Shadow Hearts drops down to 60% speed in some areas, despite overpowered hardware
#1
I'm on PCSX2 1.6.0, on Windows 10 Pro. I have a gaming laptop with i7-8650U, and discrete GTX 1060.

I started Shadow Hearts with the default PCSX2 settings, with the exception of choosing D11 Hardware rendering instead of the default OpenGL, and using 4x internal resolution. It was playing great, at 100% speed. However, in certain areas, and certain cutscenes, the game will drop to 60%-70% speed.

I can't remember the 1st time this happens as I'm 4 hours into the game now, it happened about 8 times so far. It never happens in battle (which loads a new scene like old RPGs used to), only in exploration areas or cutscenes.

I ended up trying various configuration changes with no success:

-Changed the settings preset from Safe to Balanced to Aggressive, then back to Safe. Zero effect at every step.
-Explicitly configured GSdx to use the GTX 1060 instead of Default Hardware Device, just in case it was using the Intel GPU. Zero effect. (I left this setting on).
-Tried switching from D11 to OpenGL. 10% slower.
-Going back to PS2 native resolution instead of 4x. Zero effect.
-Changed Windows 10's power profile to from Recommended to Best Performance mode. My computer's fan turns on to full throttle, thermal throttling disabled (CPU frequency goes up to 3.8GHz), etc. Zero effect.
-Pressing F9 to toggle software rendering mode, since the PCSX2 wiki for this game has people saying software mode is faster than hardware for this game. Much slower. I guess the wiki advice is very old.
-Checked Emulation Settings > Speedhacks > MTVU, the only option that you're allowed to change. Zero effect.
-Changed GSdx's hardware renderer setting "Blending Accuracy" from Basic to None. In the area I was in early on, this brought the speed back to 100%! I left it on, but in some later scenes, the slowdown resumed. Changing it back and forth shows no difference. I guess it was a fix specific to that area?

Here's a screenshot showing PCSX2's title bar with speed info, as well as Task Manager's performance tab: https://i.imgur.com/PngOiWp.png

Any ideas what I can do?
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#2
looks like your gpu is suffering.
would be nice to see what is using your GPU so much besides pcsx2 by having a look at your processes
CPU : AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
Mobo : Asus PRIME B450-PLUS
GPU : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
RAM : 16 Go
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#3
(04-25-2021, 09:31 PM)jesalvein Wrote: looks like your gpu is suffering.
would be nice to see what is using your GPU so much besides pcsx2 by having a look at your processes

Nothing. It's all PCSX2.

There's 2-3% usage on Desktop Window Manager, but it's on the integrated GPU (GPU 0, aka Intel GPU). pcsx2.exe is the only process using GPU 1, which is the Nvidia.
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#4
Please post the contents of the emulog.txt file after the problem occurs. The file can be found in "My Documents\PCSX2\logs" for the installer version or in "PCSX2\logs" for the portable/binary version.

Please make sure to enclose your emulog in code tags like so (remove the empty space on the closing code tag!):
[code]
Pasted emulog goes here
[ /code]
CPU : AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
Mobo : Asus PRIME B450-PLUS
GPU : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
RAM : 16 Go
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#5
Nothing in the logs.

Code:
Loading language translation databases for 'English (Canada)' [en_CA]
    pcsx2_Main not found -- translation dictionary may be incomplete.
    pcsx2_Iconized not found -- translation dictionary may be incomplete.
SetLanguage: Requested translation is not implemented yet.
PCSX2 1.6.0-20200506140834- compiled on May  6 2020
Savestate version: 0x9a0e0000

Host Machine Init:
    Operating System =  Microsoft Windows 10 Pro (build 19042), 64-bit
    Physical RAM     =  16301 MB
    CPU name         =  Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8650U CPU @ 1.90GHz
    Vendor/Model     =  GenuineIntel (stepping 0A)
    CPU speed        =  2.111 ghz (8 logical threads)
    x86PType         =  Standard OEM
    x86Flags         =  bfebfbff 7ffafbff
    x86EFlags        =  2c100000

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

Loading language translation databases for 'English (Canada)' [en_CA]
    pcsx2_Main not found -- translation dictionary may be incomplete.
    pcsx2_Iconized not found -- translation dictionary may be incomplete.
SetLanguage: Requested translation is not implemented yet.
Reserving memory for recompilers...

Loading plugins from C:\games\PCSX2 1.6.0\plugins...
    Bound   GS: GSdx32-AVX2.dll [GSdx 20200506140834 (MSVC 19.25 AVX2/AVX2) 1.2.0]
    Bound  PAD: LilyPad.dll [LilyPad (20200506140834) 0.12.1]
    Bound SPU2: Spu2-X.dll [SPU2-X 20200506140834 2.0.0]
(GameDB) 9858 games on record (loaded in 127ms)
    Bound CDVD: cdvdGigaherz.dll [cdvdGigaherz 20200506140834 0.11.0]
    Bound  USB: USBnull.dll [USBnull Driver 20200506140834 0.7.0]
    Bound   FW: FWnull.dll [FWnull Driver 20200506140834 0.7.0]
    Bound DEV9: DEV9null.dll [DEV9null Driver 20200506140834 0.5.0]
Plugins loaded successfully.

