I have read a lot of forums and suggestions, but can't figure out why the game is running so slow. At first it runs perfectly fine, but after a few minutes it is running so slow i can do anything. Even the mouse moves with a delay.

I run a lot of games on this computer and have never had any problems before running them at high settings.

I have tried many different resolution and graphic options. I have downloaded new video drivers. Nothing works.

Windows XP, media center edition, sp3
Intel Core 2 extreme CPU Q6800 @ 2.93GHz
4 GB RAM
nvidia geforce 8800 ultra

(I reposted because i forgot to mark it as a problem)

The Auto Detect Settings in options isn't optimal, but it looks like selecting Low Spec would turn everything off that could cause trouble. You might have a little better luck if you increase Texture Memory Size, leaving everything else turned down. I think Low Spec leaves Bloom on too. Might try that off.

And, I am assuming you are all patched up to 1.2. I don't have NVidia, but make sure your graphics controls are using app settings by default.

And it may just be that card is too old/weak. Sorry.

No matter if i run it in high, medium, or low settings, the outcome is the same. The only difference is how long it takes to slow down to a crawl. Even at high graphics at first it run perfectly smooth, but after about 30 seconds is starts to slow down a lot until it is almost frozen and unplayable. Dropping the graphics has the same outcome, but just takes a little longer to get to where it is unplayable.

It almost seems like there is a memory leak or something.

I had already increased my virtual memory, downloaded the patch, and have the graphics set at default as suggested.

My computer specs meet the minimun so I dont understand why it slows down to almost a complete stop even at the lowest graphic settings.

Try watching the temperatures on your CPU/GPU. Could be something as simple as dust clogging the heatsinks and fans causing them to downclock.

Try this. Go to your 'My Documents' folder, in my case -> %Hard Drive%:\Users\%User%\Documents\Witcher 2\Config Like C:\Users\Me\Documents\Witcher 2\Config (For Win7 at least)

You'll find a user.ini and a rendering.ini. I've modified them a bit lower that minimal spec (lower scale textures etc). After you copy this to your respective ini files. DON'T OPEN THE CONFIGURATOR! Otherwise it'll just re-set everything. :\

In your **User.ini**, find the [Rendering] tag, make sure CustomRenderingSettings=1 then replace whatever it has with this:

[Rendering]
AllowAntialias=0
AllowBloom=0
AllowBlur=0
AllowCutsceneDOF=0
AllowDOF=0
AllowDecals=0.0
AllowMotionBlur=0
AllowRain=0
AllowSSAO=0
AllowScatterDOF=0
AllowShafts=0
AllowSharpen=0
AllowVignette=1
AtlasTextureDownscale=3
DanglesLimiter=1
DetailTextureDownscale=3
Fullscreen=1
MaxAtlasTextureSize=128
MaxCubeShadowCount=1
MaxCubeShadowSize=128
MaxSpotShadowCount=1
MaxSpotShadowSize=128
MaxTextureSize=128
MeshDistanceScale=0.5
ShadowQuality=0
ShadowedLights=0
TextureDownscale=3
TextureMemoryBudget=100
UberSampling=0
VSync=0

Then find your **Rendering.ini** and replace everything in there with this:

[TextureStreaming]
MaxResidentMipMap=6

[TextureGroups]
Default=(Compression=TCM_None,MaxSize=128)
Font=(Resize=false,Streamable=false,Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
DetailNormalMap=(Detail=true,Compression=TCM_NormalsHigh,MaxSize=128)
WorldDiffuse=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
WorldDiffuseWithAlpha=(Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
WorldNormal=(Compression=TCM_Normals,MaxSize=128)
WorldNormalHQ=(Compression=TCM_NormalsHigh,MaxSize=128)
WorldSpecular=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
WorldEmissive=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
CharacterDiffuse=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
CharacterDiffuseWithAlpha=(Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
CharacterNormal=(Compression=TCM_Normals,MaxSize=128)
CharacterNormalHQ=(Compression=TCM_NormalsHigh,MaxSize=128)
CharacterEmissive=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
TerrainSpecial=(Streamable=false,User=false,Compression=TCM_None,MaxSize=128)
TerrainMaskMap=(Streamable=false,User=false,Compression=TCM_None,MaxSize=128)
TerrainDiffuseAtlas=(Streamable=false,Atlas=true,User=false,Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
TerrainNormalAtlas=(Streamable=false,Atlas=true,User=false,Compression=TCM_NormalsHigh,MaxSize=128)
TerrainDiffuse=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
TerrainNormal=(Compression=TCM_Normals,MaxSize=128)
Particles=(Streamable=false,Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
ParticlesWithoutAlpha=(Streamable=false,Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
FoliageDiffuse=(Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
SpeedTreeDiffuse=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
SpeedTreeDiffuseDetail=(Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
SpeedTreeNormal=(Compression=TCM_NormalsHigh,MaxSize=128)
SpeedTreeNormalDetail=(Compression=TCM_NormalsHigh,MaxSize=128)
SpeedTreeSpecular=(Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
SpeedTreeDiffuseWithAlpha=(Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
SpeedTreeSpecularWithAlpha=(Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
MimicDecalsNormal=(Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
BillboardAtlas=(Resize=false,Compression=TCM_DXTAlpha,MaxSize=128)
SpecialQuestDiffuse=(Resize=false,Compression=TCM_DXTNoAlpha,MaxSize=128)
SpecialQuestNormal=(Resize=false,Compression=TCM_NormalsHigh,MaxSize=128)
Flares=(Compression=TCM_None,MaxSize=128)



I've pretty muched totally minimized texture sizes from 'Low Spec' that the configurator sets. Let me know how it works for you. Warning: This game will look like utter poop at these settings. Utter. Poop.

I would try what you suggest to put the game at an absolute minimum, but if the game looks as bad as you say it will, I will not want to play it. After all, half the fun of a game is the graphics.

I tried several other games at the top quality settings including Dragon Age 2, Supreme Commander, Star Craft 2 and for the most part I have absolutely no problems. And like I said, even this game runs fine at first. It takes a minute before it starts to slow down severly. I end having quit to the main menu then i I can load the saved game again and its the same thing where at first it is fine, but starts to slow down quickly.

I'm saying that'd be a starting point. If it continues with the settings posted above, then I think there may be more issues outside of the game. You must understand that there's massive amounts of data that need to be processed for this game to run well.

DA2 and SC2 aren't nearly as demanding as Red Engine is. (I've never played supreme commander)

I tried dropping the graphics to the absolute lowest as suggested. Also I put in a 2nd 8800 ultra to run in SLI. All that did is delay the time it takes before it starts to slow down by a lot, but it still eventually starts to slow.

So what I have to do now in order to play the game is play for about 10 to 15 minutes in low setting, and when the games slows down too much, i just save, go back to main menu, then load the saved game to clear it up. Then rinse and repeat. I just wish i know why the game is working this way with my computer.

Intel Core 2 extreme CPU Q6800 @ 2.93GHz

That is the problem. This game eats dual core processors for breakfast.
Your card meets the minimum specs but...
You will have to lower your screen resolution, probably way below what you want to get the game playable.

He got a quadcore, not a dualcore

Ever tried that?

It kinda sounds like your system's stacking up heat (the higher the settings, the faster) and once it reaches critical limits, the GPU is clocked down and you experience poor performance.

You are correct, sorry about that.
I left the "Q" off the 6800 when I looked it up.

I agree. This does sound suspiciously like a heat related issue. As others have said, this is a pretty demanding game. I am playing on an Intel i7 960 w/ Nvidia GTX560ti card and have seen a bit more of a rise in temps with this game, but nowhere near critical or enough to cause any issues. Are you the same Nameless 1 that used to hang out at the PCWorld Forums?

The 4 cores are running at around 120 degrees each which seems normal. However, one graphics card is running at 177 degrees and the other is at 195 degrees. And that is when the game is not running so overheating may very well be the issue. I do know that one of the cards is perfectly clean, probably the cooler one, but the rest of the computer is dusty. Tomorrow I will clean it our carefully and hope that will help. Any other suggestions in cooling a system?