[Updated] PERFORMANCE FIXES

[Solivaguz]

1. Fix for faulty config file
2. Game crashing (CPU worker threads)
3. My config for best performance
4. Fix for FPS going down after some matches

BEFORE you continue: NVIDIA just released a new graphics driver (v527.37) install it first!

1.
FOUND A FIX for the poor performance after the release (minus up to 30 fps).
This will most likely NOT fix game crashes** but bump fps insanely.
Seems like Ray Tracing is enabled, although it seems to be off in the ingame settings.

I looked into the config files. It really seems that there is an entry that is set incorrectly.

- quit the game
- open %appdata%\Fatshark\Darktide\user_settings.config in editor
(C:\Users\YOUR PROFILE\AppData\Roaming\Fatshark\Darktide)
- set rt_light_quality from HIGH to OFF

So it should look like this:
rt_light_quality = "OFF"

- start the game and enjoy fighting heresy!

Spread the word! Let Fatshark and other rejects know!

Cheers!

* you can then set your ingame graphics as you like. the bug should not come back - but don't touch the Ray Tracing options. :)

This bug was fixed with hotfix 1.0.13

2.
EDIT 2:
** For the people with random crashes: try to lower your cpu worker threads in the launcher settings by at least 2 from the maximum.
Setting mine from 14 to 12 stopped the game from crashing at the end / in the middle of a match.

3.
! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! EDIT 3: ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !
When it comes to IT issues, i hate giving up. So after another 3 hours of fiddling around, i may present you this config***. I reduced some multiplier and also reduced the shadow atlas size.

This is definitely my sweetspot. A good balance between FPS and a game, that does not look like garbage. I run at 55-75 fps and minimum 41 fps in hordes now.

Feel free to try it out! Don't forget to set the cpu worker threads and the resolution according to your hardware.

4.
PLUS:
I found another "feature".
I could watch my fps literally go down with every match. I went from average 65 to average 31 in 2 matches.

I then deleted the shader_cache.hans file in the AppData folder (while the game was still running) and went back to 75 FPS in a second.
Funnily enough the file hasn't appeared for the last 60 minutes and the game is still running smoothly..

So that's just another tip for you guys.

***config:

adapter_index = 0
aspect_ratio = -1
borderless_fullscreen = false
detected_user_settings = {
adapter_index = 0
borderless_fullscreen = false
fullscreen = true
fullscreen_output = 0
language_id = "en"
master_render_settings = {
anti_aliasing_solution = 0
dlss = 1
dlss_g = 0
dlss_master = "on"
fsr = 0
fsr2 = 0
graphics_quality = "medium"
nv_reflex_low_latency = 1
ray_tracing_quality = "off"
}
max_worker_threads = 13
screen_mode = "fullscreen"
screen_resolution = [
1920
1080
]
vsync = false
}
fullscreen = true
fullscreen_output = 0
gamma = -0.32
gore_settings = {
attack_ragdolls_enabled = false
}
language_id = "en"
master_render_settings = {
ambient_occlusion_quality = "medium"
anti_aliasing_solution = 0
dlss = 4
dlss_g = 0
dlss_master = "on"
dof_quality = "medium"
fsr = 0
fsr2 = 0
gi_quality = "high"
graphics_quality = "custom"
lens_flare_quality = "sun_light_only"
light_quality = "medium"
nv_reflex_framerate_cap = 0
nv_reflex_low_latency = 1
ray_tracing_quality = "off"
rt_reflections_quality = "off"
ssr_quality = "medium"
volumetric_fog_quality = "medium"
}
max_worker_threads = 14
performance_settings = {
decal_lifetime = 15
max_blood_decals = 20
max_impact_decals = 20
max_ragdolls = 8
}
render_settings = {
ao_enabled = true
baked_ddgi = true
bloom_enabled = true
cacao_downsampled = false
cacao_quality = 3
decals_enabled = true
display_noise_enabled = true
dlss_enabled = true
dlss_g_enabled = false
dof_enabled = true
dof_high_quality = false
dxr = false
fsr2_enabled = false
fsr_enabled = false
fsr_quality = 0
fxaa_enabled = false
gamma = 2.2
hdr_rgb_format = "R11G11B10F"
jitter_enabled = true
lens_flares_enabled = false
lens_quality_color_fringe_enabled = false
lens_quality_distortion_enabled = false
lens_quality_enabled = false
light_shafts_enabled = true
local_lights_max_dynamic_shadow_distance = 50
local_lights_max_non_shadow_casting_distance = 0
local_lights_max_static_shadow_distance = 100
local_lights_shadow_atlas_size = [
512
512
]
local_lights_shadow_map_filter_quality = "low"
local_lights_shadows_enabled = true
lod_object_multiplier = 1
lod_scatter_density = 0.5
motion_blur_enabled = false
nv_framerate_cap = 0
nv_low_latency_boost = false
nv_low_latency_markers = true
nv_low_latency_mode = true
outline_enabled = true
particles_capacity_multiplier = 1
particles_simulation_lod = 0
rough_transparency_enabled = true
rt_checkerboard_reflections = false
rt_light_quality = "off"
rt_mixed_reflections = false
rt_particle_reflections_enabled = false
rt_reflections_enabled = false
rt_shadow_ray_multiplier = 0
rt_transparent_reflections_enabled = false
rtxgi_enabled = false
rtxgi_scale = 0
sharpen_enabled = true
skin_material_enabled = false
ssr_enabled = true
ssr_high_quality = false
static_sun_shadow_map_size = [
1024
1024
]
static_sun_shadows = true
sun_flare_enabled = true
sun_shadow_map_filter_quality = "medium"
sun_shadow_map_size = [
1024
1024
]
sun_shadows = true
taa_enabled = false
ui_bloom_enabled = false
upscaling_enabled = true
upscaling_mode = "dlss"
upscaling_quality = "balanced"
vertical_fov = 70
volumetric_data_size = [
96
80
128
]
volumetric_extrapolation_high_quality = true
volumetric_extrapolation_volumetric_shadows = false
volumetric_lighting_local_lights = true
volumetric_reprojection_amount = 0.625
volumetric_volumes_enabled = true
world_interaction_size = [
512
512
]
world_space_motion_vectors = false
}
screen_mode = "fullscreen"
screen_resolution = [
2560
1440
]
sound = {
}
sound_settings = {
}
threads = {
}
version = 1
vsync = false

