DCS performance pc

[sweinhart3]

Ok I know that similar stuff has already been discussed but I have a need for speed. Im running Win 7 on a computer with Core 2 Extreme 9750, 4gig mem and Nvidia GTX 280. I also use trackIR 4 and Nvidia 3D Vision. (Im sure the 3D cuts the fps quite a bit since the computer has render 2 seperate images)

 

90% of the time I get a vary playable frame rate between 25-35fps (1900x1080). But there does come times when certain areas like some of the airbases drop the fps to nearly unplayable single digit numbers. Almost crashed trying to land because it got so bad.

 

I tried rebuilding my system to include dual GTX 280 cards in SLI and got pretty much 0 performance improvement so I gather that it simply is not limited by graphics. I already have my processor overclocked to 3.4GHz. I work for Intel and from test results that Ive read, spending $1000 on a new Nehalem chip would not give me much of a boost. So is anyone else getting better numbers? Is there a faster pc configuration that has been working for folks or am I pretty much limited as fast as I can get? (barring spending $2000 for upgrading with minimal performance increase) And am I correct in my assumption that dual video cards do little to nothing for this sim assuming you are already using a good card?

[dawestsides]

This is related to the game,not your pc parts performance.

We're all facing the same.Look at my sig.

 

However I installed the last EVGA SLI enhancement patch v11 that includes a BS dedicated SLI profile,and along with DCSMax for cores affinity,my fps greatly improved.

[JG14_Smil]

you dont say if you use DcsMax, which can give you an approx 40% gains in fps at times.

[sweinhart3]

I am using DCSMax.

[nemises]

Ok I know that similar stuff has already been discussed but I have a need for speed. Im running Win 7 on a computer with Core 2 Extreme 9750, 4gig mem and Nvidia GTX 280. I also use trackIR 4 and Nvidia 3D Vision. (Im sure the 3D cuts the fps quite a bit since the computer has render 2 seperate images)

 

90% of the time I get a vary playable frame rate between 25-35fps (1900x1080). But there does come times when certain areas like some of the airbases drop the fps to nearly unplayable single digit numbers. Almost crashed trying to land because it got so bad.

 

I tried rebuilding my system to include dual GTX 280 cards in SLI and got pretty much 0 performance improvement so I gather that it simply is not limited by graphics. I already have my processor overclocked to 3.4GHz. I work for Intel and from test results that Ive read, spending $1000 on a new Nehalem chip would not give me much of a boost. So is anyone else getting better numbers? Is there a faster pc configuration that has been working for folks or am I pretty much limited as fast as I can get? (barring spending $2000 for upgrading with minimal performance increase) And am I correct in my assumption that dual video cards do little to nothing for this sim assuming you are already using a good card?

 

Hmmm .. 25 - 35 seems very low, however as you say that could (and probably is) the 3d Vision..

 

I'm running core2 duo's o/c'd to 4ghz (e8600 3.33) and a GTX260, 4GB (well...3.2GB, damn you x86!) , and at 1920x1200 full everything, I can expect a healthy 45 - 80 FPS depending on the situation (it might duck below 30 in bad situations / dust etc..)

 

xp so no DCSMax

 

The biggest FPS hit I've come across are the dust clouds / brown outs and flares.

 

GPU performance is definately not a limiting factor in your setup

[sweinhart3]

:( that figures. The 3D vision also makes using unguided weapons difficult because if you focus on the HUD you cant align the aiming reticle very well and if you focus on the target my eyes lose a little focus on the aiming reticle and I start seeing 2 reticles. Other than that the 3D just about makes me forget Im even flying a sim. Cant have it all I guess. Nature of the beast.

[beers]

I feel your pain. I've got a quad 3.4 that I have pushed up to about 3.7 and I still stick around 25fps unless I am looking at an empty field and empty sky, then I get around 50, and when I'm looking at a busy battle it can drop to 12. I am sure it is the processor. I can max out nHancer settings with no drop, drop video settings with no speed benefit. (if I bump DCS view distance to high or scene to high it hurts, but with those on medium I can have everything else pumped) I'm loving my time with this simulation, but I am looking forward to multi-core support and a smoother video engine and/or other enhancements in later modules like A-10 mostly in hopes that I will be able to fly the BlackShark in a better digital environment.

[sinelnic]

Hello Sweinhart, could you please confirm that you need a 120Hz LCD to use Nvidia 3D Vision? Or can you use it with a regular 60 Hz LCD?

 

Thanks!

[sweinhart3]

Hello Sweinhart, could you please confirm that you need a 120Hz LCD to use Nvidia 3D Vision? Or can you use it with a regular 60 Hz LCD?

 

Thanks!

 

If you are using a LCD you do need a 120Hz. You could try it on a 60Hz but you will probably have ghosting. I bought a 61"DLP specifically for this application as it doesnt have this restriction. But even with that I can still detect just a hint of flicker which makes me wish i bought the 120Hz version.