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
Current Renderer: Direct3D 11 (Hardware renderer)
    Opening CDVD
isoFile open ok: C:\games\PCSX2 1.6.0\_roms\Shadow Hearts (USA).iso
    Image type  = DVD
* CDVD Disk Open: DVD, Single layer or unknown:
* * Track 1: Data (Mode 1) (1514176 sectors)
    Opening USB
    Opening FW
    Opening DEV9
GSdx Lookup CRC:0
McdSlot 0 [File]: C:\games\PCSX2 1.6.0\memcards\Mcd001.ps2
McdSlot 1 [File]: C:\games\PCSX2 1.6.0\memcards\Mcd002.ps2
GSdx Lookup CRC:0
Plugins opened successfully.
EE/iR5900-32 Recompiler Reset
    Bios Found: USA     v02.00(14/06/2004)  Console
    BIOS rom1 module not found, skipping...
    BIOS rom2 module not found, skipping...
    BIOS erom module not found, skipping...
# Initialize memory (rev:3.70, ctm:196Mhz, cpuclk:147Mhz detected)
Frame buffer size set to  512x1280 (2048x5120)

PlayStation 2 ======== Hard reset boot
ROMGEN=2004-0614, IOP info (CPUID=1f, CACH_CONFIG=0, 2MB, IOP mode)
<20040614-100909,ROMconf,PS20200AC20040614.bin:11696>
# Total accessable memory size: 32 MB (B:2:8:0) (370:2:7c30)
# 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  6 2003 08:38:48
  CPUID=2e20, BoardID=0, ROMGEN=2004-0614, 32M

Patches: No CRC found, using 00000000 instead.
(SYSTEM.CNF) Detected PS2 Disc = cdrom0:\SLUS_203.47;1
(SYSTEM.CNF) Software version = 1.00
(SYSTEM.CNF) Disc region type = NTSC
found 10205 symbols
ELF (cdrom0:\SLUS_203.47;1) Game CRC = 0x8BE3D7B2, EntryPoint = 0x00200008
(SYSTEM.CNF) Detected PS2 Disc = cdrom0:\SLUS_203.47;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_203.47;1 secname all
loadelf version 3.30
Input ELF format filename = cdrom0:¥SLUS_203.47;1
0 00200000 002d6a80 .................Loading savestate from slot 0...
    filename: C:\games\PCSX2 1.6.0\sstates\SLUS-20347 (8BE3D7B2).00.p2s
.EE/iR5900-32 Recompiler Reset
    Loading GS
    Loading PAD
    Loading SPU2
(UpdateVSyncRate) Mode Changed to NTSC.
(UpdateVSyncRate) FPS Limit Changed : 59.94 fps
(GameDB) Changing EE/FPU clamp mode [mode=3]
Frame buffer size set to  640x1280 (2560x5120)
    Backing up existing state in slot 0.
Saving savestate to slot 0...
    filename: C:\games\PCSX2 1.6.0\sstates\SLUS-20347 (8BE3D7B2).00.p2s
    Saving GS
    Saving PAD
    Saving SPU2
(gzipThread) Data saved to disk without error.
Closing plugins...
    Closing DEV9
    Closing FW
    Closing USB
    Closing CDVD
    Closing SPU2
    Closing PAD
    Closing GS
Plugins closed successfully.
Shutting down plugins...
Plugins shutdown successfully.
(GameDB) Unloading...
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#6
The cpu speed of your laptop is the cause of problem, even with popular pc games.
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#7
don't pay attention to what sporster said, it's definitely wrong.

maybe you would give a try to latest dev build ?
what are your gsdx settings ?
CPU : AMD Ryzen 7 3800X
Mobo : Asus PRIME B450-PLUS
GPU : NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070
RAM : 16 Go
Reply
#8
(04-26-2021, 06:27 AM)jesalvein Wrote: don't pay attention to what sporster said, it's definitely wrong.

maybe you would give a try to latest dev build ?
what are your gsdx settings ?


I think that worked!



I had been using stable (1.6.0), and now tried the latest dev build of 1.7.0.



In battle, both versions used 20% GPU and ran flawlessly.



In exploration/cutscenes, GPU usage dropped from 90% on 1.6.0, to 65% on the dev build. Huge performance improvement. No slowdown in the 3 areas I saw, but I'll play some more tonight and report back if I encounter slowdown again.

Update: nope, as soon as I headed back to town, slowdown returned. Better than before, but noticeable.

I think I was wrong in assuming that my CPU and GPU could trivially run PCSX2 on any settings I saw fit. Looking at the Recommended Specs at https://pcsx2.net/getting-started.html, they require a 2100-rated CPU, and a 6000-rated GPU to play at 3x.

My CPU is 2194, and my GPU is 8161. That's above the recommended specs, but just barely.

I went into this assuming that because 8 years ago I was able to play FF12 on an 2011 i5 and GTX 560 (rated at 3075 on Passmark) at 100% speed, that my current hardware could run anything. But the emulator must have gotten more complex since those days, and requires better specs.
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#9
Is the frame drop happening at random in specific areas or in specific areas the fps always drops
I think your laptop is good enough to play at full speed even FF12
I have the same gpu and weaker cpu(6700HQ with turbo disabled(intentionally))

Can you be more specific on which areas the fps goes down so I can test here and maybe see if some pcsx2 settings or pcsx2 version is affecting the performance
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#10
(04-27-2021, 09:14 PM)vsub Wrote: Is the frame drop happening at random in specific areas or in specific areas the fps always drops
I think your laptop is good enough to play at full speed even FF12
I have the same gpu and weaker cpu(6700HQ with turbo disabled(intentionally))

Can you be more specific on which areas the fps goes down so I can test here and maybe see if some pcsx2 settings or pcsx2 version is affecting the performance

In specific areas the FPS remains low from the time I go in until I leave. (except for battles which have only 20% GPU load)

I kept a save state from the place with the worst slowdown, in the middle of a mid-game cutscene (when facing Dehuai on the roof, before going to Europe). Loading it now, even using the dev version, gives me 70% speed. Are savestates portable, would it help if I uploaded it? This is Shadow Hearts USA edition.
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