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Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 12:09 am
by ightenhill
I have updated some bits and pieces recently but I dont know whats happened I seem to have two issues..
1 - no matter what I do I seem to be locked at 30 (fps) [EDIT solved this - it seems if I use vertical sync and use triple buffering every time the fps drops below 60 it locks it down to 30]
2 - I seem to have a sort of soft look to the image - its as if theirs a slight lack of focus or Im looking through a pair of silk stockings filter .
I have included some examples. Im sure before I used to have it sharper. Settings are everything on maximum except procedural flora (as I dont like it) and depth of field unticked.AA is the 2x2 in game. Nvidia is set to enhance , 8xAA 16xAF clamp LOD, screen size 1920x1080
Some info
I5 -3570K 4.2GHZ
Asrock z77e - ITX
8GB 16000mhz DDR3
GTX 680 2GB
Seagate Barracuda 1TB 7200RPM
120GB SATA 3 SSD
OCZ ZS 750W PSU
Utterly unrelated but why does the 360 have a pantograph that seems to be 3ft too short. IS it just me?

Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 1:27 am
by deltic009
Right, first up the 360 I recall has a high and a low pantograph version I think, don't ask me for an explanation of it though. If I'm wrong I certainly remember that something has this sort of setup.
Secondly, you didn't menation what your settings are in TS, as these have a more pronounced effect on the resulting game appearance. There's very little you can do with the Nvidia panel that wholly takes over the TS graphical appearance, but a few things do make a noticeable difference.
Usually the application of some form of SSAA in the TS settings results in the image appearing somewhat out of focus/through valentine covered glass.
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:59 am
by smarty2
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:39 am
by ightenhill
Thanks will try that..Could be the solution as weirdly the images I posted look better at 800 posted here than 1920 originals.
I thought I had said the settings in game are everything maxed and the 2x2 option in AA. Procedural unticked and DOF unticked.
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:46 am
by smarty2
ightenhill wrote:Thanks will try that..Could be the solution as weirdly the images I posted look better at 800 posted here than 1920 originals.
I thought I had said the settings in game are everything maxed and the 2x2 option in AA. Procedural unticked and DOF unticked.
I was thinking that those screenies looked OK!

Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 8:55 am
by ightenhill
I do have another odd question.. Is it just me or under certain circumstances do shadows edges take on a very jagged appearance under certain conditions..(It seems to be when a shadow is being cast upon certain type of wall). The rest of the time they are fine but every now and again this sort of staircase edge appears.
I also see something similar in the clouds - you can see it in the second picture from the manchester/liverpool route at the top right. (I have dynamic clouds ticked)
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:11 pm
by BipolarExpress
Hi - I had this 'blurry effect' when using in game SSAA with TSX turned on - and fixed it with a patch available elsewhere on the site - UKTS_30765_fxaaoff. This just overwrites one file, so easy to 'undo' if you don't like the effect.
All the best,
Steve
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:19 am
by ightenhill
I found the thread but the link to that file seems to be dead now..
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:39 am
by smarty2
ightenhill wrote:I do have another odd question.. Is it just me or under certain circumstances do shadows edges take on a very jagged appearance under certain conditions..(It seems to be when a shadow is being cast upon certain type of wall). The rest of the time they are fine but every now and again this sort of staircase edge appears.
I also see something similar in the clouds - you can see it in the second picture from the manchester/liverpool route at the top right. (I have dynamic clouds ticked)
Can't say I have seen this stair effect no! Perhaps the cloud one is a stairway to heaven?
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 3:19 pm
by BipolarExpress
Hi ightenhill - tried to PM you but it appears I'm not authorised. Perhaps some friendly mod will turn it on
All the best,
Steve
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:32 pm
by gptech
Deleted 'cos I made a mess of it

Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:35 pm
by gptech
ightenhill wrote:it seems if I use vertical sync and use triple buffering every time the fps drops below 60 it locks it down to 30
That's how vsync works; it ties your fps to a whole integer of the refresh rate.
If you have the hardware and settings to run at 60/1 to give 60fps that's where it starts.
As soon as your fps drops below 60, such as when you enter a densely 'sceneried' area vsync then switches to 60/2 to give 30fps.
Drop below 30 and 60/3 (20fps) kicks in, below 20 it's 60/4 to result in 15fps
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:44 pm
by peterfhayes
Gary
I always thought that vsync dropped the rate by 1/2 when it fell below 60 I've never seen that 1/3 and 1/4 rule before?

(it looks like you get the same drop whichever method you use)
Also the OP has triple buffering enabled which should stop this frame rate drop happening that's what its there for.
I would ask a couple questions
In the vsync setting has he limited the fps rate to half the monitor refresh rate usually 30 fps
Is the OP using adaptive vsync where you do NOT need triple buffering?
pH
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:54 pm
by dorlan
BipolarExpress wrote:Hi ightenhill - tried to PM you but it appears I'm not authorised. Perhaps some friendly mod will turn it on
All the best,
Steve
You can send PMs now!
Re: Question about AA and Nvidia settings
Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:36 pm
by gptech
Peter,
the 1/3 and 1/4 settings is how vsync has always worked, basically preventing the frames in the back buffer being passed to the frame buffer until after the monitor has refreshed--to do what vsync was designed to do, eliminate 'tearing'.
Triple buffering works in much the same way but uses 2/3 of the refresh rate, which really should initially give fps of 40. I'm stumped as to where the 30 is coming from with triple buffering enabled, unless of course it's enabled but not functioning in game--which begs the question of whether TS does support triple buffering?
Adaptive sync works by being on when frame rates are above the refresh rate, but turned off when they drop with Variable being an advanced form of Adaptive that lessens lag even more without introducing tearing.
With CRT monitors vsync was pretty important, but as TFTs don't get refreshed in the same way it's impact is debatable.