[Bug] Multisampling doesn't work properly

[FrozenIce]

Platform:
Windows

ISP:
Charter

Type of Internet Connection:
Cable

Internet Connection Speed:
30MB/s

Date & Time:
Doesn't matter.

Frequency:
Always

Character Name:
Frozen Ice

Race:
Lalafell F

World:
Melmond

The problem and test:
FPS drops significantly with the multisampling option within FFXIV when it really shouldn't be. I've tried different drivers and various settings and I've noticed something that doesn't make any sense. I also used Driver Sweeper between driver re-installs to make sure all drivers were cleared out. I was sitting near Camp Dryrock when doing these tests. I would do a run around the Camp and fight two mobs nearby.

Video Card, CPU, and Memory:
Nvidia GTX 295, i7 @ 2.67Ghz, 6GB(triple channeled)

Standard Settings on all Tests:
Video
Display Mode: Full Screen
Window Size: 1920x1200
General Drawing Quality: 10 (Highest)
Background Drawing Quality: 5 (High)
Shadow Detail: Lowest

Graphics
Unchecked: Ambient Occlusion, Depth of Field, Disable cutscene effects
Checked: Enable hardware mouse cursor
Texture Quality: High
Texture Filtering: Highest

Tests with FFXIV settings only:
Multisampling: No AA = 60 FPS
Multisampling: 2x MSAA = 25 - 30 FPS
Multisampling: 4x MSAA = 14 - 20 FPS (Game is not so much enjoyable anymore.)
Multisampling: 8x MSAA = 8 - 15 FPS (Game is unplayable or enjoyable.)


By the last test the game looks nice as everything is much smoother around my character but its so graphically lagged its unplayable.


Tests with FFXIV Multisampling: No AA. AA and AF controlled by Nvidia Control Panel:
Nvidia AF and AA: Off = 60 FPS
Nvidia AF and AA: 2x = 60 FPS
Nvidia AF and AA: 4x = 60 FPS
Nvidia AF and AA: 8x = 55-60 FPS
Nvidia AF and AA: 16x = 45-55 FPS

At 16x everything is so beautifully smooth and still playable. Only seems to really take an FPS hit is when loading a new area with lots of people. However looking between the two, there should be no reason why Multisampling makes such a huge FPS hit vs the Nvidia software. In a lot of other games I've played it's always the other way around with the video game being able to handle AA and AF better.

[Coldfire]

You are aware that with general drawing quality 10 your resolution is four times higher, right? And Anti-aliasing increases the rendertarget resolution even further. At some point the memory requirement is just mad. And are you sure the anti aliasing via nvidia control panel even works? 'Cause afaik it doesn't.

[Equinoxi]

You are aware that with general drawing quality 10 your resolution is four times higher, right? And Anti-aliasing increases the rendertarget resolution even further. At some point the memory requirement is just mad. And are you sure the anti aliasing via nvidia control panel even works? 'Cause afaik it doesn't.

as Cold said, are you sure your nvidia control panel really work?

[tymora]

How much VRAM do you have on the 295?

[Loth]

896 MB (per GPU) so at that resolution, even at 2xMSAA it is borderline or, depending on the location, running out of vram.

[Baccanale]

Greetings, FrozenIce!
Thank you for posting your concerns about multisampling. Since this matter involves processes to improve the graphical performance of the game, I will make sure to move this thread from "In-Game Bugs" to "Technical Support," so that your matter can be properly addressed. Thanks for your participation, and I wish you the best of luck!

[AlphaDragoon]

Pretty sure Nvidia Control Panel isn't doing jack. I tried it myself and it's aliased as all get out without actually setting it in game.

Which I can't set, because after 1.18 it bombs the framerate whereas prior to 1.18 I had it on 16xQ CSAA with no problem.