Particle effect density choking PC

Support Technical Support
1

So I’ve been having this problem since Legion or so. Not sure.
There was some change to particle effects at some point in WoW. It absolutely chokes the PC and framerate gets cut drastically.
For example on Elisande in Night Hold, when there is that purple arcane particle in the screen when she twists time, it absolutely murders the framerate, drops as far as 5 fps.

This is not about particles in new expansions only. It affects old expansions as well.
I can load up old game versions with old expansions (lets say WotLK) and doing a dungeon will have completely different result.
In this example I will take Utgarde Pinacle, Skadi the ruthless boss and the freezing cloud that is around whole room.

Its absolutely the same effect in both WotLK version of the game and BFA, but in WotLK I see zero fps drop. On BFA it just chokes my PC.
So I can safely say its not my PC. Nor is it about addons because I tested it without them. I can also see others having this issue.
Something was done to particle effects which just melts the PC.
Is there something that I can do about it (because it obviously wont be fixed, its been many years now) other than just straight up almost removing the particle effects via interface or chat commands.

4 Likes
2

Does the performance drops if you go to Xibala cave in Zuldazar and put the “fog” into your field of view? :slight_smile: What GPU do you have? Transparency effects can do that to some GPUs or APU/iGPUs, even in Classic.

3

Hey Nokiya,

There are many things that could be causing a bit of trouble for you. You listed a few things that you have tried out already, but please go through the steps listed here thoroughly and retest afterwards.

If that still does not help out, post your System Files so we can have a closer look into this. Please go through the steps listed here, and create both the MSInfo and DxDiag files. Post them on a page like Pastebin.com or share directly with us through OneDrive. Post the links here afterwards as Preformatted text, so we can have a look.

Have a few seconds to spare? Let me know how I’m doing!

4

Hey Nokiya. I have this problem with particle density afrer Draenor. My FPS drop on mass shaders\particle effects. It’s true. This problem started on 7.0.
Today something happend and problem come back :frowning: On last week everything was ok. Without fog (or something same) my fps is good. 100-200 for example. Any particle density effects (huge fog for example) fps = 30-50.
I haven’t given up hope of finding a solution with my GTX 650Ti.

5

HBM2 based video card. Those effects push pixel rate to the limits and the faster the GPU memory and pixel fill rate the more resilient it will be (or so it seems). Actual solution would be for the game to optimize it as it’s even on simple waterfalls in vile familiars cave in Durotar/Classic.

2 Likes
6

Interestingly enough I have 650ti as well. However I know its not about it since like I already mentioned, it doesn’t happen to the same effects from previous expansions. Nor does it happen in other games to this degree.
Its strictly wow engine related. They’ve done something to particles and left them in the gutter ever since.
(also I had a weaker card before this one and there was no issue, pre wod)

Yep. I wonder if Classic WoW will be screwed over with new particle system as well. That should be interesting to see.

Im currently away from PC, will do it a bit later.

7

The performance drop is there from what I have managed to find during the stress test.

8

Hey there, I’ve finally gotten around to doing this.
Done as instructed on the links.

https://pastebin.com/QAtRSSBE — MSInfo32

https://pastebin.com/rnHkxs67 — DxDiag

I’ve already tested fresh WoW install with no addons and such.
Addons only slow down loading. Choking is still present.
And yes, choking is present in Classic as well now, in fewer cases.