How I get 45+ fps in VR (2.5)

[dg6546]

I think this guide will be for beginner who have just started playing DCS in VR. I have been struggling in this for a year and I think this will be helpful for you. :) Although I know totally no theory behind these settings, this is the best setup for me to balance between graphics and performance. Sorry for my broken English.:book:

 

Current spec:

8700k + gtx 1080ti

 

1. Trun V-sync off!

I didn't think this would affect my VR experience. IT DID.

 

V-sync caps your FPS in 90, which is 45 for each eye in VR headsets. Turn it off helps a lot!!

 

 

 

2. Turn off MSAA

MSAA is such a FPS killer. Surely it gives you much better graphics (especially in cockpit), it is not worth to use too much resources and cause stuttering.

 

Turn it off in game settings->graphics

 

 

 

 

3. SteamVR supersampling is different from in-game PD(pixel density) setting

 

Try lowering PD in Setting->VR to but not lower than 1.2.

 

If you are still suffering from low fps, tune your resolution in SteamVR settings->application. The value will be between 80-100.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Turn your preload radius, trees, clutter and visible range down

No more explain on this. Big impact on performance and make nearly no difference.

 

Trees: about 80% is enough. The lower the value, the weirder trees popping up.

 

Clutter/glass: Just shut it off. Big performance hit while you on ground. Tuning down the value only gets weird glass popping up just like trees.

 

Visible range to medium(or high if you can).

 

Preload radius to <20000

 

 

 

5. Use this mod!

Credit: Kegetys

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=215373

 

This mod can limit your machine not to render image outside your vr headset. Also improve on rendering shaders.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For me those setting are enough to get >45 fps (~50 in average)

Nvidia settings are not necessary for me.

Hopefully this will be useful for you. Cheers:thumbup:

[Reflected]

Thanks for the post! My FPS seems to be capped at 45 no matter what, and now I'm thinking it's some kind of a Vsync. I'm pretty sure it's off in game and in the Nvidia CP. What else can force Vsync?

[Nooch]

I always keep my pixel density to 1.0. Odly I don't notice any real improvements when using anything above that value and all it does is make gauges and text harder to read as well as lower my fps.

[DowntownSIX]

1. Trun V-sync off!

I didn't think this would affect my VR experience. IT DID.

 

V-sync caps your FPS in 90, which is 45 for each eye in VR headsets. Turn it off helps a lot!!

 

 

That's not really how it works; 90fps is 90fps rendered in both eyes. I'm now sure what VR headset you're using but if you are using Oculus the capped frame rate is managed by Asynchronous Space Warp (ASW) which, if you are unable to render 90fps, will cap fps to 45 and insert composite frames to create the illusion of a higher frame rate.

 

If you're on Oculus, turn ASW off and you'll let FPS run free between 45 and 90. Doing so will remove any of the artifacting introduced by ASW but you'll see some ghosting. The jury is sort of out on which one is better, seems like personal preference.

 

Another note - SteamVR is awful, don't use it if you can avoid it and definitely don't use SteamVRs super sampling in addition to the pixel density you can set within DCS.

[Sandman1330]

I think you can run more eye candy than that and still maintain 45.

 

I get 45fps with the same GPU and a slightly less powerful CPU, and I run PD at 1.5, MSAA at 4x, and similar preload/tree settings. Slightly lower FPS on the ground at times, but mostly stable at 45.

 

Funny thing was, even with lowest graphics settings, I was still stuck at 45, just with lower GPU usage. I basically added GPU heavy items until usage came closer to 100%, with very little impact on FPS.

[dg6546]

Thanks for the post! My FPS seems to be capped at 45 no matter what, and now I'm thinking it's some kind of a Vsync. I'm pretty sure it's off in game and in the Nvidia CP. What else can force Vsync?

 

You are running in ASW. I think 1070 is not powerful enough for DCS (even 1080)

[dg6546]

I think you can run more eye candy than that and still maintain 45.

 

I get 45fps with the same GPU and a slightly less powerful CPU, and I run PD at 1.5, MSAA at 4x, and similar preload/tree settings. Slightly lower FPS on the ground at times, but mostly stable at 45.

 

Funny thing was, even with lowest graphics settings, I was still stuck at 45, just with lower GPU usage. I basically added GPU heavy items until usage came closer to 100%, with very little impact on FPS.

 

My graphics card is the zotac mini one... slightly lower core clock so yup :alien:

 

Getting FPS >45 (not capped at 45 since ASW) is much more fluid for me. I rather it looks uglier than having stutter. It made me feel sick.

