Latency Issues

[Marrius]

<p><span ><p>Since I never got a response when posting this on another thread.  I am starting a new one.  I am currently having major latency issues.  As a tank, i pull the mob and start fighting it, but on my screen, I see that the mob is still in the spot where I pulled him from and slowly makes hs way to me.  There is about a 8 second delay on average from what I see on my screen until it actually happens.  The same for my spells and abilities.  Even though the icons and darkened as if the mob is too far away as it shows on my screen, I am still have to use them.  Also, the refresh of the spell icons are delayed too.  I am able to use the abilties even though there may be 5 seconds or so left until they are reuseable.</p><p>I have absolutely no graphics lag at all.  It is completely smooth as far as that goes.  My ping is usually around 100 - 150 or so and my FPS is around 25 - 40 in densly populated areas.  I have done everything suggested in relation to latency problems including disabling or uninstalling all firewalls, virus protection, etc.., run clean boot, by-pass the router, uncheck multicore support, update drivers, use tcoptimizer, disabled physx, used 1 processor for eq2, reinstalled eq2, defraged computer...  I have another 5 year old computer hooked up to the same router with absolutely no problems so I know it is not the router or ISP.  Also, I dont have this problem when playing other online games so I know it is either EQ2, or how my computer is working with EQ2.</p><p>I am at a loss as what to do next.  I cant tank under these conditions since i usually dont see adds on the group until they have been there for about 8 seconds which by then at least 1 person has died, I can't tell where the true positions of roamers are since I am seeing them 8 seconds late, and because of the spell icons on the delay also, I don't know when my spells are truly ready to reuse so i am not effeiciently using them.  It has become so frustrating that I am considering canceling my account after being a loyal EQ/EQ2 player for nearly 9 years now.  If anyone has any more suggestions PLEASE help me out.</p><p>Intel Dual Core 3.2, 4GB RAM, Geforce 8800 ultra x2, windows XP media 2005</p></span></p>

[Marrius]

<p>Bumping this post in hopes to get a response.</p>

[Tebos]

<p>Google for and download Combofix, Malwarebyte's and Antivir Personal and run those against your system.  If you have a QoS running with in the Network connection properties of the NIC, then disable that for troubleshooting purposes.  Is this computer connected to a 10/100 switch and the NIC is a 1000 GB NIC? </p>

[TSR-DanielH]

<p>It's also possible that the system clock on your computer is out of sync.  The game uses the system clock for computing some things like the refresh timers on spells/combat arts.  You can modify the system clock in the BIOS, but make sure you have someone help you if you are uncomfortable working in the BIOS.</p><p>I would also recommend re-enabling dual core support for the game if you are using a dual core CPU.  The issue that was causing crashes with that feature has been corrected and it seems to actually increase stability on multi-core CPUs.</p>

[Marrius]

<p>The system clock was definately the problem.  First I changed the battery which did nothing, but then I uninstalled and reinstalled the system clock from the device manager.  It seems to have mostly fixed the problem, but still not perfect.  As soon as i logged in, i went to fight some mobs to test it.  It worked perfect. Then I changed the system clock by just one minute.  The recast of the spells went to 24+ hours and the mobs I was fighting never moved from their pull spot.  I reset the clock again and it worked like normal again.  However, as I said it mostly fixed the problem in that after playing for some time, I got up to a 2 second delay.  Considering it was about 5 - 8 second delay before, its definately better, but not perfect so I still must be losing time somehow.  The unusual thing is that after playing for about 30 minutes, I went afk for some time.  When I came back, the delay was gone again.  Previously the delay was always there, but now it seems to come and go.</p><p>So considering what it was before, I can live with it the way it is now, but I just wish it was 100% fixed like my other older computer. I will see what other possible fixes for the system clock there are out there.</p><p>Daniel, you mentioned modifying the system clock in bios.  I went into bios and the only thing you can modify is the time itself which was correct, even before I "fixed" it.  Is there another way to modify it?  BTW, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.  I initially thought that could have something to do with it, but then thought otherwise since my old computer has a time sync problem also, but does not have the delay.  I think it actually was the battery in that case.</p>

[Marrius]

<p>Well, after a few groups and a raid, my problem really isnt much better than it has been.  I have been doing searches for this problem in google, but almost all suggest changing batteries and a couple have a few other suggestions which I have tried.  I downloaded a program that will reset my clock as often as I like, but it didnt seem to have any effect.  My computer doesnt lose time when I'm doing anything other than EQ2, even when playing other games like AoC.  It only loses time while playing EQ2 at a rate of about 5 minutes per hour.  Lately, my delay has been an average of 4 or 5 seconds.  It doesnt seem like much, but when every second counts to get a mob positioned correctly in a group or a raid (I was MT) and in order to use spells/combos effeciently, that 4 to 5 seconds makes a huge difference. </p><p>I would love if anyone has any other suggestions to fix my computer from losing time. </p>

[Marrius]

