I know that I cannot be the only one in the situation. Whatever the reason, you can't be one of those guys who turns their graphics up all the way and streams it. It not skill or reflexes, no. For you, it's the fact that your processor might as well be hand-drawing the frames. Well, I have a series of tips that may just help you get a bit further. Please note that, no matter what, you will always be playing "one difficulty up" if your system is marginal. Normal will be about as tough as Nightmare for other players, while Hell is your Inferno. DO NOT go after anything in Inferno past Act One, and even then at your own risk. All tips written here are from personal experience, playing from a laptop that has a 1.5 Ghz processor.
GENERAL TIPS:
1) It goes without saying, but I will say it for completeness. Turn your graphics all the way down, take your sound channels down, and check low-graphics mode. This should help you out a lot.
2) If this isn't enough, then hit control-S and play without sound. If your computer doesn't have to process the sound, it can use the cycles for something else. I know this improves my framerate noticeably every time I do it.
3) Attempt to limit the number of objects on screen! The more effects and interactables that are flying around, the slower you will be going. Take opponents down in smaller groups whenever possible, pick up everything (you can afford to take the time to Portal off frequently to vend), and take out environmental destructables as you find them.
4) Kill orders change when your hardware is the limiter. Take out summoner mobs (including Horde, Illusionist, and Shaman-style) first, followed by high-graphic ones like Mortar, Molten, and Fire Chain (to include enemies like Molten Guardians, who imitate these traits).
5) Don't be afraid to ask for help. Certain bosses (Belial comes SHARPLY to mind) are very graphics-heavy right when you need to be moving at your fastest, turning what should be moderate difficulty into nigh-impossibility.
*6) Techniques and equipment that proc CCs (particularly Stun, Blind, and Freeze) are miracle-workers. You need all the time you can get, and these will give it to you (plus reduce the effects on-screen when dealing with such enemies as in #4)
COMPUTER:
1) Ensure that you have updated your drivers to the latest version. I actually had to do this to push my performance in order to install in the first place, and it can be a surprisingly strong upgrade for nothing at all.
2) Antivirus and defrag if you're running slow, it helps.
3) Ensure no programs are running in the background. Skype is a major culprit, since it doesn't actually close when you hit the X. If you want music, listen to an iPod or something. Don't make your computer handle it too.
4) Cooling pad! If you are the type who needs this guide, then playing D3 is going to start to roast your system before long. Keep it cool however you have to, or your mediocre computer will become a mediocre paperweight before 1.1 hits.
TECHNIQUE SELECTION:
1) FIrst, make sure you have attacks that come out quick, track targets, and/or have fast or instant travel time. As bad as others may complain about lag, you will always be an extra second behind in seeing your enemies. Wizard Chain Lightning, Barbarian Spear Throw, and Monk Seven Sided Strike are great examples.
2) Where possible, multitarget attacks are critical. Take down the legions quick to reduce system drag, it will let you take out the tough ones with a few more FPS on your side.
3) Self-Defense! Make sure you always have something that will get something off of you or give you extra time to deal with it, and always keep your potions stocked. You WILL find yourself being hit by attacks that you never even saw get launched, including several wind-up attacks that are meant to be avoidable.
CLASSES:
1) Witch Doctor is not that great a choice. Their summons may seem good for someone who can't always react quickly on their own, but the extra bodies end up slowing you down more than it's worth (especially once you get to A2NM or so, when they start going down quick). You don't get a lot of the snap-defenses (Horrify and Mass Confusion only go so far), and your damage moves tend to come out slow. Finally, their best builds are dependent on very high amounts of IAS, which I'll discuss later.
2) Demon Hunters also have some problems here, mostly because they are meant to be very agile and avoid direct trouble. This is not always possible when you can't see attacks incoming, so you'll die a lot. Good news is that your traps give you a way to track enemy movement better than their actual place on your screen (just watch for them to go off) and several attacks come out nearly instantly and/or cover a good area.
3) Barbarians are middle-of-the road. They have a bunch of abilities which remain good for slower computers, though it may be tough to build rage against mobs that like to run (stupid hornets...). Spear Throw is going to be your BEST friend, as is a well-places Earthquake and Revenge.
4) Monks are fairly good. Simply put, they can take more punishment (and avoid more punishment) than anything else in the game while keeping up their attacks, and have several moves that either teleport to the target or else come out very fast. Life per Spirit Spent is stupidly good once you get some built up (my SSS nearly full-healed me halfway through Nightmare), and their multitarget capability is very nice once they start mixing things up.
