Weird performance issue

[Erbin]

Hey everyone,

Recently I reinstalled DCS but when I launch the game and play a mission, I have stutters and lags even if my settings are low. To run the game smoothly, I have to change graphic settings to make DCS reload itself (whatever settings I choose to change, it can be anything from aspect ratio to disable/enable vsync). After the game reloads itself, it runs flawlessly and I get a constant 60fps. This strange issue happens each time I launch the game. Did anyone ever experience that ? 

 

PS: I never had this issue before and my game is installed on a SSD.

[Worrazen]

Seems unusual, perhaps it's forcing some settings and doesn't save your edits for the next session, but IDK really, you should post the DCS info log for the staff to look at.

[Erbin]

Quote

you should post the DCS info log for the staff to look at.

Thank you for your help, are you talking about the dcs.log.old in the DCS log folder ?

dcs.log.old

[Flappie]

Hi Erbin. Please try this:

• Fullscreen ingame option = OFF
• Vsync ingame option = OFF
• NVIDIA Vsync option = Fast

I see you're flying the Mig-21bis. Are you aware her radar hits FPS pretty badly at the moment? If you want to make sure the issue is not linked to the MiG, fly a bit with the Su-25T and see.

Edited December 6, 2020 by Flappie
I was mistaken about trees.

[Erbin]

8 hours ago, Flappie said:

Hi Erbin. Please try this:

• Fullscreen ingame option = OFF
• Vsync ingame option = OFF
• NVIDIA Vsync option = Fast

I see you're flying the Mig-21bis. Are you aware her radar hits FPS pretty badly at the moment? If you want to make sure the issue is not linked to the MiG, fly a bit with the Su-25T and see.

This strange lag happens also with FC3 modules, such as the F15. It happens no matter the graphics settings I choose, whether vsync or certain settings are enabled. In the end, it doesn't matter as long as I reload the game each time I launch it (I just have to change the aspect ratio from ~1,77777778 to 16:9, so basically no real change). I didn't know if what I am saying is clear enough ? English is not my native language. 

[Flappie]

It's very clear, and your indications let me think it could be a storage issue, believe it or not.

It's a good thing your DCS is installed on an SSD, but I'd like to know where your pagefile and temp folders are stored.

 

Please launch the Windows Resource Monitor and select the "Disk" tab. Maximize the windows. Then launch DCS and fly a bit until stutters begin. Alt+Tab to the Resource Monitor, take a few screenshots of it, and attach them here.

Edited December 6, 2020 by Flappie

[Erbin]

1 hour ago, Flappie said:

It's very clear, and your indications let me think it could be a storage issue, believe it or not.

It's a good thing your DCS is installed on an SSD, but I'd like to know where your pagefile and temp folders are stored.

 

Please launch the Windows Resource Monitor and select the "Disk" tab. Maximize the windows. Then launch DCS and fly a bit until stutters begin. Alt+Tab to the Resource Monitor, take a few screenshots of it, and attach them here.

I have take some screenshot during a stuttery flight (c1-4) and during a smooth one (c5-8). I'm not sure what you're referring to when talking about "pagefile" and "temp folder".

 

PS: appreciate the help a lot !

[Flappie]

Ah, that is not the Resource Monitor I was talking about. Look for the "resmon" executable (see here).

Then you'll see the "Disk" tab.

 

I forgot to ask you to check the "DCS.exe" line once the game is launched. It should look like this:

 

[Erbin]

Okay, I took some screenshot with the right app this time (screenshot during a stuttery flight (c1-4) and during a smooth one (c5-8)).

Edited December 6, 2020 by Erbin

[Flappie]

Thank you. I don't see anything abnormal here, so it may not be a storage issue after all.

Just in case, can you please check your pagefile is also stored on your SSD ? (disk C:\, right?)

 

Also try adding these DCS folders as exceptions to your antivirus:

• C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\DCSWorld\
• C:\Users\your-username\Saved Games\DCS\

[Erbin]

I've tried adding DCS folders as exceptions to my antivirus, but it didn't change anything. For the pagefile, it's seems it's not stored in C:\, but in D:\ (a hard drive) ? 

[Flappie]

OK. Your HDD-stored pagefile is most probably slowing down your PC.

You want your pagefile stored on your fastest drive, but this will take some space (you need around 32 GB + some spare). If E\ is also an HDD, you want your pagefile on C:\. I see your C:\ has only 20 GB of free space. You need to move some things to your other drives if you want it to store your pagefile.

 

Once you have enough room on your fastest drive, two options:

• Let Windows do the job checking "Gestion automatique du fichier d'échange pour les lecteurs": it should then move your pagefile to your fastest drive (but only if it has enough free space, of course)
• Manually move your your pagefile to your fastest drive, and give it a min size of 16 GB and a max size of 32 GB (or if you can't afford so much space, 16 GB).

 

 

[Erbin]

Unfortunately, I did that and I still have this issue, it's really odd.

[Flappie]

OK. At least, we've got this part covered.
Now, are you using any software to enhance DCS performances, such as MSI Afterburner or One Dragon... ?

[Erbin]

I use the Nvidia Control Panel, to make sure the game is using my gtx and not the integrated gpu.

[Flappie]

Integrated CPU, uh? I have an idea: maybe your PC uses the integrated CPU when you first run DCS, and then uses the "real" GPU when you get it to restart?

 

You should try disabling your integrated GPU in BIOS settings.

Edited December 7, 2020 by Flappie

[erniedaoage]

@Erbin Start up DCS and any mission, instant mission and try to hit ALT+ENTER and see if its the same. I had a long timeframe where dcs wasn focused right from windows when i started it up and always get 30fps less and a stuttering mess. As soon as i hit ALT+ENTER everything was back to normal.

[Erbin]

@Flappie My intel eGPU is disabled, and I am afraid it doesn't change anything ! @erniedaoage Unfortunately, it didn't solve the issue.

I guess my last hope is to reset my pc factory new and try to reinstall DCS...

[Flappie]

Can you please attach your dxdiag log? Here's how to get it.

[Erbin]

Here it is.

DxDiag.txt

[Flappie]

Your system disk is 94% full. You should give it some more free space.

 

Quote

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C :
 Free Space: 15.7 GB
Total Space: 242.9 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: INTEL SSDPEKKW256G8L

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by Flappie

[Erbin]

I finally reset my pc to factory settings, because cleaning my SSD was way too difficult. It works flawlessly now ! 

Thank you for your help ! Appreciate a lot ! 

[Flappie]

Excellent news!

Can you please elaborate? Which component was reset to factory settings, and how did you do it?

[Erbin]

I reset the entire computer to factory new (after saving some work on a external drive) with the Windows settings. The lack of available space was the main culprit I think, so in the end it was worth it. I have plenty of free space now !

[Flappie]

OK. I assume you're talking about these Windows guidelines?