DCS Best VR Settings & Optimization (2025)

Going back and forth to find the perfect settings in DCS (Digital Combat Simulator) can be a bit frustrating and time-consuming! Here we cover our findings (and those from the Pimax community). You may need to do a bit of tweaking depending on your system, but hopefully, we save you some time with these recommended VR graphic settings for DCS.

Scroll down for the best profiles and settings for:

  • Crystal, 4090 GPU, OpenXR
  • Crystal, 4070ti GPU, SteamVR
  • 8KX, 4090, OpenXR
  • 8KX, OpenXR, 4060ti
  • 8K, 3080ti, SteamVR
  • AMD 6900XT, SteamVR

We also share some other tips below, including on DFR.

Settings for Crystal, 4090 & OpenXR

System Setup
4090
i9-11900kF
64GBRAM DDR4
DCS Settings
Textures: High;
Terrain: High;
Traffic: Low;
Water: High;
Visib Range: Extreme;
Heat Blur: Low;
Shadows: High;
Flat Shadows Blur: On
Secondary Shadows: On;
Resolution: 1920*1080;
Res of cockpit displays: 1024
Monitors: 1 Screen;
MSAA: 2x;
Depth of field: Off;
Clouds: Ultra;
SSAA: Off;
SSLR: On;
SSAO: On;
Clutter/Grass: 1170;
Forest Visibility: 85%;
Preload Radius: 150000;
Gamma: 2;
External field of view: 125%;
Anisotropic Filtering: 16x;
Terrain Objects Shadows: Flat;
Cockpit Global Illumination: On;
Messages font scale: 1
Scale GUI: 1;
Rain Droplets: On;
Vsync: On;
Full screen: Off
Graphic Card Setting
Nvidia: Global Settings: Power
Management Mode: Prefer
Maximum Power

Runtime: Open XR:
Native Resolution
CAS Sharpness: 70%
FFR: On
Pimax Play Settings
Everything Default
Refresh Rate: 90Hz

Contributed by TallyMouse from r/Pimax

Settings for Crystal, 4070ti & SteamVR

System Setup
4070Tii7-13700F
16GB RAM
DCS Settings
Textures: High;
Terrain: High;
Traffic: Off;
Water: High;
Visib Range: Medium;
Heat Blur: High;
Shadows: High;
Flat Shadows Blur: Off
Secondary Shadows: On;
Resolution: 2560*1440;
MSAA: Off;
Depth of field: Off;
Clouds: Standard;
SSAA: Off
SSLR: On;
SSAO: Off;
Clutter/Grass: 0;
Forest Visibility: 65%;
Preload Radius: 70200;
Gamma: 2;
External field of view: 78%
Graphic Card Setting
Runtime: Steam VR
Refresh Rate: 90Hz
Motion Smoothing: Off
Render Resolution: 44% 2690*2972
Advanced Supersample: Off
Overlay Render Quality: Medium
Pimax Play Settings
Refresh Rate: 90Hz
Eye Tracking: On
Render Quality: 1
FFR: On
Smart Smoothing: Off

Settings 8KX, 4090, OpenXR

System Setup
4090i9-11900kF
64GBRAM DDR4 3600MHz
DCS Settings
Textures: High;
Terrain: High;
Traffic: Low;
Water: High;
Visib Range: High;
Heat Blur: Low;
Shadows: High;
Flat Shadows Blur: On
Secondary Shadows: On;
Resolution: 1920*1080;
Res of cockpit displays: 1024
Monitors: 1 Screen;
MSAA: off;Depth of field: Off;
Clouds: High;SSAA: Off;
SSLR: On;SSAO: On;
Clutter/Grass: 1170;
Forest Visibility: 85%;
Preload Radius: 150000;
Gamma: 2;
External field of view: 125%;
Anisotropic Filtering: 16x;
Terrain Objects Shadows: Flat;
Cockpit Global Illumination: On;
Messages font scale: 1
Scale GUI: 1;
Rain Droplets: On; Vsync: Off;
Full screen: Off;
Rain Droplets: On
Nvidia Settings
Power Management Mode:
PreferMaximum Power
Runtime: Open XR
Native Resolution
CAS Sharpness 100%
FFR: on
40deg - 1
60deg - 1/4
80deg - 1/16th
PimaxPlay Settings
FOV: Wide
Refresh: 90Hz

