Performance Settings

SgtBarlow · October 2012

<div class="IPBDescription">Work continues on performance all the time, Here is what you can do:</div><b><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#48D1CC">BUILD 222 - Recommended Settings</span></span></b>

<b><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#FF8C00">IN GAME SETTINGS</span></span></b>

<blockquote><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><b>Texture Quality</b> - Based on GPU Memory vs OS Bit Version & RAM</span>
<ul><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">512MB/less</span> on Windows 32-Bit <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">LOW</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">512MB/less</span> on Windows 64-Bit <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">LOWÂ® - Pushing it on MEDIUM</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">756MB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 4 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">LOW</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">756MB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 2/3 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUM</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">756MB</span> on Windows 64-Bit <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUMÂ® to HIGH</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 4 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">LOW</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 3 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUM</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 2 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUMÂ® to HIGH</span></span></li><li>GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 64-Bit with 2 to 16+ GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUMÂ® to HIGH</span></span></li></ul><span style="color:#FFFFFF"><blockquote><i><b>NOTE:</b> 32-Bit can only allocate a total combined RAM and GPU MAP of 3.75GB hence the very odd listing above with more RAM being worse on 32-BIT </i>

Users running systems in synchronous mod with CPU, FSB & RAM all with an equal frequency in excess of 1333MHz or varied high none-synchronous frequency set-ups may be able to select higher texture quality settings without stuttering between areas on maps as you move between rooms, Toggle the Texture streaming option to find best results.</blockquote></span>
<ul><li><b>WAIT FOR VERTICAL SYNC</b> = Double Buffered / Triple Buffered</li><li><b>AMBIENT OCCLUSION</b> = OFF / MEDIUM</li><li><b>TEXTURE STREAMING</b> = ON - SSD users on 800~1333MHz ram might try OFF</li><li><b>MULTICORE RENDERING</b> = ON / OFF for single core users.</li></ul></blockquote>

<b><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#FF8C00">GPU CONTROL PANEL</span></span></b>
<blockquote>
<b>NVIDIA USERS</b>
<ul><li>First Ensure all settings are set to Default. (Press RESTORE)</li><li>DC/QC CPU users Set "Threaded Optimisation" to ON (Setup an NS2 Profile if desired)</li></ul>

<b>ATi/AMD USERS</b>
<ul><li>Turn off CATALYST A.I. < Usually the largest cause of black screen or strange graphical artefacts on ATi/AMD Cards</li></ul></blockquote>

Codeine · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SgtBarlow @ Oct 13 2012, 12:57 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990320"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 4 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">LOW</span></span>
[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 3 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUM</span></span>
[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 2 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUM to HIGH</span></span></div>

nice info but why is performance recommendation worse with more ram?

TheLord · October 2012

GPU's 756MB on Windows 64-Bit MEDIUM to HIGH

This needs to be medium. Got a gtx260 with 896mb vram, 4gb ram & win7 64bit and high leads to endless swapping freezes on big maps.

Wilson · October 2012

Vertical sync on? Isn't that a big performance hit as well as causing mouse lag?

SgtBarlow · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Codeine @ Oct 12 2012, 03:04 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990328"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>nice info but why is performance recommendation worse with more ram?</div>

Because of the note in brackets under the list.

SgtBarlow · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wilson @ Oct 12 2012, 03:06 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990332"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Vertical sync on? Isn't that a big performance hit as well as causing mouse lag?</div>

I started using Triple Buffered on my system as of last night, I found it to be a lot more smoother, I not got any noticeable mouse lag.
If you have then try RAW Input mode in the other settings menu in game.

extollo · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Codeine @ Oct 12 2012, 11:04 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990328"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>nice info but why is performance recommendation worse with more ram?</div>

that is interesting & i've noticed stuttering on my new machine which is more than adequate on hw, but i'm currently using a win7 32bit os I had. i'll try low :( until i get 64bit os

Aezay · October 2012

What effect does Catalyst A.I. have on NS2?

It's doesn't seem to be possible to disable this feature anymore (checked in 12.6). Available options are: Performance, Quality, High Quality. There is also an "Enable Surface Format Optimization" option.

