teantonic

I am not too sure if this is of value to anyone, but here is what I tried, along with my results.

Before I loaded into Battlefield 3, I left-clicked on the shortcut (BF3.exe), then clicked properties, compatibility, then under settings click both 'disable visual themes,' and 'disable desktop composition.'

At first glance running the game, I noticed around 150MB available memory. I am not concluding anything, but it might advance the conversation.

Cheers!

I think that is some very cool info, thanks for sharing. Will check it out.
 

JK_DC

Try Skyrim with texture packs next if you have it. I think I will start turning aero off on games that get close to my 2GB vram limit.

Don't have it, sorry.

Dose this only apply when using a high resolution wile in game and dose this happen with all video cards or just the 680's So if someone uses like 1280x1086 or something like that dose the aero still drop the fps and use the same amount of VRAM

TheNerd

Dose this only apply when using a high resolution wile in game and dose this happen with all video cards or just the 680's So if someone uses like 1280x1086 or something like that dose the aero still drop the fps and use the same amount of VRAM

I do post some 1920x1080 vram usage details. At that low res however, hakka is all over it. Maybe some games you can't max on a 1GB card.
 
Well, I ran the BF3 test to see if I could go to FXAA+4xMSAA after turning off Aero, and yes I can. Instead of a choppy 2000+MB, it uses 1869MB in that scene and it plays well. Pics on Post #2. I will try for some MP testing.

Quagmire LXIX

TheNerd

Dose this only apply when using a high resolution wile in game and dose this happen with all video cards or just the 680's So if someone uses like 1280x1086 or something like that dose the aero still drop the fps and use the same amount of VRAM

I do post some 1920x1080 vram usage details. At that low res however, hakka is all over it. Maybe some games you can't max on a 1GB card.

Well, I ran the BF3 test to see if I could go to FXAA+4xMSAA after turning off Aero, and yes I can. Instead of a choppy 2000+MB, it uses 1869MB in that scene and it plays well. Pics on Post #2. I will try for some MP testing.

Yeah BF3 maxes it out and other games just us about half the VRAM

By picking "Windows 7 Basic" theme. Does that completely disable Aero?

Why is BF3 not doing this stuff automatically? I know some games disable Aero while you play.

Crysis 2 SP Memory Management > BF3 (have not tested MP yet). While BF3 is perfectly content letting you and your system settings shoot yourself in the foot, Crysis manages your vram well and does not let it play over your limit (here, that limit is 2GB). A double edge sword though as it won't really tell you where or how it's keeping you from shooting your foot.
 
When I tried FXAA+4xMSAA after finding the vram savings from turning off Aero, it played fine and stayed under 2GB, with Aero on, BF3 was content on letting the game play at 2023MB which causes extreme choppyness. Crysis 2 will not let it play over 2GB, no matter the settings. C2 does not appear to turn off Aero itself, just manage your memory so it won't try and play over 2GB. When this scene first comes into focus, the vram will report >2GB, but withing 2 seconds, it will find a spot around 1980-1990MB and play the level at that all the way through.
 
In the case of MAX settings, you can see the drop in FPS and if your FPS shows that at this scene, it won't be playable through the SP campaign. However, it's not unplayable due to the vram usage like in BF3. DX9 vs. DX11 shows little difference to me in vram usage, but there is some.
 
Aero Off: (same game settings as in OP, but reran, I will call them "stock" from now on)

Aero On: (same game settings as in OP, but reran, I will call them "stock" from now on)

 
Aero Off: Stock minus High Res Textures

Aero On: Stock minus High Res Textures
 

Aero Off: Stock minus High Res Textures and DX11 Off

Aero On: Stock minus High Res Textures and DX11 Off
 
 
Aero Off: MAX game settings

Aero On: MAX game settings

EVGA_JacobF

Sniper V2 uses DX11 API as well.

You can see the API that is being used on Precision X overlay, right to the left of the FPS.

 
Thanks Jacob.