Contributed by TallyMouse from r/Pimax

8KX, OpenXR, 4060ti

System Setup
4060Tii9-11900kF
64Gb RAM DDR4 3600MHz
DCS Settings
Textures: High;
Terrain: Low;
Traffic: Off;
Water: Medium;
Visib Range: Medium;
Heat Blur: Low;
Shadows: Low;
Flat Shadows Blur: On
Secondary Shadows: Off;
Resolution: 1920*1080;
Res of cockpit displays: 1024
Monitors: 1 Screen;
MSAA: off;Depth of field: Off;
Clouds: High;SSAA: Off;
SSLR: Off;
SSAO: Off; Clutter/Grass: 500;
Forest Visibility: 75%;
Preload Radius: 150000;
Gamma: 2;
External field of view: 125%;
Anisotropic Filtering: 16x;
Terrain Objects Shadows: Flat;
Cockpit Global Illumination: On;
Messages font scale: 1
Scale GUI: 1;
Rain Droplets: On;
Vsync: Off;
Full screen: Off; Rain Droplets: On
Nvidia Settings
Power Management Mode:
PreferMaximum Power
Runtime: Open XR
Native Resolution
CAS Sharpness: 100%
FFR" on
35deg - 1,
55deg -1/4,
70deg -1/16th
PimaxPlay Settings
FOV: Medium
Refresh: 90Hz

Contributed by TallyMouse from r/Pimax

3080ti settings for Pimax 8K

System Setup
3080ti
DCS Settings
Textures: High;
Terrain Textures: High;
Water: High;
Visib Range: High
Shadows: High;
Resolution: 3840*2160
Aspect Ratio: 1.7777777778;
Res.of Cockpit
Display: 1024;
MSAA: 2x;
Cloud: High
Trees Visiblity: 40%;
Anisotropic Filtering: Off
Terrain Object Shadows: Off
Cockpit Global illumination: On
Gamma: 2.2
Nvidia Settings
Power Management Mode:
PreferMaximum Power
Runtime: Steam VR:
Global Resolution: 80%
Pimax Play Settings
n/a

Settings for AMD 6900XT, SteamVR

System Setup
AMD 6900XT
DCS Settings
Texture: High;
MSAA: Off;
AF: x 16;
Shadows: Flat;
Forest Visibility: 50%;
Visual Range: High;
Clouds: Standard
Graphic Card Setting
Maximum FPS: 45
Anti-lagDisable everything else
Runtime: Steam VR
Global Resolution: 100%
Video Setting Per App: 100%
Motion Smoothing: Off
Advanced Super Sampling: Off
Pimax Play Settings:
n/a

Basic VR requirements

MinimumRecommended
CPU: Intel or AMD 3.0Ghz+ with 2 cores
Memory: 16GB
Storage: 140GB
GPU: 2080
CPU: Intel or AMD 4.5Ghz+ with 6 cores
Memory: 32GB
Storage: 300GB
GPU: 3080 or better

Extras:

  • Drivers: up to date; Minimize background programs and processes;
  • Set DCS at highest priorities through Task Manager;
  • Minimize WMR and SVR Windows while playing the DCS;
  • Powerful cooling system.

Hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling: Disabled

General VR graphic optimization tips

Thanks to Rex from the Pimax Discord server.

1 - Testing settings one by one is recommended since every machine is different. Find a worst-case scenario for the GPU or CPU to test.

-> For GPU testing I recommend looking at Beyrouth on the Syria map to get a worse-case scenario. GPU wise (with lots of clouds/rain to test cloud settings, at sunset or sunrise to test shadows).

-> For CPU testing, a heavy MP server (Blueflag, Enigma Cold War, etc.) or a heavy single-player mission (dozens of AI moving offroad, SAMs searching/firing, etc.)

PS: Intel PresentMon (recently released in beta) is a great tool for all GPUs and CPUs to find out what is limiting you (the DCS performance overlay is often wrong in that regard)

2-I'll only cover some settings which I have found be good performance levers with little visual fidelity lost, first video linked below covers the rest in detail.

3 - The NVCP has only one setting that affects DCS in VR, that is V-sync set to "fast" which can improve performance in some specific scenarios. The rest is not working (see 2nd video).

