The NVIDIA CP 'Triple Buffering' Setting

[Garretta]

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[Seb1]

When you enable it from the CP, it works only for OpenGL applications.
With D3DOverrider you can use it in D3D applications too.

 

[SkaarjMaster]

2) by applications, we're talking about mostly games (UT2004, UT2003, etc.).....basically anything where triple buffering can be enabled in the game and is using D3D at the time. I guess we can include OpenGL, but I'm assuming enabled in the game and in the Nvidia CP and it should work.

 

[bigdogchris]

I got into a big argument about this with someone who is probably going to post rather soon. Anyways, from the research I did, if the game is designed for it, DX games can use tripple buffering, thus the reason why it does not specify OpenGL only in the control panel. The reason why I believe this is true is because other OpenGL featuers are listed as "OpenGL only". I have no reason to believe Nvidia just forgot to mention that for Triple Buffering.

Here is a thread that talks about it. http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=23724

Also, don't understand why Nvidia would allow it to be set for DX "as long as you are using 3doverrider which would do it anyways". Why even take off the OpenGL only disclaimer? There has to be some games that are built to use Triple Buffering, even in DX. I don't see why Nvidia would include this option if you have to download other software, that it doesn't even mention.

 

[cannondale06]

I got into a big argument about this with someone who is probably going to post rather soon. Anyways, from the research I did, if the game is designed for it, DX games can use tripple buffering, thus the reason why it does not specify OpenGL only in the control panel. The reason why I believe this is true is because other OpenGL featuers are listed as "OpenGL only". I have no reason to believe Nvidia just forgot to mention that for Triple Buffering.

Here is a thread that talks about it. http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=23724

Also, don't understand why Nvidia would allow it to be set for DX "as long as you are using 3doverrider which would do it anyways". Why even take off the OpenGL only disclaimer? There has to be some games that are built to use Triple Buffering, even in DX. I don't see why Nvidia would include this option if you have to download other software, that it doesn't even mention.

and here I am. lol. you kept linking me to articles that actually backed up what I was saying. you only ended making yourself look foolish when all I was trying to do was show you that you were mistaken. it does NOTHING for DX games when turned on without some third party app and this has been true for years. thats why games like L4D have their own overrider that will let you select triple buffering with vsync from within the game itself.

 

[evilsofa]

Here is a thread that talks about it. http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=23724

The most interesting quote from that thread is in the last post: "I read something about the Nvidia Control Panel not beeing able to force triple buffering with D3D (becuase MS forbid them to include that in WHQL drivers)." Now THAT is an explanation I can believe, whether or not it still holds true, but I really wish nVidia would use its fancy Control Panel UI to explain when it does or does not work.

 

[SkaarjMaster]

thats why games like L4D have their own overrider that will let you select triple buffering with vsync from within the game itself.

This leads me to believe that if it is enabled within UT2003 or UT2004, then it must be activated, correct?

 

[p3sty]

One would think eh?

 

[evilsofa]

Is it possible to test whether or not it is, or is the difference too subtle to notice? Maybe by setting up extreme test examples?

 

[pooptacular]

How am I getting tripple buffering then in far cry 2? I have it and vsync on at the control panel and I dont have d3doverwritter on.

 

[evilsofa]

How am I getting tripple buffering then in far cry 2? I have it and vsync on at the control panel and I dont have d3doverwritter on.

Is there a noticeable, measurable difference when you have Triplebuffering on vs off in the control panel, or are you just assuming it's working because you've turned it on in the control panel?

 

[cannondale06]

Is there a noticeable, measurable difference when you have Triplebuffering on vs off in the control panel, or are you just assuming it's working because you've turned it on in the control panel?

he is just assuming like all these people that turn it on in the control panel are. sometimes I have to laugh when people say "oh my game is smoother now". placebo effect at its finest is all that is. it is really stupid that Nvidia and ATI dont explain this any better than they do.

 

[pooptacular]

I'm looking at fraps while I play, I dont get tearing and Im getting frames between 30-60.

 

[cannondale06]

I'm looking at fraps while I play, I dont get tearing and Im getting frames between 30-60.

triple buffering has nothing to do with tearing and I get framerates between 30 and 60 playing without triple buffering. so much for your theory.

 

[pooptacular]

triple buffering has nothing to do with tearing and I get framerates between 30 and 60 playing without triple buffering. so much for your theory.

what. tripple buffering is for when you have v-sync on, so your not stuck with only 30 fps and 60 if you have a 60hz refresh rate. I turn v-sync on so I don't get tearing, and then I turn tripple buffering on so I get the frame rate in between 30-60. Am I wrong? Please correct me if I am.

 

[cannondale06]

what. tripple buffering is for when you have v-sync on, so your not stuck with only 30 fps and 60 if you have a 60hz refresh rate. I turn v-sync on so I don't get tearing, and then I turn tripple buffering on so I get the frame rate in between 30-60. Am I wrong? Please correct me if I am.

did you read the thread? unless you are using a third party app then turning on triple buffering isnt doing anything in DX games. the fact that you dont go from 60 to 30 doesnt mean anything. I can turn it on or off from the control panel and my framerates are exactly the same including frames between 30 and 60. I have never fooled with using a third party app to actually force it on for DX games because its not worth the effort imo. again if you dont have a third party app then turning it on in your cards control panel doesnt do anything in DX games.

