Some AI Benchmarking (CPU-Benchmarking)

[Helmut_AUT 0]

Okay, with the 185 drivers, patch 1.01 final and Keygets excellent NoBlur mod, I was able to move my average FPS to 28, low to 22 and max to 35 in my small Utes Benchmark, using a 9600GT on 1920x1200, everything low except textures, fillrate 100%. I started off at 22 avg, 16 low and 30 max, so with a mix of drivers, mods and patches this can definitly be improved.

But now for the CPU Bottleneck benchmarking (I'm using an AMD 5000+ which is above recommended specs):

I placed myself at Utes airfield looking north, where I get 42 FPS when the mission loads, and then set up two groups of infantry (USMC and Russian) at Strelak so that they would be fighting when the mission loads. Result: 37 FPS.

I added two more pairs of enemy groups - now at 28 FPS.

Two more again - for a total of 10 infantry groups - 25 FPS.

All those were behind me and blocked by terrain, so there's no way the graphics engine would render them - any slowdown must be CPU-related.

So basically with my CPU - which is already better than recommended - I can get 10 infantry groups on the map before I start losing frames to the CPU while the card could run faster. This explains why Warfare on Chenarus for me stays at lowly 16FPS even in open fields.

Obviously for people with better graphics cards the break-even point will be lower, unless they also have a significant faster CPU.

It's playable this way as long as I play small missions, but it really shows that the game has much potential for optimization, and that the recommended specs are - as usual - pure marketing.

[=Spetsnaz= 0]

Yea even if you have a good gfx card, your CPU is gonna keep you bounded at a certain fps rate. Ive experienced this with all my games, my FPS only reaches a certain FPS rate where it does'nt want to go over.. i hope that arma 2 will get better optimized when the european/us version releases with 1.02

[Helmut_AUT 0]

I just ran my normal benchmark mission (set in the Utes Village of Strelak) with the "color correction" applied - that brownish tint - and it doesn't cost any framerates.

Then I benchmarked the "Trial by Fire" single player mission, which also happens in Strelak and uses that color correction - and it's a notable framerate hit over my "empty map" benchmark. At first I thought it was the color thing, but it isn't.

That means even small SP missions like that one are already CPU-bottlenecked on a 5000+ AMD, the graphics don't play a part. Graphic settings, for those with average CPUs from the last 18 months, will likely only play a part if you are creating your own mini-missions.

[FraG_AU 10]

I think this is where dual/quad cores will win show significant performance increase.

I am GPU bound with my i7 ATM, @ 4.2Ghz it hits 25% load doing benchies and in game. I have no way of getting GPU usage, but I can say my temps dont get over 55C, wheras other games temps get to 70c.. one of my 2gpu's is doing nothing or when SLi is on both GPU's are doing a low load.

Damn where is patch 1.02 already :)