[DX11] Help regarding Nvidia Profile Inspector (NPI)

[BenganJ]

@killingjoke

NPI AO settings have NO effect at all, so forget that for now!
Concentrate on getting SCS SSAO to work for you.

[killingjoke]

It only works when NPI settings are not used.

[BenganJ]

@killingjoke

For me it works good when I don't use NPI at all and set SSAO to High in-game, but then I can only get the lousy SMAA antialiasing.
If I use NPI and set in-game SSAO to High I get a smaller effect, but an effect, but in this case I get a brilliant antialiasing! That's
the two alternatives for now, until we find another variant!

[killingjoke]

NPI AA with SCS SSAO is the ultimate goal.

[BenganJ]

@killingjoke

Yes, I agree, and we will try to get there. A lot of tests to do though
and most often you have to restart the game for every change you do!

[killingjoke]

Yeah this is a pain in the ass. But the result will be worth it!
I hope SCS will implement better AA with the graphics updates they have planned.
I have the feeling that they increased the drawing distance in Idaho.

[BenganJ]

@killingjoke

Sadly I don't think that they actually increased the drawing distance, they use a different type
of models and have probably used a trick where you can group models. They started with that
already in Utah!

[theclumsygeek]

Thanks for these updates Bengan! This is consistent with my tests as well.

For now I will remove NPI AO settings, but will also keep SCS AO off.

With NPI AA, it's strange that when you enable SCS AO at any level, the shadows become worse as compared to SCS AO being off in the first place.
This I notice in your screenshots (i.e. the shadows of the ceiling inside the building disappear when you have SCS AO on at any level), and I can also reproduce myself exactly as you have them.

[BenganJ]

@theclumsygeek

Yes, something OTHER than AO settings in NPI interferes with SSAO in the game.
Very odd! But as I noted in that test post, Nvidia has removed forced AO from
it's driver after ATS v1.38. Also odd in some way!

[yiannis]

SSAO has a very subtle effect on any game anyways and of course it's not the graphics overhaul SCS has promised for 1.38. The game has a lot of problems (aliasing, draw distance, lod popping, etc), ambient occlusion is a "luxury" we can live without at this point if that's what it takes to have perfect AA through the inspector settings. So for me it's AA inspector settings and SSAO at high even if the effect is minimal..