Pimax Crystal Super: DCS Ultimate Settings Guide

Pimax Crystal Super: DCS Ultimate Settings Guide

Pimax Crystal Super: The Ultimate DCS Setup Guide

The pursuit of exceptional VR visual fidelity in Digital Combat Simulator (DCS) represents a significant challenge for flight simulation enthusiasts. With the Pimax Crystal Super's impressive 29 million pixels (3.5 times the resolution of a 4K monitor), users now have access to remarkable VR performance potential when properly configured.

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Special thanks to Tally Mouse and Thud from VR4DCS for sharing the original tutorials that served as the foundation for this optimization guide. The settings of this guide are for reference only. You are encouraged to experiment based on your own needs and contribute to a thriving community. Through extensive testing with high-end systems (including RTX 4090 and i9-13900KF configurations), the following performance benchmarks have been achieved:
  • 80-90 FPS in most operational scenarios
  • 150% foveated region super sampling
  • Maximum detail settings without perceptible stuttering
  • Enhanced visibility for distant aircraft spotting
  • Consistent performance even in demanding situations such as carrier operations

This guide isn't just for high-end systems. It includes optimized settings for various GPU tiers (as shown in the charts below), so users across a range of hardware can benefit. It assumes your CPU and RAM are reasonably well-matched to your GPU, ensuring they don't become a major bottleneck. The Crystal Super pushes 29 million pixels, which is 3.5 times the resolution of a 4K monitor. Even if you need to lower the render resolution in Pimax Play or tweak some quality settings in DCS to accommodate a tier 2 or tier 3 GPU, the visual clarity still outperforms most consumer headsets on the market.

Step 1: Preparation

  1. Do a full uninstall of the Pimax software and Tobii Software before proceeding to download and install the updated Pimax Software version for Crystal Super. Manually find all the directories, including in App Data folders.
  2. Do a couple of reboots and/or a power down after uninstalling before you install any new software.

Step 2: Integrate DCS Assets within Pimax Play

Setting up Pimax Play Assets can ensure you take advantage of per-game settings within Pimax Play. DCS might be missing in "Pimax Play → My Assets" if you are using the standalone version. The complete setup process is as follows:

1. Locating the DCS Installation:

  • Launch Pimax Play and select the Import function in the top-right interface
  • Navigate to the DCS installation directory (typically located at: Program Files\Eagle Dynamics\DCS World\bin\)
  • Select DCS.exe to incorporate it into the Pimax software library

2. Custom Icon Configuration (Optional):

The default imported icon may appear generic and can affect library organization. The following steps resolve this:

  • Terminate Pimax Play completely (verify process termination via Task Manager)
  • Access the directory: C:\Users\[Username]\AppData\Roaming\PimaxClient\
  • Right-click on the file config.json and open it with a text editor
  • Locate the entry containing "productName": "DCS"
  • Insert the Steam store icon URL (https://shared.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/223750/library_header.jpg?t=1745499731) in the subsequent "image" field
  • Save modifications and restart Pimax Play. Now, you will find DCS in "My Assets" with the correct name and proper icon.

Step 3: Settings in Pimax Play

1. Device Settings

After connecting your Crystal Super, go to "Pimax Play → Settings → Device" and make the following adjustments:
  • Refresh Rate: Configured to 90Hz for Tier 1 or Tier 2 GPUs, 72Hz for Tier 3.
  • Brightness (Crystal Super exclusive): Adjusted to 99/98 to reduce potential washout effects
  • Eye Tracking: Verification of activation and proper calibration
  • IPD Configuration: Manual input of measured IPD values is recommended over automatic detection

2. Games Setting

Within Pimax Play's game-specific settings for DCS:
  • Select DCS in Games and enable per-application configuration for DCS
  • Uncheck Pimax Central Priority Rendering
  • Render Resolution Parameters:
    • Tier 1 GPUs: 100%
    • Tier 2 GPUs: 100%
    • Tier 3 GPUs: 75% recommended

Implementation Note: Direct launch of DCS through Pimax Play ensures proper application of these settings.

Step 4: DLSS Configuration for NVIDIA Hardware

Since the DCS update in mid-May, DLSS Swapper Implementation is no longer necessary. Simply save this file in C:\Users\[Username]\Saved Games\DCS\Config 

Step 5: Quad Views Foveated Rendering

Pimax Play has integrated native Quad Views, and it's the most convenient way of enabling foveated rendering in DCS. Please refer to Tally Mouse or Thud from VR5DCS if you prefer solutions from third parties to make more customized settings.