3000 steps condensed into one simple performance guide (plus spotting)

[jollyjack]

Good info, great tips Geronimo. My outdated R7 360 GPU all of a sudden doesn't stutter any more.  But someday i'ii get a card that can show when one needs to cut the grass, and maybe shoot a lawnmower or two.

 

PS read somewhere that GTX 1080 ti GPU cards are not suited for MBs of some newer type. Also:

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3065747/nvidia-might-be-killing-off-its-geforce-gtx-1080-ti

 

The replacement seems built of lesser quality and durability:

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3065361/nvidias-geforce-rtx-2080-ti-cards-are-reportedly-failing-in-high-numbers

Edited August 9, 2019 by jollyjack

[Jack_Immondizia]

I've been banned if I use reshade in multi, It happen only to me? 

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

you cannot be banned for using reshade there is no chat scanning software. and even steam allows it. 
 

 

[Jack_Immondizia]

I was banned because my reshade was an old version(1.1). Now i've installed the new version and it run without problem in the servers, but I would to know if is possible to play without antialiasing checked in the game options, in order to get better performance. I tried to uncheck it, but the game crash when i try to play in a session or a quicky mission. Any help is appreciated, thanks.

[=TBAS=Sshadow14]

 

You do not need antialiasing 2x enabled to use Reshade that is completely false sorry.
I have been using reshade on IL2 for last 3 years without Anti Aliasing.

If you do need it then its a Bug with Windows 10 or some administrator rights issue or maybe you are using that trashy Geforce Experience it breaks everything.

I recommend Reshade 3.0.8.183 
Works with Windows 7.
Works with windows 10. 
Works with IL2 Flawlessly without Anti A 

Like for all Games last couple years. 
You MUST Setup an Nvidia Profile Specifically for IL2.exe and Set Correct Settings.
Having the wrong things forced in here can and will crash RESHADE! 

Note:
- Reshade can conflict with other Game Overlay like Steam Overlay , Teamspeak Overlay, Geforce Experience Overlay. 
- For SMAA to work Best it should be Ordered to Last Item in list always (so its the last shader processed after all others)
Edit: 
1 - Run Game and Turn off Anti A, HDR & Close Game.
(if you want to use fake HDR Then reshade has faster / better shader) 
2 - Install Reshade 3.0.8.183 (select Dx10+)
3 - Only Install shaders Needed Not all of them (so like SMAA, ToneMap, Vibrance, Clarity) 
4 - Run the Game Offline, Follow the reshade Tutorial and Set it up. 
5 - Re-run the Game in Online Mode and Have Fun. 

Edit: Attached Install for Reshade 3.0.8 as some people having trouble finding it. 
ReShade Setup v3.0.8.zip

Edited September 6, 2019 by =TBAS=Sschatten14

[Cpt_Cool]

I want to say that this post completely changed the game for me. I went from not being able to spot for shit, to a level of proficiancy that i never thoight possible (with a modest fps boost to boot). Seriously, its like a brand new game. 

 

Just wanted to express my appreciation.

[JonRedcorn]

On 8/9/2019 at 8:32 AM, jollyjack said:

Good info, great tips Geronimo. My outdated R7 360 GPU all of a sudden doesn't stutter any more.  But someday i'ii get a card that can show when one needs to cut the grass, and maybe shoot a lawnmower or two.

 

PS read somewhere that GTX 1080 ti GPU cards are not suited for MBs of some newer type. Also:

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3065747/nvidia-might-be-killing-off-its-geforce-gtx-1080-ti

 

The replacement seems built of lesser quality and durability:

https://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/3065361/nvidias-geforce-rtx-2080-ti-cards-are-reportedly-failing-in-high-numbers

The 1080ti will work on any PCI-E equipped motherboard. Not sure where you heard that.

[jollyjack]

Yep, but actually i think it's already getting outdated with more modern motherboards ... i was thinking of some RTX 2060 (?) to be ahead of: 'Aha, now i'll have to buy another GPU' too ....

