Counter-Strike: Global Offensive(Steam): Random freezes/lags

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

Hello everyone,

I'm experiencing short freezes/lags (~0.5 secs) while playing Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (native Steam and game client) since I've installed Linux on my notebook.
If I move into any direction when the freeze is happening, I will continue moving into that direction, even if the corresponding key is not pressed anymore.

Except these randomly occurring freezes, the game runs smooth at a very constant framerate between 143-144 fps (capped through ingame fps_max limiter, vsync is turned off).

My system (operating system and the game files are located on an SSD):

Dell / Alienware 17 Notebook
CPU: Intel i7-4900MQ, 4C / 8T x 2.8 GHz (boost clock up to 3.8 GHz, no IGP)
GPU: Nvidia Geforce GTX780M 4 GB (nvidia-drivers-355.06)
RAM: 16 GB DDR3-1600

Up to date Gentoo system (kernel 4.0.7-ck) with X-server and fluxbox as window-manager.

glxinfo:
http://pastebin.com/ya0V5E5e

/proc/cpuinfo:
http://pastebin.com/fvE9R5v5

emerge --info:
http://pastebin.com/eXhDpaRW

I'd appreciate every thought on that issue.

Regards,

freeq

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:22 am Post subject:

What scheduler are you using?

Maybe the RT patch helps.

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

I'm using BFQ as io-scheduler and sched_iso as scheduling policy via schedtool.

I first used the regular io-scheduler and didn't set a scheduling policy, didn't change anything about the freezes.

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 6:34 am Post subject:

What version of Nvidia driver is installed?

Anything in the logs?

Can you post /var/log/Xorg.0.log?

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

I'm using nvidia-drivers-355.06.

Console output of steam and CS:GO startup as well as playing some time until the first short freeze occurs:
http://pastebin.com/BpNjfKbG

The ingame console doesn't show new entries if a freeze occurs.

/var/log/Xorg.0.log:
http://pastebin.com/u18Gj00w

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 5:01 pm Post subject:

The first link is dead.

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

Sorry, here the console log of steam and CS:GO startup:

http://pastebin.com/5FANzwtY

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

I'm really out of ideas ...

Is there an easy way to monitor the whole system in the background while playing?

Naib · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 1:28 pm Post subject:

Well one thing you can do is enable some CS HUD overlays: fps, netspeed etc...

I have this on mine atm I just need to dig out the relevant info. Otherwise its a logging script.

What I would suggest though is run the testbench of HL2. I am not sure whether CSGO comes with access to the HL2 testbench. This will show if there is an GPU issues (eg thermal throttling).

Which then leaves network or cpu issues

mtr (in cli mode) has a great chart so you could kick this off to the IP of the server you are connecting to and when you experience issues tab back to the command window to see if there is any packet issues.

CPU... well there are a number of performance logging appications out there
_________________

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 2:57 pm Post subject:

Do you have a video of your lags?

I am using a modern hardware (Intel Core i7-5820K, Asus X99-Deluxe, 64GB RAM, Nvidia GTX970 4GB, SSD 512GB, WD 4TB) and there is gentoo installed on it.

Sometimes I am playing games.

I have no problems with delayed frames and lags.

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

I might need to add some more info:

Other games run fine.

I'm playing CS:GO at:

- a resolution of 1920 x 1080
- all video options set to the minimum (even performance enhancements via nvidia-settings)

Freezes even occur while playing offline vs. bots, so I don't need to check out the connection to any server.

Since it freezes for a short duration, no packets are transmitted, no frames are rendered, and no sound is played back. (So there is nothing to see at in-game overlays like net_graph, or cl_showfps.)
I'm not sure what you mean with 'HL2 testbench'.

I monitored temperatures while playing, everything remains in regular ranges. (Fans are running at 100% speed while playing games.)
Since I play on very low details, the GPU utilization is minimal, as well as the temperature.

Unfortunately, I have no possibility of recording a video, but I don't think it will help anyways. All you would see is a smooth running game, except some seconds, where nothing moves at all.

Regards

freeq

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 3:24 am Post subject:

Without any proof, I don´t believe what you are saying.

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

Then you should stop reading and posting this thread.

Naib · Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 5:25 pm Post subject:

nownow... what is being requested is clear information to determine whether it is network, CPU or GPU related and unfortunately clear evidence is required

I provide technical support for HeroesOfNEwerth on the linux front and time and time again the user goes "It can't be my network, I am on a gigawad connection with AcmeISP, its your game, its graphics related". BLACK and WHITE results usually show where the problem is.

