investigating Instrument Glass Reflection Update

[VampireNZ]

Apologies if a known fault in DCS - but the reflections/glare in the various instrument glass faces updates VERY slowly, like 1 FPS. I don't see any setting in options to have a more reasonable reflection update speed?

[Lord Vader]

Hello @VampireNZ

Obviously, reflections need to be somehow of a lower resolution and frame rate in order to keep performance acceptable.
However, in our tests, we don't see it with that low refresh rate you mention.

Can you capture a short video with what you see? 

[VampireNZ]

10 hours ago, Lord Vader said:

Hello @VampireNZ

Obviously, reflections need to be somehow of a lower resolution and frame rate in order to keep performance acceptable.
However, in our tests, we don't see it with that low refresh rate you mention.

 

Can you capture a short video with what you see? 

Yea I wish mine were that smooth. Running prettty easily at a VSYNC 60 fps with the 'theoretical FPS' generally in the 200-300+ range. Also I notice you were jinking around quite a bit - if you still in a stable turn and let the cloud reflctions update you will prob notice it better.

Captured a small video on the Caucasus IA Free Flight. It seems to just be the cloud reflection updates, as when I get above them the gauge reflcetions look fine. The same slow update is in all the gauge glass so engine gauges etc. - and when it is in all of them at once it is pretty bad!

Not to be rude but I don't agree with your 'obviously' comment above, as I would happily set reflection update to a higher setting if I had the option and would easily manage it. I am sure this 'used' to be an option in graphics setting in the past - reflection update on the instruments and MFD screens - could be wrong, might be thinking of another Viper sim. I just notice now it is 'static' or 'OFF' which seems different (been away from DCS for couple of years).

Attached a screenie of my graphics settings also. By all means if I have a setting incorrect that is causing this, please advise.

Cheers

Edited January 22 by VampireNZ

[VampireNZ]

Video posted as requested - no further comment on this?

[ivo]

Hi, what are the specifications of your computer? Mine is an old I6 6700k with a 1080p card and is very smooth, obviously with a basic 24-inch screen in 1080p HD.

[VampireNZ]

18 hours ago, ivo said:

Hi, what are the specifications of your computer? Mine is an old I6 6700k with a 1080p card and is very smooth, obviously with a basic 24-inch screen in 1080p HD.

Ryzen 9 5900X, Radeon 6800XT with DCS on a Samsung 970 EVO Plus.

I am generally sitting at a theoretical 200-300fps, with a steady 60fps VSYNC setting - so safe to say it is nothing to do with my system. You will note in my vid I am at a solid 60fps....with a 1fps cloud reflection update speed on instrument face glass.

Edited February 2 by VampireNZ

[Lixma 06]

I'm sure this has been a thing ever since the new clouds and dynamic reflections were introduced.

I don't think it's a bug per se; just a limit on the graphical fidelity until our PCs can handle more.

[VampireNZ]

Maybe so - personally my PC is perfectly happy handling more. Just bringing to the attention that such a bad graphical item as this could probably just go away with no great loss.

If ED are not prepared to accept that there are computers out there that can handle this, then perhaps a settings option to disable dynamic cloud reflections in instruments might be nice - as I am pretty happy giving up my 1 fps cloud reflection updates. It is certainly noticeable and not in a good way. Given the amount of effort involved into turing this sim into Digital Cockpit Sim, perhaps more time spent on where most pilots spend 95% of the time isn't all bad.

[SpecterDC13]

20 hours ago, VampireNZ said:

Maybe so - personally my PC is perfectly happy handling more. Just bringing to the attention that such a bad graphical item as this could probably just go away with no great loss.

If ED are not prepared to accept that there are computers out there that can handle this, then perhaps a settings option to disable dynamic cloud reflections in instruments might be nice - as I am pretty happy giving up my 1 fps cloud reflection updates. It is certainly noticeable and not in a good way. Given the amount of effort involved into turing this sim into Digital Cockpit Sim, perhaps more time spent on where most pilots spend 95% of the time isn't all bad.

I don't think a lot of people will agree with this. Sure, it would be nice to have real time reflections that update immediately, and as you see in NineLines video, when you are maneuvering the aircraft, they update as so. Your specific problem/complaint is when you are not maneuvering the update rate is much slower. This could be a limit of the engine currently as mentioned, but I don't think it being there is that big of a deal as you are making it out to be. Most players aren't just sitting in the cockpit focused in on the smaller details like that when they are busy doing other things in the aircraft like setting things up or being shot at. Not saying this shouldn't be fixed, but you can't ignore the people that don't have good PCs that play DCS. Of course, they could add another setting to address this, but that is something I feel would be very very low on the TO-DO list. I think as time goes on and the engine improves further, I think we will see changes made. It is just going to take time.

[VampireNZ]

9 minutes ago, SpecterDC13 said:

I don't think a lot of people will agree with this. Sure, it would be nice to have real time reflections that update immediately, and as you see in NineLines video, when you are maneuvering the aircraft, they update as so. Your specific problem/complaint is when you are not maneuvering the update rate is much slower. This could be a limit of the engine currently as mentioned, but I don't think it being there is that big of a deal as you are making it out to be. Most players aren't just sitting in the cockpit focused in on the smaller details like that when they are busy doing other things in the aircraft like setting things up or being shot at. Not saying this shouldn't be fixed, but you can't ignore the people that don't have good PCs that play DCS. Of course, they could add another setting to address this, but that is something I feel would be very very low on the TO-DO list. I think as time goes on and the engine improves further, I think we will see changes made. It is just going to take time.

AS I mentioned, it is just the cloud reflections that are slow, the general 'sky' reflection looks fine - and by 'jinking' around he didn't allow just the cloud to update in the gauge faces. As I also said if I go above the clouds it is nowhere near as noticeable. The update rate has nothing to do with if you are 'maneuvering' or not. Also it is actually quite noticeable whn you are positioned so every glass instrument face is jagging along at 1 fps - so all the middle ones and all engine gauges down the right etc.

If you are maneuvering aroound, setting things up and getting shot at for the entirety of a 1-2hr mission then congrats - I am glad this doesn't effect you - however you felt the need to made false comments about the problem and my post? Personally I am flying to a target area (minimal maneuvering, turning  SP - SP), spend 5 mins 'setting things up' before I leave/on the way...straight and level so looking down at the instruments even more than usual.....perhaps orbiting at an IP/or high alt tgt area etc. All during this time I have just noticed this minor performance issue.

I don't care if ED want to have a product with 1 fps graphical elements - that's their call. I am just advising of the problem and suggesting a solution. I also don't care how much 'time' it takes....The Viper has taken 5 years to get where it is currently... As far as priorities, ED would rather animate the tail hook that gets used how many times a flight?, compared to looking at gauges that pretty much happens every time I fly at least. So I am not going to even start on ED's 'priorities'.

As I also mentioned - they could have an OPTION to adjust it - I never said ED should 'ignore the people that don't have good PCs that play DCS'.

Fully explained with video.. and I note this post has been labelled cannot reproduce - sigh.