Blackouts and stutters have become impossible to deal with every 5 seconds.

[sleighzy]

10 minutes ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

Thank you

Is there a tech private that I can email dcs.log and dxdiag (?) to, instead of posting it?

Also where is dxdiag.log or .txt file?

Can you post your DCS log file at least, like everybody else who comes here for help? If you're worried about identifiable info in it just find'n'replace your username in the file.

[MAXsenna]

Thank you
Is there a tech private that I can email dcs.log and dxdiag (?) to, instead of posting it?
Also where is dxdiag.log or .txt file?

He wrote DM, just click his account, click the mail icon and attach like any post here.

Cheers!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[DmitriKozlowsky]

OK

I have reinstalled Nvidia drivers in safe mode. Restart. Set Nvidia Shader Cache to : Disabled. Restart. Deleted C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\DXCache. Restarted. Set Nvidia Shader Cache to Driver Default. Restart. Deleted contents of C:\Users\USER\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\metashaders2. Restart

Ran DCS

Blackouts and freezes remain. With GPU utilization graph, in Task Manager, goes to zero for XX number of seconds. Then returns to normal, with DCS running, as if nothing happened. There is no application crash.

So , as expected, no change in performance. dcs.log file attached. I am unable to locate dxdiag.log file. Where would it be?

However in AV8B and M2000C in Nevada Free Flight, I get now get 180-205 FPS. For some reason RAZBAM mods have the best FPS on my system. But blackouts are universal. They happen in all modules with similar regularity.

 

dcs.log

[sleighzy]

20 minutes ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

OK

I have reinstalled Nvidia drivers in safe mode. Restart. Set Nvidia Shader Cache to : Disabled. Restart. Deleted C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\NVIDIA\DXCache. Restarted. Set Nvidia Shader Cache to Driver Default. Restart. Deleted contents of C:\Users\USER\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\metashaders2. Restart

Ran DCS

Blackouts and freezes remain. With GPU utilization graph, in Task Manager, goes to zero for XX number of seconds. Then returns to normal, with DCS running, as if nothing happened. There is no application crash.

So , as expected, no change in performance. dcs.log file attached. I am unable to locate dxdiag.log file. Where would it be?

However in AV8B and M2000C in Nevada Free Flight, I get now get 180-205 FPS. For some reason RAZBAM mods have the best FPS on my system. But blackouts are universal. They happen in all modules with similar regularity.

 

dcs.log 94.77 kB · 0 downloads

This log file is missing the expected entry containing the RAM and page file size information. Potentially an issue with this. Have you run a memory test? 

For the DxDiag log you need to run the Windows DxDiag tool, save the output, and attach here. This may also help highlight RAM issues.

You also have the OH6 Gunner script. This has been known to cause performance problems in the past. Remove that from your Scripts\Hooks directory.

EDIT: This log file is not containing the expected entry for the CPU either. Just wanting to confirm whether or not you have removed this information from the log, or there is a much deeper problem with your PC. 

Edited October 20 by sleighzy

[DmitriKozlowsky]

38 minutes ago, sleighzy said:

This log file is missing the expected entry containing the RAM and page file size information. Potentially an issue with this. Have you run a memory test? 

For the DxDiag log you need to run the Windows DxDiag tool, save the output, and attach here. This may also help highlight RAM issues.

You also have the OH6 Gunner script. This has been known to cause performance problems in the past. Remove that from your Scripts\Hooks directory.

EDIT: This log file is not containing the expected entry for the CPU either. Just wanting to confirm whether or not you have removed this information from the log, or there is a much deeper problem with your PC. 

I edited the dcs.log file to remove , what I consider, to be identifiable information erring on side of caution.

[Czar]

22 minutes ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

I edited the dcs.log file to remove , what I consider, to be identifiable information erring on side of caution.

Information to identify the cause of the issue that is?

[sleighzy]

22 minutes ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

I edited the dcs.log file to remove , what I consider, to be identifiable information erring on side of caution.

The amount of RAM you have, and CPU, should not be identifiable information. Can you send another log with that information please. The only "identifiable" information in the log file would be the username in the C:\Users\username path, which you've already updated to USER.

You're also running DCS from the bin-mt folder. Use the shortcut, or whatever you're using, to run in from the bin folder. Both of them are multithreaded and bin-mt and it's shortcut will be removed in the future.

