Lags/frame dropouts on W7

Hello there!

I'm over my OS upgrade process from XP to Win7. On XP DCS' graphics config was almost Max (the water effect was on Low) and the game was run - not perfect but - well.

Now, on W7 I experience lags (or frame dropouts or I don't know what is the proper definition of it); if I turn the graphics to the Max (except the water) it seems running smooth and flawless, but when something happen/things getting complex (?) the game starts "omit" (?) or I can say "loosing serious fps"?

No doubt, W7 running smoother, better, faster than XP, and also I recognize DCS' performance seems better when I start a mission.

If I turn everything to Low it is better, but sometimes this lag is happening too.

I supposed under W7 the performance will be better - or at least the same - but it is a "little bit" annoying that everything seems to be fine but later not... :(

Maybe it is related to the low ram (loading textures etc) or I don't know.

But why it was "playable" on XP?

HW/SW:

E6550 (2.33), 2Gb Ram, 8600GT256Mb

Windows 7 Pro 64, latest NVidia drivers

DCSMax on

Tried to turn off Aero; but nothing changed.

Thanks for help.

hm... 2GB or RAM could be short... I run Windows 7 64bit Home Premium and with no aplications running it's using about 950MB (and I have some services disabled)... LockOn and I assume DCS can also use up to 1GB of RAM (depending what settings you use so maybe this is the issue. XP uses much less RAM so that could be it.

EDIT: Just did a quick test, started up instant mission... my RAM usage was at 1.70GB. With maps with more units this would increase surely.

EDIT2: just flew online in LockOn and I saw 2.39GB RAM usage so, it can easily get over 2GB you have

Hmmm.... Perhaps, it is the ram... :cry::mad:

Thanks for your checks!

I'm afraid, it's also the VGA rams too... Which is definitely not too much... :hmm:

I had a similar problem and it turned out to be a background process causing 1 or 2 frame delay. Nothing big enough to show up in the task manager but it caused a slightly perceptible stutter that drove me mad.

It is very likely to be caused by Background software or a dodgy set of drivers for something in you system. It will be a case of trial and error to identify the problem.

edit:- Re-reading your post suggests that page file swapping could be the major culprit, again close everything in the background to see if that helps. That said, 2Gb of RAM is more than enough for me in win7.

Nate

You should not need DCSmax if you have the 1.0.1 update installed.

This patch makes sure that affinity is set for all available cores.

(besides changing a whole bunch of other things ofcourse)

So i suggest to remove DCSmax from your system, unless there is something else you use it for.

Regarding your RAM, i think that's the corporate here. I dont know on what

resolution your playing (yes that matters in regards to RAM and VRAM)

but i play at 1920*1200 and got just about everything maxed out except water.

when i have a look in the game i see that it will use almost 4GB of RAM, double

the amount you have for your whole system.

Also, if your running higher resolutions it could help to get an new graphics card whit 512mb or even 1gb of memory. Note that the difference in VRAM between 512mb and 1gb usually becomes noticeble at resolutions of 1900*1200 or greater.

One question though, why are you running 64Bits and are you using just 2GB of RAM???

I used to have the exact same problem that you are experiencing, and it all came down to a sound card issue. I have a Creative X-fi Xtreme Gamer, and I had to do the following to get DCS Black Shark to run without much stuttering:

1) I updated my sound card drivers.

2) I have a Creative X-Fi Xtreme Gamer sound card, so I installed ALchemy to get my hardware sound EAX to work properly.

3) After tweaking with ALchemy, I found the following settings that make DCS Black Shark run smooth:

Buffers: 4

Duration: 35

Maximum Voice Count: 128

To test if you are having a sound card issue, disable sound in DCS Black Shark, and see if you still have stuttering.

Wow maan, I always impressed how correct and helpful this community is!

Thanks all of your comments guys!!:notworthy:

I'll investigate all of your mentioned things.

By the way, I use 1280x1024.

To answer Falcon1906:

It won't be a wise decision to buy and install a 32bit version W7 if I have a 64bit "ready" system. Okay, now I don't have much ram but of course I plan to expand it at least to 4gb.

That's the reason why I run 64bit W7.

