StrongHarm

This has always been so. Back in the twilight home of computing, the best technicians out there were people who flew sims. If you think this is challenging, try spending 30 minutes tweaking your system and loading drivers into high mem or chasing down hardware IRQs and DMAs, every single time you start your sim. In consideration of today's recreational computing there are two things that stretch any hardware; 1. VR 2. Sims. We're talking about compounding two variables which, even when individually factored, are a strain on current hardware. The fact that we can do it at all is *amazing*, but to do it well it takes time and it takes money. There's no way around it. I've spent both on getting DCS to run well in VR and I couldn't be happier (except for minor things like map lights). If you want my VR performance analysis and specs I've done a full writeup on it: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=201647 . Take note that in my analysis I found that the benefits of turning AA up in VR wasn't worth the performance hit. Since that writeup there have been a few patches and I'm now running AA at 16x with no performance hit. This is an example of the steady improvements we're seeing in VR in DCS. tldr; PD 1.2, MSAA 2x. ED has done a magnificent job of integrating VR even though they were under no pressure or obligation to do so. They've also steadily improved support and provided tools to tweak VR, even though they were busy building a *world* with uber accurate physics and airframes (F/A-18!). It's my belief that their motive is simple... they're simmers too.

It seems to me that they've been steadily working on VR, and they've achieved far more than most other dev shops. In the next patch we'll be seeing a new default view position in VR for instance. Not long ago I had to run with PD at 1.5 to clearly view the gauges, now I run in 1.2 and everything is crystal clear. I'm now also able to run with MSAA and deferred shading, which wasn't possible before. I maintain between 80 and 90 FPS in most situations, dropping to 45 when there are a lot of objects. Here's my writeup on performance tweaking in VR if you're interested: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=201647 My Rift would gather dust if not for DCS. Elite Dangerous is decent in VR, but other than that no one has the skill that ED does and most other games/sims fall flat. Fallout 4 is a good example. They tried to create a VR mode and had to completely change the game and make a lot of compromises. From a functional standpoint, DCS is the same in VR as it is on a monitor if you have the correct hardware and settings. From a visual and immersive standpoint it completely owns me. When I compare DCS in VR to my experience in early sims where I had to tweak my config.sys and autoexec.bat to keep my wire frame from stuttering, I sometimes wonder if I'm only dreaming. Also see this: https://forums.eagle.ru/showpost.php?p=3466347&postcount=12

Magic!

The regions and their terrains were previously secondary to physics and the accuracy of the birds (which I fully support), but we're now at a point where it's increasing in scope. Exciting times. I can't wait for the Gulf map. I can't help but think of this interview:

Tomsk, it could be your processor. You may need to consider an i7. With the settings I outlined I maintain no less than 80fps with over 30 aircraft hitting a target. I get about 70 flying with several aircraft over Vegas. I only drop below 45 from the explosions of 8 B-1s dropping a full load. My specs are in that link. Did you try the steps in the section "solutions for microstutter"?

I've found that with the proper settings VR can be smooth as butter. Here's my writeup on it: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=201647 tldr; VR PD = 1.2 MSAA = 2x Anisotropic Filtering = 2x (16x with latest build) Deferred Shading = ON Terrain Shadows = FLAT Cockpit Global Illumination = ON

I've been flying DCS since BS1 and I've watched it grow by leaps and bounds over the years, but something happened to me tonight that really put things into perspective. I hope you don't mind if I share. I was flying a particularly difficult mission I created in the Caucasus map. The bird I was flying went down so I thought I'd just check out the eye candy and watch another Warthog land at Batumi. He was on final with the sun coming up at around 0650. I zoomed all the way in from his 10 o'clock position, and since I was on Rift I also used VR zoom. As I turned my head and looked at the Warthog and the surroundings I realized that it had been a very long time since I slowed down, let go of the stick, and just enjoyed the visuals. I admired the detail and smooth movements of the bird as it came in for a landing, and while it was taxiing I enjoyed the sunrays peeking through the trees on the top of the mountain. It seemed so real that I thought for a moment I could smell JP-8 in the morning air. I felt like I was back on the flight line. The purpose of this post and the realization I came to is this: As an aviation enthusiast, I realized that I would pay vast amounts of money simply to have access to the external aircraft views and terrain we enjoy in DCS. Not only is it the best and most accurate aviation sim by a wide margin, it's the best thing you can view in VR, period. Slow down sometime and watch a Warthog land or an Eagle fly NOE or an Apache move through a city. Simply breathtaking. Bravo ED!

I was scanning the skies for EtherealN and his BANRAAM for a few of the posts in this thread

Give this profile a try Lars. I'm a Data Intelligence Architect so I work with user perception. I spent a lot of time creating the profile from an ease of use standpoint. The thread outlines everything you need to do to make it work.

I'm speechless. I can't tell whether you're countering my joke with a wildly unrelated one, if you're mocking me, or if you might have a medical condition or a substance abuse problem. Regardless, you have my attention.

