VR Stutter - interesting finding

[Buckeye]

30% = zero improvement?

what a waste

 

at least they got some clicks and made some money

 

 

 

It works for some, just not all, so not really fair to try to label it as a clickbait video.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[etherbattx]

fair enough.

do we know what the deciding factor is? does it only work on really fast machines?

[Panthera_Tigris]

fair enough.

do we know what the deciding factor is? does it only work on really fast machines?

 

I don't think so. Read the comments on that video. Some people with a 1060 also reported improvement.

 

I personally didn't see any improvements. Seems like a weird bug with DCS specifically though. The Youtuber said this: "The whole glitch brakes though every time u go to main menu as far as I can see. So if u start a new flight u need to do it over again". That would not be the case if it was a GPU thing. It's got something to do with DCS software. Especially since it doesn't work with other games.

 

My theory is that it has got nothing to do with resetting the overclock. its just that when you change GPU configuration while a mission is running, you reset something that is in the rendering pipeline. Which is why you have to do it again after starting another flight. Maybe this is the VR improvement that ED is working on for 2.5.5?

Edited May 30, 2019 by Panthera_Tigris

[Fredmi]

I do not see Frame Rate increase, but when I follow the scenery is soooo smooth! it makes a huge difference to me as the scenery will have a tick every now and then, not after doing this. Wait until you have a load and click it, Hope you are as surprised and Happy like I am

[Harlikwin]

fair enough.

do we know what the deciding factor is? does it only work on really fast machines?

 

I think it might be a pimax only thing. Their whole API is basically a bad beta from what I've heard.

[Rosebud47]

I think it might be a pimax only thing. Their whole API is basically a bad beta from what I've heard.

 

That´s true, Pitool is currently really a bad beta.

 

Didn´t try the Sweviver thing with the default button surprise, ... also I believe a lower frametime while having a stable FPS with reprojection or smart smoothing is more appreciable for VR, than a high frametime with relative high fluctuating FPS. So far I could have watched the Video, the frametime was as same high as before he pushed the default button.

 

Interesting is also, that SteamVR is not completely excluded, when running Pitool and DCS without starting SteamVR. The render resolution set in SteamVR still incorporates with the render target set in Pitool, even when the SteamVR application is not running.

 

Yeah, ... Pitool is really like a construction area :):):)

[Fredmi]

I'm using Oculus, and I am very happy this great!

[agathorn]

For me there is something much more fundamentally wrong here. The frequent frame drops I experience appear to have nothing to do with game performance. Why do I say this? Because I can observe the same problem just sitting at the main menu holding my head perfectly still. Pull up the Oculus performance overlay and just watch the graph. Solid 80 FPS (Its 80 because I upgraded from CV1 to Rift S) normally, but every now and then (usually between 10-45 seconds apart) it clearly drops down to around 25 FPS for a moment before jumping back up to 80.

[Fredmi]

For me there is something much more fundamentally wrong here. The frequent frame drops I experience appear to have nothing to do with game performance. Why do I say this? Because I can observe the same problem just sitting at the main menu holding my head perfectly still. Pull up the Oculus performance overlay and just watch the graph. Solid 80 FPS (Its 80 because I upgraded from CV1 to Rift S) normally, but every now and then (usually between 10-45 seconds apart) it clearly drops down to around 25 FPS for a moment before jumping back up to 80.

 

Sounds like Malware or a bitcoin miner is installed. Sure sounds like you sir are in good need of a Reload, or your processor transfer compound is failing.

 

1. Check your CPU temp, Get the Free version of Hardware monitor of the CPU-Z website. It will show the Max temp reached as well as current. if 100 degrees Celsius at max you CPU is throttling and will cause issues.

 

2. While running, make sure task manager is open with the CPU and GPU usage, on the hiccup pull the VR off an look to see what spiked, CPU spike in utilization or GPU.

 

3. if CPU go into all the apps set in startup and disable all on startup to see if an app is running into the background. Another easier way is to pull up the Resource Monitor and click on CPU to show the high CPU usage up top, Under DCS app you should see the App using your resources for a split second or two just under the DCS app.

