GTA: Liberty City Stories occasional slowdowns
#1
So, the game runs as it should most of the time, apart from the occasional annoying drops in speed. For example, in the first cutscene of the game, the emulation speed drops to approx. 80%, with the EE at about 100% but that's just for the first like, 10 seconds of the cutscene. The rest of it plays just fine, at 100% speed. The GS never reaches 100% ever, be it cutscene or normal gameplay.

When I get into the game itself, when driving around the map there's specific spots where the speed drops between 75% - 90% (running the NTSC version, so it drops to about 40 - 50 fps) with the EE usually maxing out (95% - 100%) but those slowdowns last for a few seconds, then the game runs at full speed again... but after those slowdowns happen the speed jumps to 105% - 110%.
I've just picked up PCSX2 emulation a few days ago so... I'm sorry if it sounds a bit un-technical. My PC specs are the following:

CPU: Ryzen 5 1500X, at base clock (3.50 GHz);
GPU: An Nvidia GTX 1060, 6 GBs (latest driver);
RAM: 8 GBs of RAM, at 2933 MHz or so.

I'm using the AVX2 plugin, OpenGL Hardware, checked 8-bit Textures, 3x native resolution and 16x anisotropic. Rest is default stuff. I did run the game with the enhancements off, same thing.

My emulog is this (i'm using the latest dev build of PCSX2):

Code:
PCSX2 1.5.0-20191027020356 - compiled on Oct 27 2019
Savestate version: 0x9a0e0000

Host Machine Init:
Operating System =  Microsoft Windows 10 Home (build 18362), 64-bit
Physical RAM    =  8143 MB
CPU name        =  AMD Ryzen 5 1500X Quad-Core Processor
Vendor/Model    =  AuthenticAMD (stepping 01)
CPU speed        =  3.499 ghz (8 logical threads)
x86PType        =  Standard OEM
x86Flags        =  178bfbff fed83203
x86EFlags        =  2fd3fbff

x86 Features Detected:
SSE2.. SSE3.. SSSE3.. SSE4.1.. SSE4.2.. AVX.. AVX2.. FMA
SSE4a

Reserving memory for recompilers...

Loading plugins from D:\PCSX2 1.5.0 Dev Build\plugins...
Bound  GS: GSdx32-AVX2.dll [GSdx 20191027020356 (MSVC 19.21 AVX2/AVX2) 1.1.0]
Bound  PAD: LilyPad.dll [LilyPad (20191027020356) 0.12.1]
Bound SPU2: Spu2-X.dll [SPU2-X 20191027020356 2.0.0]
Bound CDVD: cdvdGigaherz.dll [cdvdGigaherz 20191027020356 0.11.0]
Bound  USB: USBnull.dll [USBnull Driver 20191027020356 0.7.0]
Bound  FW: FWnull.dll [FWnull Driver 20191027020356 0.7.0]
Bound DEV9: DEV9null.dll [DEV9null Driver 20191027020356 0.5.0]
Plugins loaded successfully.

(GameDB) 9821 games on record (loaded in 114ms)
HLE Notice: ELF does not have a path.

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

Patches: No CRC found, using 00000000 instead.
Opening plugins...
Opening GS
Opening PAD
Opening SPU2
Opening CDVD
isoFile open ok: D:\PCSX2 1.5.0 Dev Build\games\Grand Theft Auto - Liberty City Stories (USA).iso
Image type  = DVD
* CDVD Disk Open: DVD, Single layer or unknown:
* * Track 1: Data (Mode 1) (1958016 sectors)
Opening USB
Opening FW
Opening DEV9
3.x GL context successfully created
OpenGL information. GPU: GeForce GTX 1060 6GB/PCIe/SSE2. Vendor: NVIDIA Corporation. Driver: NVIDIA 441.08
INFO: GL_ARB_sparse_texture is NOT SUPPORTED
INFO: GL_ARB_sparse_texture2 is available
INFO: GL_ARB_gpu_shader5 is available
INFO: GL_ARB_shader_image_load_store is available
INFO: GL_ARB_compute_shader is available
INFO: GL_ARB_shader_storage_buffer_object is available
INFO: GL_ARB_texture_view is available
INFO: GL_ARB_vertex_attrib_binding is available
INFO: GL_ARB_clear_texture is available
INFO: GL_ARB_multi_bind is available
INFO: GL_ARB_direct_state_access is available
INFO: GL_ARB_texture_barrier is available
INFO: GL_ARB_get_texture_sub_image is available