[JonRedcorn]

6 hours ago, jollyjack said:

Yep, but actually i think it's already getting outdated with more modern motherboards ... i was thinking of some RTX 2060 (?) to be ahead of: 'Aha, now i'll have to buy another GPU' too ....

You are thinking wrong, the 1080ti blows the doors off the 2060... They all run on PCI-E 3.0 which isn't even saturated with the best graphics cards you can buy.

[jollyjack]

Thnx, i thought the 1080 ti was on the way out, as most shops selling them even don't have 'em any more it seems.

I think the aim is for the 2080 RTX to replace it, but i'll have to find out more, so many different trees grow in this forest .... any way they're mostly too long mostly for my computer housing

Edited September 16, 2019 by jollyjack

[JonRedcorn]

On 9/15/2019 at 10:36 PM, jollyjack said:

Thnx, i thought the 1080 ti was on the way out, as most shops selling them even don't have 'em any more it seems.

I think the aim is for the 2080 RTX to replace it, but i'll have to find out more, so many different trees grow in this forest .... any way they're mostly too long mostly for my computer housing

I mean they are not being manufactured anymore, but performance wise they are only beat by the 2080ti and slightly by the 2080/2080s.

[Scrubs]

On 5/23/2019 at 3:27 PM, Geronimo553 said:

The game does not come with 4k textures installed by default and they have to be installed separately.

Hey guys.... Is this still true? I've been tweaking my graphics for the past week ( I even did a clean install and format of windows just for IL-2). Am I missing the opportunity for 4k textures?

[screamingdemon]

This worked wonders for my system. Asus Laptop, Intel  I7, nvida GTX 960M. Frame rates improved from 15 minimum to 23 minimum on same mission. Only change i set AA to 2 however not much worse when I set AA to 4. Thank you Geronimo 553

 

[screamingdemon]

Hey Guys

 

Just did some quick test and I find at least 10% improvement on my laptop when I apply this setting - "Ultimate performance plan" instead of high performance. 

 

 

[Dutch2]

On 2/20/2020 at 10:24 PM, screamingdemon said:

Hey Guys

 

Just did some quick test and I find at least 10% improvement on my laptop when I apply this setting - "Ultimate performance plan" instead of high performance. 

 

 

Maybe this is only counting on a labtop, but sure not on a 9700k desktop system. I did some testings and noticed zero effects. 

[JG1_Wilcke]

Which version of Reshade is everyone using with the latest version of IL-2? Any issues with it after an update from the developers?

 

-Wilcke

[THERION]

5 hours ago, II./JG1_Wilcke said:

Which version of Reshade is everyone using with the latest version of IL-2? Any issues with it after an update from the developers?

 

-Wilcke

 

I've installed the newest version of Reshade, which is v. 4.5.4 at the moment, and had no issues at all and I actually use only those

shaders indicated in the first huge post, chapter "Reshade".

[JG1_Wilcke]

-=- THERION thanks for the heads up! Take care.

[JG1_Wilcke]

Wow that is just amazing! Its like a brand new sim. I live in California, Central Valley, IL-2 Sturmovik in the default settings environmentals look exactly like our environment and atmosphere when flying in the summer time. Lots of haze, pollution, blurry everything up good luck finding aircraft in our garbage air. I am a RL pilot. Great tutorial, thanks so much!

[JG_deserteagle540]

Great thread !

Thanks a lot to Geronimo553 and the other guru's.

 

I installed reshade v 4.5.4 and the game looks like re-born. Really incredible how this tool improves the graphics of the game.

Colourfulness was a bit to intensive at default settings for my taste. Had to reduce it or even switch it off.

Switching on clarity in reshade might also improve the graphics .

 

Thank you so much.

 

[Velxra]

Working on adding additional reshade settings for people to try in the new build and I will be finally adding the controls/sensitivity section. As for opentrack I think I may just remove it and call the guide mainly complete there.

