Radeon HD 7970 Inbound

[hassata]

It's DirectX

 

PS: just did another 40min run and no crash... A-10 runs great... I think I cured it :)

 

Awesome news man.

[Cali]

I think too that it's a driver issue, for me at least dsabling this aero theme helps and I can live with that. Before with my HD5870 I also has better frame with Aero on because I was running windowed mode, and now for the moment at least I can't run Aero or the driver keeps crashig.

 

I am using SoftTH now also because without it I can't get V-sync and it works fine... to bad you guys can't sort yours yet.

 

That's weird, what does areo have or do that the normal theme doesn't?

[Kuky]

The most prominend thing Aero has is see through menu and toolbar, there might be other things but I wouldn't know... Aero does use your graphics card resources more compared to standard desktop so who knows... maybe its on my system only and TAIPAN and Smil say they tiried turning Aero off and it doesn't help them... but then more weird thing is TAIPAN said he can't get full screen running without crashing and Smil said he can't get windowed mode running without crash... and initially I couldn't get either (but at that time I was always running Aero theme)... weird aye

[hassata]

Aero runs some DirectX optimizations on all windows. Maybe that's what's causing issues.

[Kuky]

Hi Kuky,

 

man- you where busy...

 

I was able to optimize your SoftTH config .

 

I made three presets. When testing them use the files attached in each separate folder folder in for DCS - don't mix them.

Means : don't use the options.lua of preset 1. with the config.SoftTHconfig of preset 2.

 

First some general info - I lowered the res of your MFCD's to 512. - simply because you don't have a benefit to render them in 1024 on the little screens because they are 555x555px.

So 512 is absolute OK and you will see no difference - but it will free up resources.

 

I also disabled the TSSAA - try first without it and when the performance is OK - try with TSSAA on.

 

And I you are the very first to use a new setting in the "Monitors-Lua" I found a very simple way to place the GUI anywhere I want.!!

 

And I removed the fourth monitor from the SoftTH config.

- also enabled Aero (keepComposition=1)

- enabled SoftTH to run at all cores of your CPU (processAffinity=1)

-and fixed the FPS for your MFCDs to 20 (I think that is fair)

 

 

 

 

1.SoftTH 2.08b for kuky 7970

 

This set uses 1920x1800 in-game res and uses your default original LMFCD+Camera+RMFCD.lua

But contains all tweaking that I mentioned above.

 

2.SoftTH 2.08b for kuky 7970 with destRect

 

This set is FPS optimized and has a reduced res. In-game res is now 1920x1755. (but the main view is still 1920x1200)

 

The monitor.lua is tweaked and soft only transports 555x555 for each MFCD instead oh 800x600 with the undocumented

"DestRect" function (more about it here:http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=1303406#post1303406 )

 

3.SoftTH 2.08b for kuky 7970 with HDR and destRect

 

This present uses the tweaks of 2. but also spans the Camera-view port at the whole render resolution - so you are able to have HDR On without the misalignment of the sun-rays. (you might have to readjust your view a little up - do this with the "viewDy = 0;" 0.2 seams to be OK - or edit the cockpit-camera-view in the "SnapViewsDefault.lua" - more info on "how to" http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=82056&highlight=SnapViewsDefault.lua )

 

And here comes the clue: The Gui will not be stretched over your whole Camera view of 1920x1755 - it will only appear at your main display.

This is what I added to the monitors.lua to make it work (in bold)

Fix for misplaced/stretched MP and Mission Gui - also for BS:

It works also for multi-player.

This is the solution for all multi-monitor users.

The Communication and briefings will only appear in the new "Gui" view-port.

(The info-bar will still be stretched - but you can use AppKey+S to bring all rendered info at the main view if needed)

 

So I would advise you to start right away with 3. and check out 2 and 1 if you problems unforeseen appear.

 

PeterP I am now using SoftTH and your 3rd set of files and have workign HDR... it all runs great now... I have cities visibility set to 22km, forests to 22km, increased textures distance and it all looks great...normally I could go without SoftTH as even without it game no longer crashes for me since I disabled Aero theme but then I can't get V-sync working (D3DOverrider works in full screen only and I can't get full screen without SoftTH :)) so I would like to make a donation for this nice software... where can I do so?

 

EDIT: never mind I PM's Kegetys and I also found the SoftTH website (I know, I could have checked first :D)

 

EDIT2: one question about SoftTH... how come when I use this when I first start mission the view is zooming in not out?

Edited January 28, 2012 by Kuky

[hassata]

supposedly authentic:

 

[PeterP]

My guess is that (whatever FPS he gets ) Kuky can now max DCS fully out the graphics - and now his CPU is the bottleneck and limiting the FPS.

