P3D not “synching” to 30Hz monitor

[DuduGuimaraes]

Hello guys. I have a i9 with the RTX4090, and I used to get a very smooth performance with P3Dv4 using NCP set to half refresh rate. I finally bought a 30Hz capable monitor (BenQ PD3200U, suggested by Ray, a fantastic monitor I must say). So I restored NCP to factory settings, changed the monitor’s refresh rate to 30Hz, activated Vsynch + TB in P3D, and instead of having my FPS “locked” at 30, they are being limited to 18 FPS. When I fire P3D up, the FPS counter shows 18, and then it goes up to 100+, even tough the sim is only performing at 18 FPS. The monitor’s drivers are updated, windows recognizes the monitor , so I have no idea what could be keeping P3D from synching to the correct refresh rate. Any ideas ?

thanks

Eduardo

[Bob Scott]

Here are my settings:

In NCP, under Display -> Change resolution, set the refresh rate to 30 Hz

In NCP, under Manage 3D Settings, program settings tab, select Prepar 3D in the dropdown list for program to customize, and change the following settings:

 - Aniso Filtering: 16x
 - AA Mode: Application controlled
 - Pwr Mgt Mode: Prefer Max performance
 - Texture filtering - Aniso sample opt: Off
 - Texture filtering - Negative LOD bias: Clamp
 - Texture filtering - Quality: Quality
 - Texture filtering - trilinear opt: On
 - Triple Buffering: On
 - VSync: On

In P3D set frame rate to "unlimited", VSync On.

[jlohrenz]

If you have sync on turn it off.

[DuduGuimaraes]

Hi. Thanks for the answers. I will try those settings in NCP as soon as I get home. But shouldn’t P3D lock at 30 FPS with vsynch ON (set internally) and 30 hz refresh rate ? 
 

thanks

eduardo

Edited June 1 by DuduGuimaraes

[Bob Scott]

40 minutes ago, DuduGuimaraes said:

But shouldn’t P3D lock at 30 FPS with vsynch ON (set internally) and 30 hz refresh rate ?

Yes, but only when P3D is loaded so that it is capable of producing frames at/above 30 fps.  If the system is overtaxed due to some other setting(s), the frame rate can be less than 30.

If you're seeing excursions well above 30 fps, then most likely the hardware refresh rate hasn't been properly set in the driver (NCP).

[DuduGuimaraes]

1 hour ago, Bob Scott said:

Yes, but only when P3D is loaded so that it is capable of producing frames at/above 30 fps.  If the system is overtaxed due to some other setting(s), the frame rate can be less than 30.

If you're seeing excursions well above 30 fps, then most likely the hardware refresh rate hasn't been properly set in the driver (NCP).

I understand. With 60 Hz and 1/2 refresh rate, I can maintain 30 FPS even at FT EHAM with AIG set to 95%. When switching to 30 Hz and using P3D vsynch option, even at default airports with default aircraft, it locks at 18 FPS, which leads me to believe there is something wrong.

[Bob Scott]

39 minutes ago, DuduGuimaraes said:

I understand. With 60 Hz and 1/2 refresh rate, I can maintain 30 FPS even at FT EHAM with AIG set to 95%. When switching to 30 Hz and using P3D vsynch option, even at default airports with default aircraft, it locks at 18 FPS, which leads me to believe there is something wrong.

Note that I use VSync on set in both the driver (via NCP profile) and in the P3D settings.

18 fps is an odd frame rate for it to lock at...if this were a 144 Hz monitor, it might make some sense, as 144 is evenly divisible by 18, but on a 60Hz display I can't fathom why it would lock at 18.

Might not be a bad idea to do a clean reinstall of both your monitor and video drivers after purging the registry of video driver settings using a utility like DDU.

[Ray Proudfoot]

I’ll post my settings tomorrow but I’m certain I’ve not done anything to NCP.

Just load the BenQ drivers for the monitor, set refresh rate in Windows to 30Hz, unlimited FPS in P3D and VSync enabled.

I did uninstall old drivers using DDU in Safe Mode and the used NVCleanstall to load the latest driver. That was around  7 months ago.

@DuduGuimaraes, turn off TB. It badly affects performance with the 4090. Lots of stuttering.

[Bob Scott]

51 minutes ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

@DuduGuimaraes, turn off TB. It badly affects performance with the 4090. Lots of stuttering.

I don't have any problems with smoothness and triple-buffering on my configuration.  Seems like it's an installation-specific thing...easy enough to test with it on and off.

[DuduGuimaraes]

1 hour ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

I’ll post my settings tomorrow but I’m certain I’ve not done anything to NCP.

Just load the BenQ drivers for the monitor, set refresh rate in Windows to 30Hz, unlimited FPS in P3D and VSync enabled.

I did uninstall old drivers using DDU in Safe Mode and the used NVCleanstall to load the latest driver. That was around  7 months ago.

@DuduGuimaraes, turn off TB. It badly affects performance with the 4090. Lots of stuttering.

Thanks Ray, will try the DDU uninstall and install clean drivers.

Thanks

Eduardo

[Ray Proudfoot]

20 minutes ago, Bob Scott said:

I don't have any problems with smoothness and triple-buffering on my configuration.  Seems like it's an installation-specific thing...easy enough to test with it on and off.

I was baffled by the stuttering. Tried changing several settings but in the end it was TB that caused it on mine. Computers eh? 🤣 Had it on with my old 1080Ti and no issues.

[Ray Proudfoot]

I can confirm my NCP settings for Prepar3D on the Program Settings tab are all set to "Use Global Setting".

On the Global Settings tab everything is set to default.

I loaded a C&D PMDG737 at 09L at Heathrow. I slewed up to 200ft and rotated the aircraft through 360 degrees. I turned on TB and whilst 30fps was maintained it was very stuttery. With it off the sim was perfectly smooth.

My NVidia drivers are 546.33.

[DuduGuimaraes]

3 hours ago, Ray Proudfoot said:

I can confirm my NCP settings for Prepar3D on the Program Settings tab are all set to "Use Global Setting".

On the Global Settings tab everything is set to default.

I loaded a C&D PMDG737 at 09L at Heathrow. I slewed up to 200ft and rotated the aircraft through 360 degrees. I turned on TB and whilst 30fps was maintained it was very stuttery. With it off the sim was perfectly smooth.

My NVidia drivers are 546.33.

Thanks Ray.

I will try to reinstall the drivers as soon as I get back home and will report back. 

[Ray Proudfoot]

On 6/1/2024 at 4:43 PM, DuduGuimaraes said:

and instead of having my FPS “locked” at 30, they are being limited to 18 FPS. When I fire P3D up, the FPS counter shows 18, and then it goes up to 100+, even tough the sim is only performing at 18 FPS

After installing new drivers yesterday I loaded P3D and noticed my fps were set at 15 for an external ground view of the aircraft. I turned TB on and it recovered to 30. Turned it off and it stayed at 30.

Strange but just a temporary glitch.

[remcosol]

I have had a simular issue, it is caused by another (4th) monitor with a different refreshrate . After switching on and off tb or vs it works correctly again. Have posted it on p3d forum but no luck. Bought another 4th screen ( for the gps) with a higher refresh rate and no issue anymore