Big apologizes on the delay. Initially the delay was the game update that changed controls so that took a little bit to understand and adjust. Then since November I have been dealing with real life issues keeping me away from the internet and pc gaming in general. Soooo my intention is to have this wrapped up shortly. I feel horrible for keeping everyone who has been patiently waiting this long for me to finish the guide. Too those individuals, I sincerely apologize as many of you have messaged me asking for help. 

Edited April 20, 2020 by Geronimo553

[RedKestrel]

4 hours ago, Geronimo553 said:

Working on adding additional reshade settings for people to try in the new build and I will be finally adding the controls/sensisity section. As for opentrack I think I may just remove it and call the guide mainly complete there.

Big apologizes on the delay. Initially the delay was the game update that changed controls so that took a little bit to understand and adjust. Then since November I have been dealing with real life issues keeping me away from the internet and pc gaming in general. Soooo my intention is to have this wrapped up shortly. I feel horrible for keeping everyone who has been patiently waiting this long for me to finish the guide. Too those individuals, I sincerely apologize as many of you have messaged me asking for help. 

No worries, real life comes first! Take care of yourself!

[E69_geramos109]

Anyone has comparation between sharpen and normal? 

[Velxra]

On 4/19/2020 at 7:23 PM, E69_geramos109 said:

Anyone has comparation between sharpen and normal? 

 

Basically the default sharpen makes blacks darker and provides a fine black outer line to certain objects. I still recommend to have the game's sharpen feature off if using the reshade adaptive sharpen. Otherwise the game will have too many shades of the same black color making distinctions of objects difficult. Such as a plane over dark forest with a dark paint theme.

Another way to tell if your game is over sharpened is to look at the scratches in any cockpit. Fly the plane in a circle until you notice the scratches. If they have a black outline then the game is over sharpened. If there is no black outline and they look white then the game is not over sharpened. I have been testing the sharpen feature of both reshade and the game the past few days to make this discovery.

Edited April 23, 2020 by Geronimo553

[E69_geramos109]

1 hour ago, Geronimo553 said:

 

Basically the default sharpen makes blacks darker and provides a fine black outer line to certain objects. I still recommend to have the game's sharpen feature off if using the reshade adaptive sharpen. Otherwise the game will have too many shades of the same black color making distinctions of objects difficult. Such as a plane over dark forest with a dark paint theme.

Another way to tell if your game is over sharpened is to look at the scratches in any cockpit. Fly the plane in a circle until you notice the scratches. If they have a black outline then the game is over sharpened. If there is no black outline and they look white then the game is not over sharpened. I have been testing the sharpen feature of both reshade and the game the past few days to make this discovery.

I am flying the game without reshade and I feel the game sharpen makes me to see worse the contacts maybe becuase the terrain. For now they conf I am using is the N vidia sharpen with 0.30 and 0.20 ignore grain and it looks that works a little bit better. But still I am blind as a bat compared with people with big monitors and VR

[Velxra]

26 minutes ago, E69_geramos109 said:

I am flying the game without reshade and I feel the game sharpen makes me to see worse the contacts maybe becuase the terrain. For now they conf I am using is the N vidia sharpen with 0.30 and 0.20 ignore grain and it looks that works a little bit better. But still I am blind as a bat compared with people with big monitors and VR

 

Definitely can confirm whoever uses lots of sharpening is at a disadvantage. Because too many objects will have the same black color shades and the extra black sharpening will distort a plane's outline at distance. This results in planes appearing as full black at a distance even if their camo is pure white. Plus this makes identification more difficult.

I shared this picture for another thread. But this is the coloring for the new reshade that will soon be posted. I did my best to avoid having overlapping blacks to prevent unintentional blending. As you can see the plane is darker than it's background. All planes are like this ingame unless they are facing direct light. So by having intense sharpening turned on in effect will only cause planes to appear "more black" away from light and at distance. This makes them blend in more with darker backgrounds unintentionally. 

I really hope everyone enjoys the new color shading. I spent a ton of time fine tuning it and making it as realistic as possible working around game limitations. The results I believe are true world color. Hopefully the coloring is no longer very dark or cartoony in appearance. 

