Allow to set background FPS like we had with beta's MainLoop

vvvv gamma feature
1

Hello!

Following up a question I shot in the chat: it seems there is no out-of-the-box way in Gamma to set a background framerate like we used to have a dedicated pin in beta, right?

In my current project, the vvvv window doesn’t always have focus and it leads to massive framerate drops :(

If there is a node/trick I’m missing I’ll be happy to hear!

Thx
T

2

so you’re saying setting the framerate using the MainLoop node is not enough? you really need to distinguish between foreground and background fps?

3

Yes

My usecase here: I’m streaming ArtNet and Spout from Gamma to Unreal; when vvvv has focus everything is super smooth (~120fps); but as soon as I click the UE window, it drops to maybe 10 fps.

It’s not that I really need a “disctintion” between foreground and background per say, but rather to be able to set a framerate even if vvvv does not have the focus.

Most of the time, in beta, I would just plug the same value to both foreground/background and that would do it.
I think it would be great to have that feature/input back into Gamma’s MainLoop node!

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image1561×1341 99.3 KB

CheckIfVVVVIsActive.vl (32.1 KB)

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5

If you only need it for the Render / SceneWindow you can just use Focused:

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image565×179 5.2 KB

6

ok, interesting because we’re not aware of changing gears when running in the background. what you set in the MainLoop node applies as a max in both fore and background.

so not really sure where this drop comes from. i do remember in the past there used to be a windows setting to generally degrade apps that don’t have the focus. wondering if this still exists and such could be the reason?

7

@bjoern
Thanks for the snippet!

But how to “ensure” a framerate without a perf drop even when vvvv is in the background?
It seems your patch is typically to cool framerate down when vvvv doesn’t have focus (can be useful too), but what if I want a steady framerate without drop when I lose focus?

UE has a “Use Less CPU when in Background” setting to uncheck for this, I’m basically trying to hack something similar in Gamma.

8

Maybe this is caused by Windows Game Mode. Try disabling it.

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9

Mmm that’s an interesting lead to investigate!
Will try to dig the subject and report.

If you have any ideas in the meantime…

10

Here is a little screen grab; Gamma on the left, UE on the right.
Check my PerfMeter on Gamma and the smoothness of the preview in UE while I switch window focus

1 Like
11

I was not aware of this setting and this sounded like the perfect suspect… but things behave the same even if turned off and all apps restarted :(

12

Did you restart Windows?

13

Racked my brain and found the “source” again:

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image605×543 57.8 KB

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14

I did…

Game Mode off, killed all apps, restarted Windows, checked Game Mode is still off, but situation is still identical to my video above :(