I had severe FPS problems, and noticed that Spiral Knights was maxing at 25% CPU usage (that is, it was only using one CPU core). The default Java download is 32-bit. When I installed 64-bit Java and Spiral Knights locally, my framerate went back up, and CPU usage occasionally spikes to 60%. Hope this helps anyone who's having problems.
64-bit Java solved my FPS problem?
I'm having similar problems, I contine to have graphical problems with the game. My computer specs are:
Windows VIsta Home Premium (32bit)
Intel Core 2 Quad, Q6600 @ 2.4 GHz
2 GB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce 8500 GT
1 GB
One thing I noticed is that it seems that only one core of my processor is running the whole, game and that it is nearly always running at maximum capacity. I wouldn't be surprised if soothing was wrong with my system configuration, but I have no idea what it could be. Also, even if I just sit at the login screen the one core is still maxed out. I don't think I would be able to fix this by using 64-bit Java since my system is 32bit.
The 100% usage thing is normal for some programs (Old programs do it a lot!). It just depends on how the program is coded.
By using the "Set Affinity" toggle in the Task Manager you can bump things around and force even core loading if you desire. The performance difference between the game running on a single core vs multi-core on a modern high-speed processor is negligible.
With Windows 7 x64 and an older single-core Athlon 64, I got a huge performance increase from installing the 64-bit JRE. This topic needs to be stickied, and both the updater and the installer need to be patched to install the correct JRE.
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I take no responsibility for any possible damages that could occur if you choose to follow the steps I have outlined below. I am posting this because I had a problem and had to find my own solution. It may help you it may not. What I have outlined below was based on having the game installed from the website during the Closed Beta period and using Windows 7 64. The shortcut to start the game pointed to javaw.exe located in C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe. It then creates a folder in C:\Users\*YOUR DRIVE*\AppData\LocalLow\spiral\ to launch the game from your desktop. If you are playing on a Windows 7 64 OS but are using 32 bit Java this may be of some help to you provided you have the same install setup and same issues with stuttering as me.
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I had asked what would have to be done to get 64 bit Java working with Spiral and received no response. I decided to just try on my own. I rolled back to an earlier time when my game was still the closed beta installer done through the website. I then looked at the Spiral Knights shortcut to see how it worked. I then pointed the Spiral Knight's Target to "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe" -jar getdown-pro.jar .
Next I went to C:\Users\*YOUR DRIVE*\AppData\LocalLow\spiral\ I copied the getdown-pro.jar here, renamed it and placed it on my desktop. Always make a backup before doing potentially silly things. I then went to C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin to copy/paste the getdown-pro.jar from the Java 64 to C:\Users\*YOUR DRIVE*\AppData\LocalLow\spiral\
The end result? Game boots, I have played for many consecutive hours. Before changing my Java I noticed the screen had a fuzzy haze and FPS dropped a bit after a certain Closed Beta update. After changing my Java recently this fuzzy glow disappeared and my FPS was normal again. The stuttering is not gone but it's been reduced to how it was in closed beta. I supposed that can be seen as a victory. It's about 1/2 a second instead of 1 or more. Freezing for over a second many times during gameplay causes major desync. In turn this allows the AI to perform miracles to assassinate your already pathetic HP, not fun. I'd like to point out that the 1/2 second stutters also mess up sync but it's manageable. There is one issue I've noticed by doing the method I described above. I do not have in-game sound. I don't know why.
edit- Make sure the Spiral Knight's shortcut Target line reads as "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe" -jar getdown-pro.jar .
There should be a space and period after pro.jar
This worked great! THANKS
All you have to do is install Java 64-bit and then right-click the shortcut and remove the " (x86)" from the target line. That's assuming you use default Java install locations.
I personally have not observed any difference between playability of the different Java versions, so you're mileage may vary.
I'm having a rough time understanding this, can you edit your text in targetted steps? because I went through my java folder, and didn't find the file you're talking about. The first tfile you mentioned on there, to point it out. Could be me being a little fuzzy headed, idk.
Make sure you have Java 64-bit already installed to default locations.
Right-click on the Spiral Knights icon (on your desktop) and click "Properties."
A window should appear; the word "Target" is next to a box full of text that should read: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe" -jar getdown-pro.jar ."
To use 64-bit Java, delete the " (x86)", so the Target line reads: "C:\Program Files\Java\jre6\bin\javaw.exe" -jar getdown-pro.jar .
Click Ok, and Spiral Knights should now launch using 64-bit Java.
EDIT: According to Dogrock, that should work; if it doesn't, just change the Target line back to what it was and we will try to find another solution for you.
I tried that, and says that it can't perform that action because it isn't valid. :(
Edit:Oh. I copied the file over to the none (x86) part of program files. I'll update this text to see if it works. thank you, Providence.:)
Update: Nope. Still doing the same thing. :( Only this time, the fps drop happened sooner. :'(
Acrididae, it sounds like you are having other issues. Are you sure your graphics card is capable of running the game? Please see the technical help sticky for details.
Windows & Linux:
- Windows XP, Vista or 7
- Java 1.5
- Display 1024x600
- 1.3ghz processor
- Graphics: 64mb Video Memory. GeForce 5 series, ATI Radeon 8500. Latest video driver.
- Memory: 512mb for Windows XP or 1gb for Windows Vista/7
- 300MB Hard drive space
My specs:
Windows 7(x64)
(I think I just installed java x64)
2.8ghz processor
Geforce 9100 3.8gb of video memory
8gb RAM
1TB space.
edit:I read that I may have to dust off my video card, as it may be over heating?
edit:Cleaned my card, but apparently some issue keeps coming up when opening spiral knights, now. ,"Exception failed" or something of the sort.
Model Name: MacBook Pro
System Version: Mac OS X 10.6.7 (10J869)
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo
Processor Speed: 2.53 GHz
Number Of Processors: 1
Total Number Of Cores: 2
Memory: 4 GB
Chipset Model: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
VRAM (Total): 256 MB
I was wondering if there is a similar method to ensure that java is running in 64 bit as opposed to 32 bit on my macbook.
Obviously with my integrated video memory, I'm running into significant FPS issues in many of the tier two dungeon sets. The game becomes unplayable pretty quickly. Just trying to get a sense of whether or not I can continue to play spiral knights, or if I should give up on the dream. Any suggestions or direction would help.
Even if verdict is that I can't run spiral knights on this machine, I'd be glad to have some finality to the situation.
Thanks,
Booi
I have installed 64 bit java but when I used the 3 Rings installer from http://download.threerings.net/spiral/client/spiral-install.exe it installs everything for the 32 bit java. Do I have to copy/paste my 64 bit install files to the 3 Rings folder or vice versa or something else entirely? I am getting severe lock up while playing (even worse since the update from Apr. 7th...). Like you my CPU usage is only 26% max. The 2nd core is used briefly but for the most part 1 core is doing everything. Any help would be appreciated. I sure wish they made a 64 bit install version to avoid these headaches.