Load times - Trying to optimize for best performance.

[Scootah95]

Hello everyone. I have been playing DCS for about a year now I think. I can run the game single player fine for the most part, even on higher settings. I usually just create my own missions and deal with single player. However, I have dabbled in multiplayer from time to time and I love it so much more. 

Here is the thing, I have really long load times for multi player. My specs will be below. 

 

Alienware Aurora R7. Intel Core i7-8700 CPU 3.20Ghz 6 Cores. I also run off of a 144hz monitor. 

installed physical memory is at 16.0GB

Total physical memory is at 15.8GB

Available physical memory is at 3.04GB

Total virtual memory is at 24.0GB

Available virtual memory is at 6.63GB

I also use my smart phone with smooth track for headtracking. I don't normally have issues, and i think it works pretty well, and has been since I started using it. So that's not really an issue. 

I have 300 download and 15 upload on the internet speed. I don't ever really have lag issues when in the servers. I strictly join US servers only. With the lowest ping possible. 

***DCS is installed on my SSD. its a 1TB SSD

 

Something else I will add. When I do play DCS, single or multiplayer, my CPU will stay around 10-15%. However, my Memory, will consistently stay around 75-90% usage while I am playing. I don't think that is good? 

 

I guess what im trying to figure out, is how can I decrease my load times to multiplayer servers. Obviously if I set everything in the game to LOW, its significantly less load times. Still takes a few minutes though. If I try to join a public server with stuff set to medium or high, forget about it! Sometimes it has taken me 10+ minutes to get into one. Especially if the server has lots of people already in there. I notice, the less people in the server I am trying to join, the less waiting I do when loading in. (that means less fun though, because less people. 

 

I know ram is a big ordeal, and I do want to upgrade soon, but I don't have the means to do that at the moment. Sometimes, I also get glitchy movements when in the aircraft and flying. For example, I will be flying, and turn my head to look left or right, and it skips here and there. If my settings are on high, its very frequent and annoying. If its on low settings, it doesn't do it as much. but still occurs. Even in online public servers. 

 

One other thing...I have done some googling over the times since I started playing and I have seen people say that DCS will automatically create new files when you change settings, and it just keeps stacking, which takes up more space overtime, which can decrease performance. So where and how can I locate any unneeded files in my DCS folder? 

 

I can upload additional information if requested. I will need steps to do it though, because I am not very knowledgeable with that kind of stuff. Any advice to reduce load times in multiplayer, and remove unwanted files etc. would be appreciated. This might sound dumb as well, but is there a way to increase my RAM without having to purchase the physical part and add it physically to my computer? Thanks for taking the time to read. Any information or suggestions is appreciated. 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Scootah95

[Flappie]

I must admit I did not read the whole wall of text.

Regarding load times, ensure you're not running DCS as Administrator (in DCS.exe Compatibility properties). Also add DCS main path as an exception to your antivirus if you trust ED products as I do.

[Scootah95]

5 minutes ago, Flappie said:

I must admit I did not read the whole wall of text.

Regarding load times, ensure you're not running DCS as Administrator (in DCS.exe Compatibility properties). Also add DCS main path as an exception to your antivirus if you trust ED products as I do.

I totally understand. That's partly why I have decided to format my initial post the way I did. I use basic windows defender as virus protection because I trust myself with my browsing and install habits. I also do not have it set as admin upon launching DCS. 

 

I would also like to add, that I just allocated some of my 1TB SSD to virtual memory. I have restarted my computer and loaded DCS, now my memory is only at 30% usage. I will test in multiplayer to see if it made a difference. I am thinking it has. Thanks for the reply by the way! 

Edited August 12, 2023 by Scootah95

[Flappie]

You're welcome. I use Windows Defender as well and adding DCS as an exception did save me quite some time whenever DCS starts.

Talking about memory, DCS Preload Radius eats RAM. Don't neglect it when you try to optimize your settings.

[Scootah95]

31 minutes ago, Flappie said:

You're welcome. I use Windows Defender as well and adding DCS as an exception did save me quite some time whenever DCS starts.

Talking about memory, DCS Preload Radius eats RAM. Don't neglect it when you try to optimize your settings.

I just found out my Preload radius was set to 15,000. I have powered it all the way down to 2,000. Restarting and testing again. I do believe that was the culprit as well. Then again, with only 16gb of ram, I suppose I can only do so much. Thanks again for the suggestions! 

[draconus]

On 8/12/2023 at 8:30 PM, Scootah95 said:

Then again, with only 16gb of ram, I suppose I can only do so much.

You can also try textures: medium and terrain textures: low to further save on RAM.

[The_Nephilim]

Well to the OP the thing I seen which seems to be a concern is the following part you posted about your PC:

 

"Available physical memory is at 3.04GB"

 

Where did you see that at? it should not take 10+ minutes to load into a server something is wrong..

[draconus]

5 hours ago, The_Nephilim said:

Well to the OP the thing I seen which seems to be a concern is the following part you posted about your PC:

"Available physical memory is at 3.04GB"

Why would it be a concern? It's just a free available memory at the moment of test, you can see it in task manager.

[The_Nephilim]

OK so you were running DCS at the time you checked available memory? It is a concern if you were idle at desktop and only had 3 gb avaialble memory but if it was ruuning DCS I guess that is ok.

 

[draconus]

11 hours ago, The_Nephilim said:

OK so you were running DCS at the time you checked available memory? It is a concern if you were idle at desktop and only had 3 gb avaialble memory but if it was ruuning DCS I guess that is ok.

OK, I just assumed it was during DCS running, we need OP to confirm.

[The_Nephilim]

4 minutes ago, draconus said:

OK, I just assumed it was during DCS running, we need OP to confirm.

Yes hopefully it was when DCS was Running. but if not that could be the issue no Ram..

[Scootah95]

On 8/18/2023 at 2:34 AM, The_Nephilim said:

Yes hopefully it was when DCS was Running. but if not that could be the issue no Ram..

Hello, I am sorry for not responding. I have totally sidestepped this due to IRL things and have been busy. At the time, I believe I was running DCS. 

 

I know ram is my most major issue since I only have 16gb total. I will be purchasing 32 or 64GB of ram in the next 2-3 weeks or so. 

Edited September 10, 2023 by Scootah95