So, I’ve just recently bumped into an odd performance issue. I suspect, alas, that it may be my computer… but I want to check whether I’m not perhaps missing something in my program. Maybe some recent change in the code that has significantly degraded performance.
Specifically, scenes that once ran at a decent frame-rate now run very slowly. In some cases they may start out running well enough, then quickly slow down–and then level off at that slower pace. Further, if I leave the scenes running for a bit, I see cycles of slightly improved and worsened performance.
Now, the obvious thought is: memory leak. If a scene starts out at a decent frame-rate, and degrades over time, then one might think that a resource is being increasingly consumed.
And yet, when I use PStats to profile, I don’t see an increase in system memory usage, and only a small increase in graphics memory usage.
Indeed, looking at the output of PStats for a variety of reported values at two points in time–the first at more-or-less okay performance, the second at very-much-not-okay performance–I actually see very little difference in the numbers reported.
And, aside from my usual bugbear of state-counts (transform- and render-), the numbers look okay to me.
Adding to that, I have been noticing that YouTube videos in Firefox will occasionally start stuttering badly, recovering when left paused for a little while.
I also feel like the computer may have been running a little hotter than I’d expect of late.
So… Am I correct in thinking that the issue likely lies with the machine, not the game…?