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@rocksdanister rocksdanister released this 12 Dec 17:19
v2.0.5.0
25c5698

lw_hero

Lively Weather v2.0 is here 🥳... up to 50% efficiency improvement and Linux preview release!

Pixel Shaders (D2D1)

The underlying weather animation system has been completely rewritten to utilize Direct2D (D2D1) pixel shaders, introducing significant improvements:

Fast and Stable

D2D1 is highly optimized - offers up to 50% efficiency increase and reduces spikes in GPU resource usage, resulting in a quieter and more efficient system operation.

Comparison_d2d1_hlsl
RTX 3070, Overcast at Performance quality setting.
Notice the overall reduction in the Clock speed, Load and Power.

Note: GPU load percentage in Task Manager's Processes tab can be misleading because it depends on the GPU’s clock speed, which varies between modes like idle and performance. In low-power idle mode, the clock speed is greatly reduced, so even light tasks may show high usage. This doesn’t indicate a heavy workload but rather the GPU’s efficient power-saving behavior.

Framerate Control

lw_fps.mp4
  • Animation frame rates can be independently adjusted from the UI frame rate.
  • Users can optionally choose lower than the default frame rates to further minimize resource usage.
  • Some shaders are capped at a maximum frame rate in performance quality setting to optimize efficiency.

Improved Compatibility

lw_compatibility.mp4

D2D1 runs on older DirectX 11 hardware, this is disabled by default (set to lowest preset) just in case if there are any issues; can be changed in settings.

Renderer Option

lw_renderer.mp4

The previous DirectX 12 renderer is available as an optional setting for users who prefer it, though staying on D2D1 is recommended for optimal performance.

Linux Preview

Lively Weather is now available in Linux.. try out the early preview version of the software now!

lw_ubuntu_d1.mp4

To learn more about the differences and limitations, click here.

To download the preview software, click here.

Enhancements

  • "Beta" label is removed from title.
  • New diagnostics overlay (D2D1 renderer only.)
  • Improved tunnel visual (depth creation dialog) by using mirrored texture.
  • Added Czech language.

Fixes

  • Fixed visual not resizing when entering Fullscreen in screensaver page.
  • Fixed incorrect spacing between some settings menu items.
  • Fixed incorrect Spanish translations.

Updates

  • Updated community translations.
  • Updated dependencies.
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