Dark Souls internal rendering resolution fix (DSfix)

Dark souls newcomer here, just a quick question for you guys. I have windows 8.1 and am going to start a dark souls playthrough soon hopefully with dsfix, is dsfix currently working with windows 8.1 and if not is there some sort of workaround or instruction guide to get it working on windows 8.1?
Thank you
 
20131115_00001_0atp7fm64a.jpg


So pretty.
 
Thanks for 2.2. Downloaded from nexus and got stuck with a version that wouldnt work with frame uncapping, then found ur blog w 2.2. Runs wonderfully now :)
 
DSfix 2.2 made this game playable!!

I have a super old PC: GT 9800 GT, Intel pentium D 3.4GHz, 2GB of DDR2 ram. As you would expect it used to run terribly with no DSfix.

HOWEVER I have now managed to somehow get a very smooth 25-30 frames, so try these steps if you are having performance issues:

- Set resolution to my native screen (1080p) and set to windowed in game.
- Used borderless fullscreen in DSfix. Rendering at 720p.
- Put all other settings at lowest using DSfix (AA, blur etc)
- Unlock framerate, but cap it at 30.

The thing that really made a difference was unlocking the framerate and capping it at 30. No idea why, but the game now runs amazing! I guess Durante made some significant changes in 2.2. (These same settings had about 15fps with the older version of DSfix from nexus).

Only issue i've had with DSfix is with the scaled HUD; the boss HP bar is glitched.
 
MasterRain said:
- Set resolution to my native screen (1080p) and set to windowed in game.
- Used borderless fullscreen in DSfix. Rendering at 720p.
Click to expand...

Can you clarify this bit? Because if you're doing what I think you're doing then you shouldn't be doing it that way.

It sounds like you have a 1080p screen.

You have the rendering resolution in DSfix set to 1920x1080.

In the actual Dark Souls game you have the windowed size set to 720p and you stretch it to full screen?

If this is the case, then you should set Dark Souls to set the windowed size to 1080p so that you're getting the normal 1080p image displayed fullscreen rather than a 1080p render downsampled to 720p being stretched up to 1080.

Also, if performance is an issue you should probably just outright disable SSAO and not just lower the setting.
 
MasterRain said:
The thing that really made a difference was unlocking the framerate and capping it at 30. No idea why, but the game now runs amazing! I guess Durante made some significant changes in 2.2. (These same settings had about 15fps with the older version of DSfix from nexus).
Click to expand...

Yep, this was the game changer for me as well. The framerate unlocker is probably the most important setting in DSfix next to the ability to change rendering resolution. Having the framerate not plunge to 15 FPS when it dips below 30 (especially in places like Blighttown) made a world of difference for my Core 2 Duo t9550 @ 2.8 GHz laptop with a Radeon 4670 (which is weaker as compared to your 9800 GT, but has a better CPU)

I can afford to have a rendering resolution of 900p/945p though and maintain 30+ FPS most of the time and still have spare GPU power to spare (as observed using GPUz while running the game in borderless windowed mode); the game is strangely CPU dependant more than it is GPU dependant, so I think your Pentium D is holding the 9800GT back.

@Alo81

I think he did the opposite of what you're saying, he's set the rendering res in DSFix to 720p, and the resolution in the Dark Souls game itself to 1080p. As he should be doing if he has a 1080p screen, but lacking the power to render the game at that resolution on his machine. There is no way that Pentium D machine can get 30+ FPS in Dark Souls at 1080p native.
 
ambientmystic said:
Yep, this was the game changer for me as well. The framerate unlocker is probably the most important setting in DSfix next to the ability to change rendering resolution. Having the framerate not plunge to 15 FPS when it dips below 30 (especially in places like Blighttown) made a world of difference for my Core 2 Duo t9550 @ 2.8 GHz laptop with a Radeon 4670 (which is weaker as compared to your 9800 GT, but has a better CPU)

I can afford to have a rendering resolution of 900p/945p though and maintain 30+ FPS most of the time and still have spare GPU power to spare (as observed using GPUz while running the game in borderless windowed mode); the game is strangely CPU dependant more than it is GPU dependant, so I think your Pentium D is holding the 9800GT back.

@Alo81

I think he did the opposite of what you're saying, he's set the rendering res in DSFix to 720p, and the resolution in the Dark Souls game itself to 1080p. As he should be doing if he has a 1080p screen, but lacking the power to render the game at that resolution on his machine. There is no way that Pentium D machine can get 30+ FPS in Dark Souls at 1080p native.
Click to expand...