[Nytehawk]

1 hour ago, sleighzy said:

This log file is missing the expected entry containing the RAM and page file size information. Potentially an issue with this. Have you run a memory test? 

For the DxDiag log you need to run the Windows DxDiag tool, save the output, and attach here. This may also help highlight RAM issues.

You also have the OH6 Gunner script. This has been known to cause performance problems in the past. Remove that from your Scripts\Hooks directory.

EDIT: This log file is not containing the expected entry for the CPU either. Just wanting to confirm whether or not you have removed this information from the log, or there is a much deeper problem with your PC. 

That's what fixed mine today.  I had a near perfect 4-second lag spike on the FPS counter (frames would dip from 90 to 30, frame times would spike from 11 to ugh, every 4 seconds) until I removed the OH6 Gunner script stuff. Best part, I wasn't even using OH6 anymore, so pfft.  Deleted the gunner_export_hook.lua and OH6GunnerDataExport.dll files to watch the lag vanish, added it back to confirm the issue came back, then removed the OH6 completely since I'm not using it anymore anyway.

Thank you for this!  I'd already narrowed down to a few things including OH6 since I started rebuilding my saved games folder and started slowly adding things back in to see what caused it.

[sleighzy]

On 10/15/2025 at 3:39 PM, DmitriKozlowsky said:

I cleared by Nvidia shader cache and C:\Users\USERNAME\Saved Games\DCS.openbeta\metashaders2.

Did you clear the fxo folder as well? Have you tried completely renaming the Saved Games\dcs.openbeta folder to DCS.old and then trying again? You can copy your keybindings back from the Config\Input folder of that DCS.old backup after DCS starts up and recreates it.

Doing so would have removed that gunner script so would have ruled out the known performance issue of that if it is a factor / cause.

Edited October 20 by sleighzy

[DmitriKozlowsky]

35 minutes ago, sleighzy said:

Did you clear the fxo folder as well? Have you tried completely renaming the Saved Games\dcs.openbeta folder to DCS.old and then trying again? You can copy your keybindings back from the Config\Input folder of that DCS.old backup after DCS starts up and recreates it.

Doing so would have removed that gunner script so would have ruled out the known performance issue of that if it is a factor / cause.

Yes. Blackouts remain.

I do not believe this is a fixable issue. It progressively got worse, with new DCS builds since 2.9.X  I think this is between Nvidia drivers, I use Studio drivers(but it does not matter), and DCS.

There is this Unigine GPU stress app, which stresses GPU and system to max. I have no problems with it, and I let it run for hours. I am told its considered excellent. I also use GPU for OpenCL simulation of fluids in Houdini. Again , no issues. Only DCS is the problem child.

[sleighzy]

7 hours ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

Yes. Blackouts remain.

I do not believe this is a fixable issue. It progressively got worse, with new DCS builds since 2.9.X  I think this is between Nvidia drivers, I use Studio drivers(but it does not matter), and DCS.

There is this Unigine GPU stress app, which stresses GPU and system to max. I have no problems with it, and I let it run for hours. I am told its considered excellent. I also use GPU for OpenCL simulation of fluids in Houdini. Again , no issues. Only DCS is the problem child.

Replicate the issue and then attach a full log. I'm not familiar with the stress testing app, or the process it follows, so may differ from how DCS is using your CPU.

The regular drop every 5 seconds would seem to indicate that some process (we'll assume DCS at this stage) is running something at an almost scheduled basis. This is potentially impacting the CPU so the GPU can drop to zero frames as no frames are being created during this time for it to render. This is why I ask about things like scripts that DCS has loaded, e.g. the gunner hook, etc. as potential areas for investigation.

Can you also provide screenshots of the in-game perf overlay (RCTL+Pause/Break), and from the task manager for your CPU and GPU so we can see if there are spikes there that coincide with this.

Edited October 21 by sleighzy

[MAXsenna]

2 hours ago, Nytehawk said:

Thank you for this!  I'd already narrowed down to a few things including OH6 since I started rebuilding my saved games folder and started slowly adding things back in to see what caused it.

I assume you're using a mod manager for this? Just checking.

[Leg2ion]

Just one thought - what are the OPs PC power settings - as that has caused issues in the past. Just a very simple thought that crops up every now and again...