[dg6546]

That's not really how it works; 90fps is 90fps rendered in both eyes. I'm now sure what VR headset you're using but if you are using Oculus the capped frame rate is managed by Asynchronous Space Warp (ASW) which, if you are unable to render 90fps, will cap fps to 45 and insert composite frames to create the illusion of a higher frame rate.

 

If you're on Oculus, turn ASW off and you'll let FPS run free between 45 and 90. Doing so will remove any of the artifacting introduced by ASW but you'll see some ghosting. The jury is sort of out on which one is better, seems like personal preference.

 

Another note - SteamVR is awful, don't use it if you can avoid it and definitely don't use SteamVRs super sampling in addition to the pixel density you can set within DCS.

 

I have looked at this online before and I can tell it is totally wrong. I know no theory behind this but as soon as I turned off vsync, my FPS is not capped at 45 anymore.

 

 

I had a rift but unfortunately it was broken. Now I own a vive and I must use steamVR (Facepalm)

[Oubaas]

For Oculus Rift users:

 

 

 

To enable ASW, press right CTRL and numpad 4 while in-game.

 

 

To disable ASW, press right CTRL and numpad 1 while in-game.

 

 

Test with it on and off. A quick way to tell which works better for you is to look straight down at the ground while flying over a town. If the image is stuttering when you look down at the town and its buildings, you probably need to press right CTRL and numpad 4. If it's nice and smooth, you can probably go ahead and press right CTRL and numpad 1.

[FA_Crazy-Canuck]

Anybody else notice a drop in clarity following the recent hotfix? I certainly have. Installed a 1070ti two days before hotfix and turned up the details and was pleased with the results then following the hotfix shimmer is back and visuals not good.

Edited November 16, 2018 by FA_Crazy-Canuck

[hannibal]

It sux that the shaders mod dont work when join the popular multiplayer servers.

[FragBum]

Anybody else notice a drop in clarity following the recent hotfix? I certainly have. Installed a 1070ti two before hotfix and turned up the details and was pleased with the results then following the hotfix shimmer is back and visual not so good.

 

Actually initially yes but after about 30 minutes or so flying NTTR and Caucasus maps DCS is looking and preforming pretty good. Actually for me DCS in Rift VR got better 2 updates ago, I don't know what or why it just looks and feels better to fly in.

 

Have you deleted the FXO and metashaders directories, that sometimes can help.

[Hippo]

2. Turn off MSAA

MSAA is such a FPS killer. Surely it gives you much better graphics (especially in cockpit), it is not worth to use too much resources and cause stuttering.

 

Turn it off in game settings->graphics

 

It never ceases to amaze me how many people suggest this. Maybe our eyes work differently?

 

IMHO, DCS in VR without MSAA is just not acceptable: the shimmering and jaggies are dreadful and completely ruin the experience.

 

I've just gone from a 1070 to a 1080Ti, and still it is very difficult to get 90 fps in VR with 4xMSAA (and that's with very little going on).

[Boris]

It never ceases to amaze me how many people suggest this. Maybe our eyes work differently?

 

IMHO, DCS in VR without MSAA is just not acceptable: the shimmering and jaggies are dreadful and completely ruin the experience.

 

I've just gone from a 1070 to a 1080Ti, and still it is very difficult to get 90 fps in VR with 4xMSAA (and that's with very little going on).

 

I have to agree. Even at PD 2.0, I still have shimmering and jaggies that make my eyes bleed.

 

I'd much rather run PD 1.0 with MSAA on.

[Reflected]

Does anyone have any experience using the AA in the Oculus home instead of the in game MSAA?

[FragBum]

I did try this but it didn't do anything for Rift so back to 4* MSAA.

[Mr_sukebe]

Disabling shadows completely seems to help.

[sea2sky]

unfortunately, even msaa*4 still leaves lot's of shimmering. The entire msaa implementation in DCS needs to be reviewed.

[Mr_sukebe]

That’s odd. I don’t notice shimmering at MSAA x2. As above, for me, looks terrible with no MSAA.

 

Do try turning off shadows. I was sure that improved frame rates.

[Hippo]

And my latest testing 2.5.0.15365.345 v 2.5.3.24436. All settings the same, same mission, 4xMSAA, PD 1.3., all other settings mostly low.

DEFERRED SHADING OFF in 2.5.0.

 

You want > 45 fps - here's a clue (I wish there was some way I could have forward rendering back.)