Confused about launch parameters.

[wok 1]

I have been checking the Arma launch parameters. First I added -nosplash -world=empty, which makes the game open much faster. But for all the others parameters I tried I haven't notice any change at all, the game runs at 30 to 65 frames regardless if the params are there or not.

These are the parameters I've tried one at a time and all at the same time: -maxMem=8192 -cpuCount=4 -exthreads=3 -maxvram=2047

These are my pc specs:

Intel® Core i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz

ATI Radeon HD 6950 - 2GB

8GB RAM

Now, my questions:

-maxMem

I've read that I should use -maxMem=8192, but in another website I read that i should only use 8192 if I have 12GB. So what's the correct value for 8GB RAM?

-cpuCount & -exthreads

From what I know my cpu has 4 cores and 4 threads (no hyperthreading), but I've seen people saying the i5 2500k should use -cpuCount=2, what should I use for cpuCount and exthreads?

-maxvram

Should I set this to 2047 since my graphics card have 2GB of ram?

And finally: Will I see an increase of fps using these parameters or the performance increase but fps remain unchanged? Is there any other method to measure the effects of the parameters besided fps?

[EDcase 87]

I've tried various combinations as well. Not noticed any measurable difference either.

[toiletguy 1]

With my 12gb RAM, RAMDISK is pretty useful. I've thrown all of my ArmA 3 addons files into the ramdisk and made a Syslink which result arma 3 using over 8gb of my ram. Resulting no hiccups or HDD loads at all. 60+ FPS constantly. -maxmem has no use from my PoV so far.

[NeMeSiS 11]

Startup parameters documentation: https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Arma2:_Startup_Parameters

As you can read there, maxmem does not even support values over 2047.

Most of these were added back in ArmA2 when the autodetection was faulty on some systems. (Mostly i7's with HT iirc)

After a few beta's changes were made and most are not needed in ArmA2 anymore, and i assume it is the same in ArmA3, at least I didn't see anything happening when I tried.

Most people claiming performance increases from this are either benchmarking improperly, or suffering from some severe placebo effects, and exthreads=3 would probably give you lower performance than the default setting of not touching it, though hardly measurable.

Edited April 14, 2013 by NeMeSiS

[cjph 0]

Per Nemesis above, I added in parameters and have not really noticed much difference to date (I have a similar system to yours with more RAM and had a 6950 previously). You probably know, but the biggest impact you could have would be to overclock your CPU (depending on whether the motherboard/systems allows, and if you feel comfortable/knowledgeable enough about it). Your monitor resolution and disk drive type may also impact your experience of the game (trying to run across three bid monitors, or from an old 5400 rpm disk, for example).

cj

Edited April 15, 2013 by cjph

[white 1]

placebos, the "usefull" ones are already automatic.

[wok 1]

@Toiletguy: As I understand the ramdisk "trick" works only for mods, i tried it on A2 with Dayz and didn't see any effects anyway.

@cjph: I would OC it but my second pc, the one i used for gaming and had it OC is not working atm, i am using my main PC for gaming & working so I prefer to keep it safe. My hdd is a WD Black Caviar 1TB. Only one monitor 27'' at 1920x1080, all settings at high / very high by default, I will try playing around with the video settings but I love how the game looks.

Thank for the replies, i will stick with -nosplash -world=empty, the others doesn't seem to have any effect. I just wanted to squeeze a few more fps, but i think the best will be to wait until I replace my second pc with one with better cpu than the i5.

[EDcase 87]

Update:

I have actually noticed a measureable improvement in fps if I use -cpuCount=2

Thats with a 4 core i7 2600k :butbut:

I will keep testing to make sure it wasn't a fluke that made it seem better....

[wok 1]

Update:

I have actually noticed a measureable improvement in fps if I use -cpuCount=2

Thats with a 4 core i7 2600k :butbut:

I will keep testing to make sure it wasn't a fluke that made it seem better....

Please test it and report back. In my case if I watch the floor or something like that in arma i get like 20+ fps than normal, so make sure you do the tests on the same conditions to be sure, like running a showcase mission or something like that that is always the same place in the map etc.

[toiletguy 1]

@Toiletguy: As I understand the ramdisk "trick" works only for mods, i tried it on A2 with Dayz and didn't see any effects anyway.

If it didnt have any effects because you did a ramdisk with "dayz" mod files only. You need to do it with the whole Addons folder not just a couple hundreds MBs of ram but 6-8 of it. Ramdisk will cached all of the game files inside the ram resulting no uses of HDD and almost no transition between models when you switch the LOD by using scopes etc.