonight and will post the update.

[we_ezzz]

Sounds a lot like thermal throttle to me. Can you monitor your temperatures while the issue occurs? Most laptops automatically start thermal throttle around 90-95 C.

Hi,

I have tried again with HWINFO tools so I can get the information about the temperature, CPU clock, etc. I believe the temperature is ok since it's only around 50-70 degrees C. 
The FPS drop happen like every 10 minutes in average for about just 1 minute and then back to normal again. When it's happened I notice the CPU clock was dropped to around 300 MHZ while in average and when it's normal the clock is around 3200 MHZ.

(Please see attachment for detail)

Do you have any other idea what could potentially happen? Thanks

[pandubz]

That is the textbook definition of thermal throttle. Why it is happening around 50-70 C, I cannot say, but that is exactly how, mechanically, thermal throttle works.

Make sure you're on the High Performance power profile in Windows, but otherwise I'm lost on this one.

[Topken]

ASUS has likely set the thermal limits pretty low for that system hence why it's doing it would be my guess on whats happening