 

@ Kuky

 

Nice move to make a donation to Kegetys!

 

EDIT2: one question about SoftTH... how come when I use this when I first start mission the view is zooming in not out?

 

Really ?!- never paid attention...

...and I have no Idea.

[Kuky]

I can't max everything no :) Mirrors really kill framerate, almost 1/2 it.

 

But, I managed to tweak my Very_High.lua to 30km building visibility distance, I've set trees to 18km (I tried much higher than that also, but even 16km is quite enough really) I use high density grass to 300m, 8xQ AA in game, FSSAA on, and things are very playable. Only mirrors and HDR are off, HDR because it's still bugy in multiscreen and I don't want to increase game render area over 8" monitors just to align the HDR sun glare, and mirrors are off because they really kill the framerate. I could use much lower distance visibility in order to use mirrors but I much preffer seing cities from far out then having mirrors on.

 

I've limit the FPS in Graphics.cfg to 33 (in game it shows 35fps limit) and it mostly stays 30-35fps, if I fly really low over city or area with lot of forests in view, it gets down to 20fps or so.

 

The CPU is by far the limit now, my i7 950 is running at 4.2GHz but with all high settings and extra tweaks it's still suficient and DCS just looks great day or night.

 

So, in short I get about 20fps minimum with all things maxed out and bit more, not too close to ground and I can stay most of the time at my 35fps preferred fps limit and DCS is quite smooth.

 

I want to add that I saw about 1.9GB of video RAM being used (this is at running DCS at 1920x1800 total resolution - main screen is still 1920x1200) and I was watching GPU usage last night in GPU-Z and it was mostly at about 65-70%. Thanks to water cooling my 7970 is idling at about 34°C with room temperature of about 26°C, and in game I the 7970 was at about 43°C maximum temperature... just beautiful :D This video card is just asking for water cooling ;)

 

My 7970 is now overclocked to 1GHz core (memory is default), I really see no benefit of going higher as CPU is the bottleneck.

 

I saw HD7950 are now available also, it'll be little slower than 7970 and with same 3GB of video RAM I think it's an excellent buy... surely it'll be able to clock to 1GHz also (did I say how awesome water cooling is? :)) and with only little less transistors it should run DCS same as 7970.

 

Drivers for this card are still not quite there, thanks to SoftTH I am able to run without crashes now, it can run Fullscreen and have V-sync, it disables Aero when DCS starts (Aero really does makes video card driver crash every time with DCS) and Aero is back on when I quit DCS so I still have nice desktop theme when I'm not flying.

 

I do have to mention that 2 days ago I still had 5 crashes even with SoftTH... every time I would get crash file that is identical completely and always points crash was due to Space.ddl file in DCS Bin folder.

 

I was reading up on forums everywhere and decided I need to tweak my BIOS settings more, adjust voltages, and among this I loosened Memory timings a notch (for example at 1600MHz timings by default are 9-9-9-24 but I changed them to 10-10-10-25) and it looks stable now past 2 days.

 

I think with 12GB of system memory and overclocked CPU and video card running lot of data through PCI-E buss that's overclocked also (due to CPU overclock) the north bridge and IMC (integrated memory controller) on the CPU is having hart time so I increased voltage of the buss between CPU and RAM to little lower than CPU core voltage (CPU core is 1.34V and LTT voltage is 1.3V) and maybe this helped graphics driver crashing in DCS... it's tricky thing really to figure out what causing crashes as I still think video card driver is dodgy.

Edited February 2, 2012 by Kuky

[Kuky]

ah bugger it... DCS is still not stable with this driver/video card... 55min into mission and it got the same crash... all monitors just went black... sound was still going... the sim was actually still running (I was in dive when it crashed and I could hear BETI calling to pull up! pull up! and I could hear sound of the crash as game continued to run... had to go CTRL/ALT/DEL to bring up Task Manager and kill DCS exe... then got error message that game has crashed... and here the same ol' Space.dll that caused it.