Yeah dude, as I said; conclusive for me. Based on tests that I thoroughly outlined, decades of tech experience, and years of test experience with this specific product. Open your DCS:A-10 manual and search for my name. I hope you'll throw me a bone. In my last post I surrendered to your tone and basically said "you're right.. lets work together and figure it out." You're the one person I've seen post that you get results from NCP in VR, and there are a lot of people who say they don't. Being the rare bird that you are, why don't you try and figure out how and share it with the community? You could start by outlining your test methods and conclusions (as I requested) and other people can try to reproduce your results. Here's my 20hrs of effort on the subject: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=3382525 I try my best to be more helpful than contradictory on these boards, it's more productive for the product and the DCS community. Reddit's a good place to argue, ED boards are a good place for study sims. It's getting harder these days to tell the difference.

I most definitely see the effects of nVidia Control Panel settings on my monitor and you're right, the enhancements are visibly obvious. When I change those same settings and view DCS through Rift I see no change to visual quality or FPS. That's conclusive. I've even tried making the changes while connected to a monitor then plugging Rift into the same port (as method does work with some settings in Elite Dangerous), but still no joy. You're asserting however, that based on an unknown variable some people can enjoy NCP settings enhancements in VR while some people can not? I guess I buy that. I have no interest in proving you wrong fargo, but I would love to prove you right. I have a huge interest in enhancing my VR vid through NCP. Can anyone else test and see if you get a response in VR from NCP settings changes? ED Devs, can you comment?

Sounds like a good compromise. Under what circumstances do you typically turn ASW off?

I don't remember what day I lost my job, my house, my cars, or my wife. I don't even know if today is shower day. I can tell you the launch date of DCS: AH-64 Apache though. Ahh what a glorious day! Hey, does someone on your news crew have a sandwich or something? Yeah ok, I'll take off my VR goggles for a sandwich.

I don't have "sources" to prove my assumption that DCS code affects ASW within DCS. My assumption is based on how engine code typically works. I could be wrong. ED may be using defaults, or Oculus may not provide switches. I avoid discussions on the boards these days because intelligent discourse often devolves into argument. I will say that my intent with this thread was simply to provide a full analysis of my findings rather than keeping it to myself. It wasn't to prove anyone wrong or to engage in debate. I have conclusively found that on my system (with settings in OP) I see artifacts with ASW off. I outlined precisely how to reproduce what I'm seeing with a practical test (see post with Stevie Wonder gif). I also found that with ASW on (with settings in OP) DCS looks and performs great with no artifacts using that same test. The only thing to dispute, I guess, is whether I'm being honest about what I'm seeing. You could try the settings and the test and see if you get similar results. If you post your analysis and tests in another thread, link it here. I'll be happy to try it out to see if I get better results. Taking the time to share your findings is a good way to contribute to a (potentially) great DCS community.

DCS has a hook for ASW and a specific implementation of it. You can turn it off and on within DCS without touching OH.

You could try the windows on-screen keyboard. Just hit Win key then type keyb and the search should find it.

I don't disagree with that fargo, hardware drivers have access through the hardware abstraction layer in the OS, where DCS has access through the engine. VR is different though. Although I've been in tech for 30yrs I can't give you a reason why NCP settings don't affect VR in DCS, but a little testing shows that it's true. I'm sorry I don't have more information.

I can think of no other dev shop that's worked as hard on porting an existing app to VR as ED. There are lots of apps out there which were developed from ground up for VR that look and perform better, but not existing apps. I believe that even Elite Dangerous was developed with VR in mind, but DCS had to be completely altered. There are a few other shops out there that have attempted it but failed. Look at Fallout 4's VR, they basically had to turn it into a different game. A year ago you had to run DCS with 2.0 PD to get clear gauges, I'm now running PD at 1.2. ED is knocking VR out of the park, and they're doing it with one of the most complex apps ever written. I say we should consider giving credit where credit is due.

I'm just guessing here fargo, but I think that Power Management Mode determines how much juice the card can get, whereas the graphical preferences in NCP try to force hardware settings over app settings, but DCS hooks the hardware during VR invalidating overrides.

I'm not seeing that, Boris. With the settings in place referenced in OP, when I do the ASW test on the UFC, I get zero artifacts and graphical inconsistencies with ASW on but many with it off. To test windows and grids, I put an A-10 in orbit of Vegas at 1k ft and turned ASW on and off while observing exterior, same results. Try rerunning the tests with OP settings, I'd be curious to see if you get different results.

Hannibal, I think it trickles down into related services. I just hit Win typed Ocu > Rightclick > open file location, right click on Oculus > Properties > Compatibility > Run as Admin. When I start DCS, Oculus Home doesn't start. I use the ASW in DCS.

DCS has integrated ASW, so you don't need to run the Oculus app. Within DCS CTRL+NUMPAD1 is disable, CTRL+NUMPAD2 is Lock 45 noASW, CTRL+NUMPAD3 Lock45 w/ASW, CTRL+NUMPAD4 is enable ASW.

I run DCS without Oculus running. If you set the Oculus App to 'Compatibility>Run As Admin' then it doesn't start up automatically when you engage the rift. When you start DCS it will automatically start the rift hardware. ASW prevents artifacts such as edge bleed. It doesn't create them. Do the 'Stevie Wonder' test in my post above and see for yourself.

FragBum, I hate to beat a dead horse, but the artifacts on grid arrays and windows on buildings is because you have ASW disabled. Fly low over a city and use CTRL+NUM1, CTRL+NUM4 to turn ASW on and off, you'll see what I'm talking about. I like to call these artifacts 'edge bleed'.