Wilson · October 2012

I'm on 12.6 and I still have the disable option:

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/zPyX6.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Maybe it's only on newer graphics cards (I have a 4870).

Kouji_San · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Codeine @ Oct 12 2012, 03:04 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990328"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>nice info but why is performance recommendation worse with more ram?</div>
On DDR2 systems you lose your dual channel if you have 3Gb (or 4Gb with only 3Gb allocated due to the 32-bits OS). Effectively giving you double memory bandwidth, this is in theory of course. It is highly dependant on the program you're running, also in terms of performance increase, it is about 1-5%. which is far off from the "double performance" you'd expect :P

There are some programs which run even better in single channel mode, again 1-5%... And there are programs that perform equally well on dual and single channel.

Aezay · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wilson @ Oct 12 2012, 06:21 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990374"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm on 12.6 and I still have the disable option:

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/zPyX6.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Maybe it's only on newer graphics cards (I have a 4870).</div>
Yeah, it must have something to do with the GPU then. My card is a 5870 and this is how my Catalyst AI settings look.

Side note rant: I really dislike how little description this option has. What does it do, will it affect performance, does it make things look better, or does it do something entirely different?

<img src="http://i.imgur.com/oRwKV.png" border="0" class="linked-image" />

Benson · October 2012

something like this should be added to main menu on release to ensure new players get the maximum preformance

Kouji_San · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Benson @ Oct 12 2012, 04:51 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990390"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>something like this should be added to main menu on release to ensure new players get the maximum preformance</div>
I really liked the way Company of Heroes does it (probably more games). Performance test and than select it for you, while playing a performance 3D movie test.

Davil · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SgtBarlow @ Oct 12 2012, 06:57 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990320"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><b><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#48D1CC">BUILD 222 - Recommended Settings</span></span></b>

<b><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:#FF8C00">IN GAME SETTINGS</span></span></b>
[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">756MB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 4 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">LOW</span></span>
[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">756MB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 2/3 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUM</span></span>
[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 4 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">LOW</span></span>
[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 3 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUM</span></span>
[*]GPU's <span style="color:#98FB98">1GB</span> on Windows 32-Bit with 2 GB RAM <span style="color:#00BFFF"><span style="font-family:Arial Black">MEDIUMÂ® to HIGH</span></span>

Users running systems in synchronous mod with CPU, FSB & RAM all with an equal frequency in excess of 1333MHz or varied high none-synchronous frequency set-ups may be able to select higher texture quality settings without stuttering between areas on maps as you move between rooms, Toggle the Texture streaming option to find best results.

<ul><li><b>WAIT FOR VERTICAL SYNC</b> = Double Buffered / Triple Buffered</li><li><b>AMBIENT OCCLUSION</b> = OFF / MEDIUM</li></ul></div>

The ######?

Please explain your theory on how more memory is bad... Yea a 32-bit system only recognizes a maximum of 4gb but that doesn't mean more ram means you get less performance, it's the opposite. I see what you're trying to do with the max memory usable by the OS is roughly 4, but you must take into account that some of the memory on the video card is also not registered normally because it is used exclusively by the video card itself. And it doesn't necessarily mean that all of the system RAM is being registered and not registering any of the Video Card Ram. ALSO take into account a 1GB Video Card more likely than not has a much faster and better architecture than a 512mb card.

Aside from that front-side busses aren't even really used anymore, 4 years behind actually. They replaced those in modern computers with the Intel QuickPath or AMD's version the HyperTransport. So transfer speed from processors is now typically measured in GT/s (Giga-Transfers per second), which would really nullify any kind of bottleneck as far as processor to memory goes.

Addressing Ambient Occlusion, there isn't really a definite setting for that. Ambient Occlusion takes either the GPU or the CPU running a lot of algorithms to determine what is actually visible to the player and then rendering it. Which if done properly will reduce the amount of rendering actually being done. On the other hand it requires quite a bit of overhead to constantly run it. But more or less try it both ways and see what happens, and it'll probably vary depending on the map.

SgtBarlow · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davil @ Oct 12 2012, 05:34 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990409"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>The ######?

