GTX260 - Low FPS

Second Life 1.22.11 (113976) Mar 6 2009 16:05:03 (Second Life Release Candidate)

CPU: Intel Pentium 4 (Unknown model) (2999 MHz)
Memory: 3070 MB
OS Version: Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (Build 6001)
Graphics Card Vendor: NVIDIA Corporation
Graphics Card: eVGA GeForce GTX 260/PCI/SSE2
OpenGL Version: 3.0.0

libcurl Version: libcurl/7.16.4 OpenSSL/0.9.7c zlib/1.2.3
J2C Decoder Version: KDU
Audio Driver Version: FMOD version 3.740000
LLMozLib Version: [LLMediaImplLLMozLib] - 2.01.23531 (Mozilla GRE version 1.8.1.13_0000000000)
Packets Lost: 82/258234 (0.0%)


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All drivers for GPU and various other software are up to date, this has always been like this even on past driver versions.
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Alright, for years I've struggled over having low FPS, and ever since I got my new GPU I've been getting worse FPS than when I ran my XFX GeForce 8600 GTS SuperClock.

As of now for an example, I am sitting in FurNation Hell sandbox with about 10 people in sight, all my graphic settings custom set down to as low as they can get - - -
Result: 11 - 12fps

Even when using the preset SL viewer Low, Med, High, Ultra I do not get more than 20 - 22 fps even in low traffic/low prim areas.. Heck my GTS 8600 was getting up to 30 tops compared to now.

I've also been under OS: XP versions before I got vista with the same effects. Yet I read in the forums people are running the GTX 260 wonderfully which leads me dumbfound. I know it's not the GPU being defective as I can run games such as Far Cry 2, F.E.A.R. 2 and many others over maxed out settings for hours with not even a slight notice in FPS slow down.

Basically.. I need ideas, suggestions and advice as I'm getting quite fed up with dealing with low FPS when I most certainly should be doing more than what I'm getting even in a slight bit.

Thanks!

Besides you're still using a RC this looks all ok to me from the hardware.

Did you do a fresh install/upgrade of the viewer? If not I would try that first as there may be some old settings interfering. Uninstall the viewer, then delete all the files in C:\Users\<you>\Appdata\Roaming\SecondLife\ (make a backup of IM/chat logs first if you use them). Then install the viewer again.

If the problem persists, try to check your drivers and OpenGL. One test program you can find here: http://www.ozone3d.net/gpu_caps_viewer/

Last but not least you may try Cool Viewer or Rainbow Viewer that use a different and way faster OpenGL implementation than SL does. Link in my sig.

Hope that helps.

This is the only thing I see that stands out as a potential problem. I'm not sure why a GTX260 wouldn't run as fast as an 8600GT, but if that's accurate, the CPU is probably what's holding your computer back.

Are you certain the card is getting enough power? What are the specs on your PSU? The 260 needs at least a 500W power supply, with 36 amps on the 12-volt rail. A lot of PSU's don't push nearly that much amperage. 17-24 amps on the 12V rail is quite common. 36, while not super high, is significantly higher than what you'll find on most inexpensive power supplies. If your amperage is too low, the card is likely to run slowly or otherwise malfunction, and it may actually be damaged. Until you've verified that your PSU puts out enough juice, don't use the card.

Also, a stab in the dark for sure, but speaking of power, here's another thought. Even if the card is receiving enough power, it's not necessarily using it as it should. The 260 has built in power management. It will try to slow down its GPU's to save energy when it thinks speed is not needed. It's possible it's mistakenly not seeing SL as an application for which it should be running at full throttle. If you can, try turning off the card's power management features, and see if that improves the situation. If you don't have a Hybrid Power enabled motherboard you might not be able to access those settings, but assuming you ARE able, set the card to run in Performance Boost mode. If you're unable to access the power settings, the card might be stuck in a slowed down mode, and there might not be anything you can do about it. I'm just theorizing on that, though.

Boy Lane:
Wasn't even aware of them two viewers, but yet no luck. Current running on the default SL client with only a couple fps improvement overall and Cool Viewer and Rainbow Viewer were worse off.
All of my drivers are current up to dates and fresh installs as I just recently did a format so I'm quite positive there is no problems there since every other game runs like a charm.

Milla Janick:
Yeah the CPU is a possibility as it's definitely not top notch but it does just fine with everything else even when playing today's latest top notch games, just comes off as being kind of odd the CPU would be the culprit in this case, though I do plan on upgrading to a Duo within a few months or so. It's just even when I was using the 8600 GTS XXX Edition it was running slow, my friend has an 8600 GT and he's running better than what I did on my 8600.

Chosen Few:
PSU -- Thermaltake ToughPower 750W with the combined +12v up to 60A so I know that's not the issue, and the fact it plays todays top notch games without flaw is enough to say it isn't the power being an issue. Cooling is definitely within acceptable ranges as well.
I've also been through the Power Conserving stuff, turning down to performance and all but I do suppose it could be turning itself down some notches as in not recognizing SL as requiring the power, though it's odd I've never found any other issue of this on the forums or through extensive Google searches which is why I'm left so dang baffled as to how the PC blazes through games like FEAR 2 maxed out with relative ease but SL it farts itself out.
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Thanks for the responses!
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Any other suggestion anyone out there, I'm open for just about anything. Lol

Might as well put up full PC specs:
OS Version: Microsoft Windows Vista Service Pack 1 (Build 6001)
PSU: Thermaltake Toughpower 750W +12v combined 60A (GPU power source reference)
GPU: eVGA GeForce GTX 260/PCI/SSE2
CPU: Intel Pentium D 925 3Ghz DT 800FSB Socket 775
Memory: 3070 MB
Mobo: XFX nForce 680i LT SLI Socket 775

@Venbred

Something must really be screwed up. If other games run fine it is certainly not your CPU. I still think it is a driver problem. SL uses OpenGL whereas most other games run with DirectX.

I have the same card here (GTX260 216) and absolutely no problems with it. Driver right now is 185.66.

Just ran: GPU Caps Viewer ---- OpenGL Stability Test: Fur Rending
Run time: 20 minutes

FPS: Low-101, High-118 ---- Avg: 113

To me that seems quite fine there. >.<

All the other demos on there ran fine. I'm at a total loss as to what the problem could be, I guess SL just hates me. lol

dude that CPU is a bottle neck.. i know i had the same one... on WOW with a 9800 gtx+ i was getting 15 - 30 FPS on mid range settings and when i swapped out main boards and a new cpu i saw way over 60 FPS on MAX.

Yeah the CPU is the only thing I can think of now, just did a full reformat last week so I know it can't be drivers or anything like that. Best I can hope for is upgrading the CPU to one of the Intel Duo's will do the trick.