Tibia/CPU Usage

My son's computer has FX-55, SLI w/2 6800GT and 3GB ram. When he plays a game called Tibia (which he has played for years on lesser machines), I note that the processor is dedicating 100 percent to the game. I know this from using CS Fire Monitor. Anyway, my question is thus:
Since I know the game ran fine on his previous machine (1.7 P4, 688Ram), I wonder why so much of the processor is dedicated to the game. Is this normal? The settings are of course maxed out, but this is a game that can be run by a much slower machine. So, again, is it normal for the processor to be working so hard for one game? I kinda thought it would sit there and use about 20 percent or something......

 

Not familiar with this game myself and unsure whether you have tried these suggestions found on a google search, I'm going to throw them out there and see if any of these help:

possibly:
http://www.tibia.com/guide/?subtopic=faq&question=framerate

after making sure your virus malware adware free and cpu bog is not due to these...
perhaps trying win98 compatibilty mode as suggested here will do it:
http://discussions.virtualdr.com/showthread.php?t=188165

 

The key will be how any other apps run at the same time.

If the game seems to take it all but starting another app shows the new app running fine and the game taking less then I'd have to say the game is well written. Idle CPU cycles aren't really useful except as a potential reserve for times of need.

That being said, I have a card game where I can set the level of expertise the computer uses when playing against me. Higher level = better play but longer pauses and while the machine is 'thinking' not much else can happen.

I run it on several PCs with different specs. The pause time is the same (maximum allowed for the PC is based on the skill level) but the system is lots smarter and tougher to defeat on the faster CPU + larger memory PC. Another case where the game will run on a variety of hardware and will use all available resources on whichever one - at least I think so.

I have a server with 8Gb of memory and 4 processors and I may try it some weekend when things are real slow at work and no one needs the server for a little while. Be interesting to see if this dang game can peg that one too. If it does, I'm probably gonna get my hiney kicked properly.

 

That computer should certainly run any game that you would care to throw at it.

I think I would run the Windows system monitors as another check.

Check through the motherboard manual for settings related to graphics and the SLI component. Don't change BIOS settings indiscriminately, check here:
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=1
The BIOS may be set to "Setup Defaults" rather "Optimal Settings" (the wording changes).
If there is a setting for Aperture, you should be able to set this quite high.

The 100% could mean there is a bottleneck communicating through the chipset. Have you installed a good set of chipset/motherboard drivers. These control the information to and from the graphics card and the CPU. You need a good set of chipset drivers installed then a good set of graphics drivers installed after that.

Matt

 

Managed to bump the frame rate down and that brought the usage to 70-90 percent. Cannot see myself adjusting the BIOS, even after reading what I could understand from that article. Thanks anyway, though. If there was more information not quite so complicated about adjustments was available, I would be willing to give it a try......

 

Glad to hear you had some success.

What is the make and model of the motherboard?

Matt

 

Here's what Everest says:

--------[ EVEREST Home Edition (c) 2003-2005 Lavalys, Inc. ]------------------------------------------------------------

Version EVEREST v2.01.347
Homepage http://www.lavalys.com/
Report Type Quick Report
Computer USER-95F931E403 (Jon's Nirvana)
Generator
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition 5.1.2600 (WinXP Retail)
Date 2005-10-31
Time 19:34


--------[ Motherboard ]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID 03/25/2005-NF-CK804-A8NSLI-B-00
Motherboard Name Asus A8N-SLI

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bus Type AMD Hammer
Real Clock 200 MHz
Effective Clock 200 MHz
HyperTransport Clock 1000 MHz

Memory Bus Properties:
Bus Type Dual DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 128-bit
Real Clock 163 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 327 MHz
Bandwidth 5226 MB/s

Motherboard Physical Info:
CPU Sockets/Slots 1 Socket 939
Expansion Slots 3 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 2 PCI-E x16
RAM Slots 4 DDR DIMM
Integrated Devices Audio, Gigabit LAN
Form Factor ATX
Motherboard Size 240 mm x 300 mm
Motherboard Chipset nForce4-SLI
Extra Features JumperFree, Q-Fan, Stepless Freq Selection

Motherboard Manufacturer:
Company Name ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
Product Information http://www.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=3
BIOS Download http://www.asus.com/support/download/download.aspx


--------[ Debug - PCI ]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

There seems to be no settings in the BIOS that would have a dramatic effect. They are mainly standard (automatic), and only need to be set for special occasions. One that may possibly have an effect is the CAS# latentcy under the heading DRAM. Try setting it to 3 (3 is actually lower ), if there is no change, put it back. Also check Memory/DRAM in Everest at both settings.
BUT,
at the back of the manual there is information about the SLI software to be installed in Windows. Check through it. Check that SLI is enabled in the Display section.

There are updated chipset drivers at the download section:
http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx
Win XP version 6.65.
Check if there are any special instructions on how to install them.

The motherboard manual itself has updates.

I have always known Asus motherboards to be fussy with system RAM. I might try running just 2048MB or even 1024MB as a test.

Matt
[Edit: I saw BIOS updates available. If you have no luck with the above suggestions you should try that. I take it you have not flashed a BIOS before, it is a matter of following the instructions carefully (or get someone that has done it before to help you). Do not use a Beta version, use the latest full version.]