We don't have much to show this week but most of our work will carry over to future updates. We spent a lot of time trying to counter sensor drift but our algorithms are not stable and tested enough to release them. Expect more news on that next update.
Desktop client version is 0.5.4.3, mobile app version is 0.8.6.
Changes
- Log me in automatically should work more reliably. Let us know if RiftCat client forgets your password again.
- VRidge should no longer fall behind and crash when encoding 1440p on previous generation NVIDIAs with NVENC checked on. See 1440p compatibility paragraph below.
- RiftCat Client should no longer freeze while connecting to phone (MTU discovery timeout freeze).
- RiftCat Client should no longer crash during phone discovery (System.Net.Sockets.TcpListener.AcceptTcpClient crash)
1440p compatibility
After last week's 1440p update we received some reports about 1440p not working with some video cards. Here's a list of compiled results and reports.
| Generation | Example hardware | 1440p @ 60 FPS | 1440p @ 50 FPS | 1080p @ 60 FPS |
| AMD GCN 1.2+ | R9 285, R9 380, R9 Fury X | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NVIDIA Maxwell | GTX 750, GTX 830M-860M, GTX 930+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Intel HD & Iris (Haswell+) | Intel Core i3-4xxx+ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| NVIDIA Kepler | GTX 650+, GTX 740+ | ❌ | ✓* | ✓ |
| GCN 1.0 & 1.1 AMDs | R9 240, R9 290, HD 7700+ | ❌** | ❌** | ✓ |
| Intel HD (Ivy Bridge) | Intel Core i3-3xxx | ? | ? | ? |
| Intel HD (Sandy Bridge) | Intel Core i3-2xxx | ? | ? | ? |
* Use 60 FPS option. VRidge will try to encode at highest possible framerate.
** According to AMD developer it's not possible to encode video with resolutions beyond 1080p with GCN 1.0 & 1.1 AMD.
*** There are two 390 variants. One is GCN 1.1, other is GCN 1.2. Removed - 390 is GCN 1.1.
** According to AMD developer it's not possible to encode video with resolutions beyond 1080p with GCN 1.0 & 1.1 AMD.
We did not test all of this ourselves. If it's wrong, please let us know so we can correct it. Please keep in mind that some laptop (-M suffix) variants use different chipsets than non-M variants.
is there a reason why R9 290 cant do 1440p ? arent they pretty much the same as R9 390's
ReplyDelete290s are built on top of GCN 1.1 chipset. 390s utilize new GCN 1.2.
DeleteUpdated blog post to include this link:
https://community.amd.com/message/2717998#comment-2717998
290/390 R9 share the same architecture GCN 1.1. The R9 390 / 390X is exactly the same , are GCN 1.1 because they share the same architecture.
DeleteIn addition, both graphics cores are the same:
R9 290: Hawaii PRO
R9 390: Hawaii PRO
R9 290x : Hawaii XT
R9 390x : Hawaii XT
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Radeon_Rx_200_series
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Radeon_Rx_300_series
There is no R9 390 with GCN 1.2 architecture .
http://i.imgur.com/dy9UVbH.png
You're absolutely right. I'm gonna fix the table. Thanks!
Delete
ReplyDeleteThe 1440p resolution in my 390X graphics card not supported. 290 / 290x / 390 / 390X is GCN 1.1 , so it may not work in any of that model.
With 1080p resolution and codec Media Foundation has micro - Stuttering . It solves the quality down slightly, but still exists.
With the HD4600 ( i5 4690K ) works 1440p and 1080p , but has much stuttering causing dizziness . Even lowering the quality , the stuttering is still present .
The image quality on the mobile screen , even when in 1440p and very high settings still a bit poor especially in Elite Dangerous .
The sensor continues it having a slight drift corrected with CTRL + ALT + SHIFT + R.
1. Is the stuttering also present in Oculus SDK games (any game from our store)?
Delete2. There a lot of problems with E:D & SteamVR. Quality is below expectations on real HMD too: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=236794
3. We are working on a better tracking algorithm to use magnetometer to correct drift but we haven't got anything stable enough to release.
The stuttering is present in oculus games and SteamVr games.
DeleteIt is a very annoying ghosting , with media fundation códec with the quality of 1Mb this effect disappears.
I think it's a problem of codec options , as with other applications do not have that problem.
DeleteWith games of your store have goshting too.
QuickSync: 1440p 1Mb to 24Mb = Ghosting
Media Fundation: 1080p 1Mb no Ghosting. Other quality have a little ghosting.
This is the efect:
http://www.valortop.com/img/uploads/2015/08/ghosting-e1439392882212.jpg
Thanks for extensive testing. I still don't understand why there is a difference between QS and MF (they are configured with exactly the same parameters). I'm gonna need to take a look at stream structure.
DeleteYou're welcome.
Delete1Mb quality in QuickSync is higher than 1Mb in Media Foundation .
Does the Media Foundation codec is the same codec AMD VCE ?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Video_Coding_Engine
Media Foundation option uses either NVENC or VCE internally (implementations are provided by NVIDIA and AMD). Quick Sync also uses Media Foundation with some special treatment for Quick Sync behavior but the config is exactly the same with MF & QS.
DeleteThe config differs only in direct NVENC option because it's separate SDK (we added it because NVIDIA did not provide hardware encoder impl. for Media Foundation versions prior to Windows 10).
DeleteThank you so much for answering , now I have it clearer.
I continued doing tests to improve quality in Elite Dangerous . The best option is to increase the supersampling to 1.5x in the graphics options in the game and use 1440p in Vridge .
I get about 50/60 FPS but look a little bad because of ghosting . I hope they can improve the quality of the codec and solve that little problem .
I'm willing to try Freetrack / OpenTrack with infrared LEDs for 6DOF .
