I'm trying this game for the first time and I'm averaging about 7 frames per second. I've gotten up to about 13 when all is still and nothing moving, and at times it drops as low as 1 FPS if people or too many creatures are nearby. Obviously, this isn't gonna work.

My computer has:

Windows XP

2.93 ghz Celeron

1.5 GB DDR2 RAM

GeForce 6800 XE (256 MB of Video RAM)

300 GB, 7200 RPM hard drive with 250 GB free

not so great, but out of these components which do you think is the primary culprit for this terrible performance? I've already turned graphic settings down to rock bottom. The game looks pretty bad at these settings but still the performance is terrible. I've even turned off all sounds. No help.

If you could suggest any relatively cheap parts I could buy for my computer also, that would help. I'd like to give Vanguard a fair try but I don't have lots of cash to spend on computer upgrades.

Thanks~

More RAM and a better video card.

You could pick up an 8800 series video card dirt cheap these days, that should improve things massively.

Definitely more ram, and a cheap 8800 would do the trick.

In the mean time, for some reason, putting Anisotrophy at 2 or 4 helps

That's a single core processor right?  I'm afraid that is going to be your biggest bottleneck.   I don't know if you are open to a rebuild or not, but I rebuilt my sons computer (new mobo, dual core processor and 4 gigs of ram) for $270 and then through in a 8800gtx from the scrap heap.  It runs VG extremely well on ultra high settings.

I'm just worried with your cpu/mobo that you are going to be constrained on processor power.

As mentioned above, your weakest link is your single core processor.  Then your video card.  You can get a massive upgrade to your video card for under 200 bucks.  The 8800GT is nice and the new GTX which may be more than 200 bucks but the latest in tech.

Lasty, for free you can check your video driver and see if it matches the VG recommended video driver.  http://help.station.sony.com/cgi-bin/soe.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=16732 

Your card needs Nvidia driver 182.08.  Also try turning off your sound to see if that improves your FPS.

Good luck.

One of my computers that I play Vanguard on is similiar to your rig.  I had terrible FPS too. I increased the memory to 3 meg and I can now play with low quality and get decent FPS.  Increasing the memory is a pretty cheap and easy thing to try. 

Regarding RAM....if you are using Windows XP then get 2Gigs.   If you're using Windows Vista then get 4Gigs RAM.

Windows XP doesn't utilize more than 2gigs.  You just need 0.5 Gigs more.

 I have AMD X2 3800/2GB/8800GT and get 20-30 fps on balanced setting with high textures and 4xAA. Is it processor i need to upgrade to get better FPS?

You know the framerate issue was the only thing that held me back from subbing to the game, I have a dual core processer @ 2.6ghz, 4 gigs of ram and a nvidia 8800m gtx. Not sure what the problem is on my machine but yea, good luck. If you figure it out let me know maybe ill try to fix mine to to sub.

Originally posted by kftaurus

You know the framerate issue was the only thing that held me back from subbing to the game, I have a dual core processer @ 2.6ghz, 4 gigs of ram and a nvidia 8800m gtx. Not sure what the problem is on my machine but yea, good luck. If you figure it out let me know maybe ill try to fix mine to to sub.

That sounds very close to my rig prior to my upgrade to a 280GTX.  I was getting 60fps outdoors and 30fps indoors while running 2560x1600 in windowed mode (windowed mode is a huge fps hit).  What kind of fps are you getting?

 OP your rig sounds around 4 or 5 years old, agp 8x im guessing and single core cpu limited, youre gonna have to save up and upgrade for future gaming, dont have to spend a ton but agp is out, single cores are out and xp is about to be out, intel steam rolled the new tech out and the game companies are all upping reqs to the new levels.  on the bright side if you budte 100 to 200 dollars a year to your pc fund you can buy a very nice gaming rig every 4 or 5 years no problem, if you cant afford that gaming might not be for you =D

Thanks for the input, guys.

It looks like I need a new processor and a new graphics card and more RAM o_O

I'm gonna pass on Vanguard for now in that case. Vanguard is the only game I'm having performance issues with so I don't feel like replacing everything just to try it, particularly when I can run LOTRO (also playing the trial for that game) very well at settings that are visually appealing.

Recently re-subbed to Vanguard and am loving the hell out of it! As are everyone in game i meet and the numbers are steadly rising. If SOE would pull thier heads out of thier asses and realize what they could have here the game could be amazing.

Anyways here is my specs on the computer I use to play on and all is good!

AMD 3800+ Single core processor w/Geforce 9500GT card

4gigs RAM

22" widescreen LCD monitor 1440x900 res

Anisotrophy set to 2x (usually nets a performance boost in game for some weird reason)

Balanced settings

Very High Textures

AA turned OFF!

25ish FPS on the Isle of Dawn/ 36 ish off  the Isle

You have to "tweak" things a bit in and out of the game to find your happy place

Bought this for my wife to play and she runs it on pretty much max settings around 40ish FPS....Im so jealous!

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=S445-10007 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE3MZf6q7Bk  <Environments
 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuB1Yt4KUaU&fmt=22  <Gameplay

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuB1Yt4KUaU&fmt=22  <Misc elements

Enjoy!

Originally posted by boojiboy

Originally posted by kftaurus

You know the framerate issue was the only thing that held me back from subbing to the game, I have a dual core processer @ 2.6ghz, 4 gigs of ram and a nvidia 8800m gtx. Not sure what the problem is on my machine but yea, good luck. If you figure it out let me know maybe ill try to fix mine to to sub.

 

That sounds very close to my rig prior to my upgrade to a 280GTX.  I was getting 60fps outdoors and 30fps indoors while running 2560x1600 in windowed mode (windowed mode is a huge fps hit).  What kind of fps are you getting?

Well, Im playing in fullscreen mode, I get anywhere from 80-40fps however it constantly dips down to about 12fps ever ten seconds about.

 Nothing shocking about laga and bad frame rates in Vanguard, I have an dual core e8500 with a ati 4870 and 4 gigs of ram on wn xp and get bad frame rates especiallly in a or close to a city.  It is pitifull really that they cannot optimize this game.  Is it better than it was? yes but it is still poor compared to other games .  If you are going to play Vanguard you have to prepare yourself for hitching and lag and learn to live with it or move on.

Agreed, Vanguard is a really good game if you like dungeon crawler mmo's and a huge non-instanced world. But the performance issue has driven away so many people. It is not just how the game runs but also the amount of bugs in the game are a real concern as well. At this point it is hard to think it will ever be fixed. Enjoy it for what it does well I guess and await something better.