Sim Settlements Conqueror and Nvidia SLI issues

[markraza]

Hi All,

I posted in the mod section of Conqueror about an issue I had with invisible meshes and corrupted objects with the city plans. I managed to track down the root cause to my system running SLI.

When I disabled SLI, everything is fixed. But, I'm using somewhat older cards (980Ti X2) and turning off SLI has a pretty big impact on my FPS.

Are there other users here running Sim Settlements Conqueror with SLI enabled? If so, which profile are you using and which Nvidia Application settings do you have configured?

 

[RayBo]

Hi All,

I posted in the mod section of Conqueror about an issue I had with invisible meshes and corrupted objects with the city plans. I managed to track down the root cause to my system running SLI.

When I disabled SLI, everything is fixed. But, I'm using somewhat older cards (980Ti X2) and turning off SLI has a pretty big impact on my FPS.

Are there other users here running Sim Settlements Conqueror with SLI enabled? If so, which profile are you using and which Nvidia Application settings do you have configured?

see the:
Reserved #6 in the below thread

https://www.simsettlements.com/site/index.php?threads/bags_2-0-bake-a-game-save.11773/

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[markraza]

FINAL UPDATE: Setting SLI Configuration to "Single GPU" is the fix.

Using the DDU utility, I fully removed my Nvidia drivers and settings and registry entries from my and PC and re-installed with version 26.21.14.4187. Then I set power management to "Prefer Maximum Performance".

I then tested with the following SLI configurations and here are my final results:

1. "Nvidia Recommended" 40 FPS, Invisible Meshes
2. "Force Alternate Frame Rendering 1" 11 FPS, No issues with meshes
3. "Force Alternate Frame Randering 2" 35 FPS, No issues with meshes
4. "Single GPU SLI" 40 FPS, No issues with meshes

So, going forward, I will be using option 4 above. It should be noted that "Single GPU" is not the same as SLI Disabled. It just means that the processing is handled on one GPU at a time instead of slitting between the 2. In this configuration, card 2 is still sharing the load - in more of an overflow style - instead of balancing the load between the 2.

@kinggath , this may be useful information to add to the troubleshooting sections of the website in case other SLI users run into the same issue.

@RayBo

Thanks for sending that over! I'll get that loaded in and re-run my previous tests and report the results.

 

[markraza]

@RayBo

After installing the Profile from "Reserved #6", I was unable to tell any differences in performance or results. In order to get a good FPS and have all the meshes load properly, I still have to run Fallout4 in the Application configuration for Nvidia at "Single GPU SLI". Thanks for the suggestion, though!

 

[MrCJohn]

@RayBo

After installing the Profile from "Reserved #6", I was unable to tell any differences in performance or results. In order to get a good FPS and have all the meshes load properly, I still have to run Fallout4 in the Application configuration for Nvidia at "Single GPU SLI". Thanks for the suggestion, though!

I use nVidia Inspector and the settings it provides... is this similar to how you found your settings?

I had an older 18" Alienware with sli cards as well. My issues were back then more related to heat generation from the 2 cards - which is why Alienware stopped offering such a setup at the time.

John

 

[RayBo]

@RayBo

After installing the Profile from "Reserved #6", I was unable to tell any differences in performance or results. In order to get a good FPS and have all the meshes load properly, I still have to run Fallout4 in the Application configuration for Nvidia at "Single GPU SLI". Thanks for the suggestion, though!

yeah, many issues seem to be card specific.
I haven’t found any 2080ti users who could get sli to work like it should.

I count myself very fortunate that it does work with the 1080ti’s

 

[MrCJohn]

yeah, many issues seem to be card specific.
I haven’t found any 2080ti users who could get sli to work like it should.

I count myself very fortunate that it does work with the 1080ti’s

I have 1 1080ti card... do you see significant improvements with a 2nd card in SLI? I was thinking about it when prices come down... but... eh... wasn't sure.

John

 

[RayBo]

I want anyone else who reads this to understand my response here is only relevant to Fo4, 1080ti’s and 2k g-sync monitor.

John,

No and here is why.

1. The fallout 4 engine itself.
   1. Heavily scripted situations / ton of mod added objects. Sure, a clean settlement is nice at 120fps but a fully built out settlement will drop to low 40ish fps in sli, and 35-30ish fps with a single.” It swings even more wildly also based on where you are at in a settlement, what location you are in, and what you are looking at in a built-out settlement “from 100’s to 35 FPS” this can be jarring.

i. Built-out = 20 settlers, 20 home plots, etc. ag, sec, ind, adv-ind, and whatnot.

1. 1. The 5 to 10 fps benefit when it matters does not seem to be a good performance value.
2. The precombine system.
   1. Once precombines are broken the 120 FPS one can get without breaking the physics system anywhere in game declines rapidly “logarithmically”. Not to single card levels but near enough.
3. The delta in visual fidelity has no change to my eyes at 2k between 120fps and 60fps just speed.
4. There does seem to be less shuddering in sli, but it is still there.

