Huge slowdown on specific models + animations SAGE engine issues about dxvk

[Blisto91]

Hi there. Please make an apitrace of the issue if possible.
When you say slow down i assume you mean the fps drops below your 30 cap.

[BugFixer300]

Hi there. Please make an apitrace of the issue if possible. When you say slow down i assume you mean the fps drops below your 30 cap.

When using the apitrace the game crashes on startup see screenshot


I've used the 32 bit D3D9 apitrace dll files see screenshot.

By "slow down," I mean experiencing a significant FPS drop. For instance, when there are 15 or more single units on screen, like spiders, the FPS drops to around 20 FPS. With approximately 30 units on screen, the FPS further diminishes to around 5 FPS. Interestingly, there isn't a notable increase in CPU usage during these occurrences. I'm considering installing the game on Linux to see if the issue persists there.

This game holds a special place for many, but its reliance on the outdated D3D9 engine leads to crashes, particularly with large mods like Edain and AOTR. While DXVK resolves these crashing issues, it unfortunately introduces severe slowdowns with certain units.

[WinterSnowfall]

Does setting d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True help?

[BugFixer300]

Does setting d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True help?

d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers doesn't seem to have any effect but:
I've recently tested it with numerous units that previously caused significant lag, and the frame rate dropped from 30 to 20 fps. Additionally, I've updated both my Nvidia drivers and the Vulkan driver, and it appears to have resolved most of the issues. Previously, the frame rate plummeted to around 5 fps, but now it's greatly improved!

Currently, there are a few lingering concerns, though they're quite minor. Running on Vulkan driver version 1.3.275. I'll provide an update if I come across any further issues.

[Blisto91]

You mean a driver update seems to have solved your issue? You seem to already have had the latest when you posted originally.

[BugFixer300]

You mean a driver update seems to have solved your issue? You seem to already have had the latest when you posted originally.

Yes sorry wrote down the wrong version. Will need to do some more testing

[Blisto91]

No i meant the log shows you are on latest.
Was the performance a constant dip while units were on screen or was it stutter

[BugFixer300]

That's odd, there's a consistent dip in the frame rate, maintaining at 20 frames per second repeatedly. It appears there are some compatibility issues with the latest Vulkan driver version. Previously, I tested it with a large number of units before the update, and it didn't crash, but now it seems to be crashing. Perhaps DXVK isn't functioning properly with Vulkan version 1.3.275. Will do some more testing on my laptop

[mbriar]

The vulkan version is pretty meaningless. Only the nvidia driver version matters.

[BugFixer300]

Does setting d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True help?

Hey, some strange stuff was going on. After reinstalling the game, my DXVK version wasn't functioning properly. But, after stumbling upon the right DXVK dll file, the tool started working again. It used to crash the game constantly, but now it's stable. Also, after some testing, I noticed there was still lag. However, when I enabled 'd3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True', the game ran smoothly without any lag at all. So, big thanks for the help! I'll be sure to spread the word in the ROTWK community. Much love!

The vulkan version is pretty meaningless. Only the nvidia driver version matters.

Ah never knew that, thank you for the information.

[Blisto91]

Which patch are you using and mods if any.
Also can you include a screenshot of an example where the fps is dipping?

[BugFixer300]

Which patch are you using and mods if any. Also can you include a screenshot of an example where the fps is dipping?

Patch 2.02 V9 and AOTR 8.3.1
Did some testing with the Grass objects in the game they cause heavy lag when d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers is turned off but when turned on it's smooth.

d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = False:

d3d9.cachedDynamicBuffers = True:

[Blisto91]

I have gotten my hand on the expansion now and confirmed the slowdowns with the mod and all.
@BugFixer300 Which language have you installed the game in