Vulkan (MoltenVK) on macOS - grey screen only

supermariomaker · (This post was last modified: 03-20-2019, 01:41 AM by supermariomaker.)

Hi,
I have just installed the latest build available for macOS (5.0.9766) and my iMac has a Radeon Pro 570, which is why I wanted to try the Vulkan backend. The screen opens and the window bar shows the statistics (proper frame rates), however the actual screen in which the game is suppose to be is fully solid grey. I tried a few Wii and GC games.

When I run it with OpenGL as the backend the screens are as expected (at 60fps with minimum hiccups, but not without hiccups).

What could be wrong, and how can I find out more about what is going on?

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Operating System:
macOS 10.14
Processor/CPU:
3.4 Ghz Intel Core i5
Video Card/GPU:
Radeon Pro 570 4096 MB
Memory/RAM:
24GB
Dolphin Revision Currently Using:
5.0.9766

**JonnyH** · 03-20-2019, 05:35 AM #2

What games did you try?

Do you have any non-default graphics settings or enhancements enabled (aside from the backend selection)?

What version of MacOS are you using? 10.14.3?

Does it magically appear if you move the window around the screen a bit?

supermariomaker · 03-20-2019, 10:53 AM #3

Hi,
In 5.0.9766 all of the games I tried are showing in grey (Wii: Mario Party 9 PAL, Super Mario Galaxy 3 NTSC; GC: Zelda Wind Waker NTSC) however I downloaded build 5.0.9709 (as the commit showed a change related to MoltenVK, I thought I try my luck) and it plays those Wii games! Zelda Wind Waker still shows in grey. So there seems some regression, and it seems it is specific to the games. I will check the wiki for those specific games.

My macOS is indeed 10.14.3. It does not magically appear when I move around the screen. So far I only tried to change the backend (I am new to Dolphin and can't make much sense of the other options yet).

off topic: in 5.0.7909 I did a random benchmark. I ran the opening screen of Mario Party 9 at 4K resolution. In OpenGL it runs below 50fps, around 38fps. In MoltenVK it runs above 50fps (while holding tab), around 55fps. That would be difference between playable and not-playable at 4K! Smile

supermariomaker · 03-20-2019, 04:35 PM #4

In build 5.0.7909 I managed to get Zelda Wind Waker working with Vulkan/MoltenVK by changing the shader compilation to "Asynchronous (Ubershaders)". Running around Windfall Island at 4K resolution I can get about 45-55 fps (compared to 32-42 fps for the same settings but with OpenGL as the backend). So far I am very pleased as I will be able to play the two games I want to, away from my TV: Wind Waker and Galaxy 2. I'll settle on 1080p for a good balance in resolution and performance. Smile

Thanks all the many devs working on Dolphin!

supermariomaker · 03-20-2019, 05:40 PM #5

I decided to try and upgrade back to 5.0.9766, and change the shader compilation. That solved the grey screen issue. However in both builds, the Vulkan backend took down my iMac with lots of graphical glitches when playing Super Mario Galaxy 2 (consistently and always at the same place). I had to power down the computer to get it back to life. So for now I will stick to OpenGL. At 1080p it plays at 100% of the games' fps, which is all good enough for me.

If anyone wants to know what goes wrong (with either the grey screen or the crash), I am happy to provide logs. Just point at what you would like to have.