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DashStudio performance

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Wotever edited this page Aug 6, 2025 · 18 revisions

SimHub overlays and dashboards are not using d3d graphic hack, it's a series of borderless windows shown over or aside the game. In these conditions the result can vary a lot depending of your hardware/game settings and the GPU/CPU load.

But ...

"My computer is a "beast", I don't see why I would have to care about performances"

... As counterintuitive as it may feel, the better is your computer, the best you can use the last few free ressource bits of your GPU for your game and prevent Simhub from running correctly.

Following the advices listed below will allow to let it "breath", even if your computer is running the latest top of the shelves components.

  • Overall make your game configuration leave GPU power to SimHub:
    Use FPS limiter, enable vsync, appropriate game quality settings... On a safe side make sure that your GPU load is not above 90-95% load when running the game but not SimHub (Task manager now gives that information, or any of your favourite system monitoring utility).

  • GSync or Freesync can block WPF rendering :
    WPF is the underlying rendering technology when configured to affect both desktop and fullscreen applications (configure it back to default or for fullscreen apps only), you can also configure exceptions for simhub in the driver control panel.

  • When using overlays :
    Reduce the overlay surfaces as much as possible (space taken on the screen, even if totally transparent have an impact)

  • Monitor refresh rate mismatch :
    When using multiple monitors, if they don't use all the same refresh rate, the GPU might prioritize the primary monitor (game) and refresh slowly other screens no matter the actual GPU load. Please adjust your monitors refresh rate.

  • Disable any "game focus" utility :
    Those applications will eventually prevent any other applications to have the required CPU/GPU to do the required work when the game is focused.

    • Native windows game mode
    • Norton game optimizer
    • process lasso
    • MSI's X3D Game Mode

ℹ️ Most of these optimizers “strangle” any non-game process to "free up" performance, which directly conflicts with SimHub's real-time requirements.

  • Disable first third party plugins :
    Disable first third party plugins in SimHub settings to ensure none of them is the culprit.

  • Some Dashboards/overlays are more heavy than others :
    The CPU/GPU requirements will increase with the complexity, try first the stock SimHub Dashboards/Overlays, they are made to be lightweight enough to cover most conditions.

  • Try to enable the HTML rendering mode of simhub :
    The html rendering uses a completely (accessible by clicking on the gear on each overlay/dash), this can be configured globally or per dashboard/overlay

    image

  • Power plan :

    • On laptop make sure Simhub is running on the dedicated chipset by using your GPU control panel and assigning simhub to the dedicated GPU.
    • On notebook or sometimes desktop your power settings might reduce speed, make sure it's set to high performance : image

  • Antiviruses and firewalls :
    Windows defender is not known to cause issues, but some other vendors might interfere with both the game/simhub (avast, norton ...)

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