...stuff...</div>

How memory is mapped will be effected differently across various applications as well as what your system might be running in the background.
Due to the extreme number of different hardware configurations, junk running in the background and the fact PC's as old as 5 years need to be covered here.
I decided to keep this as plain and simple as possible and cover a more general aspect of approach, secondly so it's just plain and simple for lesser hardware guru type gamers.
Of course there is way more technical reasons why some of this is not entirely applicable or correct for newer hardware but this kind of hardware tends to be owned by people with a more technical understanding, for the most part the rest of the community are running standard systems with little or some basic understanding of what their system can and can't do.

Argathor · October 2012

Thanks for putting this together SgtBarlow, you reminded me there are settings in NS2 and I even managed to get a little more performance!

phoenixbbs · October 2012

For the Catalyst AI, you could always try ATI Tray Tools, a little application that lets you tweak settings without using the Catalyst GUI... downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=733

As far as the double / triple buffering is concerned, I was getting a bad case of "screen tearing" until this was put in - now it seems to sync my FPS to 30, give or take, but it's removed the corrupted display effect. This is probably dependent on the speed of the graphics card, so you might not need it.

I'd tried to disable V-Sync myself in the ATI drivers, but wasn't able to get it working (hence me trying the ATI Tray Tools).

Enabling V-Sync buffering "may" make it seem like it's a hit on performance, but it ensures the display only updates the correct image - so it might seem a little more "hitchy".

I noticed it particularly in the Tram Ready Room - if you stand near one of the 4 pillars, then move using strafe left / right, I was seeing glitches all over the screen, and half of it might be "shifted" a bit to one side. This is a good indicator whether double / triple buffering would improve your display.

Wilson · October 2012

So if you have 32bit xp, 1gb GPU and 4gb of ram, you get better performance if you remove 2gb of ram?

Aezay · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phoenixbbs @ Oct 12 2012, 08:58 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990465"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>For the Catalyst AI, you could always try ATI Tray Tools, a little application that lets you tweak settings without using the Catalyst GUI... downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=733</div>
There is probably a good reason why the option to disable it doesn't appear in the official drivers for my card. I did try ATI Tray Tools some years ago, but I didn't really find it beneficial, should perhaps try it again.

As for the whole talk on VSync. This setting is very personal, and I feel it is wrong to state an option for VSync under recommended settings. For some, the tearing of not having VSync on is really annoying. For others the low frame rate, and risk of mouse lag from having VSync on is far worse than a little tearing. My self, I'd take 40-70 fps with tearing any day over a 75% @ 30 fps & 25% @ 60 fps with mouse lag.

Dghelneshi · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Davil @ Oct 12 2012, 07:34 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990409"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Addressing Ambient Occlusion, there isn't really a definite setting for that. Ambient Occlusion takes either the GPU or the CPU running a lot of algorithms to determine what is actually visible to the player and then rendering it. Which if done properly will reduce the amount of rendering actually being done. On the other hand it requires quite a bit of overhead to constantly run it. But more or less try it both ways and see what happens, and it'll probably vary depending on the map.</div>
Ambient Occlusion is not occlusion culling. It is a lighing/shadowing technique.

Occlusion culling is of course always on. No matter how bad your algorithm is (unless you make it deliberately slow/bad), rendering the whole map at all times will always degrade performance.

SgtBarlow · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wilson @ Oct 12 2012, 07:04 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990468"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>So if you have 32bit xp, 1gb GPU and 4gb of ram, you get better performance if you remove 2gb of ram?</div>

You wont get an FPS performance gain, you MAY stop stuttering/sudden pauses if you have them, Removing some RAM <u>MAY</u> help it might not, it's effect is absolutely dependant on your hardware & what programmes & services your machine is running that might be making the memory pool allocate more RAM for system usage leaving much less for the GPU. NS2 or any other game might not be given priority in the pool for more GPU VRAM versus other services/running background applications.

You don't really want to leave your self in a situation where you only have 2GB or RAM in there, 3GB would be ideal. I would instead just run on LOW or exit as many programmes as possible (Web browser, email client, etc) rather than take such a large chunk of RAM out.

Disabling Visual Effects options in the Performance Options Dialogue Window found in Advanced on System Properties can help free RAM.

