Stuttering & Vsync [SOLVED]

[TN Hoff]

Editing this post for clarity in case anyone stumbles upon it searching for a solution.

I originally made the post about Windows update messing some things up, but the useful info here is how to get rid of that awful stuttering in Elite: Dangerous.

So - solutions first, backstory for the curious below.

Kill the Stuttering:

• Force driver-level vsync: Don't use the in-game vsync or frame lock. You can use AMD's or Nvidia's control panels, as well as something like D3DOverrider[community.pcgamingwiki.com] to do this.
  
  
• Clean up frame timing: This is the magical bit. Use Rivatuner Statistics Server[www.guru3d.com] to lock the framerate. This will make the timing of the frames more even and consistent, leading to much more smooth motion in games - especailly Elite: Dangerous. (Note - Rivatuner also comes bundled with MSI Afterburner[www.msi.com], which is another great PC utility to have.)
  
  Note: Using Rivatuner in conjunction with the driver-level vsync is what makes this all work - you aren't as likely to see the benefits of cleaning up the frame timing without it.
  
  
• Possible additional step: Disable Steam overlay. As of writing, Rivatuner has just today been updated to version 6.6.0 and claims to play nicely with Steam overlay - but in my case yesterday on Windows 7 (but apparently not Windows 10 for some reason) Steam overlay prevented Rivatuner from doing its job. I'd say to only try this step in the event that Rivatuner doesn't seem to be doing anything - since disabling it prevents Steam screenshots from working. The version bundled with MSI Afterburner is usually a few versions older than the latest one from Guru3D, so you might run into this issue if you go that route.

What Happened / Why I Posted:

So one morning, I start up my computer to find that I'd made the grave mistake of leaving it in sleep mode overnight... breaking my otherwise endless avoidance of the Anniversary Update. It had installed itself in the wee-hours and surprise surprise, broke a whole bunch of things.

I'd been using Rivatuner to smooth-out my Elite: Dangerous experience for a month or two, and I couldn't have been happier. I played the game almost a year annoyed by the mild-to-awful stuttering that happened, despite the game running at 60fps almost all the time - so when this random free little program totally solved it I was pretty pleased.

After the update, all my games seemed off - I thought I saw a screen tear here and there... WTF? Then I pull up Elite. Hoo boy. It was jittering like an amphetamine addict in withdrawal and tearing like Bioshock Elizabeth on said amphetamines. (It looked way bad, yo.)

I spent two days trying to get it back to the way it was, going so far as to install a completely different operating system (Windows 7). I'm pretty sure that wasn't necessary now that Rivatuner has been updated - but this was two days before the update. I'm glad I did, though - because Windows 10 just isn't worth it to me. Anyhow - here's what actually went wrong:

The update had re-set the driver-level vsync I'd put in place when I first bought my videocard. I'd forgotten all about it, so it didn't occur to me to try this until someone in the comments suggested it. It *also* broke Rivatuner - even after an uninstall and clean install (6.5.1 at the time), I'd still get the message: "Some system components cannot be hooked right now. It is strongly recommended to restart application." This would happen every time the application started, and still does when I boot into Windows 10:AE. I'm guessing the 6.6.0 update might fix it, but I'm too over it to bother.

Something that further confounded finding the solution (that I'd have never thought to check, thanks again guys) is that, at least on my machine and in Windows 7, Steam overlay was apparently interfering completely with Rivatuner. I tested it repeatedly and verified it with frame timing graphs on Afterburner - having the overlay on absolutely murdered the frame timing. This never happened in vanilla Windows 10, and I'm not sure if it was part of the problem after the AE update, but it was certainly an issue with Windows 7. Makes me glad the new camera feature is on its way for Elite - as disabling the overlay also disables Steam's ability to take quick and easy screenshots.

Anyhow - everything appears to be working wonderfully with the solution outlined above. That was a frustrating two days, but I've learned a thing or two, at least.

[Dread Lord]

you dont get screen tearing in any game if you put Vsynch ON!

No idea why you would have screen tearing if you can get it fixed so easy! Frame dropping in newer games? I dont have that at all no clue whats going on - I think your compute rhas issues...
I play on windows 10 play a lot of new games, just played for honor with stable 60 fps (Vsynch on) never a drop in FPS whatsoever... just like in any other game really!

[deathmaster snikch]

Rivatuner will not work properly when running simultaneously with other OSD software such as Fraps, Nvidia shadowplay, DXtory and sometimes the steam overlay so im going to assume you try without any of these software running and that you also try toggling on the "Custom Direct3D support" inside Rivatuner settings

I'm on Windows 10 64bits version 1607
afterburner V4.3.0
Rivaturner 6.5.0

[TN Hoff]

I'm very familiar with vsync - I used it with E:D before using RivaTuner. Of course it solves the screen tearing, but stutters terribly despite showing 60fps. (Bad frame-timing, solved by RivaTuner previously.) RivaTuner's frame lock had the same effect as vsync - minus the lag and stutter. Like I said - worked great for months.

For clarity, I am not using RivaTuner in conjuction with any other OSD software - in fact, I'm not even using RivaTuner's OSD - I only have it to improve frame timing. I've tried toggling "Custom Direct 3D support" as well...

One thing I have not tried yet is disabling Steam's overlay - which I don't think I had to do before, but it would certainly be a small price to pay for smooth gameplay again.

[deathmaster snikch]

You could try Nvidia Inspector and set a Frame Rate Limit under Sync and Refresh

[Dread Lord]

Originally posted by TN Hoff:

I'm very familiar with vsync - I used it with E:D before using RivaTuner. Of course it solves the screen tearing, but stutters terribly despite showing 60fps. (Bad frame-timing, solved by RivaTuner previously.) RivaTuner's frame lock had the same effect as vsync - minus the lag and stutter. Like I said - worked great for months.

For clarity, I am not using RivaTuner in conjuction with any other OSD software - in fact, I'm not even using RivaTuner's OSD - I only have it to improve frame timing. I've tried toggling "Custom Direct 3D support" as well...

One thing I have not tried yet is disabling Steam's overlay - which I don't think I had to do before, but it would certainly be a small price to pay for smooth gameplay again.

i never have stutter with v synch on ever, no matter which game! on both my PCs... no idea why you have that!

[Dread Lord]

Glad you got it to work...

Steam definetely creates issues for some... from fps stealing to connection issues - based on threads here in the past. I personally dont run Elite through steam at all I always used frontiers launcher directly...

[TN Hoff]

Unfortunately I spoke too soon... I just wanted this to be over haha... alas. The laggy stuttering is actually still there. Turning on vsyc through the control panel fixed the tearing, but the jagged movement returns. Afterburner reveals nasty spikes in the frame timing still. Back to the tinkering...

[Ofan]

Only way I can get my cards to not stutter (elite doesn't like being played on an HD tv) is to turn off vsync in game and turn on fast synch through the drivers and totally uncap the frames in elite, fast sync keeps it smooth enough for me to not grit my teeth but vsync is basically useless on my big screen TV.

This is on both a 1080 and a 290x

[TN Hoff]

Here we go. Looks like it was Steam overlay the whole time. I think I'd had it disabled before I ever installed RivaTuner in the first place, so it never occurred to me that it could be interfering. I really appreciate the suggestions, guys - my problem is solved, and I now how it happened in the first place - so I can fix it easily if it ever happens again.