Unusually low framerate on new build.

[Zed Centauri]

I'm using a Core i5 that averages about 4.2ghz, 8 GB ram, and a Nvidia GTX 670 with latest drivers running Windows 8 64bit. I'm playing Alan Wake at 1360 x 768 resolution and 2X MSAA and low FXAA and im getting an average of 19-22 frames per second with infrequent spikes to 31-33 fps. That is really terrible performance. My old core2duo, 4GB, HD5850 was averaging well over 30 fps at much higher AA settings. Whats going on here? Any ideas?

[Dreakon13]

Interesting, I have a very similar build but I have Windows 7 64-bit. Maybe it's a Windows 8 thing? Try older drivers, make sure everything in the PC is plugged in right if you built it yourself, etc.

Maybe check the temperatures too. Might be slowing itself down due to cooling or lack thereof.

[Zed Centauri]

I set the fan control for the gpu to manual (80%) and still no change. Even on the "Very Low" settings the game still hovers around 28-31 fps with infrequent spikes in the 50's. I tried driver sweep + fresh driver install to no avail. Its really bizarre that I can play Crysis 2 with max DX11 settings and WItcher 2 with Max settings (save for ubersampling) and both sit around 60fps yet Alan Wake is barely playable at the lowest possible settings at a fairly low resolution (1360 x 769). Its very bizarre because my HD5850 handled the game fantastically for its age. Does Alan Wake just not play nice with Nvidia cards?

[Dreakon13]

My GTX 670 runs it on all the highest settings at 1080. I don't really care about the framerate as long as it doesn't feel like an issue... so I can't give you numbers... but it feels perfectly smooth. Not so much as a dip in framerate that I've noticed. Latest drivers. The only difference between our machines, without digging too deep, is the operating system (I have 7, you have 8).

The only thing I've noticed is that it's one of the few games I have that gets the card near 80C, which is why I suggested to check the temps.

If nothing seems unusual in your other games and everything is stable (temperatures and whatnot), maybe Alan Wake just doesn't like Windows 8 64-bit and the latest NVIDIA drivers. Maybe look into beta drivers (at your own risk) or wait until new drivers are out and NVIDIA gets a better feel for the OS. I believe the latest out now are the first to actually support Windows 8.

[That Deaf Bastard]

Might be that you have it running on the intel card that usually comes with the intel processor if you buy them? Seriously that setting is what i run on my laptop and it's a intel card and now it's unplayable thanks to the newest driver by intel. I would check to make sure that isn't the issue first. That video card is overkill for this game so no reason why it shouldn't be running on high or something

[Dreakon13]

I don't think the integrated chipset is used if you have the monitor plugged into the physical video card. However, if two sets of drivers are installed it could cause issues. Would be surprised if that was just causing issues with Alan Wake though... if that's even the case.

[Tox Laximus]

Runs smooth on my amd 6870 (medium gfx settings), and its roughly half the price of a 670

http://www.hwcompare.com/12549/geforce-gtx-670-vs-radeon-hd-6870/

I always use 1280x720 for games even though my tv has the the same rez as yours, runs better.

[Zed Centauri]

I don't believe my version of the i5 has an IGP. I think you may be right Dreacon, its probably just an unfortunate case of Alan Wake not playing nice with the combination of these drivers+Windows 8. If it's a software issue then its probably just a matter of time before its corrected via new drivers or a game patch.
Thanks for all the suggestions.

[INSTG8R™]

Not touched Win 8 at all yet but does it have "Compatibility Mode" Like Win 7? Just thinking try to switch it so Win 7 Compatibility if possible? I am running an i7 2600K and 7970 and I have the game fully maxed out. 4xAA and no FXAA(no reason for Post FX AA when I'm using MSAA)
You have everything in the Nvidia Control Panel set to Application Preference? Not Forcing AA or AF? That would probably tank your FPS.

[Zed Centauri]

Tried compatibility mode, no change. Still really poor performance. One other game I've noticed that has poorer performance on my new rig than on my previous machine is Rage, even with a videocard dedicated to GPU transcode I only get about 90 megatexels a second and it shows..hoorible stuttering and a choppy framerate. I must have some kind of horrible bottleneck somewhere but I have no clue. Here are my full specs, hopefully someone has a similiar enough system that they can shed some light on my issue.

Intel i5 2500k 4.2ghz
2X EVGA gtx 670 w/ latest 310.70 drivers
8GB ddr3 1600
Asus P8Z77-V PRO motherboard
Up to date Windows 8

[Nøstalgia]

This is absolutely terrible performance for a GTX 670. Check if you have the 310.70 drivers, and if not, install them.

[baalthazaar]

I had an issue when I installed Windows 8 on my AMD rig where literally all of my games were running at 30ish frames per second using a Radeon 6970. Even World of Warcraft on low setting was running at 30fps. After troubleshooting, reinstalling, and trying an older Radeon 4870 for graphics I discovered it was due to audio drivers for my onboard chipset which uses the Realtek ALC892 Audio Codec - I think your motherboard also uses this.

The solution was to not install vendor drivers for my audio device (even though they were listed as Windows 8 drivers when I downloaded them) and just use the default Windows 8 drivers - made everything run fine. So if you're out of options I'd recommend disabling some non-graphics related hardware or trying different drivers for those items.

In particular I'd look at: Audio, Networking, and IDE/RAID devices.

[HYP3Z - SaiyajiN]

What ?