Vulkan API – Feedback, Known Issues, and FAQ

Hi all, new here, having an issue that I'm mostly sure is Vulkan related. Looks like others might be reporting a similar problem, but I wanted to get my voice in, too.

I have a very new Linux machine running top-end hardware that can handle the Ultra graphics preset fine. However, I occasionally get "hitching" where the entire game freezes in place visually (audio still more or less going) before returning to the same stable framerate it was before. I know it's not strictly hardware, because it was managing close to 200fps before I capped it at 120 for Vsync.

I've attempted to attach a screenshot showing what the performance graph was doing at the time, which shows the abrupt FPS drop before it stabilized and returned to normal, just after some kind of extreme spike to CPU usage. However, I didn't really see the same in my system monitor, so not sure what the truth is. Either way, the abrupt pause is very real.

There don't seem to be any specific causes - it can happen at any time. I initially assumed it was related to loading parts of the map while driving, but it even happened with physics paused while in the vehicle select menu, so I assume it's something else.

Specs:
Linux Mint 22.3 (kernel 7.0.0-14 generic)
AMD Ryzen 9 9950X
AMD Radeon RX9070XT
32GB DDR5 4800MHz
running latest public Linux native build

(I forgot to get log files, but I also don't really know how to do so. If needed I will be happy to provide them)

 

AMD RX 6750, latest drivers, Windows 10, latest version, Ryzen 5 3600, 16gb of ram

I first noticed pitch black rocks at Johnson Valley, as well as "missing terrain texture: /assets/materials/terrain/asphalt/asphalt/t_asphalt_nm.normal.png" in the `~ menu, immediately after the update with all my old mods installed. Naturally, went to safe mode (Direct3D), it worked. Disabled all my mods, cleared cache, relaunched in Vulkan, still didn't work. Reinstalled the game, deleted all of my mods, completely fresh install of the game, launched in Vulkan... still issue. Went into Vulkan Safe Mode, same issue.

I then checked every map. I found pitch black walls at Automation Test Track, pitch black rocks at Cliff, pitch black wall part at Italy, pitch black rocks at JRI, and at all of these (as well as ETK Test Center and Utah, which had only this issue), the terrain part outside of the map (I forget the name, but its the thing that's just for decoration) is pitch black.

 

The issue you’ve noticed:
when you turn on rivatuner statistics overlay the game will freeze within seconds


This happens when:
urn on rivatuner statistics overlay
My specs are:
Windows 11 26200.8894 | RTX 2080 Ti | Ryzen 7 5700X | Driver 610.88

Logs:
beamng.log

 

Vulkan windows 11 rx 6750xt latest drivers ryzen 7 9800x3d, vulkan has issues with textures in west coast

 

I posted under DX but I just noticed that there's a dedicated Vulkan channel- I found that ALL lighting seems to sort of get "baked" (Your shadow freezes where you were when you enabled vr mode, headlight beams do the same, environmental lights don't update, all the lighting basically freezes) when you enable VR mode. No amount of fiddling with graphics or display settings seems to remedy the issue unfortunately.

I am playing on a GT1070 and a relatively okay CPU, 16 gigs of ram, if you find anything to fix this please let me know, I've been excitedly waiting to get home and play around in vr mode but was dissapointed when I noticed this issue.

 

UI won't even load for me on 0.39. Background music plays but nothing else is showing up, it's just a black screen not reacting to any inputs. In fact, clicking anywhere makes the window change to Not Responding and Windows suggesting to close it. Checked in safe mode as well and that didn't help, logs from safe mode attached. D3D12 works as expected.

Ryzen 5 3600, RTX 2080 Ti, 32 GB RAM. Logs may show outdated GPU drivers (not sure how detailed they are) but I've updated the drivers after that and that didn't help as well.

 

after updating to 0.39 Vulkan launched to the main menu fine, but as soon as I select anything like freeroam it would freeze. cleared the cache and now vulkan launches into a black screen with the main menu music

 

Was doing some performance testing and comparisons when I discovered this Vulkan flickering/flashing bug. It only happens with Vulkan (on both Windows and Linux). DirectX is fine. I was testing maxed out settings on Grid Small Pure when I noticed it.

