Lags in games on Windows 7 x64 pro.

[raffael]

Hi.

I'd like to say I find Windows 7 quite good OS but I have one really annoying problem caused by this system.

I have 2 PCs. One with Windows XP and second with Windows 7 x64 Pro. Few days ago I had Windows XP on both and everything was fine. Now I can't even play GTA2 on LAN (one PC through WiFi, one PC through cable) normally because of the lags. I've tried everything. Disabling the MMCSS, disabling sound devices (no influence), adding TcpAckFrequency like described here WoWAcker Main , disabling autotuning (netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disable) and still nothing.

Ping is between 70 and 100+ (sometimes even 150). On Windows XP it was 30 maximum. And that's even before the game, in the network game manager. I think during the game it gets even worse because I get some serious game hang-ups which are obviously network based. If anyone else know different method please inform me. If I won't find any solution I going back to Windows XP.

I'm using ATI Catalyst 9.12 & Realtek HD 2.39 drivers.

Very similar situation occurs in Fifa 10 but besides lags I get disconnected after playing some time.

If the lag problem occured only in Fifa 10 I would think that the CPU is not powerful enough to handle this game on Windows 7 but GTA2 is far less demanding game and situation is very alike while playing it.

Is there any other solution for this situation?

 

[zigzag3143]

Hi.

I'd like to say I find Windows 7 quite good OS but I have one really annoying problem caused by this system.

I have 2 PCs. One with Windows XP and second with Windows 7 x64 Pro. Few days ago I had Windows XP on both and everything was fine. Now I can't even play GTA2 on LAN (one PC through WiFi, one PC through cable) normally because of the lags. I've tried everything. Disabling the MMCSS, disabling sound devices (no influence), adding TcpAckFrequency like described here WoWAcker Main , disabling autotuning (netsh int tcp set global autotuninglevel=disable) and still nothing.

Ping is between 70 and 100+ (sometimes even 150). On Windows XP it was 30 maximum. And that's even before the game, in the network game manager. I think during the game it gets even worse because I get some serious game hang-ups which are obviously network based. If anyone else know different method please inform me. If I won't find any solution I going back to Windows XP.

I'm using ATI Catalyst 9.12 & Realtek HD 2.39 drivers.

Very similar situation occurs in Fifa 10 but besides lags I get disconnected after playing some time.

If the lag problem occured only in Fifa 10 I would think that the CPU is not powerful enough to handle this game on Windows 7 but GTA2 is far less demanding game and situation is very alike while playing it.

Is there any other solution for this situation?

Hi and welcome


I bet you are running homegroup and use IPv6. Homegroup is for win 7 only. IPv6 has been shown to casue random slowdowns drops, etc. You can verify it by creating a new network using the "workgoup" model. work group is for mixed environments and uses IPv4


Goor Luck]

Ken J+

 

[raffael]

Well, I've disabled IPv6 and it didn't change the situation at all.
We'll see if the homegroup's disabling will help.

 

[Ozirus]

I'm also using the "Realtek HD Audio 2.39" driver. But it was happening before I installed it. Maybe it's how Windows 7 64-bit uses R.A.M. for 32-bit programs or maybe it's Microsoft's Base Audio driver.

I am suffering from the same unplayable LAG.

I'm going to disable my audio device in Device manager and try "Left 4 Dead 2" without any sound. That way I can determine whether it's the sound that is causing it.

Or, even better open up, "msconfig.exe" and do a "Clean/Cold Boot" by disabling all Startup Programs and Third-Party Services except for the ones that are absolutely necessary to run the game.

MSCONFIG:

 

[raffael]

Maybe it's how Windows 7 64-bit uses R.A.M. for 32-bit programs

I don't think so. The games I play through the net use really small amounts of RAM (i.e. GTA2).

Has anyone tried compatibility mode or XP Mode (I would try it but I don't have enough space on HDD)?

I think I forgot to mention about doing this also http://lifeandcode.net/2009/05/reduce-game-network-latency-in-windows-7-or-vista/ with no luck.

 

[Ozirus]

Do you have a PVR Card (Personal Video Recorder)? ie. Winfast, ATI TV Wonder, Haupepauge WinTV, etc.?

I have a Haupepauge WinTV-150 PVR card. I also have a Motorola Home Speakerphone device.

After disabling all devices in the "Sound, video and game controllers", and the Phone modem, webcam, PVR card, ...

