PC1 Shimmering, wavy road surface - gfx setting problem

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Hi
I've got pCARS running reasonably well (60 to 100 fps depending on conditions) and looking quite good, with high and medium settings, on my system (triples with 780 sli).

But the road surface can sometimes have a weird, wavy, shimmering aspect that's off putting. It's not always there: It's worse when it's sunny/clear and will be better or worse depending on the angle of the road to my (virtual) eyes. On some tracks I don't see it at all, on others it's so bad I'll stop using it.

Any tips? I can't afford to turn up AA that much. Currently, I've got my AA settings at (I think) MSAA and one of the others (can't remember, not at my PC now).

Kyle Pearson · Jun 9, 2015

As a test, do you see the same effect without any AA enabled?

Thomas Wilen · Jun 9, 2015

Maybe try higher Anisotropic Filtering, if it is the actual road surface texture that is shimmering?

Chris Harris · Jun 9, 2015

Are you sure its not just the heat haze from the tarmac?

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Chris Harris said:
Are you sure its not just the heat haze from the tarmac?

It isn't heat haze. I turned that off and it's just the same.

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Kyle Pearson said:
As a test, do you see the same effect without any AA enabled?

I just tested with no aa. The problem disappears without aa (but the rest looks a bit rubbish obviously).
Funnily enough, with no aa my framerate goes down too (by 15-20%)

Kyle Pearson · Jun 9, 2015

Which AA modes are you using (only MSAA or combined with SMAA or FXAA)?

Deleted member 113561 · Jun 9, 2015

Could you post a pic here plz

And i recommend posting this issue in the offical PCARS Forum

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Thomas Wilen said:
Maybe try higher Anisotropic Filtering, if it is the actual road surface texture that is shimmering?

I've just tried higher AF. Didn't seem to help. It didn't seem to cost much fps though, which is good.

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Kyle Pearson said:
Which AA modes are you using (only MSAA or combined with SMAA or FXAA)?

I'm using MSAA and SMAA (low)
Edit: I've started using SMAA (medium). Doesn't seem to improve the wavy road texture problem

Ace King · Jun 9, 2015

My friend had this issue until he used my suggested settings: DS2X with SMAA (low), now it's fine!

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

neuer31 said:
Could you post a pic here plz

And i recommend posting this issue in the offical PCARS Forum

What software to use to take a pic?

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Ace King said:
My friend had this issue until he used my suggested settings: DS2X with SMAA (low)

Think i've tried it. But will give it another go

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Ace King said:
My friend had this issue until he used my suggested settings: DS2X with SMAA (low), now it's fine!

Thanks for the suggestion. Just tried it though. Didn't improve things.

Kyle Pearson · Jun 9, 2015

Billy Pilgrim said:
I'm using MSAA and SMAA (low)
Edit: I've started using SMAA (medium). Doesn't seem to improve the wavy road texture problem

SMAA will have some pixelation (as will MSAA). The two combined will create more of it. Originally, the plan was to remove MSAA modes since they are problematic, but they were kept to help with some systems which may not be able to handle other modes. Try using FXAA instead of SMAA. It should reduce the pixel crawling.

FWIW, I can't remember if you have to enable that in the NVidia control panel or not for the in-game setting to work. I use DS2X and FXAA (low).

Ace King · Jun 9, 2015

Ashame, good luck with finding your issue!

Billy Pilgrim · Jun 9, 2015

Kyle Pearson said:
SMAA will have some pixelation (as will MSAA). The two combined will create more of it. Originally, the plan was to remove MSAA modes since they are problematic, but they were kept to help with some systems which may not be able to handle other modes. Try using FXAA instead of SMAA. It should reduce the pixel crawling.

FWIW, I can't remember if you have to enable that in the NVidia control panel or not for the in-game setting to work. I use DS2X and FXAA (low).

Thanks for your help. Tried FXAA though, didn't work.
This is weird.
Maybe nvidia inspector would help

What a hassle it is having to restart the game for every gfx setting change!