[Resolved] My GZDoom is noticeably laggy (starting from 3.5.0 to 4.14.1)

[Sandro]

Hello!

I noticed for a while that my in-game rendering was not running as smooth as it is supposed to. It feels slightly 'laggy' (as if the fps was a bit lower than 60) but the fps rate is excellent.
Now that I noticed it, it became really disturbing to play any map, so I stopped using GZDoom for now.

Here's what I did:
-> I mistakenly launched a Zandronum mod with GZDoom (the latter being my by-default source port, hence my mistake). Then I realised it was running way smoother with Zandronum.
-> I tried a random DOOM2 map and noticed the lack of smoothness in GZDoom is happening anyway ; works perfectly fine with Zandro. I also noted that LZDoom 3.87b runs correctly as well (I had this version on hand).
-> I tried messing with the parameters (V-sync, rendering interpolation, switching OpenGL ES to Vulkan...), but nothing has improved.
-> The lastest releases of GZDoom (4.13.0, and 4.13.2) have the same problem. Then I decided to dig in older releases.

-> From what I can see, the problem starts with the 3.5.0 release, as the 3.4.1 works fine with the very same parameters in the option menu. I have no idea what can be the cause of this.
Any hint or help would be VERY appreciated.

Specs:
Windows 10 - 64-bit
AMD Ryzen 2700X
RAM 32GB
RTX 2070S

Thank you

[Sandro]

Minor update : I tried messing more with the parameters, sadly with no success.

However, I noticed switching Rendering Interpolation off is greatly worsening my rendering, in the same way of my problem (this "laggy" feeling when moving).
When it is on, it's still bad but not as much (I'd say almost playable).

(For what it's worth, my current parameters are OpenGL ES, V-Sync ON, max FPS 500, Hardware rendering (but Software has the same problem), lights and texture parameters all are off (except nearest mipmap filter)

I don't know if it helps. I just hope there is a solution for this. I have downgraded to GZDoom 3.4.1 for now...

[Kappes Buur]

I do not know if this will help you, ...

• the latest versions of GZDoom (4.x.x) are leaning heavily towards Vulkan
• roll back to a different version driver, the latest and greatest do not necessarily play well

[Sandro]

I switched to Vulkan but nothing has improved (I prefered OpenGL ES because I noticed some huge maps have greater fps with it, but that is no big deal).
I downgraded to the earliest driver available at Nvidia website (march 2024) but it's the same.

-> I uninstalled my nvidia driver before installing the one from march, and I tried launching the game with no Nvidia driver at all. The problem still remained, so I guess it's not a driver-related issue ?
-> What else could it be ? The only thing I can notice right now is that the old OpenGL works fine while the 'modern' APIs (i.e. Vulkan & OpenGL ES) do have a rendering problem on my end.

Thanks for you help though. I know I will not be able to find the solution by myself, so it's much appreciated.

[Sandro]

Hello!
Just bumping this topic to inform anyone who wish to help that I tested the latest GZDoom version (4.14.1) and the laggy problem still occurs on my side. I tried to record it but on video it doesn't show much.
I'm still using the latest "stable" version (3.4.1) which is almost 7 years old...

[drfrag]

Wenas. I haven't actually tried GZDoom 4.14 yet. Since 3.5.0 "Fullscreen is now borderless window" so i think you'd need to choose a lower resolution AKA scaling and probably vulkan will run better too. LZDoom 3.88b (latest official) ran many mods but it was hacky. I think you could just use the latest version selecting a lower resolution preset or try VKDoom.

[Sandro]

So I used different aspect ratio, and also changed my custom resolution scale to lower numbers. I also tried window mode. All of that using Vulkan. But nothing has improved.
I also downloaded vkdoom, and it's the same issue, sadly.

I feel I need to be a little more precise about the "laggy" feeling, as I think it is not the most appropriate term to describe what I experience. (Sorry, English is not my native language).

For example, on DOOM2's map 02, I went back and forth the potions and it's like the blue of their frame is not moving accordingly to my movements but with a significant delay, so it's like my screen blurs what I see when I move (as if doomguy was drunk or a little like when you look at a player moving after getting a turbosphere).


I may have forgotten to tell that my screen is 2560x1440p (2k), so even though messing with the aspect ratio didn't change a thing, it's possible it has something to do with my problem I guess..

[phantombeta]

That sounds very much like your screen is ghosting. I'm not sure how you're only getting it with GZDoom, and only with Vulkan... My only guess is that somehow your monitor detects that it's running a game and forces some sort of overdriving (anti-ghosting) on, but it doesn't work with Vulkan...
Something very strange is going on there.

[Sandro]

Sorry, I didn't mention in my last post that it happens with all APIs. I just tested it again.

To respond to drfrag, I also tried 3.4.1 with borderless windowed mode on, and it works perfectly fine.

[Sandro]

Woah ! I found what was causing this !

My monitor had overclocking off by default. Turning it on resolves the issue !
I had no idea it could be that simple. I never bothered to change any parameter of my monitor as it always worked fine until then. Anyway, there's a game adjust menu available in its parameters, where overclocking can be switched.
I wonder what change could have caused this in version 3.5.0 ?

Thank you very much to all of you, and especially phantombeta for suggesting overdriving was the issue. This made me look at the right place. Thank you kindly, now my GZDoom is up-to-date !