<p>Bumping one last times in hopes of  a miracle. In summary, i know my problem is with the system clock and after reinstalling te system clock, it temporarily fixed the problem, but after running EQ2 for some time, the delay came back?  Does anyone have any other suggestions to fix my problem with the system clock and how EQ2 runs on a delay because of it?</p>

[Hammert2009]

<p>It sounds like your system clock is not keeping time accurately, either losing or gaining time. Regardless, if you're sure the CMOS battery is good it is most likely a problem with your motherboard. Short of replacing the motherboard you could try using a time sync program to sync your time with an internet time server, like <a href="http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/" target="_blank">This One </a>from World Time Server.com </p><p><a href="http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/atomic.exe" target="_blank">Direct download link</a></p>

[TSR-DanielH]

<p><cite>Hammert2009 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>It sounds like your system clock is not keeping time accurately, either losing or gaining time. Regardless, if you're sure the CMOS battery is good it is most likely a problem with your motherboard. Short of replacing the motherboard you could try using a time sync program to sync your time with an internet time server, like <a href="http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/" target="_blank">This One </a>from World Time Server.com </p><p><a href="http://www.worldtimeserver.com/atomic-clock/atomic.exe" target="_blank">Direct download link</a></p></blockquote><p>Beyond that, you might want to try updating your BIOS and chipset drivers to the most recent versions.  Please be aware that updating the BIOS incorrectly can cause serious issues for your computer, so have someone help you if you aren't sure how to do it.</p>

[Nathdorl]

<p>I too am having this issue. The issue started occuring with the release of sentinels fate. I'm having the exact same symptoms as described above. Since you said eq2 makes heavy use of the system time, I went ahead and checked it out.during regular windows usage, everything is fine.but when i run eq2, the system clock starts getting slow. after like 2 minutes of running eq2, my system clock has already gotten like 3 seconds behind.</p><p>Could you please look at your game and try to find out, what might cause this? it is EXTREMELY annoying.</p><p>my system:AMD phenom2 x4 940ATI radeon 5750 card with 1GB of VRAM8GB system memoryASUS M3A78 mainboardrunning windows xp64</p><p>i am saying this again to stress my point: this is a NEW issue that has started to occur directly after the launch of SF, whereas no hardware components / software things were changed on my system.</p><p>PS: did already change the cmos battery, although the bios did NOT say battery low or whatever. this has not changed anything.</p>

[Albrig]

<p>Try another online mmorpg with similar mechanics to see exactly what is going on here.</p><p>I don't think it's SF, but if it is, it has varying inconsistencies across the board with different PC configurations - some may be extremely light and not noticeable, others are more acute - like yours.</p>

[Nathdorl]

<p>what does similar mechanics mean in this respect? could you give me examples? i was thinking about lotro or DnDO, would these be what you meant?</p>

[Albrig]

<p><cite>Nathdorl wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>what does similar mechanics mean in this respect? could you give me examples? i was thinking about lotro or DnDO, would these be what you meant?</p></blockquote><p>Similar mechanics: by that I mean you connect to a server that acts like a database of pre-recorded events that synch with the client. You have static data on your client, the server has both static data and periodic events, a timeline; but if both were disconnected from each other, these events would be biased on when you shut your PC down and when you turned it on, in relation to the server's events being continuous; until you connected to it.</p><p>So yes. Any online mmorpg.</p><p>Looking at the situation with the Streaming Client and Battleground, I would be thoroughly surprised if this had nothing to do with the odd behaviour at work - particular with Streaming Clients (periodic data incoming, being acute) and existing static data with non-streaming clients (largely unnoticed).</p><p>*update - If this is a inconsistent system bios clock issue, it would be apparent with any other mmorpg.</p>

[Nathdorl]

<p>like i said,  the clock only runs slow when eq2 is running. playing other (non-mmo) games works fine. i have since gone back to my old 4850 and the slow clock thing doesnt happen there either. the extreme stuttering that came with SF happens on my old card as well tho.</p><p>please please please do fix the game issues with ATI cards :/</p>

[Azxira]

<p>I'm having the same issue.</p><p>I'll be fine then all of a sudden things stop and then I either end up dead, my pet killed the mob, or with luck I'm still alive when it starts working again.  It started with the expansion. I have an ATI Radeon HD3400 Series with all the latest drivers installed.</p>

[Nathdorl]

<p>i have since tried the 9.12, the 10.1 and 10.2 drivers and noticed no difference for eq2 whatsoever.</p>

[Nathdorl]

<p>have now even tried another OS and the issue still remains. i can DIRECTLY relate this to my radeon 5750. while running eq2 the system clock will lag behind real time by considerable amounts.</p><p>this does ONLY happen while running eq2, and only with the 5750 built in (the 4850 does not produce this issue).the fact, that this only happens while running eq2 makes me think that the 5750 card is fine, yet eq2 + the 5750 seem to have compatibility issues.</p><p>let me say it again: my BIOS battery is fine and even syncing the time every 10 seconds does not help at all.</p>