[Footman Connaisseur]

just setting rt light quality to false fixed it for me

[Solivaguz]

Bumping this, so people can see and enjoy the game.

[[Despised_Icon]]

Bumping for later

[Ahriman]

What is rt light quality? ray tracing related?

[Solivaguz]

Yes.

[Satoru]

Hi could you confirm that if you change other settings in-game that it is reflected in the settings file when you exist the game?

[Solivaguz]

I set the file to read-only because i just want to play in peace today. Not sure if the faulty options get written in again if you restart the game without having it on read-only. So the changes you make ingame get not written in the config file.

All that matters -> found the root cause, can play on stable fps. :)

[Sad Yak]

imagine having to mess with config files and all that crap just to make game bearable to play.

Fatshark really are a joke of developer.

[Professor H. Farnsworth]

Originally posted by Satoru:

Hi could you confirm that if you change other settings in-game that it is reflected in the settings file when you exist the game?

If you set the file to read-only you cannot write to it which means that any setting you make in-game will not be written to the file. It will be reflected in-game though until you exist.
So, no.

You'll need to do a fair bit of fiddling with settings until you know what you can use :). I suggest you start by setting your game to medium, then turn off the rt_lightning_quality after which you can test how that works. If it is smooth - great! You're done, if you can see your FPS is sky-high, increase your settings and try again (remember to turn off rt_lightning_quality again). If your FPS is still not high enough go down to low.

[Hans Meiser]

This is in line with my testing for stuff impacting performance during the beta btw.. Outside of the usual suspects like ray tracing and antialiasing, lighting had a big impact on frames. Good find OP.

[Solivaguz]

Can you guys maybe see if my fix works? Would be good to bump this discussion then.

[Wild Turkey]

yep this works

[Le Gros Chien]

doesnt do ♥♥♥♥

[Hunny]

Originally posted by Sad Yak:

imagine having to mess with config files and all that crap just to make game bearable to play.

Fatshark really are a joke of developer.

Dang, your hate boner is massive. If you only would use that time for something constructive.

[Professor H. Farnsworth]

FYI you don't have to set your config file to read-only.. I just set it to false, booted up the game, put the settings to medium, closed the game.. rt_lightning_quality is still false.