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Hello!

I'd like to state for the record that I am no expert when it comes to Linux or configuring Wine, so please be gentle on my stupid remarks. :)

I have an issue with Guild Wars 2: the launcher causes my CPU to run at around 90-110% usage (multiple cores are used). I have done some research on the topic and there were similar issues on Windows, and the cause was reduced down to networking. One user reported that using "PeerBlock" (which logs and checks all connections) caused excessive CPU usage on his side (during download, which is exactly what's going on for me right now).

I don't even know where to start debugging this issue, that's why I turned to you for help. What are the logical things to try in order to fix the CPU usage issue?

 

Additional information:

• System: Linux Mint 17.1 (w/ Cinnamon launcher)
• PlayOnLinux Guild Wars 2 installer was used.
• CPU: AMD X4 750k (3.4Ghz x4)
• Tried running GW2 launcher in virtual desktop.

Edited by Tramvai

Since you have a Quad-Core CPU, you could launch PlayOnLinux with a specific core to see if it has the same problem.  Are you using a laptop?

Wine alone requires more CPU usage because of wineserver, but you shouldn't notice much with your CPU.
Are you noticing your entire computer bogging down because of this launcher?

1. Open Terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T
2. type:  taskset -c 0 playonlinux
3. Now launch Guild Wars 2

This way Guild Wars 2 will only run in one CPU core.  It will probably run even slower, but maybe there is a chance its having a problem with multi-core processing.

If it doesn't help at all, just close PlayOnLinux and launch it normally

Good answer, booman. I was thinking the same thing; Ableton Live has Multicore support, but it causes the same issue with it enabled through Wine, but disabling it allows it to do it's voodoo. Fortunately, it has an option to disable that in the program. ;) I might add this to the wiki. lol.

You can disable Cores in PlayOnLinux?  This would be an awesome feature!
I recently ran Riven:  Sequel to Myst and it crashed unless you set PlayOnLinux to run in a single core.  Its a work-around, but it would be nice to just tell the game executable to run in one core instead or PlayOnLinux.

No no no. hahaha. I mean in Ableton's options there is a checkbox for that. Sorry. I should have been more concise. 

I actually do like that idea. Can you open a feature requests in the Bugs section? It may be something cool to add to the Misc tab (like, the checkbox for this would always prefix the executable for the game with the taskset command, instead of doing it to POL as a whole.). 

Worst case scenario, I will just add it to the wiki. lol. :)

Yeah definitely

Sweet. :D

done = ticket 5036

Hey!

Thank you for your suggestion, booman. I tried it, but it still utilized the single core to its full extent (100%). I believe the issue is closely tied to the fact that it is downloading files (yeah... I still haven't downloaded it completely). If I ever finish downloading it, I will definitely let you know if that was the case.

Right now, I have no progress to report.

Cheers.

 

Wait. First thing is first; what drivers do you have installed for your graphics card, how did you install them, and do you have the 32-bit libraries installed as well? If your drivers are not correctly installed, it may be trying to do software rendering through your CPU, as opposed to using your graphics drivers for direct hardware access.

 

EDIT:

 

 I believe the issue is closely tied to the fact that it is downloading files (yeah... I still haven't downloaded it completely). 

Just wait for that to finish, THEN let us know what happens. lol. No point in troubleshooting a speed issue when it is essentially running a full-speed torrent download in the background. :)

Edited by RoninDusette

 

I don't even know where to start debugging this issue, that's why I turned to you for help. What are the logical things to try in order to fix the CPU usage issue?

I would check http://appdb.winehq.org and see if you can find anything there if running the proprietary drivers (with the 32-bit drivers installed, as well). If you are still stuck, you should file a report with WineHQ about this, and see if there is a fix. If there is, you can always let us know, and we can work to get that fix into POL.

I am using the official drivers from AMD (graphics card is AMD HD5770). I do not know which 32-bit libraries you speak of, but I do have both ia32-libs and lib32z1 libraries installed. I also thought about CPU being used for rendering, but since the launcher does not have any fancy effects and I do not have graphics performance issues in other games I run through Wine, I didn't think much of that option.

 

 I do not know which 32-bit libraries you speak of,

The 32-bit graphics libraries for your system. Check your distro's docs for information.

I see your point about the launcher, too. 

One thing I want to stress is that you did not post your debug logs. These are REQUIRED in your first post... Without your debug log, we are literally guessing at what the problem may or may not be. Normally, posts would be locked without that, but you had everything else. Nevertheless, we are at that point in time where a debug log would be nice to see, but instead of already having it, we have to ask for it. hahaha. Please post your full debug log so that we can take a look at it (check the wiki if you are unsure how to), and next time, include it in your very first post. It ALWAYS helps, and is monotonous to request it repeatedly when it is required in the first post anyway. :)

Edited by RoninDusette

I apologize for not including it in the first post. I do not think it is clearly stated enough in the stickies (there's always the possibility of me being a blind mongol).

Anyhow, here is the log: http://paste2.org/EI5kHny3

Edited by Tramvai

http://wiki.playonlinux.com/index.php/How_to_Post_in_the_Forums

http://wiki.playonlinux.com/index.php/FAQ

https://www.playonlinux.com/en/topic-12181.html (I know it wasn't in this sticky, but it's many other places. I corrected it to reflect the article in the wiki.)

;)

 

 

Edited by RoninDusette

So, the question is; did it finish downloading, and is the CPU usage still spiked out now that it is finished downloading? If not, let it finish, then let us know what is going on. 

Hey guys.

The launcher still takes 90-100% of CPU even when it is not downloading.

The game itself is another issue though (unbearably low fps). :)

Can you check your Activity Monitor and see what processes are using the most of your CPU and Memory.

I'm sure it will Wine related processes, but it may help us to narrow down exactly which one is working too hard

Hey Booman!

Definitely. However, I do not know whether there's a possibility to see more specific Wine processes: I just assumed you meant the regular system monitor output.

Here's what it shown: http://i.imgur.com/JOMJNBw.png

Cheers.

Interesting results...

Guild Wars 2 is really cranking HARD!  Also Xorg is working really hard as well.
I almost wonder if this is driver related?

Anything in your processes that has .exe or "wine" are Wine processes.  Wineserver isn't working very hard in your list.  Normally it is working hard.

I'm suspecting that Guild Wars 2 is having some kind of memory leak or is crashing because of drivers.

What video card are you using?
What driver version are you using?

Can you play any other games in Linux?