5) Wizards, though inherently fragile, are the very best out there for weaker computers. The reasons are many: their attacks come out fast for the most part, they have tons of extremely effective active defenses, and many of their attacks have good areas of effect or else large splash zones. Many, such as Chain Lightning, actually do most of these at the same time. Most importantly, though, is Disintegrate. It's a very good move to begin with, dealing tons of damage and hitting most of the checkmarks for good attacks, but there is more. Against most enemies, this will both kill them quickly and not leave a corpse at all, making things much easier on you.
EQUIPMENT:
1) Make sure to keep up with Armor, Resistances, and Vitality starting from Nightmare. You'll need them.
2) Attack Speed is not quite as valuable for you, since attacks come out much slower (and animations take longer to complete). It's still nice to a point, but if you're over two attacks per second or so you're wasting space on your items.
3) Same goes for Movement speed. This stat only really shows effects when you're over 15 FPS, and if you're like me your computer is pushing 6 on a good day.
*4) Items with chance to CC are very (VERY) nice to have, think of them as free bonus spells going off.
ZONES:
1) For farming, avoid the outdoor areas and ones with lots of glow, snow, or fire in favor of underground or dungeon spaces. I find both the best and worst in act three, the ramparts and the plains being major system drags while the tunnels under the fort are the easiest.
2) Accept that environmental damage is going to be difficult at best to avoid and plan accordingly. If it's going to be important, then try to use a movement technique like Leap or Teleport to traverse the danger zones.
3) Along these lines, certain boss-farming runs won't be very good for you (Butcher, Diablo), but several still are. Take on most mid-Act bosses freely, as well as Azmodan.
*FOLLOWERS:
1) The Templar will almost always be your go-to choice. There will be a lot of unavoidable damage incoming, and he is the one that will let you deal with it. He is also the best tank of the lot, and has stuns to go with his heals.
2) Pick their movesets with CC in mind, followed by defense. Don't rely on them for damage output.
3) Just like when gearing yourself, anything you can give them that has chance-on-hit to CC is godly good.
*Class-specific:
*WITCH DOCTOR:
1) Dire Bats is going to be your go-to attack, it hits hard and strikes all targets in the line of effect. The problem is that it is effects-heavy and slow. Splinter is also good, to a point, but don't build around it. Zombie Bears are too risky on slower computers, you do not want to be that close.
2) Spirit Walk is going to be your best friend, and most likely Mass Confusion as well (I prefer the Mass Hysteria rune here). Some like Horrify, I don't, but it's another good snap-defense.
3) Pets start off good, but lose effectiveness quickly. You will need the Gargantuan through most of Hell to act as a tank, but after a while know that he won't be good for it anymore. Fetish Army will have to be your substitute, but please remember that it doesn't last forever.
4) In single-target fights, Vision Quest builds are actually quite good. Don't ever use Blood Ritual, you aren't going to be able to conserve your own life well enough to risk using it up every cast.
((other classes to come))
I hope this helps anyone out there like me. I love the game, and I hope this helps a few more of you out there play just that bit better to get where you need. If there are any more questions, feel free to ask. Anything starred was just updated.
Very useful tips. A lot of people who don't monitor their processors and video card while playing may not understand why their frames per second are so low and this could help them a great deal.
Updated again, added a section on Followers and started my class-specific analysis. More will come as I write it, and still more after that as I experience it while levelling up all of my characters. Anything starred is new to the guide.
I will eventually be placing in links to other topics, mostly those which describe tactics that work for weaker computers as well.
The real problems start when you're in 3-4 player games. My system is on the low end and I do well with 1-2 players, depending on what classes, 3-4 player games can have me running in slow-mo and reaction times are skewed beyond control.
Surprised there's no mention of D2prefs.txt in your documents/ Diablo III folder. Try setting "DisableTrilinearFiltering" to 1 and "HardwareClass" to 1.
3) Ensure no programs are running in the background. Skype is a major culprit, since it doesn't actually close when you hit the X. If you want music, listen to an iPod or something. Don't make your computer handle it too.
you being serious w/ this thread? or just trolling, cuz i cant remember the year when my computer was having a hard time playing an mp3
must be some wooden pc which you shouldnt even bother turning on
I'm actually being quite serious. My comp can play music just fine, but NOT while D3 is running. This is obviously not a problem for everyone, but the "wooden pc" would probably be an upgrade from my laptop. Thus, this guide. As for sound, it's all empyrical. However, my framerate does visibly improve when sound is disabled, in this and every other Blizzard game I've ever played (notably WoW as well)
FoxBat, please explain. I haven't heard about that, and am quite willing to give it a shot to see if it will do me any good.
The next update to the guide will come during tonight's maintenance.
guys buy a new computer :o, i built a kick ass gaming rig for about 900$ but you can make one for way cheaper and still be able to play diablo 3 with most things on high
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Working with adobe and/or java is like pushing a paper clip against a building and expecting it to move...