... No LAG what so ever.

 

[raffael]

No, I don't have any additional cards. I will keep trying to find the cause.

 

[Ozirus]

I figured out what it is. After testing each device that I disabled, Realtek HD Audio was the cause.

With only Realtek enabled, I got LAG. With all enabled except Realtek, NO LAG.

It must be the Audio driver. Version R2.39

 

[DrNick]

Wouldn't that mean that you'd have no sound on your computer?

 

[Ozirus]

Wouldn't that mean that you'd have no sound on your computer?

Exactly. Which kind of sucks. I think that it's probably not the fault of Microsoft or Realtek.

It has to be Valve. Either, they didn't make L4d 1 & 2 compatable with Window 7 64-bit, or with Realtek on a Windows 7 64 bit system.

The lag is the same with the Realtek driver as it is with the Microsoft audio driver.

 

[Ozirus]

Try Compatability Mode for VISTA (not sp1 or 2).

 

[raffael]

Ok, having the problem and no solution I got back to Windows XP x64. Guess what. The lag dissapeared. The ping is max 20ms now, this is sick situation. Quite old OS handles this situation quite well and new OS screws it totally. I guess I will have to wait till Windows 8...

 

[The Apathetic]

Giving up on a whole wonderful OS just for a simple problem like that?

I don't know the solution but you should have tried harder before giving up like that..

 

[warlord]

windows 7 and realtek seem to be having problems in a lot of games.
however as of the 30th of dec there was an update for the hd sound drivers so give them a try

 

[Ozirus]

I have found a better Solution than the Compatability Mode (worked for my problem).

If any of you who are experiencing the same problem have upgraded your R.A.M., you may want to download CPU-Z from:

CPUID

When you run CPU-Z, click the "SPD" TAB. On the "SPD" TAB, you can look at each RAM Slot.

If each Stick of RAM does not have the same:

1) PC # (ie. PC2-6400 (400 MHz)

2) Matching Values in the "Timings Table" (on the SPD TAB).

,that could be the cause of your problem.

 

[qberty]

i have exact same sticks

 

[raffael]

Giving up on a whole wonderful OS just for a simple problem like that?

I don't know the solution but you should have tried harder before giving up like that..

Believe me, if it was the only problem I wouldn't change it. I'm having some more serious problems for which there are no solution also (like 3ds Max 2009 throwing error and not working at all).

If each Stick of RAM does not have the same

It ain't possible in my case as I have a perfect matching pair bought especially for Dual Channel Mode.

 

[nightrhyme]

So I have been messing with this problem for weeks now:
Think I did around 10 fresh win7 64 installs
I only tested HL2DM + UT2004 as it's all I really game
My ping never jumps. It's like the game pauses for 1 sec every 30sec or so.
Enjoy really nice ping always below 30.
Think I officially hate WIN7 64bit OS !

System specs:
System specs:
Asus p5k premium
C2D 6850
4GB Ballistix pc8500
ATI HD4870 1GB
Audigy2 value
Corsair 520w
windows 7 ultimate 64bit

I have a pal with almost identical hardware. Only difference is gfx= Nvidia 8800gts, different harddisks and different monitor. No lag on his end

• Fiddled with different soundcards
• Different network cards
• Fiddled with different drivers and also microsofts own
• Tried this supposed fix: Reduce game network latency in Windows 7 or Vista Life & Code worked crap
• Tried this supposed fix:Stop and disable the "Multimedia Class Scheduler" service Run regedit and go to "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Audiosrv"
  Double click on the entry "DependOnService" and delete the line with "MMCSS" from the text box
  worked crap
• Tried this supposed fix: Open regedit
  Go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Multimedia\SystemProfile
  There will be an entry for network performance throttling, default value is 10; set it to FFFFFFFF hex (willl look like 0xFFFFFFFF to the right of the entry)
  Reboot Do I need to say. Worked crap
• Fowarded ports in my router even though it suports UPnP port mapping and this have never been necessary
• Disabled windows firewall completely
• deleted my whole steam folder and redownloaded on a fresh win7 install
  
  

Discussed here:
http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/49546-lags-games-windows-7-x64-pro.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/31980-lag-online-games-windows-7-a.html
Windows 7 Online lag (primarily in games) - [H]ard|Forum
Lag on Windows 7 - help - Steam Users' Forums