Don't run DCS in VR with steam overlay

[StandingCow]

I have always added non-steam games into steam so I get the overlay and I did this with DCS. Apparently this isn't a good idea.

 

The reason I mention this is I was going nuts trying to figure out why my new 1080TI couldn't get over 60 FPS, it seemed as if vsync was somehow on but I had it disabled everywhere.

 

So, I tried out nvidia's new FCAT VR benchmarking software and noticed that DCS was dropping every other frame, even when I was getting 60 FPS, so if I tried disabling re-projection it was very stuttery. Over 60 FPS was all red, all lost frames:

 

 

What mostly caught my eye is the unconstrained FPS... I had no idea what it meant but it represents what I thought I SHOULD be getting. Then I thought of something... steam overlay... I launched DCS directly and boom, VR with steady 90FPS even with a lot of things turned to max. Sorry I don't have the FCAT image without steam, but it doesn't seem to want to work without the steam overlay.

 

I use the standalone, so I have no idea how this would impact steam users, what they could try is disabling steam overlay in games and maybe that would help... I am now curious if this impacts other VR games or just DCS specifically.

 

Edit: After more testing it seems that it isn't steam's overlay specifically but steam VR mode. This is DCS specific.

Edited March 20, 2017 by StandingCow

[Mars Exulte]

Not surprising, I've run across stuff like this before, but never thought of Steam. I'll have to do some tests now, too.

[StandingCow]

Changed the title to reflect my new finding... it isn't steam overlay it is steam VR mode.

 

steam settings ->in-game-> disable "use desktop game theatre when..." <- Someone in reddit made that suggestion to help as well.

Edited March 20, 2017 by StandingCow

[Bearfoot]

This is DCS specific

 

Are you saying that you do not see a performance hit with OR + Steam VR in other applications?

[Bearfoot]

The reason I mention this is I was going nuts trying to figure out why my new 1080TI couldn't get over 60 FPS, it seemed as if vsync was somehow on but I had it disabled everywhere.

 

So, I tried out nvidia's new FCAT VR benchmarking software and noticed that DCS was dropping every other frame, even when I was getting 60 FPS, so if I tried disabling re-projection it was very stuttery. Over 60 FPS was all red, all lost frames:

.

 

Are all the FPS you are reporting here using FCAT, or is it also the indication within the game through DCS's native "RCTRL-PAUSE"?

[StandingCow]

Are all the FPS you are reporting here using FCAT, or is it also the indication within the game through DCS's native "RCTRL-PAUSE"?

 

The results are through FCAT but also noticed within DCS. You can immediately tell you have the issue if you disabled all reprojection and it's super stuttery.

[Bearfoot]

The results are through FCAT but also noticed within DCS. You can immediately tell you have the issue if you disabled all reprojection and it's super stuttery.

 

Thanks. Could you give some context as to the flight? Altitude? Over land or water? Map?

[StandingCow]

Thanks. Could you give some context as to the flight? Altitude? Over land or water? Map?

 

It was in flight (specifically the P51D and landing approach in nevada). But even if I was just sitting on the ground this same thing happened.

 

I have done more testing and I again believe it was steam VR and/or overlay. I turned supersampling and all back down to default through vive advanced settings, seeing the same thing.