DCS Stutters & Lag

[Wavehopper]

Evening chaps. Hopefully you can help me out here, I'm experiencing some really bad stuttering and slow loading and slow texture loading in all situations. It's partcularly worse in MP and some of the stutters can last 6-8 seconds. I've tried all sorts of setting combinations without success (G-Sync on or off, V-Sync on or off, minimum settings/max settings etc etc).

 

I've deleted the fxo and metashaders, cleared my NVCache, and I'm unable to alter the scheduling (just don't have the option to do it).

 

All system info is in the DXDiag, and I'm using a Trackhat head tracker. Just about ready to nuke the SSD from orbit and reinstall everything but I'm hoping there might be an easier option.

 

I'd really appreciate any technical advice or ideas as I'm fresh out.

[Flappie]

Hi Wavehopper. I see several errors with the F-14 module in your log, but I'm quite sure it has nothing to do with the stuttering (except of course if you don't get any stutter when flying other aircraft).

 

What you describe looks like a storage issue. Is your system disk an HDD?

Anyway, here's what to do to find the cause of your stutters:

1. Launch the game.
   
2. Alt+Tab to Windows and Launch Windows Resource Monitor.
   
3. Click the "Disk" tab, and select "dcs.exe", then maximize the window so the file access list takes a large part of the screen.
   
4. Alt+Tab back to game, and play a little until you get stutters.
   
5. Alt+Tab back to Resource Monitor and take a screenshot.
   
6. Attach screenshot here thanks to the "Upload Attachments" button.
   

Edited November 25, 2020 by Flappie

[Wavehopper]

Hi Flappie,

 

Thanks for the response. I have windows 10 and DCS on separate SSD’s, both have around 500gb or more spare drive space.

 

I actually think you're 100% on the money there. Just did testing with a bunch of other aircraft, and guess what? No stuttering, buttery smooth. Get to the F-14 and the lag is very present. Nearly constant fluctuations from 100+ fps to 20 fps or lower. Very strange spiking.

 

The Super Carrier seems to exacerbate the problem when I get close to it (landings are not possible due to 5-6 sec lag spikes on final approach).

 

Minor stuttering on the ground:

 

 

Major stuttering approaching super carrier:

[Flappie]

Thank you.

 

I've just seen in your dxdiag log you've installed DCS on one of your HDDs (E:\). You should consider moving it into one of your SSDs.

Last but not least, your Windows pagefile is also stored on one of your HDDs (E:\).

 

I see you have a free space of 1 TB on your D:\ SSD driver. Please move your pagefile onto this disk, and see if it's any better (I'm pretty sure it will be better). By the way, if you had manually set the pagefile, let Windows do the magic. I'm pretty sure it will select drive D:\ (check "Automatically manage paging file size for all drives").

 

Then, if you still get stuttering, move your DCS main folder to drive D:\ as well. If you're not used to do this, feel free to ask for help.

Edited November 25, 2020 by Flappie

[Wavehopper]

Well it looks like I certainly got confused over which drive is which. I'll do a bit of data juggling and see how it goes. Thanks for your help Flappie.

[Flappie]

You're welcome. Please let us know if it fixes your stutters.

[Wavehopper]

Hi Flappie, yes all fixed so thanks for that. I can't believe I mixed up my drives (what a doughnut I am). In my defense it's a new PC and I forgot I bought a 2tb SSD not a 1tb SSD :music_whistling:

 

Anyway, it's running great now, hooray.

[Flappie]

Excellent news. Enjoy! :thumbup: