2.9 Graphics Update FAQ

[NineLine]

DCS 2.9 Graphic Options FAQ

The introduction of DCS 2.9 into the Open Beta provides users many new options to tune and improve performance and visuals. Please note that you must be running the Multithreading version of the game to use these options. 

DLSS 3.5 for Nvdia Users
DLSS, or Deep Learning Super Sampling, has been introduced for DCS users that own a Nvidia 20xx, 30xx, or 40xx series graphics card. With DLSS you can run DCS at a lower resolution that is upsampled to a higher resolution to provide better visuals without a performance hit. 

Why is the option greyed out?
As stated above, you need to be running in Multithreading and have an Nvidia 20xx, 30xx or 40xx series Nvidia card. These options are not available for the Single Thread version of DCS.

Why is it blurry?
With DLSS you have a number of options; Quality, Balanced, Performance and Ultra Performance. These along with the Sharpening slider, described below, allow you to adjust the upscaling between visual fidelity and performance. There is no one answer for all players, so we suggest that you experiment to find the best balance for you in combination with the Sharpening slider. 

Is Frame Generation supported?

Because DCS 2.9 is a DirectX 11 title and DLSS 3.0 Frame Generation requires DirectX 12, it is not possible at this time.

Why do I see little to no performance increase with DLSS?

If you are CPU-limited, meaning that CPU computations and not your graphics card are limiting performance, you may see little to no improvement. Further, if the scene is not very graphically demanding, you may not see much change. You will see the most change over high-density scenes like large cities.

 

FSR 2 for AMD Users
FSR 2, or FidelityFX Super Resolution 2, is a similar solution to Nvidia’s DLSS. One main difference is that Nvidia users can also enable FSR 2, which opens up options for other Nvidia cards like the 16xx series. As with DLSS, your results may vary; try out different settings to find the ones that work best for you.

What is Scaling?
FSR 2 Scaling controls how much the image is scaled up; adjust this to control your FSR 2 upsampling results.

What is Sharpening?
As an image is scaled up, it may become more blurry or fuzzy. This may be particularly true for a Heads Up Display and Multi-Function Displays. Use this to adjust how much sharpening is added to the image to try and smooth it out. The more sharpening, the greater the impact on performance.

NIS (Nvidia Image Scaling)
NIS is a cross-platform alternative to Nvidia’s DLSS. It does not require RTX cards and can be used on other brands such as AMD. Like FSR you can control the scaling and Sharpening.

TAA (Temporal Anti-Aliasing)
TAA is an anti-aliasing option that uses current and past frames to smooth out the jaggedness of the current frame. It will also result in better performance but with some loss of visuals compared to MSAA. 

Does Sharpening work with TAA?
Yes, you can use sharpening to try to improve the image if it's still too fuzzy or is jagged. Again though, increased sharpening can impact performance. Like much of the graphics settings, it’s about finding the balance that best meets your needs.

SSS (Screen Space Shadows)
This is a new option that allows for better shadow rendering, specifically in environments with many objects such as grass, bushes, and forest. It gives these areas a more realistic look and feel without any performance hits from standard shadow maps. 

Color Grading
Color Grading was generally added for you to easily add different color effects to your images and videos. You may also find a color grading that you prefer to fly with. You should see no difference in performance using this. 

LOD Switch Factor
As we work to improve the LOD (Level of Detail) system in DCS, this option allows you to control when the LOD system changes from a more detailed model to a less detailed model at greater distances. The current default is 1. Lowering this lowers the details on closer objects/units, and this will increase performance. Conversely, increasing the slider value will allow for more detailed models to be seen at greater distances, and it will reduce performance. 
 

Edited October 25, 2023 by NineLine
Updated version of DLSS