4 - Most if not all settings are GPU performance hits only. So if you are CPU limited (use PresentMon), turning up settings will not change your FPS.

5 - Most of these settings have performance hits in different contexts, which is why again, a "reasonable" worst-case scenario should be made up and used for testing

Useful videos for graphic optimization:

OptionRecommendationNote
WaterLowWater is present under every part of the DCS maps so that setting is another 15% between low and high. It's also a very subtil difference in flight. Not worth it.
CloudsHigh by default, Ultra if performance availableClouds between High and Ultra is 10-15% performance since the difference is the application of AA to them. Definitely one you'll notice either way. Very cloudy missions will kill your frames, plan for it.
Anisotropic Filt.16x if not VRAM limitedIf you're VRAM limited (3080Ti + 8KX in large FOV runs into the issue. But not the 3090), anisotropic filtering between 2x and 16x has a 15% impact on frames. Test for your machine since otherwise it's free and noticeable.
MSAA2xMSAA is "required" to prevent shimmering of cables/fences and such. Note, MSAA can't run at the same time as SSAA in VR (use Pixel Density as a replacement but it is less effective than MSAA)
View distanceUp to your preference/performanceCostly setting (20% between Low and Extreme) but necessary to not notice trees/buildings popping in too much. Up to your preference. The difference between Extreme and High is large in terms of visuals.
ShadowsDepending on performanceTest at sunset and sunrise to get a worse case scenario, can get quite expensive. Medium seems like a good middle ground.
Secondary ShadowsOFF / Needs testingShadows from light sources other than the sun. On the Super Carrier only so far from what I read. Haven't tested.
Blurred ShadowsUp to your preferenceThis setting targets shadows from trees (in particular) not being projected onto the ground from far away by blurring them. They almost disappear due to this so either way it's annoying, up to your preference. Costs nothing.
Terrain TexturesHighDoes use more VRAM but makes quite a difference visually. Largely outweights Anisotropic filtering.
Cockpit TexturesHighWhatever the cost this is necessary. Other settings are unusable.
SSLROFFSSLR is a gimmick but surprisingly cheap (5% ish). It looks good especially on lakes. Not really worth it but up to personal preference. SSLR deals with reflections ("Ray Tracing" like but not as advanced)
SSAOOFFVery subtil. Does have a slight performance impact.
Global Cockpit IlluminationOFFVery subtil, almost as if it wasn't working properly.
Heat blurOFFBroken in VR (renders in one eye only) + Looks bad with Quad Views DFR
Lens effectsOFFBroken in VR (seen in double) and looks bad with Quad Views DFR. Essentially free though.
Depth of FieldOFFThis is mostly a cinematic effect (external views) with cinematic performance levels. I'm also not sure it works well in VR. Avoid.
Preload RadiusDepending on your setupA lower preload radius helps with RAM usage but requires loading more often. Known to cause crashes below certain settings for some people despite having ample pagefile. At maximum 32GB of RAM is borderline.
GrassUp to your preference/performanceGrass has an impact on performance when near the ground (5% ish). Distance is quite small though and even in choppers it goes away quickly.
Tree visibilityUp to your preference/performanceTree "growing" distance also has quite a large performance impact (double digit %) in wooded areas however they are very noticeable when "growing". Up to your tolerance. Detail factor can also balance this.
DCS Best VR Settings & Optimization (2025)

FAQs

DCS Best VR Settings & Optimization? ›

The most important VR setting for performance is Headset Display Mode. Users with NVIDIA hardware should set this to Single-Pass Stereo, which is a stereo mode that draws two views in a single rendering pass. Much of the CPU work for the second 3D view is offloaded to the GPU.

What are the best settings for VR performance? ›

The most important VR setting for performance is Headset Display Mode. Users with NVIDIA hardware should set this to Single-Pass Stereo, which is a stereo mode that draws two views in a single rendering pass. Much of the CPU work for the second 3D view is offloaded to the GPU.

How to set up VR for DCS? ›

The first launch of SteamVR will enable a VR gaming headset. Windows mixed reality runs in the background after installation, so there is no need to run it. The next step is to launch DCS World, go to the settings, the VR tab and check the option - Enable virtual reality headset.

What is the frame rate for DCS VR? ›

3 is great. 60+fps stable in VR with details on max over Beirut.

