Is IL-2 a Directx 11 only application? Not compatible with Directx 12 possibly?

[cmorris975]

I ran a search and just found a lot of old posts asking for Directx 12 or discussing it, so I am sorry if this has been asked recently. I'm trying to use OpenXR in order to improve VR performance, but I have an AMD 6650 XT graphics card and I'm under the impression that OpenXR needs Directx 12 to work with AMD GPUs. I just want to be sure it is even possible before I start fiddling too much with it.

 

Also, is there any way to know if the application is using OpenXR or not? I have OpenXR downloaded and it says it is installed and running when I open it. I do use open composite as well to make sure Steam VR is not being utilized.

 

Thanks!

[mbucchia]

IL-2 is DX11 only. 

 

OpenXR works with both DX11 and DX12 applications.

 

If you are using OpenComposite, you are using OpenXR (because OpenComposite is a bridge to OpenXR).

 

Here is an explanation of what OpenComposite is in relation to OpenXR: https://mbucchia.github.io/OpenXR-Toolkit/opencomposite.html

 

Hope it helps.

Edited August 4, 2022 by mbucchia

[cmorris975]

Thanks mbucchia.

 

I think I misread about AMD 6000 series cards and Dx 11. I'll use that guide and hopefully get it running.

Edited August 4, 2022 by cmorris975

[mbucchia]

Mmmm maybe you are thinking of support for Foveated Rendering, which is only possible with DX12 on AMD cards. That's a limitation forced by AMD, not OpenXR or OpenXR Toolkit. 

[cmorris975]

3 hours ago, mbucchia said:

Mmmm maybe you are thinking of support for Foveated Rendering, which is only possible with DX12 on AMD cards. That's a limitation forced by AMD, not OpenXR or OpenXR Toolkit. 

Yep, that was it! Since you seem to be knowledgeable about this stuff: How do you know if you are using OpenXR? I installed it, I have the OpenXR app open and it says "(v1.1.4) is active", and I have open composite letting me know that it is running and not Steam VR. Can I safely assume that if I start Il-2 in VR mode that it is using OpenXR?

[mbucchia]

"the OpenXR app" that you are talking about here is OpenXR Toolkit, which is an optional add-on, it's not OpenXR itself. If you can start your app and it does not go through SteamVR (meaning you don't need to have SteamVR opened at all), then you are likely going through OpenXR (the only other option is going through Oculus mode, which I don't even thing IL2 supports anyway, and you might not even have an Oculus headset). There isn't really an "is using OpenXR" indicator (unless you start going to look at log files etc, which gets more complicated).

[[CPT]Crunch]

Need to know what headset your using, if WMR you'll know it's openXR firing up IL-2 if your triangle screen is blue when you fire it up, looks just like the steamVR one with the exploding triangles on black that says SteamVR, but it's a blue background and doesn't say SteamVR or anything.  It may fire up twice in some cases.  Also steamVR shouldn't be running at all, nor will it fire up, leave it off it's not needed.

 

Make sure in your Mixed Reality settings for windows under the startup & desktop you have the automatic startup unchecked for "When I open MRPortal, auto start WMR SteamVR" or it will continue to hijack the game no matter what you do.

[cmorris975]

Thanks guys. I am using a Quest 2 headset. Sorry, I should have mentioned that.

[Voyager]

On 8/4/2022 at 11:06 AM, mbucchia said:

Mmmm maybe you are thinking of support for Foveated Rendering, which is only possible with DX12 on AMD cards. That's a limitation forced by AMD, not OpenXR or OpenXR Toolkit. 

 

Seriously? AMD does not allow foveated rendering on non-Dx12 titles? 

 

Honestly, I've argued elsewhere, probably the best way for AMD to get widespread FSR 1.0/2.0 adoption is to work with folks like Fholger to get FSR fan patches/mods into more games. Fixed Foveated rendering in VR Flight Sims are pretty much my only use case for things like FSR or DLSS. 

 

I've tried DLSS in other games, and I don't like it, but even fixed foveated rendering is a noticable improvement in the flight sims that really need it. 

[mbucchia]

6 hours ago, Voyager said:

Seriously? AMD does not allow foveated rendering on non-Dx12 titles? 

It's not supported no. Nvidia requires special code for DX11 (that's Nvidia only).

 

It's the same story for FSR 2.0, the AMD support is only for DX12 officially. Meanwhile DLSS supports DX11.

 

And the same story for motion estimation acceleration (motion vectors, which is critical to support motion smoothing/reprojection in VR). They only support DX12. Nvidia supports DX11.

 

As a developer, the choice is simple here when it comes to supporting GPU features in your apps...

Edited August 6, 2022 by mbucchia

[SCG_Fenris_Wolf]

For IL-2, there's no difference in the methods you can enjoy, or not enjoy. Hoping for Dx12 ^^