MrEWhite wrote on 2021-02-03, 22:12:
duga3 wrote on 2021-02-03, 21:23:
For example the only way to make Mafia smooth on Windows XP (where scanline-sync is not supported) is to not only activate (the infamous) vsync but also make a custom resolution with precisely 62Hz refresh rate. This is because the engine runs at 62.5 FPS (=1000/16). Except it doesn't -> it fluctuates a lot around this number. But on Windows 7 you would install community mod to unlock FPS (which does not work in WinXP) so the engine then runs at a much higher FPS than your monitor's refresh rate (making any previous fluctuations a non-issue) and then apply scanline-sync to smooth it all out.
This is why G-Sync and FreeSync is such a fantastic thing. Doom 3 is the exact same way, where it runs at 62.5 FPS. Completely smooth with G-Sync, stuttery as hell at just 60 Hz. Mafia could be fixed on Windows 10 without modding (if it's the way you say, never played it myself) by just capping with Rivatuner to 62.5 FPS and having your monitor sync to that. Same thing with Oblivion, Fallout 3, and New Vegas (just a 64 FPS cap instead of 62.5).
For most games, I cap to 162 FPS (my refresh rate is 165 Hz) with G-Sync on with v-sync forced on in the NVCP to have no input lag and have no screen tearing. Works great.
Yes, G-Sync could help with the fluctuations and maybe could even sometimes help where scanline-sync is not working. I only keep hearing about it, never had a monitor with G-Sync.
Capping Mafia to 62.5FPS does not make it smooth sadly, there is something with the engine causing large fluctuations, from the top of my head around 5FPS. It's like Doom 3 but worse, not as stable. I think Doom 3 you would want to unlock it to run not at 62 but 63FPS (which will make audio out of sync, shouldn't be noticeable) and then scanline-sync (it's been a while so I might be off here).
And to make things more clear (just kidding) UT99 is best frame capped at double the refresh rate unless you have a high RR monitor then just 1x. I think the engine has issues over 200FPS or so.
Quake III does not work with scanline-sync. High FPS (over 400 I think) will make it stutter no matter what, especially when online. This one I play vanilla, on 160+Hz CRT if possible. It is pretty smooth by default (lean code I guess) and having input lag as low as possible is important (in instagib mods at least). Maybe you could make it better if you set your monitor's refresh rate to 100/125/200/250/500Hz but on a CRT 125 vs 160 is a noticeable difference where I would rather choose the latter for this fast-paced game. Or G-Sync if it works with high refresh rates these days (it used to be only for around 40-60FPS IIRC).
I am just trying to illustrate that one needs to play around with various methods in every game, to find their sweet spot. 64FPS in New Vegas, huh? Who would have guessed...
In-game I suggest strafing left and right looking at a detailed wall texture or find some panning animation (Mafia menu) to easily make sure if it is really smooth or not.
auron wrote on 2021-02-03, 22:20:
well, the -0.007 cap has worked so well for me over the last years that i have not yet bothered to look into scanline sync, even though i've been meaning to - and that's at 60hz, where the issue is exacerbated compared to higher refresh rates. for instance it even fixes the otherwise completely broken gta 2 PC port where the internal limiter runs at a fluctuating 25 FPS otherwise, and limiting is mandatory because game speed breaks at higher FPS. mirrors edge catalyst is another example where the internal limiter delivers horrible frametimes. it even cuts down on input lag compared to regular vsync, which to my understanding is due to eliminating unnecessarily queued up frames.
i realize that it's not supposed to be a 100% perfect solution, but using it i usually can't make out any stutter in 60hz motion, which more than just a slight improvement over the garbage FPS limiting that's going on in most PC games nowadays.
Maybe it did not work so well for me because I only tried -1, -0.1, -0.01 and -0.001. Not "...7" as you. Would you happen to know the reasoning behind the number 7?
About GTA2, first thing I would try is to unlock the FPS and then somehow lock it myself at the highest possible limit where it still does not break the game. This may or may not get rid of the fluctuations if you then cap it yourself in good pacing with your refresh rate (either framecap or scanline-sync). I might actually try GTA2 and F.E.A.R (at 120Hz, as OP) myself later and will post back if I do. Great games.