The number of people who game via Wifi is sickening... at any moment the connection between the computer and the router can drop to a rediculous level simply by a handsfree phone going off nearby..

HL2 benchmark data, streamed CPU data, info on netconnection.

simple as that.. Isolate which one of the 3 are playing up and then the solution can be found.
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Chiitoo · Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:53 am Post subject: ><)))°€

I don't see CPU speed mentioned yet.

First thing I thought of, was that the CPU is running a bit too conservative. For certain things I need to lock my CPU to a high enough frequency, or the game wont run smooth-like because the CPU simply isn't booted high enough automagically (I've not bothered with finding a nice default for /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpufreq/ondemand/{up_threshold,sampling_down_factor} which would probably help).

But then I read “it freezes for a short duration, no packets are transmitted, no frames are rendered, and no sound is played back”. This doesn't quite seem like what I'm thinking of any longer. :\

Aside from that, I used to have very short freezes (probably below one second) during Counter-Strike games (even on Windows). I don't recall noticing it in any other games. This actually seems more like the issue described here than the one I'm describing first.

I suspect for me it was caused by a Western Digital 'Green' hard-drive which would park the heads every 8 seconds of being idle (been using an SSD for a while now).

Not too hopeful that any of this can be of help, but I figured I'd mention it just in case.

As a side-note, I do wonder about the 143-144 FPS limit a bit. Do you actually have a monitor that can display them, or is that just a preference? It is such a specific rate though that I suspect a 144 Hz monitor is indeed at play. ^^

Just some thoughts!
_________________
Kindest of regardses.

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

While playing, the CPU clock boosts to something above 3,4 GHz, behaves as expected imho.
Default CPUFreq govenor is set to performance, at least if it's connected to the charger (it always is while playing).

There are many people with problems like these on source-engine games. But I don't have friends who play on Linux at all, as for league/competetive gaming, you need to play using the respective anticheat-clients, that are only available for Windows.

I first wrote the problems occur even while playing offline against bots, I checked that again.
When I'm connected to the internet (over the integrated NIC, wired), and start the game, selecting "Offline versus bots", the problem persists.

If I stop my ethernet adapter via the startup script, then starting Steam in offline mode and play against bots then, everything is fine.
So it seems it's related to my NIC.

Unfortunately, the integrated NIC is an "Qualcomm Atheros Killer E220x Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 10)".
It's supported via the alx kernel module. A few features, like ReceiveSideScaling for example, don't work.

There is no possibility to exchange that NIC, as it's integrated on the mainboard.

If someone has an idea how to troubleshoot this crappy NIC, please tell me.

Thanks for your efforts so far,

freeq

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

I'm playing on a 144Hz panel, that's why I capped the fps respectively.

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 12:06 pm Post subject:

If you don´t want to have freezes/lags, then you should use another OS.

If you don´t want to use the inbuild NIC, then you can buy a networking card with a intel gigabit chip.

Chiitoo · Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:00 pm Post subject:

freeq,

Okay, so the CPU doesn't drop the frequency occasionally like in what I described. That's more or less what I expected, since the symptoms would be different (simply more or less timely FPS drops).

How about the hard-drive? Do you play from a traditional spinner, and if so, which drive is it specifically?

I'm not too hopeful that it could be the cause for you in this case, but I think it's worth exploring.

I can't say I've ever tried playing things at 144, since I lack the display for it, but that does make me think of something else I'd try (if I had not already): limit the FPS to 60 where I know it works (for me).

Just some more thoughts. ^^

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2015 5:22 am Post subject:

I have experience with running games on the linux platform.

It runs faster than on windows.

Freezes and lags do not occur.

The reason for the problems could be steam.

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

@ Chiitoo: The operating system, the steam client and the game files are located on an Intel SSD.

@ Keruskerfuerst:
Do you even read, what you write?
If yes, you missed to read what I wrote:
It's a notebook, explain to me how you would install an NIC into an notebook?

Naib · Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 9:28 pm Post subject:

Could you please run the benchmark

CS:GO has a benchmark system

Also there should be a multithreaded option? is this enabled? if so disable as this causes issues
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freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

Describe the benchmark system, as everyone here is talking about it. (playing a demo using the timedemo command cannot be seriously named "benchmark-system")

Keruskerfuerst · Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2015 5:20 am Post subject:

[quote="freeq"

@ Keruskerfuerst:
Do you even read, what you write?
If yes, you missed to read what I wrote:
It's a notebook, explain to me how you would install an NIC into an notebook?[/quote]

I guess, you write something without the knowledge of the background.

freeq · n00b Joined: 12 Nov 2007 Posts: 24

I guess I'm just asking at the wrong place.

Bye