 

4. If undetermined the only way to fix is to check (if the temp is OK on the CPU) Throw in a spare HDD and reload that and verify it is the software that way. 1TB SSD HHD are now under $100 dollars so it is not that bad anymore. Traditional HDDs will be fine for this test.

 

That will give you 100% the answer

 

If you do the reload just reload windows, Video Drivers, Oculus and DCS (DON'T download any of the aircraft you purchased as you do not want to use up licences until verified) This is just to see what is causing an issue.

 

On final reload on your main drive, write EVERYTHING down you install and Date and time you if it is a piece of software you are using causing it, you will have a much easier time finding out what. And do not install all apps on reload, one at a time as you need them so if an issue arose you will know what the possibilities are.

 

The answers are all right in front of you, be methodical and you will find your answer soon.

[agathorn]

Sounds like Malware or a bitcoin miner is installed. Sure sounds like you sir are in good need of a Reload, or your processor transfer compound is failing.

 

I'm fairly confidant that is not the case. I am quite computer literate (My day job is as a computer programmer) and am quite fanatic about keeping my systems clean.

 

1. Check your CPU temp, Get the Free version of Hardware monitor of the CPU-Z website. It will show the Max temp reached as well as current. if 100 degrees Celsius at max you CPU is throttling and will cause issues.

 

2. While running, make sure task manager is open with the CPU and GPU usage, on the hiccup pull the VR off an look to see what spiked, CPU spike in utilization or GPU.

 

CPU is water cooled and is not throttling. I have already checked that. I did initially have some GPU thermal throttling but I resolved that. I have not seen any spikes in CPU or GPU utilization in my testing though admittedly VR makes that a bit harder.

 

4. If undetermined the only way to fix is to check (if the temp is OK on the CPU) Throw in a spare HDD and reload that and verify it is the software that way. 1TB SSD HHD are now under $100 dollars so it is not that bad anymore. Traditional HDDs will be fine for this test.

 

Initiall DCS was on a HDD but in troubleshooting this I moved it to a SSD with no change. I am, at this moment, in the process of fully reinstalling DCS World 2.5 from scratch (IE clean download)

 

 

The answers are all right in front of you, be methodical and you will find your answer soon.

 

I've done mostly everything I can at this point, short of reinstalling Windows itself which is my absolute last resort. Especially given that I have no unexplained regular frame drops in any other games, including Elite Dangerous, X-Plane, and Star Citizen, all of which are very performance demanding.

 

We'll see if this clean install of DCS makes any difference.

 

I might try OCing the CPU slightly, as in theory I have the thermal headroom for it, but that all comes down to the silicone lottery and has potential for other instabilities.

 

For reference:

i7-4770k @3.9, 32gb RAM, GTX 1080ti, Rift S

[Fredmi]

I have almost the same setup, I7-4790K 32gig ram GTX 1080 and the Oculus but not the s. I do not think it is DCS unless you have an addon module failing. I think in the end windows reload will do it. I have been a Hardware PC repair since around 1987 so at least we can make a lot of fun of each other while you fix. I would love updates and to hear the solution found. There is a problem, one of the things above is causing it. I want to know what but I am sure not as much as you do! Had issues with my setup and it was software.....does not surprise me (JOKING!!!). Hope I can help, two brains are always better than one. I have fixed 4 PC with ongoing issues, Everyone has come to me as a last resort. I always love a challenge and will try my best. Good Luck Sir, Standing by

 

 

EDIT, a pc was Lid warp on the processor and I decided and fixed,

One was GPU after 2 min of no mouse movement

GPU was going to 100 percent... Bitcoin miner and fixed with reloading as it was to new for any fix to work

One was video editing software

One was Video driver update

One was Geforce Experience, but that issue has been fixed by Nvidia, removed all driver at the time and did a fresh install of drivers only (cannot be your issue as it is fixed)

Windows had something installed that was sending a bunch of info over the internet, did not even care what it was as I thought it was a trojan of some kind

Edited June 1, 2019 by Fredmi

[agathorn]

No doubt a reinstall of Windows would help in general but lord its so much work, plus you never get your system back the way you like it. I'm just avoiding it as long as I can :)

[Fredmi]

That is why I said put in a test drive, DO NOT RELOAD YOUR HDD until you verify it needs to be done. That will give you the most important answer....hardware or software. Right now neither of us knows.

