1. My CPU is enough, I've run it through requirement labs several times, and it reports as enough. My DXDiag tells me it runs between 2.00~ 2.6 no problems and it's not had this problem before. Like I said usually it runs the CPU at 60-80% with no problems. This is a problem which occurs once every few plays but there's no consistency as to when it happens.
2. My GPU? More than enough. I also ran it through requirements labs several times and the only problem is it's not in their list of recommended requirements. It meets every single recommended requirement except it's name. It has all the pixel shader what not directx stuff AND it has OVER 4 gigs of video memory with 2 gigs dedicated at all times. Even if I weren't running with my renderer I would still have 2 gigs of video memory. Minimum is 512 MB, is it not? Recommended is 2 I have 4.
3. Since Nvidia's last GPU update I can no longer right click and demand it run a game with the renderer, but I have it set in the control panel that every program is run with the renderer except internet browsers and other programs which I designate. It automatically runs with the renderer, unless DAI suddenly started telling my computer it was going to run without the renderer for whatever reason (which I cannot control) it is absolutely running with the renderer.
Yes, my laptop is always set to 'high performance' when it is plugged in, and yes it is charged. The temperature shouldn't be an issue because I have a fan and it's occuring within the time frame of loading up the game, when I can play for hours without any problem at other times.
Also sorry I have to run on "a mere laptop". I'm studying in a foreign country and didn't have the money/means to buy/tranport an all holy gaming desktop system from Canada to Japan. If I have offended you with my "mere laptop" I humbly apologise oh desktop user. (Elder: Seriously, please don't talk down to me like I know nothing, I'm not an idiot, I've done my research I can read, I've utilised various different requirement analysys websites and well as utilising my own eyes I know what my computer can do.)
I will again reiterate:
Before the patch I was able to run with most settings at medium, use anti-alias, etc etc the only setting I ever put at high was mesh, and I'm pretty sure my initial (only running between 20-30) FPS problem partially stems from a different bug making me unable to run the game in fullscreen.
After the patch I had to lower all my settings to low, turn off all anti-aliasing and the only setting I have at high is mesh (because of the stupid shiny factor). This still made it so my FPS was between 20-30. The problem is that suddenly, with no warning or consistency, the game will drop down to this odd fluctuation between 5 FPS and 20 FPS, each sitting at that FPS for about 30 seconds before switching back. While usually it just fluctuates about 5-10 FPS depending on region and clutter, it is currently fluctuating between exactly 15 FPS based on nothing but a vague measurement of time.
The problem seems to come along with heightened CPU usage, where as my CPU usually sits between 60-80% it suddenly peaks at 80-100%. So there is suddenly a 20% jump in CPU usage. It also seems to come with occassional heightened ram usage, but that problem is one that my computer has no problem handling.
Edit: Did some proper observations.
1. This problem doesn't appear to have anything to do with CPU after all (my bad that must be a seperate issue). In fact, the only program it affects is DAI and nothing else is affected. I sat there watching the fluctuation in FPS for a good 5 or 6 fluctuations and the CPU and memory usage were both steady the entire time.
2. It's now occuring in the middle of me playing rather than waiting until I've opened the game a second or eighth time. I've been playing for approximately 4 hours and it started up in the middle of me playing this time. This time it's fluctuating between 30 and 5 FPS rather than 20 and 5 FPS.
3. It's fluctuating 30 FPS (10 seconds) to 5 FPS (20 seconds).