AN515-54 Overwatch Performance (Low FPS)

Hey, so I recently got an Acer AN515-54 mainly just for YouTube and Overwatch since my desktop had some issues and will be out of commission for a while. I got this laptop because it was reasonably priced and according to reviews, it should get good FPS running Overwatch, however even with me changing all the required setting such as high performance, changing the graphics card to the 1050, optimizing Overwatch with GeForce Experience, I still barely get 30 FPS, and it even goes down further to 10-15 at times, which is brutal. Am I missing something because according to everything I read it should be getting like 90-100 on low at least.

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andylb

Have you set up the Nvidia Control Center correctly? Please follow all my instructions below

Please click YES if I answer your question, thankyou

Make sure you do this below and always game on 100% battery BEFORE gaming and KEEP plugged in while gaming, in your Windows Power plan select High Performance when on AC and in Nitrosense make sure High performance is selected under "AC" tab

1. Download and install the latest Nvidia drivers from here https://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx.

2. Go to the Nvidia control center and click Manage 3d settings tab, then click the Global Settings tab and change Preferred Graphics processor from Auto select to your Nvidia GPU, do this by clicking the downward arrow to the right of Auto Select and select the Nvidia GPU. Then under the Program Settings tab select the programs and games that you want to run on the Nvidia GPU. Do the same under the Set PhysX Configuration tab

Azak

Yes, all that is already setup.

andylb

Azak said:

Yes, all that is already setup.

And you game with the battery charged to 100% and you keep it plugged in?

Azak

andylb said:

Azak said:

Yes, all that is already setup.

And you game with the battery charged to 100% and you keep it plugged in?

Yeah, It doesn't even move from my desk. It stays plugged in 100% of the time. Like I said, I've done everything that I've read online via these forums, YouTube, reddit, etc. Nothing has improved the FPS and I'm about ready to just return it.

andylb

Then if your GPU is setup correctly I suspect it's something in your power plan, they are the only 2 things that affect game performance and from what you have described it sounds like your processor is not running at Max
Go to Settings/Power and Sleep/Advanced Power Settings (on the right) then do this

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/sc/5zblgo0lech1.png

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/cd/u2kcr0th761z.png

Azak

I've gone through the power management and everything is the same as you posted, but I don't have a Switchable Dynamics Graphics option in the settings.

andylb

Azak said:

I've gone through the power management and everything is the same as you posted, but I don't have a Switchable Dynamics Graphics option in the settings.

The Switchable dynamic is AMD only so don't worry about that. From every thing you have said and the instructions you have followed, your GPU and CPU are set up correctly therefore this is a game specific issue not a laptop issue. I need you to run another game as or more demanding and let us know what happens. Also please post a screenshot of Nitrosense taken while playing Overwatch

Azak

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/du/v14axhkw9li5.png

That was with me getting around 25 FPS in game on all low settings. I don't know why it's not showing the GPU info now in Nitrosense.

Azak

andylb

Look at the bottom of Nitrosense, your Nvidia GPU is idle you are attempting to Game on your Dedicated GPU and that is why you have terrible performance. Somewhere you have missed a step in the Control Panel Setup. Make sure you click the Program Settings Tab, navigate to your game and select Nvidia and High Performance

Azak

andylb said:

Look at the bottom of Nitrosense, your Nvidia GPU is idle you are attempting to Game on your Dedicated GPU and that is why you have terrible performance. Somewhere you have missed a step in the Control Panel Setup. Make sure you click the Program Settings Tab, navigate to your game and select Nvidia and High Performance

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/fn/2vwbf6xgcgvh.png

I did notice it wasn't showing up, but it is selected to use the 1050 card.

andylb

Overwatch Launcher.exe is not the correct file. The Overwatch file that you select to run on Nvidia must be the file ending in Overwatch.exe Look at my example below for my game Histwar. So navigate to the Overwatch folder in your Program files or Program files x86 and select the Overwatch .exe file

Azak

Just to be sure it wasn't that, I did change it from the overwatch launcher to overwatch.exe, but it still hasn't shown up and nothing has changed performance wise.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6029997/uploads/editor/7y/ssxoji7wo0iq.png

andylb

For some reason that particular game refuses to use the Nvidia GPU, please test a different game to see if it has the same problem. If it does we need to uninstall all Nvidia drivers using DDU for a clean uninstall and then reinstall and try again
https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/display-driver-uninstaller-download.html
Download and install the latest Nvidia drivers from here https://www.nvidia.com/Download/Find.aspx.

Azak

I just finished uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers, and it says that the discrete GPU is still idle even after I selected the NVidia processor.

andylb

Azak said:

I just finished uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers, and it says that the discrete GPU is still idle even after I selected the NVidia processor.

Now you must try and run a different game and see if the GPU is still idle, this is essential so that we can eliminate a specific problem with Overwatch.
It seems that from the research I have just done that this is a specific problem with Overwatch and not a laptop problem which is logical because all your laptop settings are double checked and correct. Many Overwatch users report the same problem, please read some of the threads in the link below
https://www.google.com/search?q=overwatch+will+not+run+on+nvidia+card&oq=overwatch+will+not+run+on+nvidia+card&aqs=chrome..69i57.14786j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Azak

I did a full factory reset, and the game is apparently using my video card now since it shows up in the video settings, but the FPS is still hovering around 30 and Nitrosense is still saying discrete GPU is idle. The only other game I've tried it on is minecraft (not very graphics intensive) and I get around 60 on there and Nitrosense doesn't show the GPU working playing it either.

I actually used the online chat support, and the guy said that if the factory reset didn't help, it might just be a hardware problem. If that's the case, I'll just return the laptop. I can still just get another one and not have to wait the 2-3 weeks for them to 'repair' it.

andylb

Azak said:

I did a full factory reset, and the game is apparently using my video card now since it shows up in the video settings, but the FPS is still hovering around 30 and Nitrosense is still saying discrete GPU is idle. The only other game I've tried it on is minecraft (not very graphics intensive) and I get around 60 on there and Nitrosense doesn't show the GPU working playing it either.

I actually used the online chat support, and the guy said that if the factory reset didn't help, it might just be a hardware problem. If that's the case, I'll just return the laptop. I can still just get another one and not have to wait the 2-3 weeks for them to 'repair' it.

That was going to be my next suggestion because given the settings we have done, if another game isn't using it I was thinking Hardware problem

Please click yes if I have helped answer your questions, thankyou

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