Framerate drop, low fps, low GPU load [FIXED]

[sonic16]

I have a mid-range gaming laptop: i7 6700HQ + GTX 1060 + 16 GB RAM + Win10.
By default, this game was "playable". Robot Revolution and Knoxx armory killed my framerate. My GPU load would drop down to 12%, leaving me with 25fps. I could see fps going down just by hanging in the main menu.
The next solution prevents my framerate dropping down with time and also makes me gain some 10 to 100 fps (depends on where you are in the game, because this game is too poorly optimized so frame-rate varies a lot).

I found the next solution:

FIRST STEP: Reset all your previous modifications

ONLY If you have already attempted some other solutions:

If you have modified Config files in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Borderlands\WillogGame "OR" Engine\Config\ you'll have to check the integrity of the game files through Steam in order to get the original ones back.

Open folder C:\Users\"your_user"\Documents\My Games\Borderlands\WillowGame\Config
and delete everything in it. Then launch the game and exit it in order to have these files been generated anew.

Clear launch options (remove -dx9 if you've set it).
Uncheck compatibility mode on C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Borderlands\Binaries\Borderlands.exe if you've set it.
Open Nvidia control panel > manage 3d settings > program settings > find Borderlands and restore config. For my computer I set "Select the preferred graphic processor" to High performance NVIDIA processor. PowerManagement mode = Prefer maximum performance.
Vertical sync = off



STEP TWO: Fix

Open C:\Users\"your_user"\Documents\My Games\Borderlands\WillowGame\Config\WillowEngine.ini

The following settings seems to be a benchmark done when you launch BL.

[AppCompat]
MeasuredCPUScore=1203.629517 (you will have a different score)
CompatLevelComposite=1
CompatLevelCPU=1
CompatLevelGPU=1

CHANGE TO:
[AppCompat]
MeasuredCPUScore=1203.629517 (leave it as it is)
CompatLevelComposite=5
CompatLevelCPU=5
CompatLevelGPU=5

if you run into issues try to put 4s instead of 5s.

IMPORTANT: Save file, Right button click on the file, got to Properties then make it READ-ONLY.



EXTRAS: Unlock max fps:

Inside the same file: C:\Users\"your_user"\Documents\My Games\Borderlands\WillowGame\Config\WillowEngine.ini
FIND:
[Engine.GameEngine]
bSmoothFrameRate=TRUE
MinSmoothedFrameRate=22
MaxSmoothedFrameRate=62

CHANGE TO:
[Engine.GameEngine]
bSmoothFrameRate=FALSE
MinSmoothedFrameRate=0
MaxSmoothedFrameRate=0


Hope this helps.

[Slade]

Thx man, u save me

[Virus_Exe]

Thanks for the soultion. My pc was putting out 20 fps no matter the settings but now i'm getting a solid 110 fps so you just saved my life

[EL MACHO]

¿?

[Dreigo42]

The AppCompat setting really helped me. It couldn't recognize my 1080ti and set it for Potato Compat. So I was getting between 20 and 50 @ 1080p. Set those to 5 and now I'm locked 60 (Using Vsync) at 4K. Gorgeous.

[Poomanchu]

Wow, this even helped me on a laptop. Got a consistent 5-10 more fps. Thanks.

[il Nico]

That's better! Thanks!!

[DaleJV]

Mate I have never ever ever commented on any of these posts, I normally just get it working then carry on with the game. But I have had this issues for almost a year now and now I found this post. I want to thank you so much. I can finnaly enjoy borderlands on 1440p ultra at max fps

[Briguiza]

tks

[N7 Atlas]

Fam is it just me or EVERYONE here commented on dec :D (conspiracy theory mode initiating) Edit: tyvm for the fix too :D

[Edward_Erric]

win 10 problem ??

[Starkoll]

idk if anyone will read this but i reset my drive when i came back the problem occurred but instead of 1 on compat it was 5 on cpu and 1 on everything else i reinstalled followed every step a couple of time but it didnt change anything tried putting it on 4 same thing this is the only thread i actually found useful so if anyone reads this ill be glad for some help. thanks :D

[Kakeen]

Unfortunately the steam version of Borderlands is busted. Something to do with the .exe.
I have the same problem, the first 1 hour or so the game will run just fine, but as time goes on the FPS will just keep dropping until you're practically playing a slideshow.

[Starkoll]

Originally posted by Kakeen:

Unfortunately the steam version of Borderlands is busted. Something to do with the .exe.
I have the same problem, the first 1 hour or so the game will run just fine, but as time goes on the FPS will just keep dropping until you're practically playing a slideshow.

Is there anyway to fix it i didnt have the problem before and its not that my fps goes down over time its just that the game is running on cpu only and i have bad fps because gpu is not even on 20% usage is there a way of getting a retail version and not using it on steam? thanks for the answer btw :]

[Vatzfu]

This should become a guide in the game's section, just keep in mind the first borderlands lack optimizations who came with the second and third game, so low fps is expected in certain maps.

[Zach]

This game isn't optimized for a few reasons one are the shadows the issue can be circumvented by switching the game from DX10 (??) to DX9 or turning off shadows. Also BL1 doesn't really run off the GPU all the much anyway for me at least i always tend to see 30%-50% gpu load while the cpu sits at 40% or higher.

Unreal Engine games especially UE3 games tend to be crap. Not to mention this game is a direct console port.