DCS A-10C FPS boost?

[topol-m]

Could you guys please point me at some DCS A-10C fps boost guides, tweaks, etc. I couldn't find a dedicated thread while there is one for FC2. There are some tweaks here and there like disabling trees' shadows, turning off HDR, etc. but it's all spread out randomly and I may have missed a lot of useful settings.

[MTFDarkEagle]

Try setting water to low

[topol-m]

thanks, that's another useful setting, anything else? .ini editing?

[Mustang]

Disable mirrors, that'll really boost your framerates if you've been using them.

 

Also, check for additional settings in the options, like MSAA - 4x is preferable setting, and make sure TSSAA (Transparency Super Sampling Anti-Aliasing) is turned off too.

 

You should also provide us with a bit more info on your hardware and software configurations, more can be done to help raise FPS outside of the sim :)

[Boberro]

Disable mirrors, that'll really boost your framerates if you've been using them.

 

Also, check for additional settings in the options, like MSAA - 4x is preferable setting, and make sure TSSAA (Transparency Super Sampling Anti-Aliasing) is turned off too.

 

You should also provide us with a bit more info on your hardware and software configurations, more can be done to help raise FPS outside of the sim :)

 

Are there really bigger differences between settings? I use AA x16, 16x CSAA and TSSAA on. I am asking cause if it is visible only with magnifying glass I turn it off :)

[Mustang]

Are there really bigger differences between settings? I use AA x16, 16x CSAA and TSSAA on. I am asking cause if it is visible only with magnifying glass I turn it off :)

 

What hardware are you running Bob?

[topol-m]

Disable mirrors, that'll really boost your framerates if you've been using them.

 

Also, check for additional settings in the options, like MSAA - 4x is preferable setting, and make sure TSSAA (Transparency Super Sampling Anti-Aliasing) is turned off too.

 

You should also provide us with a bit more info on your hardware and software configurations, more can be done to help raise FPS outside of the sim :)

 

I don't have it yet, but I'm planning on playing it on this laptop:

 

Dell Inspiron N5010

Intel i3-380M (2.53GHz) Mobile CPU

4GB 1333MHz DDR3 Dual Channel memory

1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 Graphics

 

Resolution: 1366 x 768

 

So knowing the Hog is heavy like a blue whale on FPS compared to FC2 I thought I should prepare in advance for tweaking it the best way possible :D

[goldfinger35]

Will someone please test this possible FPS increase tip? I don't want to open a new thread for this:

1. start the mission "the serpents head" and unpause. Do not move you default view. Press frame rate counter (default - Rctrl+pause) and note FPS.

2. alt-tab to exit and alt-tab to enter the game again. Note the FPS

 

Exit the game and try this a few more times.

Do you notice any difference? I sometimes get a nice FPS boost. Note that it is not related to HDR (I have it turned off). Maybe it is CPU i7 related?

 

Thanks.

 

Here - note the difference in the upper left corner:

 

Edited November 21, 2011 by goldfinger35

[topol-m]

Oh for Christ's sake 12 FPS with that PC?!! OMG :shocking: So what can I hope for with that laptop, 2-3 FPS?

[Boberro]

What hardware are you running Bob?

 

i5, 8gb DDR3 ram, gtx 560 Ti ;]

 

 

@Topol-m - I had on Core2Duo, 2 GB RAM DDR2 and 9300 GS about 2-5 FPS :D

[diveplane]

thanks, that's another useful setting, anything else? .ini editing?

 

this file has hidden graphics that can be turned off on

 

\DCS A-10C\MissionEditor\data\scripts/options.LUA

[beers]

Oh for Christ's sake 12 FPS with that PC?!! OMG :shocking: So what can I hope for with that laptop, 2-3 FPS?

 

I don't think goldfinger's FPS are representative. See my specs in sig; I get 45-60 fps engines dead, sitting on the runway. Even when i down my clock back to the default 3.4 my FPS doesn't go below 30.

 

I've got my GTX 560ti clocked at 960 core, 1920 shader, 2250 memory.

 

(Note that the sky in those screen shots is overcast, which I find to be the most FPS demanding weather.)

 

 

Will someone please test this possible FPS increase tip? I don't want to open a new thread for this:

1. start the mission "the serpents head" and unpause. Do not move you default view. Press frame rate counter (default - Rctrl+pause) and note FPS.

2. alt-tab to exit and alt-tab to enter the game again. Note the FPS

 

IIRC the change is that HDR goes to 'normal', so if you had it on warm or cool you will see a difference in the quality of the image, and that's what you're seeing. If there is a change to FPS it is minor and it's more about your HDR settings than anything else.

