Sonic All-Stars Racing Transformed Performance Issues On Intel UHD 600 With DXVK

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Introduction

This article delves into a performance degradation issue encountered while playing Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed on an Intel UHD 600 integrated graphics processing unit (GPU). The user, doitsujin, reported a significant drop in frame rates when using newer versions of DXVK (a Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 9/10/11) compared to older versions. This performance dip renders the game, which was already challenging to run due to hardware limitations, virtually unplayable. We will examine the reported issue in detail, explore potential causes, and discuss possible solutions or workarounds. Understanding the interplay between DXVK versions, game performance, and integrated graphics is crucial for gamers seeking optimal experiences on less powerful hardware.

Problem Description

The core issue reported is a noticeable performance drop in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed when using recent DXVK versions (specifically, versions 2.5.3 and 2.7) compared to an older version (4.1). The user observed a loss of approximately 6-7 frames per second (FPS), which, in the context of already marginal performance on an Intel UHD 600, made the game unplayable. This degradation highlights the importance of DXVK version compatibility for maintaining stable performance, particularly on systems with integrated graphics solutions. This article will dive deep into the root causes and potential solutions for this performance regression.

System and Software Information

To effectively troubleshoot and understand the performance issue, the following system and software details are crucial:

  • Game: Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
  • Wine: wine-10.12.r0.gb09545bc (TkG Staging NTsync)
  • Operating System: Armbian (24.2.1) x86_64
  • Kernel: 6.15.6-1-liquorix-amd64
  • Desktop Environment: GNOME 42.9
  • GPU: Intel GeminiLake [UHD Graphics 600]
  • CPU: Intel Celeron J4125 (4) @ 2.001GHz
  • Memory: 8GB
  • Graphics Drivers: Latest Mesa Vulkan drivers

The combination of hardware and software configurations plays a vital role in game performance. The Intel UHD 600, being an integrated GPU, shares system memory and processing power with the CPU, which can sometimes lead to performance bottlenecks in graphically demanding games. The use of Wine and DXVK adds another layer of complexity, as these components translate Windows-specific graphics APIs to Linux-compatible ones. Understanding these system specifics is critical for diagnosing and resolving the performance issues encountered in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.

Analysis of the Performance Degradation

The reported performance degradation with newer DXVK versions is a significant issue that warrants careful analysis. Several factors could contribute to this problem, including:

  1. DXVK Changes: Newer DXVK versions may introduce changes in how they translate Direct3D calls to Vulkan. These changes, while potentially improving performance in some games, could inadvertently introduce regressions in others, especially on specific hardware configurations like the Intel UHD 600. It's crucial to consider the specific changes implemented between DXVK versions 1.4.1 and 1.5.3 to identify potential causes.
  2. Driver Compatibility: The latest Mesa Vulkan drivers, while generally providing the best support, might have compatibility issues with certain DXVK versions or specific games. Driver updates often include optimizations and bug fixes, but they can also introduce new problems. Testing with different Mesa driver versions could help isolate driver-related issues.
  3. CPU Bottleneck: The Intel Celeron J4125, a low-power CPU, might become a bottleneck, particularly when combined with an integrated GPU. Newer DXVK versions might place more load on the CPU, exacerbating the bottleneck and leading to performance degradation. CPU utilization monitoring during gameplay can help determine if the CPU is a limiting factor.
  4. Memory Constraints: The integrated GPU shares system memory, and insufficient memory bandwidth or capacity could lead to performance issues. If newer DXVK versions require more memory, this could negatively impact performance on systems with limited memory resources. Memory usage monitoring can reveal whether memory constraints are contributing to the problem.
  5. Game-Specific Issues: It's possible that the game itself has compatibility issues with newer DXVK versions. Certain game engines or rendering techniques might interact poorly with DXVK's translation process, leading to performance drops. Testing other games with different DXVK versions can help determine if the issue is specific to Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed.
  6. Vulkan Implementation Differences: The way different DXVK versions implement Vulkan features could have varying performance impacts on different GPUs. Older versions might have used simpler, more compatible approaches, while newer versions might leverage more advanced Vulkan features that are not fully optimized on the Intel UHD 600. Investigating the Vulkan API calls made by different DXVK versions could provide insights into potential performance bottlenecks.

Potential Solutions and Workarounds

Given the complexity of the performance degradation issue, several potential solutions and workarounds could be explored:

  1. DXVK Version Rollback: As the user initially identified, reverting to a previous DXVK version (e.g., 1.4.1) can potentially restore performance. This approach bypasses any compatibility issues or regressions introduced in newer versions. Systematic testing with various older DXVK versions might help pinpoint the last known stable version.
  2. Driver Updates/Downgrades: Experimenting with different Mesa Vulkan driver versions could help determine if a driver-related issue is at play. Rolling back to older drivers or trying beta drivers might resolve compatibility problems. Thorough testing after driver changes is essential to ensure stability.
  3. Wine Configuration: Adjusting Wine settings, such as the Windows version emulation or graphics settings, might improve performance. Wine's configuration options can significantly impact how games run. Experimenting with different Wine configurations could yield performance gains.
  4. Game Settings: Lowering in-game graphics settings, such as resolution, texture quality, and effects, can reduce the load on the GPU and CPU. This is a common technique for improving performance on low-end hardware. Optimizing in-game settings can make the game more playable.
  5. CPU Affinity: On multi-core CPUs, setting CPU affinity can sometimes improve performance by ensuring that the game uses specific cores. This can be particularly helpful if other processes are competing for CPU resources. Using taskset or similar tools to set CPU affinity might improve performance.
  6. Process Priority: Increasing the game's process priority can give it preferential access to system resources, potentially improving performance. However, this should be done cautiously, as it can negatively impact other applications. Adjusting process priority using renice or similar tools might offer a slight performance boost.
  7. DXVK Configuration: DXVK offers various configuration options that can be adjusted to fine-tune performance. These options can control aspects such as shader compilation, memory management, and multithreading. Experimenting with DXVK configuration settings might reveal performance optimizations.
  8. FSR or other Upscaling Techniques: Using FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) or other upscaling techniques can help improve performance by rendering the game at a lower resolution and then upscaling it to the display resolution. This can reduce the GPU load without significantly impacting visual quality. Implementing FSR or similar upscaling methods could provide a noticeable performance improvement.
  9. Monitoring and Optimization: Continuously monitoring system resource usage (CPU, GPU, memory) during gameplay can help identify bottlenecks. Optimization efforts should focus on addressing these bottlenecks. Utilizing monitoring tools like MangoHud or Gallium HUD can provide valuable performance data.

Conclusion

The performance degradation in Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed on the Intel UHD 600 highlights the challenges of gaming on integrated graphics solutions. The interaction between DXVK versions, drivers, and system hardware can significantly impact performance. By systematically analyzing the issue, considering potential causes, and exploring various solutions and workarounds, it may be possible to optimize the game for better playability. Further investigation and experimentation are often necessary to find the optimal configuration for a specific game and hardware setup. The importance of community feedback and collaboration in identifying and resolving these issues cannot be overstated, as shared experiences and solutions can benefit a broader range of users facing similar challenges.