Yeah my CPU was old and crappy when I bought it new haha. Yeah thats how I have it set up, although for blight town and the DLC i've had to go lower than 720p.

The online seems super dead on PC. I know its not a new game, but I remember playing on 360 and there were always people for summons/invading. On PC it feels like a single player game tbh apart from the unhelpful messages everywhere.
 
So, can anyone please tell me how I can make my 360 controller work with this game? This is really crazy, an official 360 controller does not run well with this game.
 
TnK said:
So, can anyone please tell me how I can make my 360 controller work with this game? This is really crazy, an official 360 controller does not run well with this game.
Click to expand...

If you have any other controllers plugged in try unplugging them. My wired 360 controller worked well with this game.
 
First time playing Dark Souls.

Can't seem DSFix to work properly. It lets me get passed the opening cutscene, but then while loading it quite leterally crashes.

I have Windows 8.1 btw. (Took me awhile to solve the GFWL issue.)

Edit: Had to disable Anti-Aliasing from within the game.
 
TnK said:
I have a wireless PC controller, and it is the only controller plugged in.
Click to expand...

If you ever used an emulated controllers in the past that might be the problem. If you have for example a wireless USB dongle, you could try unplugging it. Alternatively, go to your Device Manager and look under "Human Interface Devices" (HID) and disable any devices except your Xbox controller.

The problem is that Dark Souls is seeing some other kind of device and things you want to use that as a controller. This generally happens when people use Wii motes for emulators or something along those lines.
 
I can't even get the game started on Windows 8.1. It crashes at it loads up.

Got this part working. Had to set up windows 7 compatibility mode. Now it says I can't save b/c GFWL is offline. *sigh*
 
nbthedude said:
If you ever used an emulated controllers in the past that might be the problem. If you have for example a wireless USB dongle, you could try unplugging it. Alternatively, go to your Device Manager and look under "Human Interface Devices" (HID) and disable any devices except your Xbox controller.

The problem is that Dark Souls is seeing some other kind of device and things you want to use that as a controller. This generally happens when people use Wii motes for emulators or something along those lines.
Click to expand...

Well, I did use my wiimotes with dolphin before, so I need to cancel those? I will try later, then post here if it worked. I also used motioninjoy(?) for the PS3 controller in the past.

EDIT: Controller works, but the game always crashes past the first cutscene, always.
 
TnK said:
Well, I did use my wiimotes with dolphin before, so I need to cancel those? I will try later, then post here if it worked. I also used motioninjoy(?) for the PS3 controller in the past.

EDIT: Controller works, but the game always crashes past the first cutscene, always.
Click to expand...
A buddy of mine had that problem. I can't remember exactly what we did to fix it however couple things to try. First, try turning on borderless windowed mode in DS fix. You can also try running the game dot exe as administrator.
 
MasterRain said:
The thing that really made a difference was unlocking the framerate and capping it at 30. No idea why, but the game now runs amazing! I guess Durante made some significant changes in 2.2. (These same settings had about 15fps with the older version of DSfix from nexus).
Click to expand...

After I read this I decided to unlock the cap and made it run at 60 fps (I was afraid of being banned from GFWL but, after reading a few posts that assured you don't get banned from it, I decided "fuck it" and uncapped the fps). Holy crap, that fixed the terrible lag I get when a dragon's in my sight on a locked 30 fps cap.

Thanks for the post!
 
Irobot82 said:
I can't even get the game started on Windows 8.1. It crashes at it loads up.

Got this part working. Had to set up windows 7 compatibility mode. Now it says I can't save b/c GFWL is offline. *sigh*
Click to expand...

I remember reading up about this; something about running the game, uninstalling GFWL while its running, then reinstalling GFWL

I'll have to look for it again because I upgraded to 8.1 this morning and haven't had the chance to boot the game up.
 
is it me or does WideScreen Fixer crash now while running in 2560x1080 ?
can't get this ultrawide res to work anymore...was ok a few months ago :(
 
Wray said:
So outside of Durante's DS Fix, are there any other must have mods that I should install?

Texture packs, environment mods, etc?
Click to expand...

http://darksouls.nexusmods.com/mods/topalltime/?adult=2

Just go down the line and see what you like.

For starters: HD texture pack, High res UI, Anor Londo distance textures, andres cranial ember, tree low res texture fix, flora overhaul. better arrows, revamped stat buff icons, icon fixes, weapons if you want them, and whatever else suits your fancy.

