Performance Issues

[dwaynegand]

This game is know for its performance issues. Throughout the game, you'll experience lagging, lower frame rates, and everything less than smooth. Even on legacy mode where the performance is much smoother has locations where the framerate drops. Such as:

-Around certain fumeroles in the Obsidian Halls.
-Fields of the Diadochi (during those explosions and you walk into the clouds)
-Pretty much the whole of Atlantis DLC (especially the Gardens)

Now I found that turning off the shadows makes the performance in these areas smooth out, but then this results in the ground turning white as snow during the night. In fact, even when shadows on, playing in legacy mode tends to turn the entire ground white whenever I step near a fasttravel portal in certain towns.

Can anyone tell me how to have a better performance on legacy mode without these annoying issues?

[Psixi]

Upgrade your PC

I keep my shadows on low/medium, but I don't play on DX9 anymore, so I don't get that texture issue

I don't get lag in the places you mentioned except Atlantis DLC, that place is horrible. I'm going to be upgrading my PC next year for TQ2 so will likely see a huge difference

[SmellofNapalm]

Why should the performance improve? Lack of hardware is obviously not the problem. The game used to run much better for me back on Win 8 and on worse hardware. Anniversary even fixed that extreme lag some people had in some areas of Act IV. The game just hasn't been made for modern hardware.

[Psixi]

its not about lack of hardware, it's about how the game was created and uses resources, which we can't change.

The only solution is upgrading your CPU, since the game does 99% of its computing on one thread

Btw I own the 2007 edition Immortal Throne on Steam and I can tell you it lags just as bad as Anniversary, I played it last month and it stutters in the same areas lol

[SmellofNapalm]

Regarding the last paragraph:
Sure, that may be so. I can't test it as I don't have the same system anymore. Win 10 not 8.1 anymore and better and different hardware as well. Back then the CPU wasn't a problem.

[DreadLordAvatar]

I use all max graphics setting. On the rare occasion there is a moment of slight lag but quickly catches up. Overall it performs well. Now regarding input feedback, i.e. not able to click on portal or waypoint, stuck and can't move, etc. that's a whole different discussion.

[elseer]

here is what I do : shadows: off, reflections low , ambient occlusion: off . vertical sync, triple buffering on. you forgot to include graphics card and driver.

System stuff I do for my old games.
- update your chip set drivers and graphics drivers to the latest you can
- if possible move all files to a ssd or nvme . This helps with assorted latencies.
- DISABLE all hdr processing. DO IT. seriously zomg it makes a huge difference on my hdr 400 panel.

- goto whatever your antivirus is and exempt the whole game directory from real time virus checks

Video card stuff:
for NVIDIA, go into nvidia control panel -> manage 3d settings -> programs. add tq or tqe definition .
- disable
Texture filtering section:
CUDA GPU's change from "all" to your card.
Anisoscopic sample optimization : off
Negative LOD bias : clamp
Trilinier optimization : off
Thread optimization: off
Triple buffering On

- these worked for my old 970 and my 3060

if you have AMD (or an igd//intel) there should be matching settings.

see if that helps "?

p.s. fwiw Windows 11 (stable/release branch) amd 2600, 32gb ddr 4, 1tb nvme c: , game is on cheap 120gb adata ssd , 3060 12gb , lg 165hz 32GN550-B 32 inch hdr 10 . fully patched system, nvidia drivers, amd chipset drivers.

P.P.S if you stream music or whatever from your pc as you play goto windows control panel (not settings) -> programs -> turn remote differential compression OFF by un checking, reboot.

[dwaynegand]

My graphics card is a GeForce GT 630. And won't turning off shadows turn the entire ground white at a certain time at night?

[elseer]

the other settings correct for various graphics bugs your driver vs much older card weaknesses vs game engine issues can be creating in a sort of a three way interaction. dont neglect the windows settings as anti viruses (Even windows defender) really impact older systems greatly. google each one to see. especially that negative lod bias and assorted optimization items. if you need more help dont forget to post your operating system, full system specs etc. dont make us guess :>

[dwaynegand]

I have an Intel Core i5-3470 CPU with 3.20 GHz with Windows 10.

[elseer]

okay do the things I asked and add to it this: system control panel ->power -> change power if it says "Dell", "hp" or anything other then "balanced" (laptop) or "high performance" (desktop) changing it too "balanced" if laptop , "High performance" if desktop .
if its a laptop play it on ac power only as being played on battery does things that cause texture issues.
Then reboot after the changes and test. if its still looking really weird file a support case :>

[elseer]

How did it go ?

[dwaynegand]

Right now, I'm too busy with other stuff and playing other games. Maybe next time I play Titan Quest I'll try this out.

[Pisaro]

Originally posted by dwaynegand:

My graphics card is a GeForce GT 630. And won't turning off shadows turn the entire ground white at a certain time at night?

That is, in fact, a office card, not for gaming! I guess titan quest anniversary needs more Ressources then original titan quest.

[Therin]

Originally posted by elseer:

here is what I do : shadows: off, reflections low , ambient occlusion: off . vertical sync, triple buffering on. you forgot to include graphics card and driver.

System stuff I do for my old games.
- update your chip set drivers and graphics drivers to the latest you can
- if possible move all files to a ssd or nvme . This helps with assorted latencies.
- DISABLE all hdr processing. DO IT. seriously zomg it makes a huge difference on my hdr 400 panel.

- goto whatever your antivirus is and exempt the whole game directory from real time virus checks

Video card stuff:
for NVIDIA, go into nvidia control panel -> manage 3d settings -> programs. add tq or tqe definition .
- disable
Texture filtering section:
CUDA GPU's change from "all" to your card.
Anisoscopic sample optimization : off
Negative LOD bias : clamp
Trilinier optimization : off
Thread optimization: off
Triple buffering On

- these worked for my old 970 and my 3060

if you have AMD (or an igd//intel) there should be matching settings.

see if that helps "?

p.s. fwiw Windows 11 (stable/release branch) amd 2600, 32gb ddr 4, 1tb nvme c: , game is on cheap 120gb adata ssd , 3060 12gb , lg 165hz 32GN550-B 32 inch hdr 10 . fully patched system, nvidia drivers, amd chipset drivers.

P.P.S if you stream music or whatever from your pc as you play goto windows control panel (not settings) -> programs -> turn remote differential compression OFF by un checking, reboot.

Thanks for taking the time to share all of this, @elseer It's given me some things to try too.