Edited April 23, 2020 by Geronimo553

[RedKestrel]

1 hour ago, E69_geramos109 said:

I am flying the game without reshade and I feel the game sharpen makes me to see worse the contacts maybe becuase the terrain. For now they conf I am using is the N vidia sharpen with 0.30 and 0.20 ignore grain and it looks that works a little bit better. But still I am blind as a bat compared with people with big monitors and VR

I found that taking sharpen off made contacts sometimes more easy to spot in certain circumstances, but I found that target ID worsened significantly, it was much harder on my monitor to ID planes by silhouette. I made a big mistake once and killed a P-51 thinking it was a 109, which had never happened to me before. After that I went back to sharpen, I would rather not see an enemy than accidentally kill a friendly.

I may try the Nvidia sharpen instead to see if that comes out better, though, I hadn't explored this option yet.

[C6_lefuneste]

@Geronimo553

The 3dmigoto mod is not just changing color and saturation, as you wrote it. It also add 5x and 10x zoom in VR, that improve A LOT spotting in VR.

It also have sharpen for cockpit only, because sharpen filter makes jauges more readable in VR. Color changes can also be different for cockpit and outside. And it includes  a lot of other features, not only for VR.

Edited April 23, 2020 by c6_lefuneste

[Velxra]

The bonus section just covers some basic things for each thread. Not meant to be descriptive about each particular thread. Good information though.

Edited April 23, 2020 by Geronimo553

[YR-DAN55]

 Many thanks for the effort Geronimo, I started using ReShade version 4.6.1 and I'm not doing great, could you put a guide for this version as well? Thanks again for the time and effort

[No1_Charlie]

SHIFT+F2 does not pull up the reshade menu for me, it just switches to another aircraft in external view. Is there another way to see the menu in game?

Edited April 25, 2020 by No1_Charlie

[56RAF_Roblex]

10 minutes ago, No1_Charlie said:

SHIFT+F2 does not pull up the reshade menu for me, it just switches to another aircraft in external view. Is there another way to see the menu in game?

 

The default key is 'Home'

 

[Hawk-2a]

@56RAF_Roblex beat me to it.

you can change what button to use once you have it open. For that, go to the settings tab and you should be able to change the button for the reshade menu and a couple of other binds you may or may not need.

[No1_Charlie]

The 'Home' key does not work either. ?

Edited April 25, 2020 by No1_Charlie

[Serdalf]

By the way ... speaking of the keyboard keys, it makes me think that the "Lobby" key has not worked since the last update?
Have you noticed ? or it was me who missed something!

[Hawk-2a]

25 minutes ago, No1_Charlie said:

The 'Home' key does not work either.

Weird. When you launch the game, there is a white text popping up on top of your screen. This is from reshade. It tells you the version and the key to open the menu. What key does it say there? If the text doesn‘t pop up, you might have to reinstall reshade.

Edited April 25, 2020 by H_Stiglitz

[56RAF_Roblex]

38 minutes ago, H_Stiglitz said:

Weird. When you launch the game, there is a white text popping up on top of your screen. This is from reshade. It tells you the version and the key to open the menu. What key does it say there? If the text doesn‘t pop up, you might have to reinstall reshade.

 

..or if there is no text coming up he might have not linked reshade to the correct executable?

 

Edited April 25, 2020 by 56RAF_Roblex

[Hawk-2a]

1 hour ago, 56RAF_Roblex said:

he might have not linked reshade to the correct executable?

That is possible, reshade needs to be linked to the il2.exe and not the launcher.exe

[No1_Charlie]

Hmm..I don't see the white text. I reinstalled it and pointed Reshade to the 'iL2_setup.exe'  in the main BoS folder. Started the game but still no white text! 

Edited April 25, 2020 by No1_Charlie

[JG4_Oxyd]

I have a problem too. I see the white text but it didnt respond to the pos1 (home) key.