Another Windows x64 configuration variant

[Cerebrate]

While Windows x64 has been mostly stable for me, I have had some crashes while running it in (the default) DirectX mode (probably, I suspect, because my mod load is, um, challenging, memory-wise), but ran fine if I, instead, used -force-opengl.

But, recently, I've signed up for the Windows 10 Technical Preview Program ( http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview ), and having at least some suspicion that some of the x64 instability observed on Windows (vis-a-vis Linux, which of course doesn't have it) has to do with the interface between Unity and the always-fun DirectX, decided to try dropping the -force-opengl and see what the results were on the new, shiny, still-in-preview DirectX 12.

...and it appears to be magically stable again.

Now, I'm not going to suggest you replace your entire operating system just to improve your KSP performance, but I am going to go so far as to suggest that if you happen to be running the tech preview anyway, that you might want to give this a try. If nothing else, it might generate some useful data for the folks as are debugging.

-c

[Azimech]

Thanks for the info!

[Ted]

Ooh, thanks for reporting back on this, that's an interesting lead.

How's the memory usage on DX12/stable run compared to on W7/8? The opengl arg works so well, as far as I know, because of the decreased memory footprint.

[xtoro]

Now, I'm not going to suggest you replace your entire operating system just to improve your KSP performance, but I am going to go so far as to suggest that if you happen to be running the tech preview anyway, that you might want to give this a try. If nothing else, it might generate some useful data for the folks as are debugging.

I wouldn't suggest replacing the OS, however, I would suggest using a small portion of a hard drive to ADD an OS so you can dual boot into either one. It's 150% worth it instead of messing around with flags and options and worrying about how many mods you can use and which ones can you really live without... Just put in Linux along side windows, install 64-bit KSP, and then download and install as many mods as you want! Your only limit is how much RAM your computer has! Then enjoy playing with everything you want, and never have to worry about crashing again.... Unless you tend to crash your ships often from unintentional lithobraking, in that case, Linux will not help you lol

[Cerebrate]

Ooh, thanks for reporting back on this, that's an interesting lead.

How's the memory usage on DX12/stable run compared to on W7/8? The opengl arg works so well, as far as I know, because of the decreased memory footprint.

Figured I'd get you some useful data on this, so I fired up Process Explorer while I flew a simple test mission, just to make sure various stuff got exercised. According to it's memory usage numbers:

Peak Private Bytes were 4,727,188 K

Peak Working Set was 3,593,532 K

and Virtual Size, which sadly doesn't record its peak, topped out around 5,096,132 K.

No crashes, all stable.

(Note, I'm a modaholic, so this was on my usual install which currently has all the mods listed in blue or yellow here - http://1drv.ms/1EBoK65 - installed. Interestingly enough, I'm not yet running Active Texture Management, which on 0.24.2 back under Windows 8.1 I had to have installed by this point in order to make it through loading without suffering one out-of-memory crash or another.)

And looking at those numbers, I think I might have to agree with interesting and possibly raise it to fascinating.

-c

[Cerebrate]

I wouldn't suggest replacing the OS, however, I would suggest using a small portion of a hard drive to ADD an OS so you can dual boot into either one. It's 150% worth it instead of messing around with flags and options and worrying about how many mods you can use and which ones can you really live without... Just put in Linux along side windows, install 64-bit KSP, and then download and install as many mods as you want! Your only limit is how much RAM your computer has! Then enjoy playing with everything you want, and never have to worry about crashing again.... Unless you tend to crash your ships often from unintentional lithobraking, in that case, Linux will not help you lol

Trouble is, then instead of having to muck about with KSP flags and options, I have to muck about with Linux flags and options. Doesn't seem all that much like a win!

Heh. Not entirely serious - if Linux works for you, then go for it, I say, but myself, having done my time in the Linux trenches, if I ever have to debug an XF86Config file again, it'll be about a thousand years too soon...

-c

[SpecTRe-X]

Wait, so are you telling me that if I run ksp with a OpenGL flag that I can run the game loaded with mods and not have to worry about it crashing when it hits 4Gb of ram usage?! If you are, I may just kiss you!

