Stuttering and frame drops - EA / Bioware please read this !!!

[Ben]

I noticed some suttering and frame drops in Veilguard. The first game session it run buttery smooth at constant 60 fps. After re-starting the game the frames dropped and moved between 54-57 with very noticeable stuttering, not being caused by my hardware (Specs i9 9900K, RTX 3090, 32GB RAM, SSD)

Tried every combination of V-Sync, Buffering, Frame cap...
Installed the regedit "fix" on nexus. It worked once, then it suttered again the next game session. Contacted EA help which proposed basic trouble shooting tips and articles that did not cater to the specific problem.

After some testing it seems that after re-starting the PC it is possible to run the game smoothly for one session until I close it. If I start the game a second time after that, the stuttering appears again. So i guessed: Might this be some caching issue?

After more troubleshooting and getting a bit of help from an AI assistant (more help than the EA support) I got to the following possible causes of the stuttering:

1.) Game-Specific Memory or VRAM Management Issue: It’s likely the game isn’t fully releasing memory or VRAM when closed, so restarting it leaves insufficient resources, causing stutters and frame drops.

2.) Shader Cache or Temporary File Issue: If the game uses a shader cache or temporary files that aren’t fully cleared upon exit, this could lead to degraded performance on subsequent launches.

3.) Driver/Game Compatibility Issue: There may be a driver-related compatibility issue specific to this game, which could worsen with repeated launches if certain resources aren’t managed correctly by the driver.

It would be great if someone of the developer team could look at this please!

[Si Cwan]

First rule of PC troubleshooting.. If someone says "its not being cause by my hardware" 98% of the time, its being caused by their hardware. You're running on a 5, almost 6 year old CPU, while it is there recommended , those aren't set in stone. you don't list what res you're running, or what driver version you have, also if its a regular SSD, or an nVME. also shader caches do NOT need to be cleared every time the game closes, (only if they update something w/ the engine/you update your drivers),


I'm running an AMD 5950x, 128GB of ram, running off an nVME drive, with a 4090, no issues.

try upping/setting your shader cache limit in the nvidia control panel

[Ben]

There are many other players with specs far above the recommended ones having the same trouble.
But here you go: Playing on 4K at 60fps, drivers are all up to date, latest NVIDIA driver even clean re-installed (566.03), SDD is a Sabrent Rocket Q 2TB NVMe M.2 (with over 1TB still free)
I am aware that my CPU is the weakest link but I fail to see what that might have to do with the above mentioned issue, especially since it works on the first play session every time.

First rule of troubleshooting in general: only because you can not reproduce the issue, does not mean others are wrong ;)

As mentioned above these 3 options are only the things I can guess it has to do with. Witch one causes the problem I do not know.
Trying to set the cache to 100GB now and see if that changes anything. Has been set to driver default until now.

[Ben]

Increasing the shader cache limit seems to have helped. Need further testing but first impression is good. Thanks :)

[Ben]

FYI for anyone who is interested and has the time to read a very long text - When informing my AI assistant about my findings they answer:

"The improvement after increasing the Shader Cache Limit suggests the issue likely involves how the game handles shader caching. Here’s the updated diagnosis based on this finding:

1. Shader Cache Limit: By increasing the cache limit, you’ve allowed more space for the game to store shaders, which prevents it from overwriting cached shaders too frequently or struggling to access needed resources. The stuttering and frame drops likely resulted from the game repeatedly loading shaders that couldn’t stay cached due to the previous, smaller limit.

2. Game-Specific Resource Management Issue: While shader caching seems to be the main factor, it’s still possible the game isn’t efficiently managing other resources (like VRAM) when launched repeatedly. Increasing the cache limit likely eased this strain by reducing the need to reload shaders.

3. Driver/Game Optimization: This could still be a minor factor, as some games don’t handle shader caching optimally. Keeping the cache limit high is a good workaround, but future driver or game updates might further improve this.

Increasing the shader cache limit appears to be the key solution here, so if it’s working, you’re likely set! This will let the game run smoother by minimizing redundant shader loading on each launch."



If I tell them about the other possible fix about underclocking/undervolting the CPU they say:

"That could actually make sense in certain situations. Undervolting and underclocking the CPU can help if the CPU is experiencing thermal throttling or instability under load, which may cause stutters or frame drops in games. Here’s why it could be effective:

1. Thermal Throttling Prevention: If the CPU gets too hot, it may throttle its performance to cool down, leading to inconsistent frame rates and stuttering. Undervolting and underclocking reduce heat generation, which can prevent throttling, allowing the CPU to maintain stable performance over time.

2. Stabilizing Power Delivery: In some cases, the power supply or motherboard VRM (Voltage Regulator Module) may struggle to handle high CPU power demands consistently, especially in demanding games. Lowering the CPU’s voltage and clock speed can reduce these demands, which may improve stability and reduce stuttering.

3. Reducing Background Interference: A slightly undervolted and underclocked CPU can run more smoothly with lower power and thermal demands, which might prevent brief performance dips due to background tasks or fluctuating CPU utilization.

This approach wouldn’t directly solve shader caching issues, but it could still reduce overall system strain, leading to a smoother experience. It’s especially helpful if the CPU is pushing its thermal or power limits with the current configuration. If you’re comfortable with undervolting, it could be worth trying to see if it makes a further improvement."

[Ben]

Minor setback: The frame drops and stuttering are back when the PC goes to sleep and wakes up again...
My last suggestion what might cause this is a VRAM and RAM Reinitialization Issue.
I will try hibernation instead of sleep the next session.
Otherwise not letting the PC sleep at all or restarting is my only solution (in tandem with the shader cache limit)
The first patch has already been announced if I am not mistaken. Hopefully EA / Bioware will also provide Performance and Stability fixes !!!

[Ben]

Unfortunately the first patch did not change anything for me. If the PC goes to sleep or hibernates, the next session stutters again has has framedrops (easy to check since it already happens in the start menu where you see the Lighthouse in the background)
Still the only workaround is to never let the PC sleep or to re-start the PC for me.

Please let the devs know, thanks.

[Vitamin D]

Just wanted to state that I'm having the same issue - the game seems to be wildly inconsistent on what framerate im going to get - irregardless of settings, I have a 3070 running @ 1080 and it runs fantastic.... about 50% of the time I load it up - then I'll load it up again and it's straight up chugging, resetting or rebooting will ... usually fix it? but this is something odd with how the game functions

If it was consistently giving me issues each time, I would blame my hardware, but the fact that half the time it loads into perfection @ 144 FPS and the other time the menu is stuttering @ 40-50 is a huge issue - something is off.

[psyche]

Game is heavy on cpu, very typical for frostbite engine game. If you only have 8 cores, it wont be enough. My 13900k with ecores parked, it will use all 16 threads available, with ecore enabled i saw the game uses around all 24 cores, though all the ecores arent fully pegged like pcores.

[Ben]

Nah, CPU is at 100% only when verifying Shaders, in game it hovers around 60% on all cores for me. And as mentioned above that would not explain why it works if I do not let the PC sleep or restart the machine.
Also as mentioned above "My last suggestion what might cause this is a VRAM and RAM Reinitialization Issue."

[xFalcula]

Just wanted to let you know that I'm also having the same issue. Sometimes it runs well, most of the time it doesn't. I really don't think it's my hardware because like I said just, there are times where it runs well. The devs really need to fix this asap. I've seen so many other people mention it. I pre-ordered and couldn't even play until the 1st patch because it was so horrendously bad after release. It's slightly better now, but there are times where my FPS absolutely tanks and it becomes unplayable.

I have a strong feeling it is a memory leak because when I go into the game's files and delete the shader cache folder, and then I verify the integrity of the game files to get those files again, it runs well for about an hour before it ♥♥♥♥♥ the bed again.