Slowdown on GFX

[kuronosan]

I have a 8600GTS running on my computer and before, I could run at 720p with no slowdown on COD:WAW (with 2xAA running and all settings on high).

Now whenever there's particle effects like fire, smoke, and flare, the game slows down to about a third of the FPS until it all disappears.

Is there something I'm missing? Should I just get a new GPU?

Mobo: GB n650SLI
CPU: CD2 2.66ghz
RAM: 4GB Dual-Channel
OS: Win7

[Avanarius]

Particle effects probably take the most graphical power out of any effect in an entire game; especially if you have AA turned on. 8600GTS probably just doesn't cut it on those effects.

[Blubbartron]

If it's a recent decrease in performance even keeping your normal settings, I have to ask if you've updated your drivers recently. If you have, a rollback will likely restore your performance. Otherwise, it could be a hardware issue as you've already noted.

[kuronosan]

I haven't updated my drivers since I installed Win7. It was something just recently where I'd be playing in Co-op or MP and suddenly particles slow everything down. I just lost my job, so I really can't afford to go splurging on a high-end card.

Would buying a new GPU fix this? How much would something better than the GTS cost?

[kuronosan]

Oh and to elaborate this is gradual. My FPS starts out fine then for some reason it just gets worse the longer I play.

[Tythera]

That to me sounds like heat, have you used a program to check the GPU temp? I've no idea if the 8600 even gets that hot but it's something to check. I could be totally wrong though.

[kuronosan]

System Says:

CPU: 109F (core 1: 123F, core 2: 125F)
GPU: 163F
System: 116F

[Tythera]

That seems well within the limits, I'm not sure what to tell you. Is it present in multiple games or do you only play CoD? If only CoD, maybe a recent patch (if there is one) introduced a memory leak that doesn't affect you till it's been going for a while. Hopefully you figure it out, that would drive me nuts and I've been no help.

[kuronosan]

Well I used to play FFXI and COD4, and never had those problems on this system.

It was only recently after the latest update that it eventually slowed down... also accidentally clicked "start in safe mode" a couple of times but reset my settings to what I had them at before.

It just gradually slows down for no explicable reason.

[Olo401]

Hmm.. actually that could be something to do with Win7. Keep in mind it's a beta, and despite how good it is it's likely to have some memory leaks.