Personally on 2x2 OGSSAA this game just looks amazing.

Also, use those UI options in DSfix people. You can do whatever you want really and make it very nice looking so you don't have to disable for pics.
 
nbthedude said:
A buddy of mine had that problem. I can't remember exactly what we did to fix it however couple things to try. First, try turning on borderless windowed mode in DS fix. You can also try running the game dot exe as administrator.
Click to expand...

None of this worked, game still crashed. I will try running it without DSfix.

EDIT: Runs without DSfix, and DSfix without changing anything. Everything is in a small box with DS fix though, I need to test other things now as well.

EDIT2: AA, and AO make the game crash. Also, on 1080, the game is shoved in a small window on the side. Help?

EDIT3: Disabled in game AA, and used downsampling. I don't think I will need AA.
 
So I know it's not DSFix per se, but has anyone had trouble getting DSCfix to work with other people? Because I can join my friend's game no problem, my symbol always shows up, but his will never show up in mine. or at least very rarely. I noticed when I set up his file I set it up a bit wrong, so I changed it, and now he can't even load the game and gets a dll error. And I even sent him my files and still gets it.

Just wondering how that's possible that my game loads with those files and his doesn't. Seems strange. Damn I really hope Dark Souls 2 is better made for PC cuz goddamn this takes a lot of work to make it work right. No probs with Fallout New Vegas, or Baldur's Gate Trilogy, or any other mods, but damn the Dark Souls mods are giving me trouble trying to play with my friend.

The DSFix mod for graphics works perfectly, btw, for both of us. But that DSCfix is just not working like I'd want.

Edit:

For reference the part of DSfix necessary for DSCfix should look like this; correct?
# Dinput dll chaining
# if you want to use another dinput8.dll wrapper together
# with DSfix, rename it (e.g. "dinputwrapper.dll") and put the new name here
dinput8dllWrapper dscfix.dll
# dsmfix.dll
Click to expand...

And DSCfix should look like this?
;;;; DSCfix configuration file ;;;;

;;dInput8Chain: Set another DirectInput hook to load after this one
;;If not set, loads system DINPUT8.dll
dInput8Chain = DSVfix.dll

;;logLevel: Control the logging level
;;Possible values: notice|error|all|none
;;Default value: all
logLevel = error
Click to expand...
?
 
TnK said:
None of this worked, game still crashed. I will try running it without DSfix.

EDIT: Runs without DSfix, and DSfix without changing anything. Everything is in a small box with DS fix though, I need to test other things now as well.

EDIT2: AA, and AO make the game crash. Also, on 1080, the game is shoved in a small window on the side. Help?

EDIT3: Disabled in game AA, and used downsampling. I don't think I will need AA.
Click to expand...

Shit, I could have saved you some time but I forgot.

Yeah, THIS is how I solved his problem. I turned off AA both in-game and in DSFIX. Then to compensate, I simply cranked up the DSfix resolution (thereby downsampling) and he didn't need AA then.

Glad you got it working though. If it's any consolation, after I did this (I did it remotely using Soluto) he hasn't had another problem since and has literally played over 130 hours.
 
Well, I finally went on making it playable. The thing that turned me off fast and I couldn't figure out why is how the game runs like crap is the fps unlock. I didn't mess with that setting the first time I tried to make the game work because of the warning, but this time I decided YOLO and did it anyway. What a difference. Unlock it, set to 30, and the crappy framerate is gone (even though it was supposed to be 30). Soooo much better.

The adjusted DSMFix was pretty much a must too (workable version found here: http://steamcommunity.com/app/211420/discussions/0/864979455329386779)

(I didn't feel like plugging a controller even though I have one just to play a game)

Beginner spoiler:
Damn that Asylum Demon. Finally got him after 3 tries. Didn't know roll made you mostly invincible, so I took it down Monster Hunter style, wooh! Feels goooood

Brutal brutal game lol.

For other people interested in KB/Mouse setup, I'll just copy my other post here:
This takes about 10 to 15 minutes of your time, but then you have a pretty good game.



Do these things:

Open the game and turn off Full Screen, Anti-Aliasing and Motion Blur. Then close the game again.



