PIX on Windows

Performance tuning and debugging for DirectX 12 games on Windows

CPU Sample collection issue fixed in a recent Windows Update
CPU Sample collection issue fixed in a recent Windows Update
Steven Pratschner June 10, 2021 Jun 10, 2021 06/10/21
Several people have reported that CPU samples were not showing up in Timing Captures starting a few months ago.  This ended up being an issue with Windows Defender that has been fixed in a Windows servicing update that was released earlier this week.  A description of the fix and how to verify that you've received it is available on the ...
Timing Capture Sampling Profiler video
Timing Capture Sampling Profiler video
Steven Pratschner May 6, 2021 May 6, 2021 05/6/21
I recently posted a new video to the PIX on Windows YouTube channel that describes some of the features in the Sampling Profiler in Timing Captures.  This video shows how to use CPU samples to analyze CPU performance in portions of your title that aren't sufficiently instrumented with PIX events. As always, use the feedback button in the ...
Converting previous versions of Timing Captures
Converting previous versions of Timing Captures
Steven Pratschner April 29, 2021 Apr 29, 2021 04/29/21
In some releases of PIX, the Timing Capture file format must be changed as new features are added. Such a format change was made in the 2104.20 release of PIX on Windows. If you attempt to open a capture that contains an older file format, a dialog will be displayed with the following text: Please use the Convert menu to migrate this ...
Usability improvements to the Timing Capture Metrics View
Usability improvements to the Timing Capture Metrics View
Steven Pratschner April 22, 2021 Apr 22, 2021 04/22/21
The 2104.20 release of PIX on Windows includes several usability improvements to the Metrics View in Timing Captures.  These usability improvements make it easier to manage the set of metrics that are currently graphed.  Metrics analysis is also improved through the ability to customize the minimum and maximum values for the y-axis for each...
New CPU Sampling Profiler C++ Source Code View
New CPU Sampling Profiler C++ Source Code View
Steven Pratschner April 22, 2021 Apr 22, 2021 04/22/21
Starting with the 2104.20 release of PIX on Windows, the Sampling Profiler that is built into Timing Captures includes a C++ source code view. The source view uses coloring to attribute the collected CPU samples with source lines, thereby identifying the hot spots within a function. The source view is available when viewing Sampled ...
PIX Timing Captures require full PDBs
PIX Timing Captures require full PDBs
Steven Pratschner February 26, 2021 Feb 26, 2021 02/26/21
PIX Timing Captures require a title’s PDBs to be generated using the /DEBUG:FULL linker switch. PDBs generated with the /DEBUG:FASTLINK linker switch are not sufficient. Note that, depending on the version of Visual Studio you are using, the linker switch /DEBUG specified without the FULL or FASTLINK option, may default to FASTLINK...
Finding memory leaks using Timing Captures
Finding memory leaks using Timing Captures
Steven Pratschner February 23, 2021 Feb 23, 2021 02/23/21
PIX Timing Captures include several analysis features aimed at making it easy to find memory leaks in your title.  These features, coupled with the ability to take captures for extended periods of time, are a compelling combination for finding leaks, even those that can take a considerable amount of time to manifest themselves. To enable ...