DXVK Guide

Using DXVK

Summary

DXVK is a Vulkan-based translation layer for Direct3D 8/9/10/11 that translates such calls into Vulkan, which is an effecient cross platform graphics API that can reduce CPU bottlenecks. I suggest reading more about it in their own explanation here. While this was initially developed for Linux Gaming, this can be used on Windows and may provide minimal improvements to the smoothness of the game. I recommend enabling it for any Linux users, as shown in the Linux Guide i wrote, which requires minimal effort to apply and use for all intended applications.

The influence of DXVK on your system's fps may be marginal, and you do require a card that supports vulkan to use it. On my system i received around 30fps more in a 1v1 skirmish map in Mental Omega 3.3.6, and the same on brief testing of a Fading Dusk map with this enabled. Inside MO I went from frequently dropping below 300 to consistently being in the 290-310 mark, which for users in high Hz monitors may be a nicer experience. Note this is with uncapped fps and on Linux with Bottles. Other users who tested it on Windows and sent me their results said they got around a 10-15% fps increase.

DXVK has also received light testing on YR and MO. I am aware that several people have extensively used this method, and both in an online environment and in singleplayer. There have been no reports of this leading to a desync or crash, so this should be safe to use. DXVK in itself is also heavily used in other applications and games, such as Fallout 4 and GTA IV to improve stability, as well as Minecraft recently changing the renderer fro OpenGL to Vulkan showing the API's uptake.

Installation for Windows

Please note this assumes your game works without any issues beforehand. It is recommended especially if you have renderer=dx set rather than auto or ogl, but can be used either way. it is best used with TS-DDraw or CnC-DDraw.

Before and after, make sure you record your game's fps in the same scenario. To do this, run the game and follow Settings/Pause Menu --> Game Controls --> keyboard --> Development --> FPS Counter and set this to an unused hotkey, such as /.Run the game for a minute or two and record the average. It is up to you if you wish to check the uncapped fps or have it in a realistic 60fps or 45fps environment.

Note DXVK has also received light testing on YR and MO. I am aware that several people have extensively used this method, and both in an online environment and in singleplayer. There have been no reports of this leading to a desync, so this should be safe to use, and i recommend it especially if you are using renderer=dx. Be aware that this may not work on mods that use ReShade, such as Rise of the East, Tiberian Sun - Warzone, and Tiberium Crisis 1 & 2.

To Install:
1. Head to DXVK's releases page
2. Download the latest dxvk.x.x.tar.gz file and open it. You may need a file archiver such as 7-zip to open it.
3. Head into the x32 folder and copy only the d3d9.dll file.
4. Paste this into your game's top folder, where gamemd.exe or TiberianSun.exe are located.

If you decide that your game is less stable, you run into difficulties or simply have fps drops then to uninstall you simply delete d3d9.dll from your folder.