 

If it is working Perfect on an old hard drive you reload as a test, watch how fast you will reload. If it is not, You do not want to put in the work, simply plug your original drive back in. But I feel that will be the fix, it is usually going to be the worst case with us right? We both know the deal, Verify verify verify.... we will find it.....er....You will find it, but I do make a good cheering section.

[Fredmi]

The CPU temp you were not clear, Water cooled does not mean anything, if you have a CPU Lid issue that is more common than most people think, any cooler will not do, If you checked the Temp than you are golden, but it was not clear as it sounded like you were saying that because of the water cooler you were sure that it was not the temp. Not clear enough for me rule that out for me yet, can you clarify or verify when you have a chance. Sorry but you do not know my expertise and I do not know yours. In our business, we need to be 100%. If you did check the temp, I am sorry I rambled.... I do that

[agathorn]

The CPU temp you were not clear, Water cooled does not mean anything, if you have a CPU Lid issue that is more common than most people think, any cooler will not do, If you checked the Temp than you are golden, but it was not clear as it sounded like you were saying that because of the water cooler you were sure that it was not the temp. Not clear enough for me rule that out for me yet, can you clarify or verify when you have a chance. Sorry but you do not know my expertise and I do not know yours. In our business, we need to be 100%. If you did check the temp, I am sorry I rambled.... I do that

 

I was saying both that it is water cooled and that the temps are fine as I checked :)

 

The CPU also isn't really working very hard. I just finished a clean install and fired up the TF-51 in Caucus (before re-installing any modules) and in a test mission CPU usage was around 20% the whole time.

 

EDIT: Installing the F-5E and Nevada modules now to get back to my original baseline test setup

[Fredmi]

Check, Thanks for the Clarification. Does the issue persist?

[agathorn]

Well now. Interesting.

So I haven't nailed down exactly what the cause of the problem is yet, but I did fix it and it was the darndest thing. After putting up a butt-ton of metrics on screen and trying to one eye the Oculus performance graph in the HMD while also looking at the other graphs on the monitor with the other eye I noticed two things:

1) There was a pattern. Approximately every 25 seconds there would be a dip, back to normal, then another dip 2 seconds later. Fine 25 seconds, dip, dip. Like clockwork.

2) There was a spike in network activity that matched up almost exactly with the spikes

 

So first I clicked the icon to turn DCS into offline mode. That didn't seem to help, but I don't necessarily know how reliable that feature is, so next I unplugged the network cable from my machine.

 

And bam, the down spikes were gone completely. Solid 80fps in menu, no dips. Solid 40fps in sim, no dips.

 

So problem solved - sort of. I need to spend some time now seeing if I can find something that is causing said network spikes.

[Fredmi]

If you go to task manager, click on metered network and see what is app is using the internet, sort by usage by clicking ....ahh god, you know! Good Catch Sir!

[agathorn]

Haven't tracked it down yet. Nothing is using an absurd amount of traffic, and I'll admit I have no idea why network activity would even cause FPS drop in the first place.

 

Disgusting thing I *did* find though is DCS actually runs SLOWER in offline mode!

[agathorn]

So it is being caused by a Window's process called DasHost, which according to the interwebs is "used to connect wireless and wired devices to the Windows operating system, such as a printer or mouse." and can not be disabled.

 

In my case though according to the system monitor, it was constantly connecting to "ryzen" which is my HTPC on the same network.

 

I shut down the HTPC and the network traffic went away and DCS is smooth again.

[METEOP]

Not using VR but hage huge stuttering issues, tried everything and anything.

 

Now it's solved for me, try this:

 

- Lower refresh (I'm running at 50Hz now)

- Overclocking memory, I'm running at DDR4 2800Mhz

 

Stutters are gone now! I've finally removed the darn FPS meter from my screen I don't need it anymore.