[Regression]: Shader based anisotropic filtering causes significantly worse shader compilation hitches (0.1% lows)

[lextra2]

Describe the Bug

Tested on Windows 11 25H2 with 581.80 drivers.

Starting from v2.7.284 #14188
the shader compilation hitches are about 31% worse than v2.7.283
and starting from v2.7.301 #14370
they're about 53% worse than v2.7.283

v2.7.283 = 32 FPS VIDEO
v2.7.284 = 22 FPS -31% VIDEO <-- Regression 1
v2.7.301 = 15 FPS -53% VIDEO <-- Regression 2

Reproduction Steps

Requires Ratchet - Deadlocked SCUS-97465
Requires a third party overlay that can measure 0.1% FPS lows. I used RTSS with presentmon_foreground.ovl

Delete the following shader folders, before opening PCSX2:
"C:\Users\Master\AppData\Local\NVIDIA"
"C:\Users\Master\Documents\PCSX2\cache"
Obviously you'll need to change the username for your account.

Use this savefile Mcd001.zip
Use this config PCSX2_ini.zip

1. Launch the game and toggle fast-forward with F4.
2. Load the savefile and wait until you've loaded into the game controlling Ratchet.
3. DO NOT MOVE YET.
4. Wait until you hear the announcer say "Run Ratchet, run!"
5. You can now disable fast-forward.
6. Wait until your FPS-overlay shows 60 FPS for the 0.1% lows.
7. You can now start moving and shooting in the same direction as me in the video.

PCSX2 Revision

v2.7.346

Operating System

Windows 11

CPU

AMD Ryzen 7600X

GPU

Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti

[Mrlinkwii]

theirs part of your issue , Nvidia driver performance starting with the 590 versions and newer have significant performance issues with pcsx2 which is a known issue

[lextra2]

theirs part of your issue , Nvidia driver performance starting with the 590 versions and newer have significant performance issues with pcsx2 which is a known issue

I went ahead and installed 581.80

Turns out, it has the same exact performance as the newest 596.49 driver.
In hindsight I should have known better, because I've already proven the regressions are with PCSX2.

[JordanTheToaster]

Nvidias newer drivers are broken and do have worse performance we have tested this and verified it as for shader stuttering it has always been an issue until you have a decent amount built up and even then you might need to make more it's just how it is for now but we are looking into ways to deal with it.

[lextra2]

Nvidias newer drivers are broken

And at what number are they working as intended? If you tell me, I'll gladly test it.

[JordanTheToaster]

581.84 is typically what we tell people to use if they want to avoid issues with newer drivers but again won't help with shader stuttering.

[lextra2]

I've re-run the tests with DirectX 11 because that API was the most stable.
I've found the regressions. Performance is affected across all APIs.

It would be really great if the user could choose between hardware sampler and shader based AF. This way we can avoid the performance regression but still provide a working solution for other GPU vendors.

[JordanTheToaster]

Again it's being worked on but besides that all you can do is just let it build up as you play to smooth it out.

[Jayjoeie]

I can confirm the performance regression, however before complaining I must thank the devs, cuz in the latest updates the pcsx2 has increased it's fidelty A LOT, this comes with a price increased cpu/gpu, we're still in nightly so I suspect it will be fine in the upcoming updates, thanks to all devs who put countless hours into the development, big luv <3