 

[SkaarjMaster]

OK so that pretty much beats question 1) to death as it has been in other threads as well, but it makes for good reading also.

What about question 2)? I would assume for any D3D game that has its own triple buffering setting in-game (L4D, UT2004, etc.) that you would want to go ahead and enable triple buffering in the Nvidia CP anyway. I'm assuming from cannondale06's earlier remarks related to L4D that he (or someone he knows) got triple buffering to work without an overrider program for the Nvidia CP. In that case, theoretically, it should work for other similar D3D games, correct so far?

 

[cannondale06]

OK so that pretty much beats question 1) to death as it has been in other threads as well, but it makes for good reading also.

What about question 2)? I would assume for any D3D game that has its own triple buffering setting in-game (L4D, UT2004, etc.) that you would want to go ahead and enable triple buffering in the Nvidia CP anyway. I'm assuming from cannondale06's earlier remarks related to L4D that he (or someone he knows) got triple buffering to work without an overrider program for the Nvidia CP. In that case, theoretically, it should work for other similar D3D games, correct so far?

turning it on in the control panel wont do anything and why would turn it on in the control panel if the game itself has that very setting? L4D triple buffering basically has the same function as any of those third party apps but its just built right into the game and works only for it.

 

[SkaarjMaster]

why would turn it on in the control panel if the game itself has that very setting?

That's the whole question right now. Does setting triple buffering to off or on in the Nvidia CP screw up any in-game triple buffering setting for the games that have triple buffering set within the game? In other words (as an example), if I enabled triple buffering from within L4D and decided to enable it within the CP just to have both be the same, would it matter either way; if I disabled triple buffering with L4D and disabled it in the CP, would it matter either way? I'm not really sure how more specific I need to get, but if we can confirm this with L4D, then we can move on from there.

 

[cannondale06]

That's the whole question right now. Does setting triple buffering to off or on in the Nvidia CP screw up any in-game triple buffering setting for the games that have triple buffering set within the game? In other words (as an example), if I enabled triple buffering from within L4D and decided to enable it within the CP just to have both be the same, would it matter either way; if I disabled triple buffering with L4D and disabled it in the CP, would it matter either way? I'm not really sure how more specific I need to get, but if we can confirm this with L4D, then we can move on from there.

well considering it already has ZERO effect on DX games when turning on from the control panel then your answer is no it doesn't screw up anything. again I dont see why you would mess with in the first place since it has no effect. if an individual game has triple buffering built it then it will be turned on from within the game anyway.

 

[cyclone3d]

The in-game settings SHOULD override the triple buffering and/or v-sync options in the CP.

Basically, the CP options are for using settings that aren't included in the application/game you are using.

 

[evilsofa]

That's the whole question right now. Does setting triple buffering to off or on in the Nvidia CP screw up any in-game triple buffering setting for the games that have triple buffering set within the game? In other words (as an example), if I enabled triple buffering from within L4D and decided to enable it within the CP just to have both be the same, would it matter either way; if I disabled triple buffering with L4D and disabled it in the CP, would it matter either way? I'm not really sure how more specific I need to get, but if we can confirm this with L4D, then we can move on from there.

If the Triplebuffering setting in the nVidia control panel doesn't work for DX games, then it won't matter what you set it to... because it doesn't work. Notice the emphasis on the "if".

I have never fooled with using a third party app to actually force it on for DX games because its not worth the effort imo.

So you don't actually know if it works or not - you're just assuming it doesn't? Ease off on the flaming.

 

[SkaarjMaster]

I guess that makes it as clear as mud. Thank you.

 

[cannondale06]

If the Triplebuffering setting in the nVidia control panel doesn't work for DX games, then it won't matter what you set it to... because it doesn't work. Notice the emphasis on the "if".



So you don't actually know if it works or not - you're just assuming it doesn't? Ease off on the flaming.

what? what the heck does it NOT working without a third party app have anything to whether I actually took the time to install that app and use it?

FACT: it doesnt work on DX games when turned on just from the control panel.

FACT: it only works in DX games when using something like nhancer or some other app.

FACT: I didnt care enough to install an app and actually use it.

FACT: you can turn it on for yourself without and app and run benchmarks and/or play a game. guess what your fps will be exactly the same and yes I have confirmed that.

 

[SkaarjMaster]

This is part where an Nvidia tech rep (in co-operation with someone from one of these games or not) steps in and let's all of us know WTF is going on.

 

[evilsofa]

Anandtech released a report today on Triplebuffering:

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3591&p=1

In the conclusion, they include this comment:

We also hope more developers will start making triple buffering the default option in their games, as it will deliver the best experience to gamers interested in both quality and performance. There are only a handful of games that include triple buffering as a built in option, and NVIDIA and AMD drivers currently only allow forcing triple buffering in OpenGL games. This really needs to change, as there is no reason we shouldn't see pervasive triple buffering today.