Still only approx 30 FPS after graphics upgrade.

[JaseGill]

Hi,

See my sig but I have:

 

P8P67Pro Motherboard,

MSI GTX 660 TI 2GB OC Edition,

8GB Patriot Viper 2 Sector 5 Menu,

1x 120GB SSD for the OS (Win 7) and 1 x 120GB SSD for games install.

 

I'm still after an upgrade from a 460GTX 1GB almost stuck around 30 FPS. 2 screens 1080P 37" LED TV and a 1440 x 800 as the secondary running HELIOS. I use SoftTH set with TV above, secondary below.

 

Should I be getting better frame rates? I don't think I'm processor maxed yet as it makes no difference whether I'm on min or max settings. The graphics card is quite powerful in benchmarks and other games. Its just DCS.

 

Would I benefit in getting another MSI GTX 660 TI 2GB OC Edition and SLI'ing them?

Thanks in advance,

J.

[BIGNEWY]

have you got Vsync on ?

[Marmusman]

have you got Vsync on ?

 

Ditto on this....or is your frame rate counter set to 30 fps max instead of unlimited?

[JaseGill]

As far as I remember no in both cases.

 

VSynch is not on, MAXFPS not set (well it is but to about 300 if I remember rightly).

J.

[Nopileus]

I assume DCS is running in windowed mode.

 

Make sure you do NOT disable aero.

[JG14_Smil]

I don't think SLI will help DCS. It is very easy to miss things so:

 

1. You are full screen and SoftTH screens show when you enter sim(?). If you use SoftTH config tool, you are pointing to the correct file?

 

2. DCS V-sync is off. MaxFPS is default 120 (where did you get 300 from?)

 

3. SoftTH vsync is off, no limits set. Both monitors on same card? Both using local if so?

 

4. Your GFX card settings: no vsync?

 

Disable aero does not matter in DCS. You need to do that to keep from getting locked out of the exit menu. You do need to use the aero setting in SoftTH.

[JaseGill]

JAG14,

Thanks for the guidance.

 

yes to Fullscreen,

Yes to correct file as produced by the SoftTH Configurator and living in the DCS folder with the DLL,

V Synch off in DCS, will check and reset the MAXFPS to 120,

SoftTH Vsynch is off, no limits set and both same card, local,

 

Will Check Gfx card settings. One assumes you mean in Nvidia Control Panel?

 

Aero is not diabled in DCS or in the SoftTH configuration.

 

Im on my way home in about an hour so will check all these and report back in case this helps someone else out. I hate threads that go quiet with no news on whether remedies worked.

Thanks again,

J.

[SkateZilla]

a 660ti isnt exactly a power house ...

[Toxe]

Take a look here and the linked benchmark thread. Most important part in DCS is the CPU.

[lokitexas]

a 660ti isnt exactly a power house ...

 

It isnt a slouch either. I am getting a solid 60 fps in air and 40-50 on the ground with a 560ti.

 

Basically what I am sayingis...it isnt the card.

[JaseGill]

All,

All of the above checked and rechecked.

Still at or around 20 FPS on ground, at or around 30 in the air but goes down to 15 with TGP at times.

 

As far as settings:

SoftTH is:

Total res = 1920 x 1980 (1920 x 1080 Upper, 1440 x 900 lower).

Keep Aero on Unticked, Smooth Framerate ticked, dont render unused area ticked, debug mode unticked.

No Overides set, AntiAlisaing is Application, VSynch Off.

 

Nvidia Control Panel has VSynch off,

 

DCS has Disable Aero Unticked, VSych unticked. Mirrors, HDR and TSSAA Off.

Full screen and Cockpit shadows ticked.

 

If I go to CTRL F1 frame-rate is constant, if I go to ALT F1 its up around 60. I've even disabled the in cockpit MFD's as they are exported to lower screen and Helios is only running the Flaps Indicator, HSI and ADI.

 

SoftTH and Cockpit Exports LUA's attached and screenshot of my settings.

 

is there anything else I can try?

SoftTH.lua

configSoftTHconfig.txt

[JaseGill]

a 660ti isnt exactly a power house ...

 

Thanks for that. Constructive.

Now where's that Rep button ;)

[SkateZilla]

seriously, a 660ti isnt good for pumping out high res, or multiple screens.