(Epilepsy warning for the video)

 

Traaaagic! I understand though, thank you for hearin' me out.

 

when i load vulcan its just a black screen but i can hear the game and click buttons.

edit: it was rtss and msi afterburner

 

having an issue with vulkan, game runs fine up until i switch vehicles from the one i started with, game runs at about 10 fps down from 40-50

 

I at first wasn't sure if I just didn't notice but apparently this is an inconsistent problem, at least on my machine. Yesterday I was running into this and now today I'm not. Has to have something to do with relaunches or reboots.

 

EDIT:

https://github.com/ashwin-explorernl/BeamngRTSSfix


decided to test vulcan, hangs straight away when GUI wants to load


checked log:
19.49898|E|vulkan| (submit) Failed to submit to transfer queue [ErrorDeviceLost]
19.49901|E|vulkan| No gpu markers
19.49907|E|vulkan| Failed to submit to graphics queue [ErrorDeviceLost]
19.49908|E|vulkan| GPU Markers: end [{ TopOfPipe }]
19.49908|E|vulkan| GPU Markers: end [{ BottomOfPipe }]

aahh sounds like overlay, RTSS being the issue, with OSD off in RTSS all works fine (and afterburner can stay open)

steps i took:

• in Nvidia CP i enabled using vulkan on DXGI swapchain instead of native, no dice.
• launched beamng first before turning on OSD, beamng crashes straight away when enabling OSD.
• checking the logfile, VK_LAYER_RTSS get's loaded fine ( 1.40247|D|vulkan| 7 Layers: VK_LAYER_NV_optimus, VK_LAYER_NV_present, VK_LAYER_reshade, VK_LAYER_RTSS, VK_LAYER_VALVE_steam_overlay, )
• checked registry for vk layer, also fine:
  • [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Khronos\Vulkan\ImplicitLayers]
    "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\RivaTuner Statistics Server\\Vulkan\\RTSSVkLayer64.json"=dword:00000000
• checked vulkaninfo in cmd, all is reported good (the layers, did not check all hhehe)
• replaced JSON and DLL files that are used for hooking, no dice

to be honest, currently i don't have the time to further troubleshoot, good news though!! i have a workaround for you guys:

• In nvidia app set presenter to DXGI Swapchain instead of auto or native (for beamng not global), then place attached 2 profiles into your RTSS profile folder (C:\Program Files (x86)\RivaTuner Statistics Server\ProfileTemplates).
  these profiles will make sure that RTSS doesn't hook into the VK instance (by using layer) but sits on the DXGI swapchain instead (in the overlay you should see this instead of vulkan:

however, when i have some spare time i will investigate for a permanent solution, currently vulkan and RTSS works fine without performance penalty (you mileage may vary, DXGI swapchain introduces theoretical overhead)

For the people that want to know exactly what the profiles contain, see below:

[Hooking]
IgnoreDXGIInterop = 2

 

thank you for this workaround! i've been playing this game using vulkan renderer for a while now and was surprised it randomly stopped working but i should have known RTSS compatibility with games isn't always perfect (definitely not the first game i've needed a workaround to use RTSS in). at the end of the day it is third party software on top of the program so i can't really fault the devs for this workaround being required

 

you're welcome, if you want to add it for a different game you can rename the cfg file to the app you want to use it for.

 

Glad to report that the flickering issues with vulkan renderer have vanished since 0.39! Vulkan performs significantly better dan DX12 for me

 

I am having an identical issue. I have a ticket in with support as well. fingers crossed. Loving the update so far

 

I'm also having this same issue. I feel like its something to do with distant shadows. From a far these objects seem to be ok, but maybe i have bad eyes though lol

Specs: W11, 9800x3d, 6900xt, 32GB 6000 Ram. All drivers and things as updated as possible.