[MEGATHREAD] Performance Errors - Black Screens - other Issues

[shadonic]

As many have ran into Errors of different Nature, so have I, while 99% of the time everything is running well.

I've been looking around this Forum, reading different Threads and trying to analyze causes of Performance loss etc.

That's why i've wanted to start this Thread, to help others Troubleshoot and maybe get some Devs to more quickly notice what's going on.

As many others, i've suddenly noticed that my Performance would randomly drop significantly, without it getting better unless i'd close the Game completely.
That made me curious, so i've decided to run a little test.
I'm not one to quickly blame everything on poor Optimization, obviously it happens a lot frequently with new Game releases, still, the quickest way to get things fixed is to give Feedback, not scream at a Screen.

First things first

To get a better Idea of why certain Issues occur, Hardware Information plays a Big Role.

Here is the Hardware used on my Test :

CPU
Intel Core i9-11900K (Base Clocks)
Motherboard
ASUS ROG STRIX Z590-A GAMING WIFI
Memory
G.Skill DDR4 SDRAM - 48GB (Clock 3200Mhz XMP II - CL16-18-18-38)
Monitor
Acer XB271HU A - 144Hz - Gsync activated
Storage
NVMe M.2 - Samsung 970 EVO - 1TB - PCIe 3.0 x 4 (3.500 MB/s Read - 3.200 MB/s write)
GPU
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3080 Ti GAMING OC 12G (GV-N308TGAMING OC-12GD)
Operation System
Windows 10 Pro - Versions 22H2
Nvidia Driver Version
Version: 566.36 - Game Ready Driver

Testing Scenario

For this Test no Mods were used (be it Performance booster etc.)
Applications running in the Background have been reduced to a Minimum.
Also, please apoligize everything being in German, but i'm sure you will figure it out.

Ingame Graphical Settings

For me the Game generally runs quite well (70-110+ FPS), even with maxed out Settings, so for this Test i decided to go all out.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414615705
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414615910

Data and Tests

Before i began testing i took a Screenshot of my overall RAM usage before entering the Game
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414598784

Before jumping into the Action i took a quick Screen of my RAM usage in the Menu for later reference
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414616413

Actual Ingame RAM usage under normal conditions (Results can vary based on what you're doing)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414616822

Ram usage after 1 hour of playing in the Grasslands
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414617152

Performance in Kalm before Issues started (see top right)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414619697

RAM usage in Kalm as i took the Performance Screenshot
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414620147

RAM usage in Kalm as Performance started to drop
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414620342

Performance drop Screenshot in Kalm (see top right)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414621244

RAM usage after the Performance drop in Kalm
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414622452

RAM usage after the Performance drop in Menu
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414622452

LOD issues after going back to Kalm before closing the Game
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414636475

RAM usage after closing the Game with Performance issues
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414623081

RAM usage after closing the Game without Performance issues
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3414623261

Test Results

As you can see, RAM allocation and usage started acting up as i tried to leave Kalm, not reallocating and releasing RAM correctly anymore.
This instantly caused my Performance to significantly drop from an Average 80 FPS to 20-25FPS.
After returning to the Menu i noticed the the RAM was still not allocated correctly and more of it was in use then it should be (2+GB)
Before i closed the Game i wanted to see what it would cause to the overall Game Performance if i returned to my last Save in Kalm.
Performance was stable again, but loading in Objects/Textures when turning my Camera was not, as seen in the Picture.

I'm not a big Unreal Engine expert, but Objects that are not in sight need to be reloaded again when in sight, which usually goes quicker, but in my example it took longer to finish loading up the full Model and Texture.

After closing the Game i also noticed a bigger amount allocated RAM remaining compared to when i close the Game without issues.

Cause of Issue and Solutions?

It's difficult to say what is causing the Issue as i'm no Unreal Engine expert, but from tests it's very apperant that this Game is thirsty. watching my M.2 SSD go from 1MB to 700MB as i turn my Camera in certain places within seconds is telling alot. Losing some of that valuable Data in a split second and your RAM goes crazy, obviously.