The only options I have enabled is:
- Show thumbnails instead of icons < Only because I really need this on for what I do.
- Smooth Edges of Screen fonts
- Use visual styles... < turn it off desktop will look fugly but more ram saved.

<img src="http://ns2.unitedworlds.co.uk/help/perf.jpg" border="0" class="linked-image" />

32-BIT systems and the demand for higher quality graphics can become a real icky problem.

Good_Apollo · October 2012

Soo basically unless some serious optimization changes happen between now and release, I'm stuck at low settings for NS2 unless I build a new system for it. That's disappointing *Goes back to playing BF3 on high/ultra* NS2 is the only game I can't play on med/high/max settings in my catalog of 85 Steam games.

The game looks good but Jesus those are some incredible requirements for an indie game. I didn't plan to upgrade for another year but I guess I'll have to start looking at parts now...my 9800GTX+ and E8500 are definitely starting to show their age but damn they've been getting me through some of the best looking games still. I thought 4gigs of RAM was pretty good too.

Fappuchino · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Good_Apollo @ Oct 12 2012, 03:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990575"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>Soo basically unless some serious optimization changes happen between now and release, I'm stuck at low settings for NS2 unless I build a new system for it. That's disappointing *Goes back to playing BF3 on high/ultra* NS2 is the only game I can't play on med/high/max settings in my catalog of 85 Steam games.

The game looks good but Jesus those are some incredible requirements for an indie game. I didn't plan to upgrade for another year but I guess I'll have to start looking at parts now...my 9800GTX+ and E8500 are definitely starting to show their age but damn they've been getting me through some of the best looking games still. I thought 4gigs of RAM was pretty good too.</div>
I just want to annoyingly point out that saying you play BF3 at high settings is a meaningless vague sentence, given how we don't know at what FPS, resolution, or player count, or map, you play at.

Good_Apollo · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fappuchino @ Oct 12 2012, 03:56 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990583"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>I just want to annoyingly point out that saying you play BF3 at high settings is a meaningless vague sentence, given how we don't know at what FPS, resolution, or player count, or map, you play at.</div>

Any map, 32 player count usually, 1024x768 so that is lower and AA at x2, 30-60FPS. Better, Mister Semantics? You know what I meant without specifics.

Raza. · October 2012

I'm not convinced that less RAM equals better performance on 32-bit systems.

This is how I understand it after a quick search:
If the game uses too much video memory it will run out of virtual address space (typically 2 GB per application).
However the physical amount of RAM shouldn't make a difference for the game, as long as that amount is sufficient.
In fact, having more RAM should be better, because then there is more room for the other running processes or applications.

<a href="http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91260" target="_blank">http://www.techpowerup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91260</a>
<a href="http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940105/en-us" target="_blank">http://support.microsoft.com/kb/940105/en-us</a>

GORGEous · October 2012

I have an i7 2600k OC'd to 4.5ghz, SSD, nvidia GTX 570 video card.

I lose about half of my framerate when I turn on vysnc double or triple buffering. It looks very laggy as well. I lost ~5% of my framerate when enabling streaming textures, though it was within fluxuations of my baseline. Nothing scientific, but vysync seemingly made my game lag terribly. Any ideas if that is an option in my nvidia drivers or is that just the nature of vsync?

Wilson · October 2012

vsync purposefully limits your fps to the refresh rate of your monitor. It doesn't increase performance, it's purpose is to prevent screen tearing. It also causes mouse deceleration, which is why most FPS players don't use it. If the tearing really bugs you, try using fpsmax 60 in console as it might not have the same input lag issues (assuming you have a 60hz monitor).

GORGEous · October 2012

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wilson @ Oct 12 2012, 11:12 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1990683"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'>vsync purposefully limits your fps to the refresh rate of your monitor. It doesn't increase performance, it's purpose is to prevent screen tearing. It also causes mouse deceleration, which is why most FPS players don't use it. If the tearing really bugs you, try using fpsmax 60 in console as it might not have the same input lag issues (assuming you have a 60hz monitor).</div>

Right but my fps was going from 70 -> 30 when using it.

Performance Settings

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