FPS Dips

[blue2kx]

Server FPS dips

Server FPS dips are caused by high server load, either because of the same server becoming bogged down (with work from plugins or in the normal course of its operation), or because the machine in general is overloaded. These dips can lead to choke, or, in more extreme cases, to skips and lag spikes.

Server FPS can be measured through a game client or any remote rcon tool with the "rcon stats" command. Small dips of up to around 10% are expected and will not have an noticable affect on gameplay, and the occasional larger dip at the beginning of a round or during a map load is normal, but anything outside these should be fully investigated.
Plugins are often the culprit when it comes to FPS dips, and that possibility should be investigated first. If the server still experiences dips without plugins enabled, please contact us ASAP so that we can look into whether there is a problem with your machine.

A related note should also be made that the fps_max (or sys_ticrate, on HL1 servers) should always be set to at least a third higher than the desired server FPS, if not to 0 (meaning unlimited). Otherwise, a server will intentionally cap its FPS at a lower value than it could be.

Does this apply to VDS/VPS as well or just NFO game servers? I've looked through server control panel I don't think I'm having any problems with bandwidth/ram/cpu - I also used the 'top' command using putty and saw that there was usually 30-40% free CPU and more than enough RAM so I don't think it's because of the server resources.

I'm running another 20+ slot server that is having some big FPS dips but it was using plugins so I thought that might be the culprit but to be sure, I tested on a 10 slot basic CS 1.6 server but that's also having FPS dips when I'm the only one in the server, and even worse when there's more people - same for the other server. I've been reading around a lot around the internet and in these forums but I might've missed something.

Code: Select all

CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.00  3.96  5.41    8905   166  385.06       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 2.00  4.72  7.08    8905   166  512.30       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 2.00  4.51  6.69    8905   166  415.63       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.00  4.41  6.34    8905   166  275.41       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.33  4.39  6.05    8905   166  578.37       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.33  4.42  6.16    8905   166  323.52       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.75  4.44  6.27    8905   166  500.25       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.75  4.37  6.20    8905   166  631.71       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.20  4.38  6.24    8905   166  482.39       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.00  4.40  6.46    8905   166  395.26       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.00  4.11  5.78    8905   166  366.30       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.00  4.02  5.62    8905   166  380.37       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.00  4.06  5.58    8905   166  721.50       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.00  4.03  5.54    8905   166  434.97       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.00  4.00  5.53    8905   166  352.36       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.50  3.96  5.48    8905   166  538.79       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.50  3.98  5.43    8905   166  557.10       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.60  3.91  5.30    8905   166  419.46       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.00  3.92  5.34    8905   166  339.67       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.00  3.98  5.38    8905   166  316.06       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.00  4.06  5.42    8905   166  327.65       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 5.00  3.97  5.34    8905   166  441.11       1

] rcon stats
CPU   In    Out   Uptime  Users   FPS    Players
 4.00  4.03  5.55    8905   166  449.24       1

I originally had -pingboost 2 then I tested -pingboost 3 but that didn't help. I tried sys_ticrate 10000 and tried to make it lower. I also have the 'chrt -r 20' to run it as real time.

[Edge100x]

The guide in general applies to all servers, but the part that you underlined would not apply much to virtual dedicated servers (as server load on a VDS is up to the renter and not us).

It's easily possible that you would see problems like this if you are on a single core VPS and only have 30-40% free CPU in "top", because what you see in "top" is just an average; the other game server that you have running is likely actually spiking up and trying to use the entire core at times (due to its plugins, as you mentioned), forcing this second server to be interrupted more often or to run for shorter periods of time.

With that little amount of free CPU, I would recommend running both servers at lower FPS rates to get more predictable performance out of them (it's better to have a lower, stable FPS than a higher, more fluctuating FPS). If you truly want to squeeze out every last bit of performance, I would also recommend that you consider switching to Windows -- CS 1.6 servers use far fewer resources on Windows, allowing you to run more of them.

Or, you could always upgrade . A dual-core configuration allows the OS much more freedom to schedule multiple servers in such a way that they can all run well.

[rustydusty1717]

Unfortunately it doesn't apply to VPS's. As far as the FPS drops, maybe it's your settings. Try -pingboost 2 for your servers, and put +sys_ticrate 1500 in your server.cfg

You will not get a higher FPS than 1000 on any VPS. 1000 FPS seems to work good on all of my servers though, so give it a try and see if those settings help at all. I get 950-1000 on both of my CS 1.6 servers at all times with those settings. Hope this helps!

[Edge100x]

Also, I assumed above that you're running a single-core VPS; if that's not the case, and you already have a dual-core (or better), you might try manually setting your servers to run on different cores via the "taskset" command.

[blue2kx]

I am running a single core VPS.

Thanks, I'll try setting the FPS lower and see how that works out for me. I might consider running windows as well since what was mentioned above about 1.6 servers running using fewer resources on Windows is a new and interesting fact for me.

[rustydusty1717]

I'd definently try changing the settings first, then give windows a shot. I don't have any problems and I'm only on a single core as well, so I'm thinking the culprit is too high of a ticrate. Post back and let us know though.

[blue2kx]

I think it might be the CPU but I'm not totally sure. I have another server which is pretty much identical to my current server and it's not experiencing much, if any problems. Anyway, I lowered the ticrate to get around 500fps, it definitely improved and I'm not having any problems when there's only a few players in the server as opposed to before when it was only me and there were considerable dips. I also lowered the slot count for the server to lessen the load.

Thanks again!

I'll haven't tried using windows yet but I think I will some time in the future but I'll stay put for now.

[rustydusty1717]

It's most likely the CPU then. Hopefully the problem is gone away though. Just wondering how many servers your running, what type, how many slots, etc.

I'm running 2 - 20 slot CS servers, both at 1000 fps and they run fine on the single core. Haven't had both of them full yet, but with 10 in each I'm only using about 20-25% of CPU.

[blue2kx]

I'm running one 24 slot public server which is fairly popular and another 11 slot private server. Both are 1.6. When the 24 slot is full, I use between 40-60 CPU so I think that agrees with your stats.

[Edge100x]

That sounds about right for what a single core can do, but you're probably right that plugins are a factor here, as well as the Linux.

I'm glad to hear that lowering the FPS a bit helped .

[rustydusty1717]

Hmm, interesting. You are using -pingboost 2 and +sys_ticrate 1500, correct?

Maybe put the pub to 500 FPS, so put +sys_ticrate 1000 for pub and keep the private at +sys_ticrate 1500 (Actual 1000FPS). I wouldn't run the private at anything less than 1000 though. People tend to complain about registry even more then.

[blue2kx]

How do I limit FPS? I thought fps_max was only for srcds. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but for HLDS, doesn't sys_ticrate pretty much control your fps?

I'm running sys_ticrate at 550 atm.

Thanks.

[rustydusty1717]

-pingboost 2 in your command line, but put sys_ticrate 1000 in your server.cfg

Go 500 above what you want your actual server FPS to be. For instance, if you want it to be 950-1000, you put sys_ticrate 1500.

John explains it all here: http://www.nfoservers.com/forums/viewto ... =47&t=4078

Hope it helps!

[Edge100x]

How do I limit FPS? I thought fps_max was only for srcds. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but for HLDS, doesn't sys_ticrate pretty much control your fps?

Yes, that's correct.

I'm running sys_ticrate at 550 atm.

That's the right way to go about it limiting it, yep.

[blue2kx]

Just an update. I finally switched to Windows 2003 and it shows much much better output now - plus, it was easier setting it up as well.