Page 1 of 1

DX9 games and Flip presentation model

Posted: 03 Mar 2025, 11:37
by witega
Does anyone know if the following is accurate, based on my testing it seems there are only two presentation models for DX9 games on Windows 11:

Hardware: Legacy Flip
Composed: Copy with GPU GDI

If using Fullscreen Exclusive with disabling FSO in the game's properties, the presentation model will be Hardware: Legacy Flip.

However if using a borderless or windowed setting, enabling FSO and "Optimizations for windowed games" enabled (Settings->System->Display->Graphics->Default graphics settings) this will only give me a Composed: Copy with GPU GDI.

Is there no way to force DX9 games to use the Flip presentation model? I have an issue with an older DX9 game that whenever I use FSE it forces my display panel to use 60hz, which is undesirable as the display lag of my monitor is higher at this refresh rate. But doing borderless/windowed results in the worst presentation model with Composed: Copy.

Most of my other DX9 games can run FSE without changing my display's refresh rate so not sure the cause here.

Appreciate any help here!

Re: DX9 games and Flip presentation model

Posted: 03 Mar 2025, 15:13
by RealNC
witega wrote:
03 Mar 2025, 11:37
Is there no way to force DX9 games to use the Flip presentation model?
Only if the game uses DX9ex. Which is rare.

But you can use dxvk or dgVoodoo2 to run DX9 games on top of Vulkan or DX11.

Re: DX9 games and Flip presentation model

Posted: 07 Mar 2025, 21:54
by witega
Thank you very much RealNC for responding, much appreciated. Turns out I was able to get HW Independent Flip on a DX9 game by modifying the game's config file to go beyond 60hz.

I may have to take a look at dgvoodoo2 though for DX8 games, so appreciate the suggestion there. :)

Re: DX9 games and Flip presentation model

Posted: 08 Mar 2025, 02:42
by RealNC
witega wrote:
07 Mar 2025, 21:54
Thank you very much RealNC for responding, much appreciated. Turns out I was able to get HW Independent Flip on a DX9 game by modifying the game's config file to go beyond 60hz.

I may have to take a look at dgvoodoo2 though for DX8 games, so appreciate the suggestion there. :)
SpecialK has some experimental options to force DX9ex in DX9 games as well. However, it's very hit and miss whether it will work or not.