Stutters/Microstutters that don't show up in the DevMode FPS counter/threads..?

User Support Hub Virtual Reality (VR)
1

It seems that recently, especially since the last mini-update/hotfix, there are a LOT more reports of stutters/microstutters than usual, both on these forums and on Reddit, possibly also on Avsim (I don’t go there much but did see some posts). Unfortunately I am affected by this too, much more than previously.

While analyzing these stutters, I have noticed that they do NOT show up in the devmode FPS counter/thread analysis window. Meaning: the displayed values of the threads (Main, RDR, GPU) do not change between periods of smoothness and periods of stuttering.

For example, it will be stable with something like the following continuously for the situation/scenery context I’m currently in:

  • Mainthread: 9-10ms
  • Rdrthread: 8-9ms
  • GPU: 12-13ms

All this with FPS capped and fully locked at 45 (=22ms) via Rivatuner.

Now the stutters start, but the values above do not deviate, there is no spiking of any kind and FPS stays locked at 45. Yet I get periods of pretty bad stutters/dropped frames, then they’ll disappear again, then come back. Sometimes for longer periods, sometimes for shorter periods.

This happens both in photogrammetry and autogen areas, both very close to the ground and at 1000 feet, sometimes even at high altitude. Changing settings, render scale etc. doesn’t seem to affect it.

Is anyone else experiencing this? What exactly could be causing such noticeable and reccuring stutters (mostly microstutters, but extremely noticeable and practically gamebreaking) without affecting any of the threads?

I really hope Asobo sees all the recent complaints about stutters and decides to do something about it. Smoothness is of utmost priority in a flight sim! If it were up to me they would dedicate an entire SU to frame pacing, it’s that important.

EDIT: Not rolling cache related, makes no difference.

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I have temporarily turned off rolling cache and things anecdotally seem better, but it’s hard to really conclude if that’s what did it.

My stutters were always worst during descent to land.

I’m on the AAU1 Beta.

3

I’ve tried the cache thing, made no noticeable difference. Plus I’ve flown with it on for 2 years and it was never this bad before.

4

You probably won’t see the Devmode FPS numbers show stutters since there is a lot of averaging but you might see it in the traces. The only way to do that is to make your headset think you are wearing it and then just set it down and watch the traces. I agree that there are more stutters.

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Taking off the headset and looking at the visual representation of the threads (if that’s what ypu mean by traces) is exactly what I do. Doesnt show up though

6

The more complicated approach to measuring stutter is using the app called CapFrameX or Fraps which can analyze the frametimes and especially for motion reprojection, the difference between successive frametimes which cause the motion reprojections to not be fluid in appearance.

The problem is that stutters can come mostly from MSFS but also from Windows, other apps, video drivers, etc… It’s clear that DCS has much tighter (lower variance) frametimes than MSFS with everything else the same.

1 Like
7

Sure, I’ve used capframeX previously, in earlier SUs. The problem is it’s descriptive only and doesn’t offer actionable insights.

8

Any updates on this for improvements?