If you run into general issues with loading Objects, i suggest you check if you correctly utilize your Storage (proper SATA slot or PCIe lane, aswell as not overcrowding bandwidgth) and to obviously have a Storage Medium that is capable of reading high Bandwidgth of Data (1GB/s+ recommended).

Tune your Ingame settings accordingly to alleviate some of the Stress on your RAM and Storage Medium.
Try tuning around with DRS (100 > 33% - Quality > Performance), this will help in more Graphical intense Moments aswell as lowering Shadow Details or Background Model Details.

Ending Statement

Looking at my Results, i doubt it's a full on Memory Leak, but it's obvious that sometimes Memory isn't being reallocated corretly, without endlessly increasing.
This can cause various Issues, from Performance hits to in worst case Black Screens if you're already running your Memory tight.

For now i suggest not using any Graphical Enhancing Mods unless you know what you're doing and what your System is capable of.
Worst case is, you run your VRAM and RAM dry.

Mods worth mentioning to help with Performance Issues

1.
https://www.nexusmods.com/finalfantasy7rebirth/mods/1?tab=description

This is the main mod i use, that has helped me the most.
Since using it i haven't ran into issues like random Performance loss.

2.
https://www.nexusmods.com/finalfantasy7rebirth/mods/38

This Mod helps with nearby LOD issues.
It might cause your FPS to take a slight hit, but atleast for me everything has been fine even on highest settings on 1440p, and has greatly helped with LOD Foliage to load correctly.

3.
https://www.nexusmods.com/finalfantasy7rebirth/mods/70?tab=description

Here you can find various DLL files to help you manually update files like Direct Storage and DX12 or DLSS Files.

As always, make sure to backup your Original Files, in case you run into issues.

Addendum

Please try to keep this Discussion Civil.
I completely feel the Pain and need to Rant when you Buy a new Game and Stuff just doesn't want to Work.
I've been there since the 90s, and it has always been the same on PC, but as Technology has advanced it has gotten worse and with Devs stopping to use their own In-House Engines, it got even worse.

Post your findings, give as much Details as you can, attach Screenshots etc.

At the End of the Day, this is the best you can do to find a Solution or to give valuable informations to the Devs to find a way to quickly fix this.


If a Mod wants to Sticky this, feel free to do so.

[Iron Reaper]

solutions:

-use an NVME SSD
-limit your frames via nvidia control panel or otherwise
-upgrade your pc to something from this century

[Alduric]

Cool, how to fix broken mouse/keyboard combat camera bug?

[AngryBeard]

Originally posted by Alduric:

Cool, how to fix broken mouse/keyboard combat camera bug?

I'll have to YouTube this one. I've heard other people talk about it, but I haven't seen it yet.

What are using for your kb and mouse? Does it use 3rd party software. For example Logitech or Razor? Try closing any of that software.

Also does it do it in both windowed and fullscreen modes?

Are you using vrr, vsync, etc?

[Alduric]

No matter what i use, it happen on 4 PC's i have with diffrent setups. There are 9812387123 ppl who has this issue, i saw it on reddit, steam forums, facebook groups.

[Kahr]

talked to the chick behind the counter at the inn at chapter 1 like 10 mins in and couldnt move cloud... restarted game and half npc's was missing including sandwhich chick which pressing talk also locked cloud... skipped clouds convo with mom and got black loading screen for 5 mins

[Kishidanko]

Thanks for the insight, I just realised it too. When the first time i load up the game, all were butter smooth until i played it a bit longer I noticed the performance drop and bit stuttery, even in the same spot of the open-world map

[World's Greatest Detective]

Game softlocks every few minutes either from cutscenes, interactions with NPCs, or pausing the game. Occurs even on low preset at 1080p. Totally unplayable, havent even gotten out of the nibelheim flashback despite frequent autosaves. 3060 12gb, 32gb RAM, 7600x3d, running off of nvme ssd.

[cutter]

The game stutters on a 5090 lol

[Thorn]

Originally posted by Alduric:

Cool, how to fix broken mouse/keyboard combat camera bug?

