PIMAX EVO v1.0.1 & PIMAX PLAY 2.0.2 - OPTIMIZATION FOR PIMAX CRYSTAL LIGHT_Rev.02

Pimax Play Discussion
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Attached the updated test report optimizing my Pimax Crystal Light for DCS flight simulator. The previous report was published in the DCS forum but superseded by this updated to Rev.02, attached below.

Highlights:

The objective of this project is to optimize the Pimax Crystal Light specifically for DCS, with the highest practical combination of visual clarity, frame rate, frame pacing and stability. The work began after a performance degradation was observed when moving from Pimax Play v2.0.2 to Pimax EVO v1.0.1.

The original investigation established that Pimax EVO could be made usable by disabling reprojection-related features and reducing unnecessary peripheral rendering. At that stage, 90 FPS was the principal target. Further tuning after 05.09.2026 materially improved both software paths. The best EVO configuration was recorded on 08.09.2026, while the best Pimax Play configuration was recorded on 11.09.2026.

Current result: both configurations can reach up to 120 FPS in suitable DCS scenarios, depending on aircraft, map, altitude, and scene complexity. However, Pimax Play continues to provide the best overall combination of performance, stunning image quality, stability, and configuration simplicity on this system. 90 FPS can also be selected at this point; it is a matter of the user’s preference.

Accordingly, Pimax Play v2.0.2 dated 11.09.2026 is designated as the current production baseline. Pimax EVO v1.0.1 dated 08.09.2026 remains a validated alternative and an important comparison reference.

I also made a video related to this test: https://youtu.be/qv8aoAiXhzU

PIMAX EVO v1.0.1 - OPTIMIZATION FOR PIMAX CRYSTAL LIGHT_Rev.02.pdf (2.4 MB)

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PIMAX EVO v1.0.1 & PIMAX PLAY 2.0.4 - OPTIMIZATION FOR PIMAX CRYSTAL LIGHT_Rev.03
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Thank you for this. Seemed a bit jerky from time to time at low level in your DCS video. I’m now running Pimax Play 2.0.4 and EVO 2.0. My PCL firmware is also newer: 1.0.22. I’d be interested to see your results when you are also up-to-date.
My settings are very, very similar to yours, but I’m at around 70FPS (OXRTK - I can’t find the on-screen metrics you use - help?).
My System: PCL, RTX5090 Aorus Master ICE, 64Gb KLEVV Cras V RGB 6400, Gigabyte Z890 Aorus Elite WiFi7 ICE, Intel Core Ultra 7 265K @ 5300.

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Hi! I just read that the Pimax Play 2.0.4 and EVO 2.0 are now available. I will install and do one more run. For DCS or other flight sims 72/90Hz are more than enough they are not First-Person shooter games. Same with PCmonitors/TV 60hz refresh rate it is plenty…

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I notice now that you were using Caucasus and Afganistan for your tests. I also get 90-100+ Fps in the Persian Gulf (e.g. Oman) where there is similar terrain. Perhaps you might try your next evaluation in more stressful environments such as the Marianas or Cold War Germany (if you have it): Cold War Germany only gives me >50FPS with your settings in F16.

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Hi!! yes correct. I took Caucasus and Afghanistan randomly and kept testing in there. Need to test in other terrains. I have updated to Pimax Play v2.0.3 all good so far did not have time to test properly i will do it during the next few days and make an update. Headset Firmware still on V1.0.21 From the first quick tests I saw that if I switch GPU Upscaling to OFF the frame rates drops a lot, like with the previous versions. Both in FSR and NIS to ON top results. In theory we should keep the GPU Upscaling OFF but I just keep FSR ON as I always had it to ON when got best performance in previous versions of Pimax Play. I now put back the FOV Crop to Normal still steady around 120fps. Attached last settings from yesterday initial tests. DCS settings still the same as in my guide.

pdf24_converted.pdf (1.4 MB)

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It’s not that I can’t be more than happy with 90-100 FPS (but need to use Mild QV in Vector XR, otherwise +/- 90), but I still think you have some ‘secret sauce’ somewhere that allows you to get a steady 120 FPS. My settings, as far as I can tell are now identical to yours, with only one step up in HMD firmware and PP @ 2.0.4. I’m using OXRTK at default and only FPS in the overlay. What overlay are you using, and is it in 2D screen or VR? My system is pretty close to yours (except you have a top gamimg AMD CPU), So I’m really intregued why I shouldn’t get close to your result.

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Hi,

I only use VR, as you can see from my guide “PIMAX EVO v1.0.1 - OPTIMIZATION FOR PIMAX CRYSTAL LIGHT_Rev.02” which at the end I think the Pimax Play “Classic” it has been the best for the time being, at least for me… Just installed Pimax Play v2.0.4 and to get 120fps I have to enable GPU Upscaling FSR and Balanced mode. While with the latest EVO I get stable 100fps with the GPU Upscaling OFF and Sharpness at 0.5

if you get 90-100fps it is very good. The overlay it is the one built-in in DCS, check in UI. pressing Right Ctrl + Pause/Break on your keyboard.

Now it is late I will do more systematic tests since I have download the the latest Pimax Play. I see if you install the PIamx Play it removes the EVO. If you install the EVO you can switch back to Play “Classic” but the previous version not the v2.0.4

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It’s funny how using the same software people are having different experiences, as is very ctaer from this forum. I received the updated classic to 2.0.4 a while back (I’m ticked on the Beta channel) from 2.0.3 that was also quite early compared with others. Also, Once I got the link to EVO 2.0 from Pimax and installed it, it worked off the bat switching back and forward with the existing Classic 2.0.4. One thing to note is that with 2.0.4 installed, I installed EVO without using ‘clean install’. In the past, when I was on Classic 2.0.2 and installed EVO clean, Classic reverted to an earlier version.

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New update in here: PIMAX EVO v1.0.1 & PIMAX PLAY 2.0.4 - OPTIMIZATION FOR PIMAX CRYSTAL LIGHT_Rev.03