Graphics Tuning done for DX12 and WoW

Community General Discussion
1

So when BfA came out, there was that whole “we don’t support 32 bit OS anymore in WoW” and it seemed like the following ended up changing in game:

You could no longer run the game in “True” fullscreen mode. And there was a drop down selection in the advanced system settings that allowed you to utilize the DirectX 12 graphics API, but DirectX 11 was used by default.

I played around with using DirectX 12 and the framerate was never as good as when i’d use DirectX 11.

Since the patch today, will change this stuff:

  • Any pc that has DirectX 12 support will now start the game with DirectX 12 on by default (used to be DirectX 11 on by default).
  • Improvements to the way WoW utilizes DirectX 12 will give better framerates.

So, I’m gonna guess, for my system, i’ll be able to use DirectX 12 in WoW and it will be at least, just as good as when i was using DirectX 11 as far as performance goes.

Anyone else have that same experience, with DX11 giving way better framerates, than DX12 in WoW?

I’m guessing that these perf. updates are here to allow DX12 to really shine in WoW, as it was kind of a mess so far in BfA.

Edit: I have had a GTX 980 TI SC 2.0 FTW and now i use a GTX 1060 6GB

2

Are you using an Nvidia GPU?

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If you’re using NVIDIA, then you’ll get some basic multi-core support today. That is where WOW falls flat since it is a CPU bound application.

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With my Nvidia 970 it runs about the same either way. I am excited for the multi-threading since I’m on a Zen CPU. I think its going to be a boost all around.

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Yes, for a while a GTX 980 TI SC 2.0 FTW,
and now a GTX 1060 6GB

6

I have low expectations… I don’t trust WoW Optimization team.

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Yeah, any cpu bound game. I just use DSR to play at a “higher” resolution (not native though) in order to put more load on the GPU which will result in lower CPU usage

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So my radeon gets nada? Haven’t checked into this

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Pretty sure NVIDIA or not if you have DX12, Metal support, you should benefit from this change today.

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Can’t remember where i read, but bluetext said there is an Nvidia driver update that will do even more for nvidia hardware, but that was additional icing on the cake.

You’ll see performance improvements in from last time you used DX12 in WoW, no matter the card brand, as long as your card supports DX12.

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It’s been a while since I heard anything about it, but for a while, NVidia was lagging behind in Dx12 development, and as a result, Dx12 was performing same/worse than Dx11 (when using Nvidia). If that’s still the case, then what you saw when you tested the two is expected.

But, as for what’s coming later today, maybe Nvidia got their Dx12 together, or Bliz was able to make it work better (or possibly both). Whatever the case, it sounds like Dx12 will work better in general with 8.1 due to the multicore support.

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Even though DX12 is generally considered trash on Nvidia hardware and you should usually never enable it the fact that it’s adding multicore support means there’s no reason not to. On the PTR I got roughly a 50 fps increase standing in the horde city near the portals VS live.

Edit: My hardware is an i5 4690k @4.5 and a GTX 980 for reference here.

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That’s going to be a problem, since DX12 will be WoW’s prefered(default) graphics api when players start up their game next time. Hopefully it’s just as good as the framerates you could get in DX11, otherwise i’ll be swapping that dropdown list back to DX11. Most people don’t even know you can change it though.

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Lol, dude I tested this new multi-core support on the PTR.

And guess what? I got huge fps boost in Boralus using the same graphic settings as live.

Almost 50fps boost. that’s huge.

Going back to dx11 is just a loss for you, test it today and see.

15

Yeah but the 417.22 update is spotty for owners of 1050s and 1060s

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16

What you mean? the new nvidia update won’t effect 1050 users? i’m currently using 1080ti anyway.

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I have and still have direct x9. Do to the fact my computer older than my car. For record I have gtx 750.

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There’s been reports of the update decreasing performance for owners of GTX 1050 and GTX 1060 cards. When they downgraded to the driver version before 417.22 those performance reductions went away.

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Then you’re using DX11 now even if you’re on DX9.0C hardware, DX9 support was removed in 8.0.1.

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oh is that bad or good? Cause I just check and still saying 9. looking to see if I can change it