High CPU and Power usage

[avrelianus]

Hi guys!

Do you have this kind of situation. I start the game, only menu is shown and game start over using CPU... my laptop start to heat up. I mean it is just at the menu, it's not like I'm running some super advance graphics...
So yeah. Does anyone have this problem?
It seems like games isnt optimized enough.

Check this pic which shows CPU usage
https://freeimage.host/i/nwn.2KQyJ9

[Pumpkin]

maybe it's the dual gpu thing? no idea, I can imagine it's a rare configuration that no one has tried

[international1_00]

Maybe that's it. I don't know why it wouldn't work, but it's a shame since i love this old game. I am going to have to delete it.

[sonderkraftfahrzeug]

I never found the VSYNC option in the enhanced edition - but adding a frame limiter fixed overdraw. I couldn't understand why my i7-9700k was having issues =)

[Crystal Sharrd]

Messaggio originale di sonderkraftfahrzeug:

I never found the VSYNC option in the enhanced edition - but adding a frame limiter fixed overdraw. I couldn't understand why my i7-9700k was having issues =)

According to PCGamingWiki, VSync is off by default, and can be enabled by finding [graphics.video.vsync] in settings.tml and changing enabled=false to enabled=true.

[Photonboy]

*HOW TO FRAME LIMIT*
#1) there is no need to manually edit settings with notepad in NWN
#2) make sure the Steam FPS indicator is enabled so you can see the FPS (I also use "FRAPS" for some non-Steam applications)

#3) Start NWN and go to the graphics settings. There's a frame limiter section with options for "foreground", "background" and the other one is the main menu I guess. Mine was already set to "48" so when I changed it my Steam FPS indicator went from about "1500" down to "48" which means the CPU and GPU are working about 30x less.

#4) if you simply LIMIT the FPS without VSYNC then you get screen tearing unless you have a feature like GSync/Freesync (aka "VRR"). Limiting to somewhere between 30FPS and 60FPS might be ideal for a laptop that has GSync/Freesync capability. You don't want VSync enabled if you have GSync/Freesync capability (you can't use both at same time) as that adds latency and feels more sluggish.

#5) Add a GLOBAL FPS limiter... I have mine set to "125" but I turned it off temporarily just to see what NWN would do. I have mine set in the NVidia Control Panel as well as my graphics card program. I have both set to 125... game settings will supercede this but it's a good idea to have a global FPS limiter for the very issues that this thread discusses. (you can also get bad COIL WHINE at times if the FPS is really high)

#6) VSYNC or Adaptive VSYNC in NVidia Control Panel (AMD as appropriate but I don't have a card)...
You can add a game by:
a) launch then close the game,
b) open NVidia Control Panel
c) "manage 3d settings"-> "Program settings"
d) "add"
f) find the appropriate EXE (should be at top of list if you just launched)
g) Go down to "Vertical Sync" and choose appropriate setting
h) SAVE

*If you choose normal VSYNC then game should just synch to your monitor refresh. If 60Hz display it should cap to 60FPS, while buffered to prevent screen tearing. So the Steam indicator should show 60FPS (if you can generate 60FPS).

VSYNC set in NVidia CP seems to overwrite any game settings.

Use Adaptive VSYNC in situations where you might not be able to maintain 60FPS. VSYNC will be disabled if your GPU can't output 60FPS. This results in screen tearing but not stutter caused by missing frames.

Again, for GSync/Freesync just set a per-game FPS cap (in game or NVidia CP etc). The best use case in LAPTOPS for GSync if you care most about battery life is to set the FPS cap as low as possible, while still being in the GSync range. If the lower limit was "40" then set a cap to "40 FPS" for the game.

Summary:
- set a GLOBAL FPS cap
- set per-game FPS cap if needed
- learn difference between normal VSync, Adaptive VSync, and GSync/Freesync
- NVidia/AMD control panel should supersede any in-game settings