Current Renderer: OpenGL (Hardware renderer)
Available VRAM/RAM:3840MB for textures
GSdx Lookup CRC:0
McdSlot 0 [File]: D:\PCSX2 1.5.0 Dev Build\memcards\Mcd001.ps2
McdSlot 1 [File]: D:\PCSX2 1.5.0 Dev Build\memcards\Mcd002.ps2
GSdx Lookup CRC:0
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...
# Initialize memory (rev:3.63, ctm:196Mhz, cpuclk:147Mhz detected)
Frame buffer size set to  512x512 (1536x1536)

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

Patches: No CRC found, using 00000000 instead.
(SYSTEM.CNF) Detected PS2 Disc = cdrom0:\SLUS_214.23;1
(SYSTEM.CNF) Software version = 1.01
(SYSTEM.CNF) Disc region type = NTSC
ELF (cdrom0:\SLUS_214.23;1) Game CRC = 0x7EA439F5, EntryPoint = 0x001C6A60
(SYSTEM.CNF) Detected PS2 Disc = cdrom0:\SLUS_214.23;1
(SYSTEM.CNF) Software version = 1.01
(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_214.23;1 secname all
loadelf version 3.30
Input ELF format filename = cdrom0:¥SLUS_214.23;1
0 00100000 002d93c4 ..............................................
Loaded, cdrom0:¥SLUS_214.23;1
start address 0x1c6a60
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.
Elf entry point @ 0x001c6a60 about to get recompiled. Load patches first.
Get Reboot Request From EE
GSdx Lookup CRC:7EA439F5
GSdx Lookup CRC:7EA439F5
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:¥MODULES¥SIO2MAN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 25, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥LIBSD.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 26, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥CDSTREAM.IRX;1 args 0 arg
cdvd_stream: Loaded
loadmodule: id 27, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥SDRDRV.IRX;1 args 0 arg
SDR driver version 4.0.1 (C) SCEI
Exit rsd_main
loadmodule: id 28, ret 2
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥CDVDSTM.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 29, ret 2
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥PADMAN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 30, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥LIBSD.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 31, ret 1
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥CDSTREAM.IRX;1 args 0 arg
cdvd_stream: Loaded
loadmodule: id 32, ret 0
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥SDRDRV.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 33, ret 1
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥CDVDSTM.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 34, ret 1
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥MCMAN.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 35, ret 2
loadmodule: fname cdrom0:¥MODULES¥MCSERV.IRX;1 args 0 arg
loadmodule: id 36, ret 2
(UpdateVSyncRate) Mode Changed to NTSC.
(UpdateVSyncRate) FPS Limit Changed : 59.94 fps
Stream Buffer 1Bank 32768byte 5banks 163840byte used
Frame buffer size set to  640x512 (1920x1536)
Stream Buffer 1Bank 32768byte 5banks 163840byte used
Stream Buffer 1Bank 32768byte 5banks 163840byte used
Stream Buffer 1Bank 32768byte 5banks 163840byte used
Closing plugins...
Closing DEV9
Closing FW
Closing USB
Closing CDVD
Closing SPU2
Closing PAD
Closing GS
Delete 0 Shaders, 68 Programs, 28 Pipelines
Plugins closed successfully.
Decommitting host memory for virtual systems...
EE/iR5900-32 Recompiler Reset
Shutting down plugins...
Plugins shutdown successfully.
(GameDB) Unloading...
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#2
It's worth noting that the PS2 port of this game was outright abysmal. Even on a native PS2 the game has an awful framerate and there are many spots where the game drops frames super hard, which can make driving and combat and sometimes basic navigation a nightmare. I have gotten 100% on this game like 4 times so I'm very intimately knowledgable about it, lol. The PSP version runs much better, especially if the CPU is overclocked.

On top of the game having awful performance by default when it comes to the PS2 version, it's also one of the more CPU-intensive games to run, and I'm surprised your Ryzen isn't getting 100% emu speed even if it's just first gen Zen. If there is anyone here with a recent Intel chip or a Zen 2 that could test it, they could help to see if this is an anomaly for your system or just the way the game is, but I'm leaning more towards the latter here.
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#3
Thanks for the info! I reckon an Intel CPU would do the trick without hassle, 'cause they have better single core performance. Anyway, would overclocking my Ryzen help? Also, wouldn't in-game slowdown feel different than emulation slowdown? When the emulation can't run at full speed the sound is in slow-mo as well, so... I don't know.
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#4
Yeah if the sound slows down that's general emulation lag. OCing would help some, and you'd also get a decent boost from OCing your RAM since Ryzen chips respond well to highly tuned RAM.
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#5
Upped the CPU's clock to about 3.70 GHz, slowdowns are still there but it's less frequent or that noticeable. Definitely playable anyway, just bugging me that I can't get constant 100% speed, but eh... I'm blaming the Ryzen 1500X at this point. Unless I do an upgrade, that's all I get. Thanks for answering NarooN.
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