I've run into a strange problem...

[Garone 10]

I downloaded the ArmA 2 demo and maxed out everything, an exception for the fillrate which I kept at 100%.

I started out with the Boot Camp training and I was suprised of how well it ran! Averaging around ~45 FPS and looking great. So I finished the training and was eager to try the scenario... But in the scenario my frames were low single digits. 2-9... So I went back to check the performance in the training again... But no... The framerate was far lower than it was earlier (5-15) so I thought it might be a memory leak so I restarted the game but nope. Still the same... I tried playing around with graphic settings etc but nothing helped so I re-downloaded the demo and the great performance of the training was back! But as soon as I tried the scenario the same thing happend again...

So my question is: Was this a known issue that has been fixed in the retail version? I don't dare buying it before I know for sure that it won't happen for me in the real game.

[EDcase 87]

That is strange. Not heard of that before.

Try and edit the file ArmA2.cfg in MyDocuments/ArmA 2

There is a line called 3d_performance. I put mine to 160000

Edited August 12, 2009 by EDcase

[Garone 10]

That is strange. Not heard of that before.

Try and edit the file ArmA2.cfg in MyDocuments/ArmA 2

There is a line called 3d_performance. I put mine to 160000

What does it do? Did you have the same problem as me?

[EDcase 87]

No, I haven't noticed that myself.

I think when arma runs the first time it analyzes your system to find optimum settings but I guess it doesn't always find the best value so you can push it up.

[Garone 10]

No, I haven't noticed that myself.

I think when arma runs the first time it analyzes your system to find optimum settings but I guess it doesn't always find the best value so you can push it up.

I'm not sure what you mean... Settings didn't increase FPS.

[hamis 0]

Read all performance related topics in these forums and you'll find your answer.

[Garone 10]

Read all performance related topics in these forums and you'll find your answer.

I have. No one has the same problem as me, they just have general performance issues.

[canabisabusive 10]

when i ran the basic training in the demo i had a crap framerate and none of the textures, models, landscape etc. looked anything like they do in the videos. everything looked like the game came out ten years ago... i got a 4870; which destroys anything crysis can throw at it. what gives?

[Garone 10]

Ok, so I found out what happend.

I can play any training mission fine, but touching the scenario breaks the entire demo. This is NOT a performance problem, my computer can handle this game. This is a BUG. I want to know if this exists in the retail version, without confirmation that it doesn't - I will NOT buy it.

[zeep 3]

I believe you. There are many different problems with arma2 and various systems, reading the forums..

Update the thread when you know more.

[Garone 10]

I'll summarize it:

All training missions runs fine. Upon running one of the scenarios, the demo "breaks" and the framerate becomes unplayable, including on the training missions. Only way to fix this is by reinstalling the demo.

[zeep 3]

If you haven't yet, add this to the bis bug tracker. Find the link around here somewhere.

[Bulldogs 10]

It's a very odd issue and as we haven't seen it before then we can't say if it'll be any different in the retail for you.

That said, some people have a similar issue, gameplay gets slower and slower til they restart the game, or in some cases their computer, and that problem is being looked into and will hopefully be fixed next patch (for many people it has been fixed already with the most recent patch)

One thing to try in the mean time. When it gets extremely slow try this :

hold [Left Shift] down and then press the [Numpad - (minus)] button, then type "flush" (without quotation marks).

You won't see a prompt to tell you if it's done right but just blind type it to see if that helps.

[Garone 10]

Meh, I really want the game but I'm so afraid of this issue being in retail too... That'd be 47.99 down the sink... Still considering of I should take a leap of faith or not. :/

[Praelium 0]

Have you tried the editor? Maybe it's just a issue with the missions, a memory leak like you said, (if it's even possible for this bug to be caused by a mistake in scripting, otherwise, it'd probably be from the engine).

My first thought was maybe your processor isn't good enough to run the scenarios, due to the AI. But if the problem still persists even in the training missions then that unlikely. Though, just for info purposes, what processor do you have?

Another thought is maybe there is something wrong with your RAM. Do you have any other unusual problems with other games? Try running memory tests to check for errors in your RAM.

canabisabusive: Post a pic so we can see. Did you check the video setting options?

What OS do both of you have?

[Garone 10]

Have you tried the editor? Maybe it's just a issue with the missions, a memory leak like you said, (if it's even possible for this bug to be caused by a mistake in scripting, otherwise, it'd probably be from the engine).

My first thought was maybe your processor isn't good enough to run the scenarios, due to the AI. But if the problem still persists even in the training missions then that unlikely. Though, just for info purposes, what processor do you have?

Another thought is maybe there is something wrong with your RAM. Do you have any other unusual problems with other games? Try running memory tests to check for errors in your RAM.

canabisabusive: Post a pic so we can see. Did you check the video setting options?

What OS do both of you have?

I have a C2D E8500 3,16ghz. The training missions have a lot of AI too and remember that after I try to run a scenario even the training missions break. There's nothing wrong with the RAM, because it gets reset when you restart the computer but the only way to fix the bug is to reinstall the game. And no, I do not have problems with other games. I play games that are supposedly more demanding ( Crysis, 32 FPS average in the benchmark on Very High 1680x1050 8x AA )

I run Vista 64-bit.

[Bulldogs 10]

Vista 64 seems to be an issue for a lot of people, and most have noticed that it works well under Win 7 64bit but they have performance issues under Vista 64bit, so you may get the same issues if you try to run the full game under Vista 64.

---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------

Just as a side note, try renaming the main exe in Arma 2 demo folder to Crysis64.exe (not sure if it'll work for the demo, but helped people with retail version.

[Garone 10]

Vista 64 seems to be an issue for a lot of people, and most have noticed that it works well under Win 7 64bit but they have performance issues under Vista 64bit, so you may get the same issues if you try to run the full game under Vista 64.

---------- Post added at 04:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:51 PM ----------

Just as a side note, try renaming the main exe in Arma 2 demo folder to Crysis64.exe (not sure if it'll work for the demo, but helped people with retail version.

I can't change the name of the files because I have the demo downloaded from steam. And if there are problems with Vista 64 I'll pass om the game till they've fixed it...