Age of Empires II: HD Low FPS fix Guide

Unlock the true power of your Computer/Laptop to play this awsome game at higher FPS !

Introduction

Hello everyone !
I have managed to (or better, attempted to) fix the low FPS Problem in this game.
I am using a Desktop Computer with Windows 10, so my guide may vary for Laptops and other Windows version. If you're not sure or you will get lost in my guide, write a comment bellow and we will find a solution for you :) I am able to speak Slovak,Czech,German and English but I will try to help everybody ! Oh, and sorry for my poor english too, I am from Slovakia.

Please leave a comment for us if it works for you ! Thanks

Before the first step, let me try to explain what I am planning to do with your computer/laptop.
Have you ever noticed that you CPU and GPU are running slower while browsing the web, text edditing etc... ? Stupid question,sorry, I am sure you have noticed that :) but for the others, that's because of Power saving. You don't need the full power of your system to run a text editor or just to stay at desktop. Your CPU/GPU are intelligent, they will downclock the Core/Memory frequency to minimum just to stay active and be powerfull enought to do some basic jobs on your PC. But, when you need the most out of your system, for example playing 3D games, renderings, 3D Cad/Cam software, your CPU/GPU will activate its full power. But ! I have noticed, that this game uses the same CPU/GPU power as for text editting. To unlock the True Power of your system, just go ahead to step one :)

Picture #1

Welcome to the Picture #1 !

I am using Nvidia Graphics card, but I am sure that AMD Users are able to do something simillar in yours Catalyst Control Center.

Here we go.:
1. Go into your NVIDIA Control Panel

Picture #2

2. Click on Adjust image settings with preview
3.Make sure the option Use the advanced 3D image settings is activated

Picture #3

4. Than go into the Manage 3D settings
5. Make sure you are on the Global Settings tab
6. Scroll down for Vertical sync
7. Select Adaptive

PS.: This steps(5.,6.,7.,) are optional. It means, that the VSync will stay disabled if your FPS are under your Monitor refresh rate (under 60,120,144Hz), and it will automaticaly enable the VSync when the FPS raises over your Monitor Refresh rate, to prevent tearing. I am using it for global settings, you can do that only for this game in the Program settings, but first wait for the next Picture.

Picture #4

8. Move to the Program Settings Tab
9. In Select a program to customise: choose aok hd.exe
Tip: if the aok hd.exe is not in the menu, click on the Add button and search for it manually in the Steam Library folder.
10. Scroll down for the power management mode
11. Select Prefer maximum performance
Tip: If you scroll further down, you will find the Vertical sync option. As I mentioned in the previous picture, you could skip those steps and enable the Adaptive VSync only for this game. Oh, and its just for those of us without the GSync/Freesync Monitors :)

Picture #5

That was for the GPU, now lets wake up the CPU from the power saving and make some heat !

12. Go into your Windows Control Panel→All Control Panel Items
13. Power Options

Picture #6

14. Select High Performance power plan
Tip: it may be hidden, you have to click on the Show additional plans
15. Then go into the Change plan settings to check the options

Picture #7

16. Click on the Change advanced power settings

Picture #8

17. Scroll down for the PCI Express Option
18. Go to Link State Power Management→Setting
19.Select Off !!

Picture #9

20. On the same srceen just below the PCI Express option is Processor power management menu
21. Set the Minimum processor state to, to? tooooo....
22. 100% !!!!! :)
























Thats it ! Check the CPU Monitoring software (CPUz, HWinfo...) if your CPU is running at the full speed :)

End

Now run the Game and enjoy the smoooothnessss !

PS.: Please, this guide was just to unlock the power of your PC. I take no responsibility for the game optimisation! You have to wait for the Devs to optimise it better, but for now, and for me personally, it work much much better after this steps ! Also, I am using the Ozhaza's Extended Texture Pack v8https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=661975918, and it looks amazing ! and ? I don't have to disable the 3D water rendering or Shadows Antialiasing. The game runs still pretty smooth :)

Have fun and don't forget to leave a comment !

[ℌ𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔅𝔢𝔯𝔤𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔦𝔫 | Jan]

It doesn work.
With 2070 super i have over 150 fps.
With my new 3060ti i have >19 fps after a hour. WHYYYYYYYY

[Nittlepick]

This is excellently well done! Great work. There is a great program by Razer called Cortex that will setup your computer completely by itself if you want a simple all in one fix. Every time you start a game it will optimize your resources solely for the game and turn off windows junk thats not needed. I use it alot and its shown a great improvement. Get Razer Cortex.

[Einzelg4nger]

Great!

[NZL]

good.

[bonappetit]

Don't worry Cors4ir, keep the good job up :)!

[UN1D3NT1F13D]

This is just a guide to get the most of the hardware for this game and also the other games. And by meaning changing the CPU to 100% desn't mean the CPU usage would be at 100% . The CPU frequency will be at 100%, not the usage. Everyone could just make a new Power plan with this settings and enable it only while gaming. or even set the minimum to 40-50-60%. I can't write a 100% universal guide for everyone. I am sorry that its not working for everyone. I wish I could help you all. Have a nice day !

[leg]

Just saying, it does seem the OP was having throttling issues. It is purely situational and you don't always have to set everything to throttle at max at all times.

[leg]

Note that simply changing processor to 'off 100%' will remove all the driver functionality for technologies such as CoolN'Quiet or otherwise known as Processor Stepping. It will throttle at maximum which, if you do not have proper cooling, can reduce lifespan or cause a small probability of CPU failure by constantly running at that rate. These features already throttle your processor when running 3d applications, videos, or games, and only rarely (with older CPU and certain situations) do they not work properly. Setting those power-management settings is generally not a game changer and won't be a great idea unless your CPU/PCI-E is staying in P4 state or not throttling properly.

[bonappetit]

This is all very good if you have a powerfull PC, I dont and changing this made me have lag spikes

[DoctorWillCU]

Great guide, well done.