I have Athlon II X2 260 @3.2GHz, 4GB DDR3 memory and an integrated display unit (Radeon HD3000). My D3 settings are as follows:
Video
Fullscreen: Enabled
Resolution: 800x600
AA: Off
Low FX: Off
Shadow Quality: Off
Physics: High
Clutter Density: Medium
Texture Quality: High
Audio
Sound: Enabled
Sound Channels: High
Also, I changed the "Hardware Class" from "4" to "1" in the file D3Prefs.txt. This improves the framerate noticeably. Earlier I used to get 10-17 FPS. Now I get 20-40 FPS. Only in the Act II Sewers does my framerate drop to 12-17. I've played coop many times (4P, 3P) and it plays fine.
Didn't get to try out the "Hardware Class" thing today before maintenance, but will do so once it's over. Quick update with Demon Hunter and Barbarian basics.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
GENERAL TIPS:
1) It goes without saying, but I will say it for completeness. Turn your graphics all the way down, take your sound channels down, and check low-graphics mode. This should help you out a lot.
2) If this isn't enough, then hit control-S and play without sound. If your computer doesn't have to process the sound, it can use the cycles for something else. I know this improves my framerate noticeably every time I do it.
3) Attempt to limit the number of objects on screen! The more effects and interactables that are flying around, the slower you will be going. Take opponents down in smaller groups whenever possible, pick up everything (you can afford to take the time to Portal off frequently to vend), and take out environmental destructables as you find them.
4) Kill orders change when your hardware is the limiter. Take out summoner mobs (including Horde, Illusionist, and Shaman-style) first, followed by high-graphic ones like Mortar, Molten, and Fire Chain (to include enemies like Molten Guardians, who imitate these traits).
5) Don't be afraid to ask for help. Certain bosses (Belial comes SHARPLY to mind) are very graphics-heavy right when you need to be moving at your fastest, turning what should be moderate difficulty into nigh-impossibility.
*6) Techniques and equipment that proc CCs (particularly Stun, Blind, and Freeze) are miracle-workers. You need all the time you can get, and these will give it to you (plus reduce the effects on-screen when dealing with such enemies as in #4)
COMPUTER:
1) Ensure that you have updated your drivers to the latest version. I actually had to do this to push my performance in order to install in the first place, and it can be a surprisingly strong upgrade for nothing at all.
2) Antivirus and defrag if you're running slow, it helps.
3) Ensure no programs are running in the background. Skype is a major culprit, since it doesn't actually close when you hit the X. If you want music, listen to an iPod or something. Don't make your computer handle it too.
4) Cooling pad! If you are the type who needs this guide, then playing D3 is going to start to roast your system before long. Keep it cool however you have to, or your mediocre computer will become a mediocre paperweight before 1.1 hits.
TECHNIQUE SELECTION:
1) FIrst, make sure you have attacks that come out quick, track targets, and/or have fast or instant travel time. As bad as others may complain about lag, you will always be an extra second behind in seeing your enemies. Wizard Chain Lightning, Barbarian Spear Throw, and Monk Seven Sided Strike are great examples.
2) Where possible, multitarget attacks are critical. Take down the legions quick to reduce system drag, it will let you take out the tough ones with a few more FPS on your side.
3) Self-Defense! Make sure you always have something that will get something off of you or give you extra time to deal with it, and always keep your potions stocked. You WILL find yourself being hit by attacks that you never even saw get launched, including several wind-up attacks that are meant to be avoidable.
CLASSES:
1) Witch Doctor is not that great a choice. Their summons may seem good for someone who can't always react quickly on their own, but the extra bodies end up slowing you down more than it's worth (especially once you get to A2NM or so, when they start going down quick). You don't get a lot of the snap-defenses (Horrify and Mass Confusion only go so far), and your damage moves tend to come out slow. Finally, their best builds are dependent on very high amounts of IAS, which I'll discuss later.
2) Demon Hunters also have some problems here, mostly because they are meant to be very agile and avoid direct trouble. This is not always possible when you can't see attacks incoming, so you'll die a lot. Good news is that your traps give you a way to track enemy movement better than their actual place on your screen (just watch for them to go off) and several attacks come out nearly instantly and/or cover a good area.
3) Barbarians are middle-of-the road. They have a bunch of abilities which remain good for slower computers, though it may be tough to build rage against mobs that like to run (stupid hornets...). Spear Throw is going to be your BEST friend, as is a well-places Earthquake and Revenge.