 

# -------------- 20120202-114722 --------------

C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Space.dll

# C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION at 00DE43DB 01:000033DB

00000000 00000000 0000:00000000

00DE43DB 0012F480 0001:000033DB C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Space.dll ?getSun@Space@@QEAAXAEAN0@Z()+1B

00DE45BA 0012F4B0 0001:000035BA C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Space.dll ?getSunZenithAngleR@Space@@QEAANXZ()+1A

00D4A5EC 0012F500 0001:000195EC C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?RecalculateArgs@lStandartStructure@@KAXN@Z()+2C

00D4A7E6 0012F550 0001:000197E6 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?GetDrawArguments@lStandartStructure@@UEAAAEBV?$HeapVector@UDynamicParam@Graphics@@@@XZ()+46

0FF8DE3E 0012F6B0 0001:0002CE3E C:\DCS A-10C\bin\NGModel.dll ?GetLoadPriority@NGModel@model@@UEAAMXZ()+7D5E

00D46BA4 0012F7E0 0001:00015BA4 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?CreateObject@lObjWithLights@@SAPEAVlLandObject@@XZ()+F4

00D475B1 0012F8A0 0001:000165B1 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?CreateLights@lObjWithLights@@IEAAXXZ()+111

005276DC 0012F8D0 0001:000066DC C:\DCS A-10C\bin\edObjects.dll ??0viObjectShapeCustom@@QEAA@AEBV0@@Z()+95C

00527D85 0012F910 0001:00006D85 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\edObjects.dll ??0viObjectShapeCustom@@QEAA@AEBV0@@Z()+1005

00528894 0012F940 0001:00007894 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\edObjects.dll ??0viObjectShapeCustom@@QEAA@AEBV0@@Z()+1B14

4030898D 0012F9A0 0000:00000000

4039F17F 0012FEA0 0000:00000000

403A06EB 0012FF50 0000:00000000

768E652D 0012FF80 0001:0001552D C:\Windows\system32\kernel32.dll BaseThreadInitThunk()+D

76FDC521 0012FFD0 0001:0002B521 C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll RtlUserThreadStart()+21

and here's crash file from 3 days ago... completely identical:

# -------------- 20120130-114935 --------------

C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Space.dll

# C0000005 ACCESS_VIOLATION at 00DE43DB 01:000033DB

00000000 00000000 0000:00000000

00DE43DB 0012F480 0001:000033DB C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Space.dll ?getSun@Space@@QEAAXAEAN0@Z()+1B

00DE45BA 0012F4B0 0001:000035BA C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Space.dll ?getSunZenithAngleR@Space@@QEAANXZ()+1A

00D4A5EC 0012F500 0001:000195EC C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?RecalculateArgs@lStandartStructure@@KAXN@Z()+2C

00D4A7E6 0012F550 0001:000197E6 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?GetDrawArguments@lStandartStructure@@UEAAAEBV?$HeapVector@UDynamicParam@Graphics@@@@XZ()+46

16FFDE3E 0012F6B0 0001:0002CE3E C:\DCS A-10C\bin\NGModel.dll ?GetLoadPriority@NGModel@model@@UEAAMXZ()+7D5E

00D46BA4 0012F7E0 0001:00015BA4 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?CreateObject@lObjWithLights@@SAPEAVlLandObject@@XZ()+F4

00D475B1 0012F8A0 0001:000165B1 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\Terrain.dll ?CreateLights@lObjWithLights@@IEAAXXZ()+111

005276DC 0012F8D0 0001:000066DC C:\DCS A-10C\bin\edObjects.dll ??0viObjectShapeCustom@@QEAA@AEBV0@@Z()+95C

00527D85 0012F910 0001:00006D85 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\edObjects.dll ??0viObjectShapeCustom@@QEAA@AEBV0@@Z()+1005

00528894 0012F940 0001:00007894 C:\DCS A-10C\bin\edObjects.dll ??0viObjectShapeCustom@@QEAA@AEBV0@@Z()+1B14

4030898D 0012F9A0 0000:00000000

4039F17F 0012FEA0 0000:00000000

403A06EB 0012FF50 0000:00000000

7793652D 0012FF80 0001:0001552D C:\Windows\system32\kernel32.dll BaseThreadInitThunk()+D

77A6C521 0012FFD0 0001:0002B521 C:\Windows\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll RtlUserThreadStart()+21

 

Of course ED doesn't even want to comment on this as if it's got nothing to with them, as if the DCS A-10C is not their product so I don't know why I bother posting this here.

Edited February 2, 2012 by Kuky

[Snoopy]

As far as I know none of the testers have this card (yet) so even if ED wanted to there isn't much they can do

[TAIPAN_]

Would be good if they had a tester with the new hardware.. Kuky why don't you volunteer for beta testing?

 

Not that I'm lazy :) I would volunteer but I don't have time since I'm already a tester for rise of flight.

[Kuky]

Would be good if they had a tester with the new hardware.. Kuky why don't you volunteer for beta testing?

 

Not that I'm lazy :) I would volunteer but I don't have time since I'm already a tester for rise of flight.