[Leg2ion]

Further thought - I was having blackouts/flickering issues last year. It only appeared in DCS, despite any stress testing I did or any other games I ran. So - my way of thinking - graphics issues - graphics drivers/card.  After some back and forth with my card supplier - even to the point I sent the GPU back (and despite them telling me it was more than likely the PSU) - it was - in fact - my power supply. 

2 lessons learnt. Firstly - initial diagnosis isn't always what it seems. Secondly - sometimes it pays to listen to others...

[DmitriKozlowsky]

On 10/25/2025 at 10:33 AM, Leg2ion said:

Further thought - I was having blackouts/flickering issues last year. It only appeared in DCS, despite any stress testing I did or any other games I ran. So - my way of thinking - graphics issues - graphics drivers/card.  After some back and forth with my card supplier - even to the point I sent the GPU back (and despite them telling me it was more than likely the PSU) - it was - in fact - my power supply. 

2 lessons learnt. Firstly - initial diagnosis isn't always what it seems. Secondly - sometimes it pays to listen to others...

I am running 3070Ti with 450 HP OEM PS.

[DmitriKozlowsky]

On 10/25/2025 at 10:33 AM, Leg2ion said:

Further thought - I was having blackouts/flickering issues last year. It only appeared in DCS, despite any stress testing I did or any other games I ran. So - my way of thinking - graphics issues - graphics drivers/card.  After some back and forth with my card supplier - even to the point I sent the GPU back (and despite them telling me it was more than likely the PSU) - it was - in fact - my power supply. 

2 lessons learnt. Firstly - initial diagnosis isn't always what it seems. Secondly - sometimes it pays to listen to others...

In what way was it your PS? If PS overloads, it shuts down. Like HACF shut down. Was PS throttling GPU power or GPU  was throttling itself? With throttling causing blackouts?

[Leg2ion]

17 hours ago, DmitriKozlowsky said:

I am running 3070Ti with 450 HP OEM PS.

OK - so that makes me worry. I build my own PCs - and I have never gone near a 450w PSU - assuming that is what it is? Minimum recommended for a 3070Ti is 650/750w. Can you post your PC specs?

PSU issues don't always manifest themselves as you would think, and not sure what HACF is? Not a clue about throttling and wouldn't really know how to start monitoring it. My issues were intermittent, not always present, tried a few things which made things better/worse...and upgraded my PSU to a 1000W - no issues since.

[Raisuli]

Ha.  While playing Another Sim MostlySharedbyForeignStudents (in 2024) the 1500VA UPS used to drive the computer and all the little fiddlybits therein attached, think USB hubs and 37" monitor and 12V loads for external screens and a couple panel lights, can get overloaded.  Makes me wonder if that poor little 1200 watt power supply is up for the task, but that was as big as they got way back when it got built.

I have stutter issues and being a genius completely forgot about some of the basic steps in this thread, so thanks for all that.  Start with renaming saved games, because that also takes mods out of the equation.

Of course Windows 11 is also having issues since I downgraded.  Rah.  I can still remember when Windows 10 was the last OS.

 

[DmitriKozlowsky]

45 minutes ago, Leg2ion said:

OK - so that makes me worry. I build my own PCs - and I have never gone near a 450w PSU - assuming that is what it is? Minimum recommended for a 3070Ti is 650/750w. Can you post your PC specs?

PSU issues don't always manifest themselves as you would think, and not sure what HACF is? Not a clue about throttling and wouldn't really know how to start monitoring it. My issues were intermittent, not always present, tried a few things which made things better/worse...and upgraded my PSU to a 1000W - no issues since.

It worked fine for years. No matter. PC has TPM 1.2 and Win11 requires 2.0. So I need to budget for replacement wkstation.

[MAXsenna]

It worked fine for years. No matter. PC has TPM 1.2 and Win11 requires 2.0. So I need to budget for replacement wkstation.

Re-purpose the new PS in the new setup.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[DmitriKozlowsky]

Sucks , cause I get between 120 and 180 FPS, on my rig. Given my settings. More then good enough. DLSS does jack, perhaps evens lowers FPS. So I don't use it. But AH-64D is a poor performer. 70-90 FPS. On a good day. RAZBAM AV-8B and Mirage2000C are now in 180's. RAZBAM knows how to tune their modules. Where I do loose FPS is when mirrors are ON. Cost 20 FPS on avg. Regardless, the blackouts have made DCS too irritating. If its really the PS, which I doubt, then its doubly untenable, as HP workstations only take HP PS. and most powerful one that fits my chassis is 700 or 750.