How do you check your ram "consumption"? With a gadget like All CPU Meter? Or?

^^^^

Windows Task Manager

Whopp... It was too evident... :-))

Hi,

Try this:

For the shortcut, go to compatibility mode, and set:

* Disable visual themes

* Run as Administrator

Worked for me - it is super-smooth like I've never seen before.

Disable AA for your graphics card, too. It stutters for me (when SLI enabled for me - was fine under XP), but running at 1600x1200 I don't notice the lack of AA and it is silky smooth, even when AI are dropping flares (used to be a major performance killer).

Best regards,

Tango.

You guys are reaally nice! Thanks the advices.

So, I tried everything, I think.

The game uses about 1.5-1.7Gb ram (I always test with the Convoy Hunt mission) due to what Windows Task Manager shows.

I tried to turn off audio and update the drivers to its own (using a P35-DS3L mobo, and its audio).

Tried AA (even every parameters off) to off on NVidia's control panel.

Tried this * Disable visual themes * Run as Administrator thing.

It started with hopes because after I clicked on the game shortcut the loading process of everything is going to be really FASTER! I recognized significant fastening while loading!

That's good. But.

I'm in the state of "give up"...

Perhaps if I set a lower res (which I honestly don't want; I don't want to use a game with lower res than my lcd's native res (1280)) and set the gfx to the low it will be run fine... But, khm... You know... :-)

One thing what I will be try; I borrow two more giga ram from a friend and try what will be happen. I recognized that the hdd's light are continuosly flashing when playing... Can anyone confirm this; is it normal? Okay, I know, there are too much data, which not loaded at all at first. I just ask.

One thing what I will be try; I borrow two more giga ram from a friend and try what will be happen.

Make sure that this RAM is of the EXACT same type as your current, or else it's possible that i won't give the wanted results.

I know where you're at. I also don't have the framerates that i would like. Sure, when i create a mission with NO other units in the framerate is absolutly top notch, but when i run the mission "Battle" or a decent mission online the stuttering comes back.

I have a Creative Xtreme gamer soundcard, and will try the suggestion in a previous post though.

stevie

Motherboard drivers, specially those of chipset and SATA. Stutters might perfectly exist due not having the SATA driver installed.

Hmmmm.... Thanks.

I will run to it again.

hello,

I just installed some digital picture software and a printer and it caused some fps stutters for me. I have to be sure to stop the processes for each when I fly BS.

Installed the mobo drivers. No change... :-S

No digipicsoft or even printers installed...

Wrraaaaggghhh.... Going mad.... :crash:

Installed the mobo drivers. No change... :-S

 

No digipicsoft or even printers installed...

 

 

Wrraaaaggghhh.... Going mad.... :crash:

Are you sure you've installed SATA drivers?

Yes, I'm sure.

(http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Driver_Model.aspx?ProductID=2599&ost=windows+7+64bit#anchor_os)

But there is something else.

Before I installed W7 I have updated/freshed the mobo's bios to the latest one.

Earlier (when XP was the OS with the older BIOS) I used 1066mhz insted of 800 for the rams, you know.

AFter update it was - of course - changed to its default 800mhz, but I rised it up to 1066 (thought, maybe thats the problem why DCS stuttering, but - as I know now - it doesn't matter). It's still on 1066.

But what if something wrong with the memory setups? Timings or latency or else?

Yes, I'm sure.

(http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/Driver_Model.aspx?ProductID=2599&ost=windows+7+64bit#anchor_os)

 

But there is something else.

Before I installed W7 I have updated/freshed the mobo's bios to the latest one.

Earlier (when XP was the OS with the older BIOS) I used 1066mhz insted of 800 for the rams, you know.

AFter update it was - of course - changed to its default 800mhz, but I rised it up to 1066 (thought, maybe thats the problem why DCS stuttering, but - as I know now - it doesn't matter). It's still on 1066.

 

But what if something wrong with the memory setups? Timings or latency or else?

Quite possible that it gives you that effect yes.

Thumbrule - if you troubleshoot - dont overclock.

It's like kicking yourself in the nuts yourself in the foot before a sprint just in case the pain can make you go faster ;)