[NFUN]

Wait, so are you telling me that if I run ksp with a OpenGL flag that I can run the game loaded with mods and not have to worry about it crashing when it hits 4Gb of ram usage?! If you are, I may just kiss you!

Many mods are disabled on x64 now, especially the larger ones.

[swiftgates24]

I also have Windows 10 Technical Preview, but x64 is still unusuable for me. However, I have experienced a 6-8 fps boost.

[Cerebrate]

Wait, so are you telling me that if I run ksp with a OpenGL flag that I can run the game loaded with mods and not have to worry about it crashing when it hits 4Gb of ram usage?! If you are, I may just kiss you!

Enh, not quite. But it should help some - the OpenGL version does usually use significantly less memory than the DirectX one, so you should be able to cram a few more mods in. (You may experience a few visual glitches, though.) It's what I used to do before discovering this magic cure for all my worries.

Many mods are disabled on x64 now, especially the larger ones.

There are, as per my mod list linked to a couple of posts back, ways around that if you're feeling technically competent and willing to go without any support at all. (No, seriously on that last bit, 'cause this takes you deep, deep into wild and unsupported territory.)

I also have Windows 10 Technical Preview, but x64 is still unusuable for me. However, I have experienced a 6-8 fps boost.

Well, that's a data point against the hypothesis. Anyone else out there?

-c

[SpecTRe-X]

Many mods are disabled on x64 now, especially the larger ones.

True, but I'd presume there is a way to manually go in and remove the line or two of code that disables 64bit mode. I even think I saw one or two OPs say that they would provide 64bit version on individual request so there is certainly a way. It's just a question of if it's a worthwhile boost in ram savings.

[xtoro]

Trouble is, then instead of having to muck about with KSP flags and options, I have to muck about with Linux flags and options. Doesn't seem all that much like a win!

Heh. Not entirely serious - if Linux works for you, then go for it, I say, but myself, having done my time in the Linux trenches, if I ever have to debug an XF86Config file again, it'll be about a thousand years too soon...

-c

Ddbug an XF86Config file? Wow, that must have been a LONG time ago lol I can't remember the last time I did any command line work or config file editing... It's all control panels through the GUI now.

Many mods are disabled on x64 now, especially the larger ones.

I don't know of any that are purposely disabled for x64.... And I run over 50 mods, including large ones...

[micha]

I don't know of any that are purposely disabled for x64.... And I run over 50 mods, including large ones...

Specifically, Win64. eg, FAR. Still works fine in Linux64.

[KerbMav]

<- Pure user mostly, but not in the Tron meaning of the word, so not really experienced with stuff behind the scenes.

Just put in Linux along side windows, install 64-bit KSP, and then download and install as many mods as you want! Your only limit is how much RAM your computer has!

Is every mod compatible with Linux by default?

[xtoro]

Specifically, Win64. eg, FAR. Still works fine in Linux64.

Ah, yeah I run Linux 64-bit, and am also using FAR.

Is every mod compatible with Linux by default?

Every one I've tried. And I've tried many, many, many, MANY mods, but I only use 50-something now. lol

And yes, all at once.

[SpecTRe-X]

Every one I've tried. And I've tried many, many, many, MANY mods, but I only use 50-something now. lol

And yes, all at once.

Yeah, only 50 mods lol

So what kind of graphical glitches are we talking about when running KSP in opengl?

[StainX]

For me, linux is not that great at game performance as it is in windows, especially the physics calculations! Every damn rocket (even the small, low-part ones) slow down game speed to catch up with physics... this is kinda annoying :'(

Lets hope that Unity5 will give us a stable x64 windows version!

[skeevy]

Ddbug an XF86Config file? Wow, that must have been a LONG time ago lol I can't remember the last time I did any command line work or config file editing... It's all control panels through the GUI now.

Getting a kick because I edited my xorg.conf night before last after a fresh Manjaro install.

I don't know of any that are purposely disabled for x64.... And I run over 50 mods, including large ones...

For Win x64 quite a bit of mods are disabled...Real Chutes, Modular Fuel Tanks, Real Fuels, FAR....there's more, lots more.

Heck, we almost lost Real Chutes because it disables itself for Win x64; the first thing done was that was circumvented which caused a real big fiasco.