Then download DSFix from here: http://blog.metaclassofnil.com/?tag=dsfix

And download DSMFix from here: https://skydrive.live.com/?cid=1105a8f9b697e3cc&id=1105A8F9B697E3CC!796

(You need dsmfix09-DS1.0.2.0.zip)



Then pretty much follow this tutorial (the last half of the video shows a bit how to play, recommend to check out as well):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8jyHbWIawE



You'll be editing the ini file that comes with DSFix and changing some keyboard keys.

In the video I don't think he mentions unlocking the framerate in the ini file: I suggest you do that like so:

# Enable variable framerate (up to 60)
# NOTE:
# - this requires in-memory modification of game code, and may get you banned from GFWL
# - there may be unintended side-effects in terms of gameplay
# - you need a very powerful system (especially CPU) in order to maintain 60 FPS
# - in some instances, collision detection may fail. Avoid sliding down ladders
# Use this at your own risk!
# 0 = no changes to game code
# 1 = unlock the frame rate
unlockFPS 1

# FPS limit, only used with unlocked framerate
# do not set this much higher than 60, this will lead to various issues with the engine
FPSlimit 30
Click to expand...

I recommend keeping it at 30, because there are some little bugs with 60 fps. Without the unlock, even if the game is programmed to be a locked 30 fps, it has fps drops. With the unlock it won't and it looks much better.

Change the keyboard keys to the same keys as the guy in the video.

With DSMFix (the mouse fix mod), you can run the exe file after you put the file in the directory to change the sensitivity. I had to do it because even with the in-game change to max speed, it was still too slow for me.

Don't change the HUD part of the ini, seems to cause crashes.

Personally I also changed the FOV to 540 in the ini file, the camera is too fish-eyed otherwise for me.

Don't forget to change the brightness in game. It's supposed to be quite dark and spooky (you have to set it so that you can see the left image but not the right image).



I just defeated the first boss, was really fun and playable. Oh and, once you got it all running: the game is BRUTAL. So freaking hard xD Haven't played a game in a while that kicks my ass.
Click to expand...
 
nbthedude said:
Shit, I could have saved you some time but I forgot.

Yeah, THIS is how I solved his problem. I turned off AA both in-game and in DSFIX. Then to compensate, I simply cranked up the DSfix resolution (thereby downsampling) and he didn't need AA then.

Glad you got it working though. If it's any consolation, after I did this (I did it remotely using Soluto) he hasn't had another problem since and has literally played over 130 hours.
Click to expand...

I really want to run AO though, any idea? This is also aimed at anyone that will stumble on this thread. AO makes my game crash.
 
I've played the shit out of this game on PS3, but now i'm wondering if i can play it on my laptop.. my specs are Intel core i7,Geforce GT 630m 1gb. Yes or no?
 
Ryan Gosling said:
I've played the shit out of this game on PS3, but now i'm wondering if i can play it on my laptop.. my specs are Intel core i7,Geforce GT 630m 1gb. Yes or no?
Click to expand...

I play with the same graphics card but with an i3 and 6GB of ram. Game runs smooth as butter for me 95% of the time so you should be fine
 
Ryan Gosling said:
I've played the shit out of this game on PS3, but now i'm wondering if i can play it on my laptop.. my specs are Intel core i7,Geforce GT 630m 1gb. Yes or no?
Click to expand...

Frankly speaking CPU demand >> GPU demand in this game, so you should be good to go. Observed using GPUz and Task Manager, the game chokes on the CPU long before it will saturate your GPU.

As a point of reference, I'm running this game at 900p rendering resolution limited to smooth 30 FPS most of the time (drops in Blighttown and the long bridge leading up to the First Drake early on in the game) on a Core 2 t9550 @ 2.8 GHz, and a ATI Radeon 4670 1 GB card. A 4.5 year old laptop.

Don't forget to enable the Framerate Unlocker in DSFix though, the framerate will plunge to 15 FPS when dips happen. And they will happen in certain areas.
 
I've started using the save ability of Dsfix, found out that if you quit a game, that exact state is saved.

So close to a boss fight I just put the file on read only, this means that if I die I can just quit to the main menu and load the save and be on the exact same spot.

I'm actually enjoying the game much more now...
Atm i need to kill one of those big black knghts in the catacombs which I ran past the first time around. I can now conveniently kill all the trash, save the game, then have a few 1 vs 1 duels with him in a nice open area without having to kill the trash mobs over and over gain and lose 10 minutes of my life each time just to get another chance at my main fight.

I simply can't take the grind a repetitiveness of dark souls. Much prefer a save system in the end of the day. That and I can now actually replay that fight in the future, just need to backup the save.
 
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