 

I have to wonder, with a 3.8 CPU, how do you get such low FPS??? Do you have anisotropic at 16 and AA at 32 or what??? Not familiar with ATI cards at all, is the 4890 old?

[topol-m]

I have to wonder, with a 3.8 CPU, how do you get such low FPS??? Do you have anisotropic at 16 and AA at 32 or what??? Not familiar with ATI cards at all, is the 4890 old?

 

I wonder too what his settings are. Ati 4890 is generally between Nvidia GT 260 and GTX 275 in terms of performance.

 

I get 45-60 fps engines dead, sitting on the runway. Even when i down my clock back to the default 3.4 my FPS doesn't go below 30.

 

So going from 4.4 to 3.4 costs you 15-30 FPS? Is this game so heavily dependent on CPU?

Edited November 21, 2011 by topol-m

[goldfinger35]

 

IIRC the change is that HDR goes to 'normal', so if you had it on warm or cool you will see a difference in the quality of the image, and that's what you're seeing. If there is a change to FPS it is minor and it's more about your HDR settings than anything else.

 

I have to wonder, with a 3.8 CPU, how do you get such low FPS??? Do you have anisotropic at 16 and AA at 32 or what??? Not familiar with ATI cards at all, is the 4890 old?

 

As mentioned, my HDR is off so I don't think that is HDR.

Actually, I usually get 25-60 fps on the runways but that mission is a fps killer.

 

P.S. Did anyone try my tip at that mission?

Edited November 21, 2011 by goldfinger35

[topol-m]

this file has hidden graphics that can be turned off on

 

\DCS A-10C\MissionEditor\data\scripts/options.LUA

 

what can be turned off in there without having a big impact on graphics quality?

 

Tweaks (not drastic) so far include:

 

- 1366 x 768 This low res should help achieve higher FPS (in theory)

- graphics set to medium (I ain't playing this sim on low)

- tree shadow off, low or medium water quality, no HDR

- mirrors off (who needs them anyway ;))

- 2 or 4 MSAA, TSSAA off

[Mustang]

this file has hidden graphics that can be turned off on

 

\DCS A-10C\MissionEditor\data\scripts/options.LUA

 

That's the wrong location, the options.lua you want to edit is located in

 

Users\<yourname>\Saved Games\DCS Warthog\Config

 

i5, 8gb DDR3 ram, gtx 560 Ti ;]

 

very nice bob, thats much better than the ancient thing you used to run!

Edited November 21, 2011 by Mustang

[goldfinger35]

Decrease trees distance. Also try stopping antivirus software, windows defender etc. before starting the game.

[topol-m]

2 threads with interesting tweaks affecting fps in Black Shark and Hog, might be useful to people trying to get the most out of their PCs:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=81942

http://www.159thgar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=6256 (pay attention specifically to 159th_Falcon's post on page 2 where he says how to change the MaxFPS setting in graphics.lua Seems this has a positive effect and gameplay feels smoother.)

 

Also I mentioned disabling tree shadows earlier, just found the link provided by Mustang: http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=81532

Edited November 28, 2011 by topol-m

[hassata]

If you're running in Windowed Mode, make sure you choose an Aero desk theme.

[topol-m]

If you're running in Windowed Mode, make sure you choose an Aero desk theme.

 

Do you get higher FPS in windowed mode?

[hassata]

I'm pretty sure not, but it's necessary for some multi-monitor configurations.

[Spetz]

As Topol-m stated, my thread, specifically this page here has my screenies for what I'm getting now and the settings I used. I'm also running the "no shadows" mod. Those overcast missions in the campaign are brutal. What I did was open them and edit it to clear sky, at least it made it playable for me.

[topol-m]

Thanks for the input Spetz, also editing the campaign missions is a great idea.

[PeterP]

I'm pretty sure not, but it's necessary for some multi-monitor configurations.

 

Not necessary any more - who is able to configure Helios- should be able to configure Softth.

The good thing is that everything that you drag on a secondary monitor (like Helios) will stay on top even if you have running DCS in full-screen.

This can give you 10-20 % more FPS than windowed and in some occasions even more. Learn more about SoftTH: SoftTH NEWS

 

And one thing I didn't saw mentioned at all:

 

MONEY, lots of :

 

"MONEY" Helps significant to higher your FPS - and if you have even "Lots of"

-it can also help that other have to worry how to configure this

shiny new pixel drawing and power/time-consuming vampire to get higher FPS... :D!

 

Very nice read about this interrelation :

Cleared-To-Engage / FPS=$$$

Edited November 29, 2011 by PeterP

[hassata]

for some multi-monitor configurations.

 

I couldn't get SoftTH to work on mine (despite your patient assistance).