 

i get 50+ on the ground now with 3 screens eyefinity.

 

you'd need a 670 or better. or a 2nd 660ti to run the helios screen.

 

that fact that your Fps doubles when you ALT F1 means your GPU is having render bottle necks.

[Nopileus]

16x MSAA

 

There is your problem.

[lokitexas]

16x MSAA

 

There is your problem.

 

I agree, try 8x. I cant see much difference.

[hannibal]

I assume DCS is running in windowed mode.

 

Make sure you do NOT disable aero.

 

WHAT EFFECT DOES DISABLING AERO HAVE ON DCS? (sorry for all caps)

[Kuky]

WHAT EFFECT DOES DISABLING AERO HAVE ON DCS? (sorry for all caps)

if you run fullscreen as far as I know nothing

if you run windowed mode it'll stop v-sync from working and you'll get worse FPS

[JaseGill]

I agree, try 8x. I cant see much difference.

 

Thanks, will try that. Hadnt noticed that was set so will try.

Got to say as usual everyone here more than helpful again generally.

 

Skatezilla,

Thanks, I was joking, honest.

I've tried my old 460 for the 2nd screen and that just slows it more. I read on here a while ago that if you can its best to limit yourself to 1 card if you can as more than one just adds more stress! Not sure if thats still the case?

 

I was thinking of a 670 at the time I bought the 660Ti but the cost was over £120 more here :( I kind of wish I'd pulled that trigger now... May have to sell the 660Ti and get a 670 I guess.

 

J.

[SkateZilla]

i dont think there would be a HUGE jump from 660ti to 670, maybe 15 Frames.

 

its true, 1 GPU is less headaches than 2.

 

Also, you maybe getting more than 30 Fps, but less than 60, so Somewhere nVidia is still ussing adaptive vsync dropping you to 30 fr/ps, ALT_F1 removes some geomtetry which brings you aboev 60, so Vsync jumps to 60Hz again, which has been a PITA with the 600 series.

 

I know a few people actually now that I think of it, that are having issues with turning off adaptive VSync Completely. I think they had to use a 3rd party app and still force settings using Game profile in nVidia Control Panel.

Edited November 20, 2012 by SkateZilla

[JaseGill]

Well,

Those lovely people at Novatech UK allowed me to pay the difference between the 660Ti and a 670 and upgrade.

The price has dropped by £60 in the 3 weeks since I bought the 660Ti so I figured why the hell not. Custom PC seems to think that the 670 is the sweet-spot in price/performance so lets see shall we. I cant afford a 680 or 690 anyway witrh Christmas coming so this is the end of the FPS chase for now.

I will try it tonight and let all know how I fare.

 

As a lucky aside I got Assassins Creed III and Borderlands 2 free with it too :) Win, Win, Win once hopes.

 

Skatezilla,

If its 15 FPS more I'll be happy to be honest. I know its good enough for other software I play (World of Tanks, SW:TOR and the beta of War Thunder) so any increase in FPS I'll be happy with :)

 

J.

Edited November 20, 2012 by JaseGill

[SkateZilla]

i haven't stress tested or abused an nVidia card in a while, but for the 4xx and 5xx series, the jump from the x60 to an x70 is bigger than jumping from x50 to x60, or x70 to x80..

 

x50/60 is low-mid series gpu, x70/80 is mid-high to high series gpus

 

the exception to this of course is the 560ti448 core, which was blatantly better than stock 570s.

 

 

anyway, you should look into seeing if VSync / Adaptive VSync is being enabled some how.

[JaseGill]

All,

well that did it.

MSIGTX 670 OC Twin Frozr and I get average 30 min on the ground, 45 in the air and up to 65 when its quiet. Thats with no change of settings from before too and having 2 x MFD, HSI, ADI and flaps display exported to 2nd screen and using SoftTH to run fullscreen.

Quite a difference. Im well impressed. I did see dips to low 20's when lots on screen happening but that I think I can live with given I was getting less than 10 at tims using the 460 and the 660Ti.

Thanks for the help all and I can heartily recommend a GTX670 if anyone's thinking of upgrading.

J.

[SkateZilla]

i get dips in 20s and below when mission first starts after hitting PAUSE/BREAK, afterwards it stabilizes,.