 

Funny you ask... ED actually picks their own people for testing and you can't volunteer... I was asked few years back to be tester/moderator but I couldn't commit to being moderator and said I could be tester if they wanted... it ended up me waiting for months... and eventually nothing happened out of it :music_whistling:

 

I think they could test the driver... I was hopping that their team could check that to see if there's something withing DCS code and graphics drivers that is in conflict... I didn't think they needed a 7970 at hand for that... but who knows, maybe they do... I guess eventually some of their testers will get this video card.

Edited February 3, 2012 by Kuky

[TAIPAN_]

Plus there is always a chance that it might just work perfect when the final 7970 drivers come out... I hope.

[Kuky]

First driver that I can run DCS A-10C in Windowed mode without SoftTH and use Aero theme! :D

 

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=358251 (download link is in 8th post or use this one: http://www.mediafire.com/?dji4ozqk22q7sr9)

 

Mustang, thanks for the heads up ;)

 

By the way these drivers are Catalyst 12.3 RC driver but will currently work on Windows 7 only and HD7XXX series cards.

 

First I ran 30min in default mission "Free Flight - Black Sea - Runway Start" and I flew from base to Mineralny Vody... hit a few buildings with mavericks just to try if it'll crash... second try was "Weapons Training" mission and that one lasted just over 50min... I took out about 74 units, with GBU's and guns...landed and it ran good... had HDR on also (have to extend main screen over 8" monitors also to align sunrays) but hey... IT DIDN'T CRASH!

[Cali]

Hopefully it's all fixed then, time will tell.

[hassata]

Good news man.

[Mustang]

First driver that I can run DCS A-10C in Windowed mode without SoftTH and use Aero theme! :D

 

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=358251 (download link is in 8th post or use this one: http://www.mediafire.com/?dji4ozqk22q7sr9)

 

Mustang, thanks for the heads up ;)

 

By the way these drivers are Catalyst 12.3 RC driver but will currently work on Windows 7 only and HD7XXX series cards.

 

First I ran 30min in default mission "Free Flight - Black Sea - Runway Start" and I flew from base to Mineralny Vody... hit a few buildings with mavericks just to try if it'll crash... second try was "Weapons Training" mission and that one lasted just over 50min... I took out about 74 units, with GBU's and guns...landed and it ran good... had HDR on also (have to extend main screen over 8" monitors also to align sunrays) but hey... IT DIDN'T CRASH!

 

Thats great news Kuky, hope it sticks :)

 

BTW there is 12.3 thats been adapted for all cards, using now on my 6850 (thanks again to asder00)

 

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=358269

 

edit: out of interest, did this driver also correct the anomalies with the spark effects during a belly landing?

Edited February 6, 2012 by Mustang

[Kuky]

Thats great news Kuky, hope it sticks :)

 

BTW there is 12.3 thats been adapted for all cards, using now on my 6850 (thanks again to asder00)

 

http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=358269

 

edit: out of interest, did this driver also correct the anomalies with the spark effects during a belly landing?

 

don't know... need to get broken wheel first to see

[JG14_Smil]

Have not had any BS2 troubles yet with these drivers.

 

[after more testing]

 

yes, For me it is fixed. Can start working on the cockpit again :)

Edited February 7, 2012 by JG14_Smil

[Kuky]

edit: out of interest, did this driver also correct the anomalies with the spark effects during a belly landing?

 

I just tried to cause some sparks on the runway by taking off and raising gear and smashing onto runway srtaight away... there were sparks from fuselage scraping the runway and I can report I saw no artifacts on cockpit view or external view... these Catalyst 12.3 RC seems pretty good :thumbup:

[Gunnergolly]

First driver that I can run DCS A-10C in Windowed mode without SoftTH and use Aero theme! :D

 

How's that card of yours running Kuky ?, is she still running stable with Aero theme enabled ????..

 

I'm a halios user so i need the Aero theme to be enable, otherwise i get terrible FPS if i only use a basic theme.

 

If your being limited by CPU now, i think i'd probably go for the HD7950 instead and save myself some money.

 

Regards

 

Gunner...

[JG14_Smil]

yes, it works with Aero now.

[wonkotron]

I've been having tons of problems with BS2 on my new HD7950, and I'm glad to have found this thread. I'll see how these new drivers work out.

 

Thanks for doing the heavy lifting Kuky.

[hassata]

7800 Specs

 

http://www.3dcenter.org/news/die-spezifikationen-zur-amd-radeon-hd-7800-serie

[Cali]

Price drop in the future to $470-490

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/news/video/breaking-news-amd-hd-7970-price-drop-incoming/