The very repeatable annoying visual stutter issue (which is related to CPU processing spiking, not GPU load - which in fact drops during the stutters) is as described here, just adding my notes here from Reddit...
To re-iterate, the following is NOT an issue with drivers or your GPU, it is not your rig failing and needing an expensive upgrade. It is some element of design failing us.
[install directory]\Elite Dangerous\Products\elite-dangerous-odyssey-64\Logs
The difference now is that there is a new additional step apparently since Powerplay 2.0 released (this issue was first logged by someone in December) something causes a lot of lag and gets logged (when detailed netlog files is set on) with the prefix "GPSS" -- this is first logged at startup after a minute or so, and then this same process will repeat at VERY regular intervals like clockwork i.e. as much as every 10 minutes apart
NOTE: I suspect, due to timing of when the issue started being reported shortly after PP2.0 launch, that GPSS means something like Global Powerplay System State. Another clue is that one of the messages prefixed with this also refers to "Octree" which is a kind of database structure used to partition a three-dimensional space by recursively subdividing it into eight octants - and anyone who knows how stellar forge works will recognise this.
Sometimes the timings of the minutes of stutter followed by log messages will be at different times for other people, I think it is user session dependant - but it always occurs at one or more of the regular timing intervals after the hour, such as around:
But again, at the worst times, it can now also happen every ten minutes or more.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH DAMMIT, NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiWAWdDsnII
This issue is a perfect example of a seemingly minor (to some) and fairly isolated thing, but when taken cumulatively in addition to other QOL issues and bugs like the shadow flicker reintroduced (and previously fixed) over 2 years ago, it becomes a growing detriment to enjoyment, the "death by a thousand papercuts" I often refer to.
This one has had many people worried that their gaming rigs are needing fixing or upgrading, it's that bad. I've been playing for 9 years and this is one of the worst examples of design disrespecting smooth gameplay performance.
Minimizing lag, stutter and smooth framerates and visuals generally (i.e. lighting and shadows and LOD) should be treated as sacrosanct, it is the first, key, selling point of the game - everything else relies upon it.
It affects ability to enjoy playing long periods, the worst instances of this minute+ long stutterfest results in
I worry that without exhibiting some sense of urgency with fixes and QOL, any goodwill is going to start eroding again.
https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/70049
I think there seems to be a lot of inefficient calculations or something going on for about a minute (during which is a lot of stutter) in this example stutter started at about 16m past the hour then this message appears in the logs at 16m48s past the hour...
Then finally at about the same time you get that final massive stutter...
High res/framerate version here
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwz3kNrfn_U
You will notice scopes attached to my shoulders, a bug I logged too! lol
To re-iterate, the following is NOT an issue with drivers or your GPU, it is not your rig failing and needing an expensive upgrade. It is some element of design failing us.
Monitoring
The following info with options in main menu > Network settings > Logging ON - this provides detailed logging in the netLog files shown in the game install directory, e.g.[install directory]\Elite Dangerous\Products\elite-dangerous-odyssey-64\Logs
Behaviour
Normally what happens is when you start a game session, there are a bunch of things that get read and traffic goes back and forth with the servers as always, i.e. when you first start a session there is a bit of lag and stutters for a minute or so. That's all par for the course sadly. Nothing unusual there (annoying as it is!).The difference now is that there is a new additional step apparently since Powerplay 2.0 released (this issue was first logged by someone in December) something causes a lot of lag and gets logged (when detailed netlog files is set on) with the prefix "GPSS" -- this is first logged at startup after a minute or so, and then this same process will repeat at VERY regular intervals like clockwork i.e. as much as every 10 minutes apart
NOTE: I suspect, due to timing of when the issue started being reported shortly after PP2.0 launch, that GPSS means something like Global Powerplay System State. Another clue is that one of the messages prefixed with this also refers to "Octree" which is a kind of database structure used to partition a three-dimensional space by recursively subdividing it into eight octants - and anyone who knows how stellar forge works will recognise this.
Sometimes the timings of the minutes of stutter followed by log messages will be at different times for other people, I think it is user session dependant - but it always occurs at one or more of the regular timing intervals after the hour, such as around:
- 5-6 minutes past the hour (very common)
- 11-12m (occasional one not following the usual "H:n5m" rule!)
- 15-16m (common)
- 21-22m (occasional one not following the usual "H:n5m" rule!)
- 25-26m (common) and
- 55-56m (seems to be rarer)
But again, at the worst times, it can now also happen every ten minutes or more.
NOT GOOD ENOUGH DAMMIT, NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
This issue is a perfect example of a seemingly minor (to some) and fairly isolated thing, but when taken cumulatively in addition to other QOL issues and bugs like the shadow flicker reintroduced (and previously fixed) over 2 years ago, it becomes a growing detriment to enjoyment, the "death by a thousand papercuts" I often refer to.