FattysGoneWild

By picking "Windows 7 Basic" theme. Does that completely disable Aero?

Seems to me, but try teantonic's suggestion (and others) on a per app basis.

I have a GTX 680. I have dual monitors (extended desktop) and Lucid Virtu. I play BF3 at the highest resolutions with no difficulty. I have Aero enabled. I have Precision X enabled and a frame target rate of 75 FPS. All good.

Just tried it and noticed a difference right away. It is not choking like it use to with massive battles. Especially on Gulf Of Oman 64 man battle. I am using high settings with HBAO. Only thing. I still notice my background picture changes? I thought by enabling those settings. It would remain on the same picture until Aero is back on?
 

Quagmire LXIX

EVGA_JacobF

Sniper V2 uses DX11 API as well.

You can see the API that is being used on Precision X overlay, right to the left of the FPS.

Thanks Jacob.

FattysGoneWild

By picking "Windows 7 Basic" theme. Does that completely disable Aero?

Seems to me, but try teantonic's suggestion (and others) on a per app basis.

Interesting thread; the wife just got a new HP A8-3500 with a gig of dedicated Vram, I'm still learning about this whole laptop thing and APU's; I was benchmarking it yesterday with Old Republic, Dragon Age, Killing Floor. It ran the later two fine maxed out at 720 res. But Old Republic I had to adjust settings to get it smooth. I will mess with the Aero when I get home to see the difference.
 
Thanks for the info and time.

Afterburner

Not sure how I missed this thread... BR for you. You have gone through a lot of effort and willing to offer what you learned to others. Heck even willing to learn more yourself. Keep up the good work

 
A BR from AB, nice! Thanks and thanks for moving it to an appropriate forum, I'm just on auto GTX when I'm here .
 

marundo

Interesting thread; the wife just got a new HP A8-3500 with a gig of dedicated Vram, I'm still learning about this whole laptop thing and APU's; I was benchmarking it yesterday with Old Republic, Dragon Age, Killing Floor. It ran the later two fine maxed out at 720 res. But Old Republic I had to adjust settings to get it smooth. I will mess with the Aero when I get home to see the difference.

Thanks for the info and time.

 
Hope you find a nice Easter Egg with your testing and thank you.
 

robhall86

Thanks for this, never even crossed my mind!

 
Didn't rank on my meter either, thank you.

gullerback
First thing I do after every fresh install of Windows 7 =P
1. Uninstall Internet Explorer
...

 
That made me lol hard man.
 
Btw, regarding the background changing, that happens if you choose the Windows Default Classic profile. You don't need to do that. You can simply choose which application you want to disable Aero in by right-clicking on the EXE, choosing properties, and then heading over to the compatibility tab. Find and tick "Disable Desktop Compositon"
 
 
Easy 3 steps: 

 
This will disable aero automatically as soon as you launch BF3. And obviously re-enables it when you quit BF3. =)

I take it "disable visual themes" is not needed? I could of sworn man. Even when I checked to disable desktop composition. The picture still was changing since it was not the same picture after I was done playing? I need to test again but pretty sure on it...
 
****EDIT****
Tried it and yes the picture changed. So, it is still changing pictures in the background?
 

shazam

gullerback
First thing I do after every fresh install of Windows 7 =P
1. Uninstall Internet Explorer
...

That made me lol hard man.

Btw, regarding the background changing, that happens if you choose the Windows Default Classic profile. You don't need to do that. You can simply choose which application you want to disable Aero in by right-clicking on the EXE, choosing properties, and then heading over to the compatibility tab. Find and tick "Disable Desktop Compositon"


Easy 3 steps: 


This will disable aero automatically as soon as you launch BF3. And obviously re-enables it when you quit BF3. =)

Oh okay. Was not sure if that was normal or not. Since it was changing pictures still. I thought Aero was not completely disabled. Once again with out trying to sound redundant. Dice should have made Aero disabled automatically when playing. Other games do it. BC2 does it I believe.