GPU HAGS and Windows 10 Game Mode

[Bucic]

Those two settings always seem to give mixed results or were outright detrimental to performance in DCS. What's the current status for the two? Any other controversial settins that came to be useful in 2024?

 

VBS would be one additional setting worth taking a look

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/windows-vbs-harms-performance-rtx-4090

SPECS:

Windows 10

1440p LG UltraGear 27GP850-B G-Sync

Intel i3-12100F

RTX 2070 8GB MSI

64 GB RAM

Motherboard MSI PRO B660M-A WIFI DDR4 (MS-7D43)

 

Key words:

Hardware-Accelerated GPU Scheduling

Edited June 9, 2024 by Bucic

[speed-of-heat]

VBS always off (same with memory integrity)Options to optimize gaming performance in Windows 11 - Microsoft Support

I used to have HAGS off, and it did give me extra FPS, but that hasn't been the case in W11 for a good six months now.. so put it on would be my recommendation 

[Bucic]

1 hour ago, speed-of-heat said:

VBS always off (same with memory integrity)Options to optimize gaming performance in Windows 11 - Microsoft Support

I used to have HAGS off, and it did give me extra FPS, but that hasn't been the case in W11 for a good six months now.. so put it on would be my recommendation 

Forgot to say - I'm on Windows 10 and will be for a long time.

[speed-of-heat]

I haven't used Windows 10 for a long time sorry so I can't offer anything definitive for that other than "try it and see" most of these things are pretty easy to test 

[LucShep]

YMMV but, for me, there are some things I still always do on a gaming system, doesn't matter if it's on Win10 or Win11:
 

• Disabling HAGS. For most systems its actually best left OFF (disabled), unless the CPU is considerably weaker than the GPU (not true on most gaming systems). 
  Enabling it allows the GPU to reduce the load on the CPU and improve latency, as the GPU's scheduling processor and memory (VRAM) take over the same work and runs it in batches to render the frames. But it introduces other possible issues, such as stuttering and hitching.
   
• Enabling rBAR (if using NVIDIA GPU 30 or 40 series). While benefits for DCS are debatable (or non felt), it benefits too many games for it not to be used.
   
• Disabling VBS / HVCI, as it's useless on a gaming system and can benefit performance when gaming. 
   
• Disabling HPET and Dynamic Ticks, as it allows unrestricted I/O to occur, and helps to decrease micro-stuttering and screen tearing that may occur during gameplay.
  Meant for portable and battery systems, can be a problem for desktops, it's known to cause issues especially when gaming.
   
• Disabling Core Parking, as it's a feature meant for laptops and office PCs. Disabling it can reduce micro-stutters when playing games or using resource-heavy apps.
  There's also a newer (free) application called ParkControl which handles this better on modern CPUs, along with Windows power plans.
   
• Using a performance power plan in Windows (enabling it before lauching the game, reverting to "Balanced" after exiting it), such as the Ultimate Performance Power Plan. 
  While peak performance won't be all that improved, it can benefit things once in game.
   
• If using less than 64GB of RAM (48GB, 32GB, or less), setting the pagefile fixed to at least 32GB (32768 in both initial and max size) and set on the fastest drive.
  It helps tremendously with games that use lots of VRAM (like DCS) sometimes exceeding its limits, then also possibly exhausting the RAM. It's then assisted by pagefile (aka virtual memory).
  
   

Edited January 8 by LucShep
added links

[Bucic]

Thanks, @LucShep

 My RTX 2070 is leaning far towards GPU limited* so thankfully I can skip some of those. The rBar I have set long time ago.

It's tempting to give HAGS at least two CapframeX runs. Shouldn't take THAT long. I'm asking again in 2024 because in 2023 HAGS was detrimental to performance on my system, confirmed with CapframeX.

 

* after years with Lock on and then DCS I can say - %7$&!g finally!

Edited June 11, 2024 by Bucic

[Bucic]

I've just finished benchmarking.

TLDR: Same as in late 2023 HAGS and Game Mode are detrimental to performance on my system.

The combination of HAGS with Game Mode Gives the worst results.

The performance loss is relatively small.

 

Here's an overview of the test track file

 

 

 

Edited June 12, 2024 by Bucic

[LucShep]

@Bucic you mentioned using an RTX 2070. 

HAGS is beneficial in a system where the game is leaning towards CPU limited, not GPU limited.
For DCS 2.9x with an RTX 2070 you're a bit GPU limited, both in raw performance and on VRAM (even at 1080P with DLSS enabled in game).
So, passing more work to the GPU then will not benefit things as desired. Hence why in your case it makes sense to disable HAGS (i.e, set as "OFF").

As for the Nvidia driver settings for DCS, it can depend on system hardware and personal preference.
In any case, if interested, in this forum thread HERE I left my own settings, also some opinions on settings that, in my experience, can be detrimental or benefitial.
Note that I use DCS mainly in VR, but use same Nvidia driver settings also for 2D screen (4K 60hz with S-Sync).

Edited June 13, 2024 by LucShep

[Bucic]

@LucShepI know, I just had to see for myself That's why from the beginning I was emphasizing 'GPU-limited'.

CapFrameX is a golden tool. With its Compare feature you can check stuff with 2-minute benchmark runs. No need for prolonged mission recordings.