Sorry i can't tell you how to actually fix this but I can tell you how to correct it for a little while use lock on, I am in junon now and the mines were horrible the camera nearly gave me headache jumping all over the place I started locking on to every target and it stopped we should not have to do this but it worked for me.

I am running a Logitech mouse everything up to date and the camera will randomly just start jumping around the more you try to fix it the worse it gets.

[Ledath]

Looks like a nvme gen 4 is kinda required to get the best performance. The engine remove objects that are not on camera range and load them again. With a sata ssd or a nvme gen 3 you will see object popin and shifting from low model to their normal model. Some times it will introduce stuttering.
SE should state what kind of ssd is required and not just "SSD" because there is people with nvme having issues too.
Now the lod is kinda low, even on utlra some object will pop in just meters to the camera.

[*******]

RE-INSTALLED PC

NEWEST BIOS UPDATE INSTALLED
FRESH WINDOWS
NEWEST CPU AND GPU DRIVERS..

RE-INSTALLED GAME on fresh installation !!
Did the NVIdia COntrol Panel configuration
VSYNC ON

GAme runs 45 minutes and then soft locks behind a black pause screen

1 Either after low texture models load. Black SCreen PAUSE
2 Either after an INVISIBLE WALL on CHapter 2 GRASSLANDS !! Black SCreen PAUSE
3 CAn not control CLoud ANymore, HAve to restart game in all these occasions !!!

TESTED WIth 1080 P LOW MEDIUM ULTRA
TESTED WITH 1440 P LOW MEDIUM ULTRA
TESTED WITH 2160 P LOW MEDIUM ULTRA...

ALWAYS RESULT IN BLACK SCREENS AFTER A WHILE !!!


Seems to be hardcoded into the Port !!!


No COMmunication by Square ENIX
NO hoT FIx info
No DAY one patch

NOt even a single reply by Square ENix !!!

VERY VERY SCANDALOUS !

[*******]

My SPecs RTX 4080 i9 14900K NVME SSD 9000/MB/s 192 WHopping Gigabyte RAM !!!

ANd still these issues

It STarts happening from chapter 2 grasslands as soon as entering the open world area map !!!

HAve hAD over 17 Black SCReens now !!
HAD to reload my save 17 times
REsulting in repeated gameplay !!

Bug ALways happens in 15 to 30 minutes !

OVER AND OVER !!!

[Lex Prettymood]

Try tuning around with DRS (100 > 33% - Quality > Performance), this will help in more

THIS^ Kept crashing out of the basement part, 33% quality fixed it flawlessly and barely noticeable change to quality

[shadonic]

Originally posted by Lex Prettymood:

Try tuning around with DRS (100 > 33% - Quality > Performance), this will help in more

THIS^ Kept crashing out of the basement part, 33% quality fixed it flawlessly and barely noticeable change to quality

Happy to see that my advice could help you a little.

At this point there are also 2 Mods out that will help with how the Engine will load Objects and use RAM and VRAM more logically.
Since NexusMods is currently in Maintenance, i will post them later on, but for me, those 2 Mods have done a great deal with LOD and also reduce random Stutter and overall Performance.

Atleast, since using them, i have yet to run into issues of any sort.

[shadonic]

Originally posted by tpowl1400:

Originally posted by shadonic:

Happy to see that my advice could help you a little.

At this point there are also 2 Mods out that will help with how the Engine will load Objects and use RAM and VRAM more logically.
Since NexusMods is currently in Maintenance, i will post them later on, but for me, those 2 Mods have done a great deal with LOD and also reduce random Stutter and overall Performance.

Atleast, since using them, i have yet to run into issues of any sort.

Could you name those two mods from Nexus so we can all be aware of it?

3 actually, sorry.

1 would be called Scalability.
it will help with nearby LOD by increasing it (could hit your FPS a little but helps with the constant read)
2 is Final Optimizer, which changes Basic logical functions with Unreal Engine.
This helped me the most as i ran into issues with my RAM not reallocating correctly randomly.
3 are 2 newer version files for Direct Storage as FFVII Rebirth seems to be using older ones.
I can't promise on the success with this one, but it's worth a try (make sure to backup your old ones first, in case there will be an issue).