[distant]

3DVision gaming slowed my single GTX285 down 20 to 30% in general but SLI brings it all back and more. With blackshark I get 70s in cockpit and around 110FPS outside in 3DVision mode - running instant mission. I think your CPU is the bottle neck in this SLI config, this has been discussed in this article from guru3d, basically it says the i7 processor when coupled with just one gtx200 series vid card will not have advantage over core 2 duo/quad but with 3 way SLI, the i7 runs supreme, doubling the performance. I think that's also true with 2 way SLI.

 

http://www.guru3d.com/article/core-i7-multigpu-sli-crossfire-game-performance-review/19

 

platform: i7-920@4.2GHz, dual SLI GTX 285, stereoscopic 3DVision mode, Win7-64 RTM, run with DCSmax.

 

The odd resolution showed in option menu is due to the DLP TV's need to resize to fit screen in S3D mode.

Edited August 7, 2009 by distant
add setup info

[Doc. Caliban]

Hello,

 

I've installed the latest EVGA SLI enhancement kit, and am using DCSMax.

 

I'm getting between 60-100 FPS with all of the graphics settings maxed out @ 2560x1600 (specs in sig), but one thing that bugs me is the 'tearing': I have triple-buffering enable, which is supposed to eliminate this, but I still see it.

 

Also, I leave DCSMax at it's default, with all 8 cores checked, yet the game only seems to use cores 0, 2, and 3. Does that sound right?

 

Another issue is that I can't find a Blackshark or DCS profile in the Nvidia control panel, even after applying the EVGA patch. I see an icon for the game in the list of 'programs found on this computer' but the title for the app is "Mechants of Brooklyn".

 

Any thoughts on any of this?

 

Thanks!

 

-Doc

[dburne]

Have you tried running the sim with forcing vsynch on in the Nvidia control panel? It would limit your fps to your monitor's refresh rate but may get rid of the tearing.

 

As far as the programs in Nvidia control panel, remove the check from the " show only programs on this computer" box, and browse through the long list of programs to find Digital Combat Series - Black Shark. You should be able to enter your preferences there. That is what I had to do, as with the box checked to show only programs on my computer, it does not even show Black Shark.

You may need to click " add" and browse to the ka-50\bin\stable folder and point it to the dcs.exe. I recently had to go through this to get it working properly in programs in my Nvidia control panel and pretty much had to do it that way.

 

Hope this helps,

[T.Goat]

nVidia's 3d works by duplicating every 2nd frame, but from a different POV. If your monitor can only do 60hz and v-sinc is on, that would leave you with 30fps. Could this be it?

[Doc. Caliban]

Thanks for the feedback, guys.

 

I've left vsync off because I figured hight FPS is better, and Triple Buffering supposedly counters the tearing, though that did not seem to be the case.

 

I've enabled vsync and wow, what a nice, smooth experience! Much better than the higher FPS. The game reports a pretty constant 60FPS with a few dips depending on what is going on.

 

I had looked for the game after unticking the "show only programs found on this computer" option, but I'd looked for 'DCS' and 'Blackshark', not 'Digital Combat....' so that's why I didn't find it. Thanks for the tip.

 

Oddly, it seems like there really isn't a profile for it because everything is set to either 'Use global settings' or it defers to the application... does that imply that even though there is a 'profile' for the game, it doesn't really do anything unless you change things yourself? If so, why bother having a profile since you can just browse to the exe and end up with the same nothingness of a profile? :-)

 

I've set the following in the profile:

 

AF: 16x

AA Mode: Enhance application setting

AA: SLI 16x

AA Transparency: Supersampling

Texture Filtering: High Quality

Threaded optimization: On

Triple Buffering: On

Vsync: On

 

I still get 60FPS most all of the time, but sometimes it dips down into the 30's (near lots of buildings, etc) so I'll still have to play around with it. Just out of time for now.

 

Thoughts or opinions on any of the above?

 

Thanks again,

 

-Doc

[aledmb]

come on, does anyone really think any core 2 quad with 4gb and a 8800 gt with 512mb would not do this game's graphics at max with a decent 60fps?

 

i can run crysis, hawx, cod4, bioshock, assassins creed, prototype with that configuration.

 

ok, i know this is a cpu intensive simulation (maybe the most intensive to date), but the graphics engine appears to be not so well implemented to me.

[Callsign.Vega]

come on, does anyone really think any core 2 quad with 4gb and a 8800 gt with 512mb would not do this game's graphics at max with a decent 60fps?

 

i can run crysis, hawx, cod4, bioshock, assassins creed, prototype with that configuration.

 

ok, i know this is a cpu intensive simulation (maybe the most intensive to date), but the graphics engine appears to be not so well implemented to me.

 

I have a Core 2 Duo @ 3.2Ghz, 4 GB RAM and a 8800 Ultra and with water turned down I get 20-80 FPS at 2560x1600 with AA and AF on and it look's great. FPS never drop's below 20 even in large cities.

[dburne]

Glad the vsync option helped you! I run with it on as well, mainly because the panning is so much smoother when using Track IR.

I pretty much get 60 fps as well ( my monitor's refresh rate)when flying unless over heavy populated area.