4) Monks are fairly good. Simply put, they can take more punishment (and avoid more punishment) than anything else in the game while keeping up their attacks, and have several moves that either teleport to the target or else come out very fast. Life per Spirit Spent is stupidly good once you get some built up (my SSS nearly full-healed me halfway through Nightmare), and their multitarget capability is very nice once they start mixing things up.
5) Wizards, though inherently fragile, are the very best out there for weaker computers. The reasons are many: their attacks come out fast for the most part, they have tons of extremely effective active defenses, and many of their attacks have good areas of effect or else large splash zones. Many, such as Chain Lightning, actually do most of these at the same time. Most importantly, though, is Disintegrate. It's a very good move to begin with, dealing tons of damage and hitting most of the checkmarks for good attacks, but there is more. Against most enemies, this will both kill them quickly and not leave a corpse at all, making things much easier on you.
EQUIPMENT:
1) Make sure to keep up with Armor, Resistances, and Vitality starting from Nightmare. You'll need them.
2) Attack Speed is not quite as valuable for you, since attacks come out much slower (and animations take longer to complete). It's still nice to a point, but if you're over two attacks per second or so you're wasting space on your items.
3) Same goes for Movement speed. This stat only really shows effects when you're over 15 FPS, and if you're like me your computer is pushing 6 on a good day.
*4) Items with chance to CC are very (VERY) nice to have, think of them as free bonus spells going off.
ZONES:
1) For farming, avoid the outdoor areas and ones with lots of glow, snow, or fire in favor of underground or dungeon spaces. I find both the best and worst in act three, the ramparts and the plains being major system drags while the tunnels under the fort are the easiest.
2) Accept that environmental damage is going to be difficult at best to avoid and plan accordingly. If it's going to be important, then try to use a movement technique like Leap or Teleport to traverse the danger zones.
3) Along these lines, certain boss-farming runs won't be very good for you (Butcher, Diablo), but several still are. Take on most mid-Act bosses freely, as well as Azmodan.
*FOLLOWERS:
1) The Templar will almost always be your go-to choice. There will be a lot of unavoidable damage incoming, and he is the one that will let you deal with it. He is also the best tank of the lot, and has stuns to go with his heals.
2) Pick their movesets with CC in mind, followed by defense. Don't rely on them for damage output.
3) Just like when gearing yourself, anything you can give them that has chance-on-hit to CC is godly good.
*Class-specific:
*WITCH DOCTOR:
1) Dire Bats is going to be your go-to attack, it hits hard and strikes all targets in the line of effect. The problem is that it is effects-heavy and slow. Splinter is also good, to a point, but don't build around it. Zombie Bears are too risky on slower computers, you do not want to be that close.
2) Spirit Walk is going to be your best friend, and most likely Mass Confusion as well (I prefer the Mass Hysteria rune here). Some like Horrify, I don't, but it's another good snap-defense.
3) Pets start off good, but lose effectiveness quickly. You will need the Gargantuan through most of Hell to act as a tank, but after a while know that he won't be good for it anymore. Fetish Army will have to be your substitute, but please remember that it doesn't last forever.
4) In single-target fights, Vision Quest builds are actually quite good. Don't ever use Blood Ritual, you aren't going to be able to conserve your own life well enough to risk using it up every cast.
((other classes to come))
I hope this helps anyone out there like me. I love the game, and I hope this helps a few more of you out there play just that bit better to get where you need. If there are any more questions, feel free to ask. Anything starred was just updated.
I will eventually be placing in links to other topics, mostly those which describe tactics that work for weaker computers as well.
BurningRope#1322 (US~HC) Request an invite to the official (NA) <dfans> Clan
I'm actually being quite serious. My comp can play music just fine, but NOT while D3 is running. This is obviously not a problem for everyone, but the "wooden pc" would probably be an upgrade from my laptop. Thus, this guide. As for sound, it's all empyrical. However, my framerate does visibly improve when sound is disabled, in this and every other Blizzard game I've ever played (notably WoW as well)
FoxBat, please explain. I haven't heard about that, and am quite willing to give it a shot to see if it will do me any good.
The next update to the guide will come during tonight's maintenance.
Which Final Fantasy Character Are You?
Final Fantasy 7
Video
Fullscreen: Enabled
Resolution: 800x600
AA: Off
Low FX: Off
Shadow Quality: Off
Physics: High
Clutter Density: Medium
Texture Quality: High
Audio
Sound: Enabled
Sound Channels: High
Also, I changed the "Hardware Class" from "4" to "1" in the file D3Prefs.txt. This improves the framerate noticeably. Earlier I used to get 10-17 FPS. Now I get 20-40 FPS. Only in the Act II Sewers does my framerate drop to 12-17. I've played coop many times (4P, 3P) and it plays fine.