How do I optimize my computer for VR? ›

By following these steps, you can maximize the performance of your PC and enjoy a seamless VR gameplay experience.
  1. Introduction. ...
  2. Updating Drivers and Operating System. ...
  3. Optimizing GPU Settings. ...
  4. Managing Power Options. ...
  5. Utilizing Windows Game Mode. ...
  6. Closing Unnecessary Processes and Programs. ...
  7. Optimizing Discord Usage.
Jan 2, 2024

What is the ideal FPS for VR? ›

For an optimal VR experience, aim for a frame rate of at least 90 fps, and consider factors such as hardware specifications, software optimization, and content complexity to achieve and maintain high frame rates. We can look forward to even more immersive and realistic virtual experiences as VR technology evolves.

Does VR use more CPU or GPU? ›

VR experiences are very similar to games in terms of overall system requirements, so both the CPU and GPU are important – but because of the need to run two displays (one for each eye) at very high refresh rates the demands on the video card (GPU) are more intensive than average games.

How to improve VR performance in DCS? ›

Basic VR requirements

Drivers: up to date; Minimize background programs and processes; Set DCS at highest priorities through Task Manager; Minimize WMR and SVR Windows while playing the DCS; Powerful cooling system.

How does OpenXR work? ›

OpenXR is an API that provides access to XR platforms and devices. OpenXR means that applications can run on any system that exposes the OpenXR APIs. You can simply develop your application just once, and it will work across any platform that supports OpenXR.

What is the best aspect ratio for DCS? ›

16:9 is a proper aspect ratio for 1920x1080. Doesn't look "Squished" to me. :D.

What are the recommended specs for DCS World VR? ›

Recommended VR systems requirements (VR graphics settings): OS 64-bit Windows 10; DirectX11; CPU: Core i5+ at 3+ GHz or AMD FX / Ryzen; RAM: from 32 GB; Free hard disk space: 500 GB on Solid State Drive (SSD); Discrete video card NVIDIA/AMD from 8GB VRAM; Joystick; requires internet activation.

How much RAM does DCS VR use? ›

System Requirements

OS: Windows 10, 11. Processor: Intel or AMD 3.0Ghz+ with 4+ cores. Memory: 16 GB RAM. Graphics: Discrete AMD or NVIDIA 8GB+

How to increase VR quality? ›

The first step to improve VR quality is to make sure your VR hardware meets the minimum requirements for the VR platform you are using. Whether you are using a PC-based, standalone, or mobile VR headset, you need to check the specifications of the device, such as the CPU, GPU, RAM, storage, battery, and display.

How do I make my VR clearer? ›

Try these troubleshooting suggestions:
  1. Make sure that you've removed the protective film on the headset lenses.
  2. Check that the lenses are clean. Use the cleaning cloth provided in the box to wipe the lenses.
  3. Make sure that you're wearing the headset properly. ...
  4. Make sure your IPD is set correctly.

What does VR need to improve? ›

To improve VR technology, developers and manufacturers should explore new ways of enabling user interaction, such as haptic feedback, eye tracking, voice control, and brain-computer interfaces. These methods could provide more realistic and intuitive feedback, as well as more options and flexibility for users.

What do you need to run VR smoothly? ›

  1. Operating System (OS): Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  2. Processor (CPU): Intel i7- 7700 or AMDRyzen 5 1500x or greater.
  3. Memory (RAM): 16GB or more.
  4. Graphics Card (GPU): NVIDIA GTX 1060/ AMD Radeon RX480 or newer (be sure to check if the graphics card is VR capable and supports DirectX 11.3 or newer)
Apr 12, 2023

How do I improve my VR performance Quest 2? ›

However, the one we are most interested in is the Default Texture Size which changes the quality of some of the in-game textures. The Quest 2 has a default texture size of 2048 so choosing a texture size of 2560 or 3072 should give a noticeable boost to the graphics.

Is 120Hz good for VR? ›

120Hz becomes a standard feature to minimize motion sickness

Reducing lag, increasing image stability, and helping to maintain the illusion that you're really there in the virtual world. And eventually helping with motion sickness.

What refresh rate is best for VR? ›

Most VR headsets require a frame rate of at least 90 frames per second (fps) to offer smooth performance and prevent issues like dizziness or nausea for the user.

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