Tip: Using Nvidia Inspector for different DCS versions

[dburne]

Hey gang,

 

Most that are familiar with Nvidia Inspector are probably already aware, I was messing around with it this morning and gave this a try and it works quite well for me so thought I might share this as well.

 

Ok so if you use the Nvidia control panel to set certain things for DCS, you are probably aware that the DCS profile is hard coded into the control panel, ie it points to your stable release version of DCS ( 1.2) for the executable.

 

Now Nvidia still uses the old naming convention, Digital Combat Simulator:Black Shark for the DCS.exe executable. But this applies to all of DCS World, and will point to your DCS 1.2 install. Any settings you may have in there for DCS will only be effective with the 1.2 version.

 

DCS does such a good job with the graphics settings, about all I use the profile for are for things like setting AA and AS to application controlled, setting my graphics to single display performance mode, setting my monitor refresh to highest available as I have a 144 hz monitor, and setting power management to maximum performance so my graphics card does not down-clock whilst playing. I am sure others use it for many other settings as well.

 

So, how do I manage these same settings between my other two versions of DCS - 1.5 and 2.0?

I use Nvidia Inspector, which allows me to load up the profile for Digital Combat Series: Black Shark, from there I can remove the link to the DCS.exe executable( not delete the profile, simply remove the link). Then it will allow me to add the new link, by clicking the add link button, and browsing to the new executable - the DCS.exe executable in my DCS 2.0 Open Alpha directory. Click apply, and voila - when I fly DCS 2.0 Open Alpha my preferred settings for DCS are applied.

 

Should I elect to fly the 1.5 Open Beta, I just do the same - remove the link to the 2.0 Open Alpha, and add the link by browsing to the 1.5 Open Beta and choosing the DCS.exe executable from within that directory.

 

So my DCS profile I have set , remains the same and used throughout the different versions. And it really only takes a moment, to go into Nvidia Inspector and change the link out to the version you are flying.

 

Hope this may be of benefit to others, it certainly helped me as I was trying to figure out how to make my profile for DCS to work between the different versions I was flying.

[EntropySG]

Hi and thanks for this

 

Three questions, since the control panel vs inspector thing always had me confused:

 

1. Could you make separate profiles for the various DCS installs?

 

2. Nvidia Inspector just needs to be ran once, and the settings are stored/applied whenever you start the game. Or do you have to start Inspector/have it running whenever you start your PC and fire up the sim?

 

3.Inspector Settings override Nvidia Control Panel settings, correct?

[dburne]

Hi and thanks for this

 

Three questions, since the control panel vs inspector thing always had me confused:

 

1. Could you make separate profiles for the various DCS installs?

 

2. Nvidia Inspector just needs to be ran once, and the settings are stored/applied whenever you start the game. Or do you have to start Inspector/have it running whenever you start your PC and fire up the sim?

 

3.Inspector Settings override Nvidia Control Panel settings, correct?

 

 

1: Absolutely, just create each profile and link it to the appropriate dcs.exe. for that version you are creating it for.

 

2: Yes, once you apply settings from within Inspector, you can close it and they will always be applied for that profile.

 

3: Yes. No need to go back into control panel.

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

i believe you can add multiple executables to the same profile. It is then possible to associate all dcs.exe from the different version folders.

[dburne]

Actually correction no, can not create separate profiles for each version - when try applying the dcs.exe executable it will not allow as that name is already in use.

Even though it is in a separate directory, it still uses dcs.exe name and that causes the problem in trying to create multiple profiles.

 

Because it uses the same naming convention on the executable between versions that causes the problem.

That is why my way worked for me, because I remove the link to the executable and apply the appropriate one for the version I am flying. It really only takes a moment to do.

Edited December 8, 2015 by dburne

[Stacker]

I have separate profiles in inspector for beta/alpha and the current release. I just created a brand new profile with my own name for each version and pointed it at the relevant exe. I did have to delete the existing stock 'DCS: Black Shark' profile first though before I could add my additional ones. This might be what's preventing you from adding multiple DCS profiles. I'm guessing the next time we get a GEForce update that stock Black Shark profile will come back and muck things up though.

[dburne]

Yeah I expect your are correct, the problem lies in the default dcs.exe in Nvidia control panel, as long as it is there it will be a problem trying to use the same named exe for other directories.

 

That is why it works for me to just remove the link to the standard dcs.exe and link to the build I am currently flying.

[Esac_mirmidon]

Could you share your nvidia inspector settings please?

 

A screen capture could be great.

 

Thanks.

[dburne]

Could you share your nvidia inspector settings please?

 

Here are mine.

Again mine is pretty simple and straightforward, as I set most my graphics preferences in the game GUI.

 

I use it mainly for making sure it runs at 144hz on my monitor's refresh rate, and maximum performance for power management.

 

I may end up going in and making some more adjustments and experimenting down the road as DCS 2.0 progresses.

 

[Esac_mirmidon]

Thanks for sharing mate.

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

Interesting dburne, that setting you have for the refresh rate !

 

Never used that ( wasn't even aware it could be used ) with any of my sims... Will give it a try, at 60, since that's the best my cheap ASUS LED monitor can give...

 

With this profile, do you use VSync ticked in the sim ?

[dburne]

I do not run VSync at all, but I have a 144Hz monitor ( which is why I set refresh to highest available).

[Anatoli-Kagari9]

Thx dburne.

 

I just reecently started ticking the "VSync" option, but will probably revert to the older method with no VSync.

 

Both 1.5.2 and 2.0 give me excellemnt performance even with my hardware, the GPU certainly making the difference...

 

And just one more thing...

 

I believe Inspector is not sensitive to the actual path of the executable, but only to it's local name. When the executable starts being executed by the system, Inspector traps that and applies the profile. Otherwise it wouldn't prevent me to add the same name from both 1.5.2 and 2.0 bin folders, so...

 

I believe we do not really have to switch between folders, and simply leave "DCS.EXE" there. Provided DCS always starts from and exec with that name, the profile will be applied... ?

Edited December 13, 2015 by jcomm

[dburne]

I believe Inspector is not sensitive to the actual path of the executable, but only to it's local name. When the executable starts being executed by the system, Inspector traps that and applies the profile. Otherwise it wouldn't prevent me to add the same name from both 1.5.2 and 2.0 bin folders, so...

 

You may be right, I do tend to like to do things the long way around LOL.