This one has had many people worried that their gaming rigs are needing fixing or upgrading, it's that bad. I've been playing for 9 years and this is one of the worst examples of design disrespecting smooth gameplay performance.
Minimizing lag, stutter and smooth framerates and visuals generally (i.e. lighting and shadows and LOD) should be treated as sacrosanct, it is the first, key, selling point of the game - everything else relies upon it.
It affects ability to enjoy playing long periods, the worst instances of this minute+ long stutterfest results in
- very frustrating combat or other fast-paced activity, which has far less performance even at the best of times, as it is severely affected by this
- simply flying your ship, for example the thought of buying a new ship with cash, becomes not as fun (not buying the new one until this is fixed)
- finding yourself put off from playing at all if you know one of those intervals is coming up, I don't want to be in the middle of something hectic or intricate like mining when they occur.
- streamers videos being marred by these flaws, videos which normally do a great job of showcasing and promoting content and enticing new players, ends up deterring them.
I worry that without exhibiting some sense of urgency with fixes and QOL, any goodwill is going to start eroding again.
Issue Tracker Link
Well voted on and reproduced in over 14 pages since mid December (EDIT: Now over 24 pages, well done! it is now marked as "Acknowledged")https://issues.frontierstore.net/issue-detail/70049
Log message examples and timings
Remember that these log messages appear when Network settings > Logging is ON and start to appear about a minute each time AFTER the stuttering has started.I think there seems to be a lot of inefficient calculations or something going on for about a minute (during which is a lot of stutter) in this example stutter started at about 16m past the hour then this message appears in the logs at 16m48s past the hour...
This log message seems to be the final stage of the current process, where some server updating process gets logged by a whole bunch more of these "GPSS" messages get fired into the log, very rapid fire, like this
... etc., etc., about 150 or more like these, abridged here for ease of reading.
Then finally at about the same time you get that final massive stutter...
The same process repeats like clockwork. At start up, and then at very regular infuriating intervals, e.g. a minute's worth of stutter, then these log messages start (and another 10 seconds of stutter) at...
| Session Day 1. Startup + subsequent stutters | Session Day 2. Startup + subsequent stutters |
|---|---|
| {18:51:27GMT 173.233s} GPSS set state | {18:44:12GMT 174.008s} GPSS set state |
| {19:16:48GMT 1694.512s} GPSS set state | {19:06:51GMT 1532.875s} GPSS set state |
| {20:06:50GMT 4696.993s} GPSS set state | {20:06:59GMT 5140.580s} GPSS set state |
| {20:16:54GMT 5300.198s} GPSS set state | {20:16:50GMT 5732.170s} GPSS set state |
| {20:26:54GMT 5900.276s} GPSS set state | {20:22:09GMT 6050.350s} GPSS set state |
| {21:11:52GMT 8598.624s} GPSS set state | {20:26:56GMT 6338.141s} GPSS set state |
| {21:16:46GMT 8892.523s} GPSS set state | ^ I gave up at this point, it was a bad stutter day! |
| Session Day 3. Startup + subsequent stutters |
|---|
| notice that timings seem to have become less consistent |
| {18:55:34GMT 175.586s} GPSS set state |
| {19:18:38GMT 1558.834s} GPSS set state |
| {19:27:16GMT 2077.199s} GPSS set state |
| {20:01:56GMT 4157.205s} GPSS set state |
| {21:06:51GMT 8052.397s} GPSS set state |
| {21:16:52GMT 8653.182s} GPSS set state |
| {22:11:50GMT 11951.440s} GPSS set state |
Demo of Stutter
A sprint around my cutter during the 05-07 minute mark past the hour... watch for the 10-20 FPS dips in the bottom left and stutter during the 1+ minute run. I chose this activity as exhaustion no longer applies in hangars, is reasonably fast paced showing the stutter well while being easily reproduced. Note that in more frantic or intricate situations, e.g. mining, or in settlement or multi ship combat the effect is magnified further.High res/framerate version here
You will notice scopes attached to my shoulders, a bug I logged too! lol
Systems Specs
A mid-range rig circa 2020/21. I normally get a very steady 75fps (locked to widescreen monitor max refresh rate) as shown in the video, with maxed graphics settings, no upscaling. Only Frontline "high" conflicts can sometimes drop to 65 fps - if you have specs less that this I suspect your stutter during these times will be even worse, and vomit inducing in VR:- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 5800 X3D (NB. this 2022 upgrade was a huge fps stability improvement) on a midrange X570 mobo
- RAM: 32.0 GB @ 3600
- GPU: AMD Radeon RX 6800 (not XT) with 16GB VRAM - latest drivers are good
- STORAGE: Corsair Force MP600 Gen4 NVMe M.2 SSD
- DISPLAY: Low cost freesync 75hz monitor @ 2560 x 1080, with Tobii5 head/eye tracking. No VR.
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