[guide] Smooth FPS fix using dgVoodoo 2

[Dot Matrix]

Because none of the solutions on PCgamingwiki and gog and steam forums worked for me I got playing around with dgVoodoo 2 and got good results.

Step 1: undoing compatiblility settings (for gog version only, for steam goto step 2).

If the compatibility settings for div.exe are locked, the only way to unlock them seems to be deleting the compatibility settings in the registry.

type "regedit" in the searchbar (windows 10, use Win+R for older windows).
Now goto:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers

and delete both Divine Divinity entries.

Step 2: setting compatibility for div.exe

Rightclick on div.exe in the gamefolder and select properties, in the compatibility tab uncheck "run this program in compatibility mode for", check "disable fullscreen optimizations", leave checked "run as administrator".
In "change high DPI-settings" uncheck everything.

Step 3: setting up dgVoodoo 2

Download dgVoodoo 2 here:
http://dege.freeweb.hu/dgVoodoo2/dgVoodoo2/

Extract (drag and drop) dgVoodooCpl.exe and dgVoodoo.conf to the gamefolder with your favorite extraction tool (I recommend 7zip).
Then goto the MS\x86 subfolder and extract all the files into the gamefolder.

Now in the gamefolder open dgVoodooCpl.exe and click on the DirectX tab.
There uncheck dgVoodoo Watermark (or leave it on if you wish) but leave everything untouched, especially DO NOT check Fast video memory access.

Step 4: setting up the game

In the gamefolder open configtool.exe and select Direct 3D, for resolution I've chosen 1280 x 720 as that keeps the text readable and the GUI remains useable, AlphaBit seems to turn itself off every time I open this tool so I leave it off and I have checked Smoothness.

Step 5: setting up the affinity mask

In order to make the game run more stable we make the game run on a single thread.
In file explorer browse to the gamefolder and in the gamefolder rightclick on a empty space and select "new" and then "text file". Let's call this file "DD.cmd" (the .cmd part is important) and copy paste the following line:

start /affinity 2 div.exe

Save and exit.

So that's it, now always start the game with DD.cmd, you can change your shortcut so it points to this file or make a new shortcut of it.
If you still want sharper graphics (e.g. because you have a 4k display), goto the dgVoodoo2Cpl.exe > DirectX tab and in resolution select 2x, 3x or 4x depending on your hardware (for a 1080p display 2x is enough), selecting 1080p directly or any of the other modes results in a worse looking picture though.

Divine Divinity should run a lot smoother now with quicker loading and save times and hopefully it also runs more stable.

:extra info:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/214170/discussions/0/3387294407398290813/

[Marjabalone]

Great help, thank you! :-D

[Dot Matrix]

Originally posted by Abalone:

Great help, thank you! :-D

Thanks, much appreciated. :)

[Nicbloub]

I dont get it. When i create a text file dd.cmd and copy paste the line in it, it simply becomes a text files. It doesnt start the game. Double clicking on it simply open it so i can write more stuff.

[Dot Matrix]

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

I dont get it. When i create a text file dd.cmd and copy paste the line in it, it simply becomes a text files. It doesnt start the game. Double clicking on it simply open it so i can write more stuff.

It's probably because the real filename you have is something like "DD.cmd.txt".
You need to make sure the filename doesn't end with the ".txt" extention.
Maybe turn off "hide known filename extentions" flag in the configuration options of Windows file explorer.

[Nicbloub]

well i named my file dd.cmd, not dd.cmd.txt
how do i remove .txt extension ?

[Dot Matrix]

Well, if the .txt extention isn't there, I don't know.

You could always just run cmd in the searchbar and manually navigate to the Divine Divinity folder and enter "start /affinity 2 div.exe".

[Marjabalone]

Originally posted by Nicbloub:

well i named my file dd.cmd, not dd.cmd.txt
how do i remove .txt extension ?

I think Dot Matrix already answered your question. You don't see the .txt extension because windows doesn't show it. Do what he wrote to you:

"Maybe turn off "hide known filename extentions" flag in the configuration options of Windows file explorer."

When done, and you finally see '.txt', click once on the file to select it and press F2 or right-click and choose "Rename", then you can delete the .txt-part.

[Gajan]

bam perfect! thy very much!!

[Dot Matrix]

Originally posted by Gajan:

bam perfect! thy very much!!

Thanks!

[Saxo]

Cheers mate!

[Dot Matrix]

Originally posted by Saxo:

Cheers mate!

👍

[Sirius]

bumped for later, thanks btw!

[Berny23]

Thanks, I linked your guide on the PCGamingWiki page.

[Dot Matrix]

Originally posted by Berny23:

Thanks, I linked your guide on the PCGamingWiki page.

Thank you very much!

[emanuele.emalele]

Thank you very much: the dgVoodoo works on GOG version too.

On that version I had the issue of resolution change during cutscenes and dgVoodoo solves it perfectly while every other WA I tried failed.