So, while I can brag that I can get 120 fps without breaking the physics system in some areas. 2k is still 2k and too many of the engine issues will still bottleneck the SLI performance when it matters most. For all I know the G-sync is more responsible for smoothing out the large swings in fps and shuddering.

What I will say that is positive in situations where the precombine system is intact “like gun battles outside of settlement cells “internal cells” with lots of attackers, is where SLI really shines. In settlements with SS or cells without the precombine system intact it is better, but only marginally and surely not a good value.

SLI – Does not remedy the inherent problems with the Fo4 engine. It only dampens them.

Given the advent of the amazing advances of monitors hitting the market in 2020 my humble advice to anyone that is asking is to holdout now for (2020+ gen cards / 3000 series cards or whatever AMD might bring). The value to performance for tossing $$’s for another 1080ti to play Fo4, I guarantee will disappoint you.

This guide that I have posted is so that folks that do have a 2x1080ti sli set-up can at least get it operational and reap what little benefit that brings as they already have the cards.

 

[MrCJohn]

I want to anyone else who reads this to understand my response here is only relevant to Fo4, 1080ti’s and 2k g-sync monitor.

John,

No and here is why.

1. The fallout 4 engine itself.
   1. Heavily scripted situations / ton of mod added objects. Sure, a clean settlement is nice at 120fps but a fully built out settlement will drop to low 40ish fps in sli, and 35-30ish fps with a single.” It swings even more wildly also based on where you are at in a settlement, what location you are in, and what you are looking at in a built-out settlement “from 100’s to 35 FPS” this can be jarring.

i. Built-out = 20 settlers, 20 home plots, etc. ag, sec, ind, adv-ind, and whatnot.

1. 1. The 5 to 10 fps benefit when it matters does not seem to be a good performance value.
2. The precombine system.
   1. Once precombines are broken the 120 FPS one can get without breaking the physics system anywhere in game declines rapidly “logarithmically”. Not to single card levels but near enough.
3. The delta in visual fidelity has no change to my eyes at 2k between 120fps and 60fps just speed.
4. There does seem to be less shuddering in sli, but it is still there.

So, while I can brag that I can get 120 fps without breaking the physics system in some areas. 2k is still 2k and too many of the engine issues will still bottleneck the SLI performance when it matters most. For all I know the G-sync is more responsible for smoothing out the large swings in fps and shuddering.

What I will say that is positive in situations where the precombine system is intact “like gun battles outside of settlement cells “internal cells” with lots of attackers, is where SLI really shines. In settlements with SS or cells without the precombine system intact it is better, but only marginally and surely not a good value.

SLI – Does not remedy the inherent problems with the Fo4 engine. It only dampens them.

Given the advent of the amazing advances of monitors hitting the market in 2020 my humble advice to anyone that is asking is to holdout now for (2020+ gen cards / 3000 series cards or whatever AMD might bring). The value to performance for tossing $$’s for another 1080ti to play Fo4, I guarantee will disappoint you.

This guide that I have posted is so that folks that do have a 2x1080ti sli set-up can at least get it operational and reap what little benefit that brings as they already have the cards.

I was watching a video on the new gaming monitors and while nice, price is out of the world.

And if course, nothing helps the engine in settlements. In ROTC sanctuary level 3 I run about 40ish fps which is down from running solid 60fps most other times in game.

Except in vault 111 Gor some reason at the desk where you use the terminal, I will get lag down to about 45.. not sure but I think the lighting Jack's it up.

And knowing the deltas was really what I was curious about.

Ohhhh. And have I got a gig for you if you really want to test out gun battles...

Raider Gangs Extended
NPC Travels (max npc per category)
More Enemies (2 to 5 extra spawns 5 to 10 extra PA)...
Conqueror Preconquered-Raiders

I did this and had it put into my custom settlements. . wicked shipping had about 100 NPC raiders there...

I died. A lot.

Answer (before starting new game)
TCL high is sky place about 50 nuke mines. Find a hill. TCL...

Good times.

Thanks again brother and hope the SLI thing will help others.

John

 

[MrCJohn]

I was watching a video on the new gaming monitors and while nice, price is out of the world.

And if course, nothing helps the engine in settlements. In ROTC sanctuary level 3 I run about 40ish fps which is down from running solid 60fps most other times in game.

Except in vault 111 Gor some reason at the desk where you use the terminal, I will get lag down to about 45.. not sure but I think the lighting Jack's it up.

And knowing the deltas was really what I was curious about.

Ohhhh. And have I got a gig for you if you really want to test out gun battles...

Raider Gangs Extended
NPC Travels (max npc per category)
More Enemies (2 to 5 extra spawns 5 to 10 extra PA)...
Conqueror Preconquered-Raiders

I did this and had it put into my custom settlements. . wicked shipping had about 100 NPC raiders there...

I died. A lot.

Answer (before starting new game)
TCL high is sky place about 50 nuke mines. Find a hill. TCL...

Good times.

Thanks again brother and hope the SLI thing will help others.

John

PS. About same going after Garvey and same at Gorski Cabin.... talk about creating a non winnable game.