 

Yes, as far as control panel's 3d settings for Black Shark in programs, set your preferences you want, and don't forget to click on apply to save. It should always launch with those settings, even if it does not show listed when the box is checked to show only programs on your computer. At least it works for me.

 

Our settings are pretty close, however I run a lower as ( 8 ) and aa ( 4), but I do not run sli.I also run my AA set to " override the application setting", not sure if that really makes any difference though.

 

Have fun!

[Pogo]

Well, this is probably nowhere near accurate but I am running a standard clocked I7 920 and my G15 LCD tells me that I am running at about 20% CPU utilization in BS.

 

From what I can tell, Vista 64 can run 8 threads on the I7, so even if BS is running multiple threads across the cores, it my still be CPU bound on a single thread. So everything is waiting on a single thread. I've seen this happen on enterprise applications on UNIX boxes running many virtual processors.

 

One day I may actually get around to setting up some perfmons and testing this hypothesis, but for now the sim is very playable for me and it isn't an issue. ;)

 

Cheers,

Pogo

[aledmb]

I have a Core 2 Duo @ 3.2Ghz, 4 GB RAM and a 8800 Ultra and with water turned down I get 20-80 FPS at 2560x1600 with AA and AF on and it look's great. FPS never drop's below 20 even in large cities.

 

no matter what i set anti-aliasing to, it doesn't affect the framerate.

with everything at max, i can set no AA or 16x AA and get the same 20-30fps.

[dburne]

Yes I think I see the same, just changed my AA from 4X to 8X for Black Shark, and my framerates did not drop in the least.

[Doc. Caliban]

come on, does anyone really think any core 2 quad with 4gb and a 8800 gt with 512mb would not do this game's graphics at max with a decent 60fps?

 

i can run crysis, hawx, cod4, bioshock, assassins creed, prototype with that configuration.

 

ok, i know this is a cpu intensive simulation (maybe the most intensive to date), but the graphics engine appears to be not so well implemented to me.

 

A lot depends on the resolution being used, but yeah, most games would do fine on those specs.

 

This thing is CPU intensive for a lot of non-graphics reasons, plus the odd bit about the graphics portion of the load not being more, or ideally, entirely offloaded to the GPU side of the house. I don't know if they can ever change that without an engine rewrite.

 

It's a great sim, but man, CPU's have been marginalized in gaming since 1996 when the Voodoo cards came out and Quake was the title of the day. What a bummer to run up against a 13-year-old hardware limitation.

 

Still, I'm happy to have the thing... non-arcade heli combat sims dried up back in the late 90's. Blackshark is a welcome arrival to say the least!

 

-Doc

[Hunt3r.j2]

:( that figures. The 3D vision also makes using unguided weapons difficult because if you focus on the HUD you cant align the aiming reticle very well and if you focus on the target my eyes lose a little focus on the aiming reticle and I start seeing 2 reticles. Other than that the 3D just about makes me forget Im even flying a sim. Cant have it all I guess. Nature of the beast.

Well actually, that's normal. If you want to focus on the HUD and the target at the same time, close an eye. This is realistic because for example, with sights in guns, if you shoot both eyes open you will see double depending on what you're focusing on.

 

You're going to have to train to be able to not have your eyes competing for dominance and giving double vision.

 

Until then, shoot by using closing an eye and then opening both after you've shot them.

[Doc. Caliban]

Glad the vsync option helped you! I run with it on as well, mainly because the panning is so much smoother when using Track IR.

 

That's the first thing I noticed! It's beautiful.

 

I'll twiddle a bit more with the settings later, but I'm happy with it in general. The Shooting Range mission is much lower FPS in comparison to something like the Instant Action (realistic mode).

 

Is there a standard benchmark out there for the game? I would think that a specific track played back from cockpit view and zoom set to neutral would be a fair baseline... does FRAPS record an average frame rate? If so, that could be the measuring tool. Just a thought.

 

-Doc

[Doc. Caliban]

Well actually, that's normal. If you want to focus on the HUD and the target at the same time, close an eye. This is realistic because for example, with sights in guns, if you shoot both eyes open you will see double depending on what you're focusing on.

 

You're going to have to train to be able to not have your eyes competing for dominance and giving double vision.

 

Until then, shoot by using closing an eye and then opening both after you've shot them.

 

Practice keeping both eyes open and working with your dominate eye, as Hunt3r said. You can determine your dominate eye by holding your thumb up at arm's length and blot out an object with it without thinking about it. One eye will still see the object with your thumb superimposed over it: the eye that actually covered the object with your thumb is dominate. After a while you'll just use the other eye as peripheral vision.

 

This is the correct way to use firearm sights in combat. Closing an eye is too limiting under such circumstances.

 

-Doc

[aledmb]

Still, I'm happy to have the thing... non-arcade heli combat

sims dried up back in the late 90's. Blackshark is a welcome

arrival to say the least!

 

yeah!

you're right!

 

i did not mean, in any moment, that i'm not happy.

black shark is definitely a kick ass sim.

 

i'm just a little bit worried by the fact that some settings

can't be on "high" for me...

 

:(