In addition , I have been using it with WiFi ( Image + Sound ) for my cardboard ( BoboVr Z4 ) :
http://www.virtual-reality-shop.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Bobo-VR-Z4-1.jpg
Definitely a very good experience using the VR without cables.
By the way , the mobile became very heated.
Hi Alejandro.
DeleteTo reduce the heat, i have build a fan on my cardboard. In my case it is a 12v one. So i have a cable in my neck. I was scared because my mobile is getting really hot. Now it is cool. You could use a 5v one with an otg cable.
Which res do you use in elite. And which wifi speed do you have?
How is your experience with the z4 and fov. I want to buy one but have no idea how to get it through our customs in germany.
Thanks for the info.
DeleteThe resolution using Dangueros Elite is established SteamVr, the only thing you can change is the supersampling to improve it, I put it in 1.5x.
The BoboVr z4 are the best. The theoretical FOV is 120 °, I with my mobile 5.5 "do not see the edges, with the Z3 BoboVr if they looked. They have no distortion, and having integrated headphones can use SoundWire to send the sound from your PC to Mobile WiFi. They are very comfortable and weigh little, I recommend buying. you can find them on Amazon, I buy them in China for 29 €.
Very thanks for your impression.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteIs there any chance you might add FreeTrack support for positional tracking?
ReplyDeleteYes, soon.
DeleteAny possibility of CPU encoding in 1440p for those who can't stream higher than 1080p with their GPU?
ReplyDeleteIt will be possible once we add CPU encoding but 1440p60FPS cpu encoding might be really slow. I can't really tell without testing it but it sounds like a huge load to put on CPU.
DeleteI use intel HD 530 and windows 7 64bit.
ReplyDeleteFirst it work only tracking with no display(looping 'awaiting streaming' message).
After update my intel HD driver both traking and display dosen't work.
How can I solve this problem?
Send us vridge.log file (found in RiftCat/logs) @ team@riftcat.com and copy+paste the contents of your comment too.
DeleteAny chance you will start supporting Mediatek processors?
ReplyDeleteYes, but can't tell when.
DeleteThank you for answering!
DeleteOkay so this far heres what I got working.
ReplyDeleteOn Intel Sandy Bridge 2700k
Quicksync enabled as encoder.
GFX cards Nvidia GTX580 in SLI
Vridge connects fine, but when i start Coffee without words (or any other game) i get tracking workin on the phone sensors, but no image on phones screen, just a message "Awaiting VR game stream"
How can I help you to help me out ? :)
cheers, and thanks for making the amazing effort for what this product will become and allready is :D
Can you send vridge.log from RiftCat/logs directory to team@riftcat.com again, after enabling Intel QS?
DeleteJust sent the 3 log files
DeleteHey, I also have this problem on my laptop. Sandy Bridge i5 processor for quicksync either has a reconnect loop or awaits the stream even with the newest update. All programs are set to the gfx card.
Delete@randomizer
DeleteUnfortunately we found out that Intel Quick Sync Media Foundation encoder (technology we use) works only with Intel 4xxx or newer CPUs (Haswell+ ).
We'll try to add direct Quick Sync implementation based on Intel driver but I don't have any time estimates on that. :(
hey guys,
ReplyDeleteGreat work and loving the progress of program. Was just wondering if it is in the works that we will be able to run the games in 4k quality? As I have a Sony z5 Premium and it goes 4k. Or is this pushing it a bit too far right now? lol
4k would require very powerful video card. Probably GTX 980Ti or 390X (maybe even 2 of them) but yeah, it is possible.
DeleteWe will add more resolution options once we make render resolution adjustable.
yeah i thought it might. you guys are doing an excellent job! keep it up
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHi, I have news...
ReplyDeleteRiftCat:
QuickSync at 1440p Low - Medium - High - Very High: I have always 30FPS in phone. Although 60 FPS select in options.
http://i.imgur.com/WIvblju.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/MT5minO.jpg
QuickSync/Media Foundation at 720p/1080p Low - Medium - High - Very High: I have always 35 - 45 FPS
http://i.imgur.com/mSV160W.jpg
TrinusVr at 900p in High Quality: I have 55-59FPS.
http://i.imgur.com/srzpCB4.jpg
TrinusVR at 1080p in High Quality: 45-50FPS.
I think the problem is in the codec, and how mobile decompresses the image. I have a Meizu MX5 AMOLED 1080p with Helio X10.
I hope this information will help.
More Test:
DeleteQuickSync/Media Foundation 1080p - Very High - 60FPS: 35/45FPS but when I make a screenshot reaches 60 FPS and remains constant between 55 / 59FPS.
QuickSync 1440p - Very High - 60FPS: Phone=30FPS Video=60FPS.
QuickSync 1440p - Very High - 30FPS: Phone=60FPS Video=30FPS.
More tests.
DeleteQuickSync / Media Foundation - 1080p / 720p or any resolution - 60 FPS:
Start taking 35 / 45FPS
If I screenshot I have 59.9FPS
After 3 or 4 minutes 34 / 45FPS again.
QuickSync - 1440p - 60 / 30FPS :
The video begins to 59FPS but after 2 seconds down to 30FPS . There is no way to go up .
Unfortunately NVENC streaming doesn't seem to work on my Win7 laptop with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M GPU, phone is a Samsung Note 3 SM-N9005. I've been trying "The Night Café" demo and the desktop app just crashes after launching, then a windows tooltip says the video card has been restored due to a crash. Phone screen keeps waiting for the VR stream.
ReplyDeleteNote 3 has some issues according to our users but the VRidge desktop crash is more interesting. Could you send logs as described in
Deletehttps://support.riftcat.com/hc/en-us/articles/208781529-What-diagnostic-data-log-files-should-I-send-with-bug-report-
nice
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete