Half FPS when above "Low" Texture Detail

[U-K Andy 10]

Hi.

I'm having a bit of a problem, and it's been bugging me since I found out Low texture detail and low video memory doubles, or sometimes triples, my FPS.

If I put my texture detail to normal or high I will eventually get the "out of video memory" error and have to restart my PC.

Why is this?

Specs:

CPU: AMD Athlon dual core 3.0GHz

GPU: Nvidia GTS 250 512mb

RAM: 2GB (don't know what make etc because it's pretty old)

EDIT: Would switching back to my old 9600GT 1GB help? Don't want to try it and find out it just makes it worse.

Edited July 8, 2010 by U|K Andy
Another question

[Heatseeker 0]

A GTS 250 is more or less a 8800 GT? Should be enough to run on normal texture detail, switching back to a 9600 is out of the question, dont.

[Iroquois Pliskin 0]

A 9600GT 1GB would be a better solution if you want to have High textures. (Does the card have enough memory bandwidth, tho?)

Arma 2 is texture hungry on tex. quality High and view distance over 2km.

P.S. The 1GB of vidRAM, coupled with 2GB of RAM will not let you get over medium textures, I believe. 4GB RAM is a bare minimum today; doesn't matter if you're running XP or 7.

Edited July 8, 2010 by Iroquois Pliskin

[Flash Thunder 10]

HIGH and Plus I believe uses the "parallex effect" the 3d properties of very close ground textures this process is heavy on performance so on your card I would advice only using normal settings.

[U-K Andy 10]

Okay, thanks for the replies guys. I'll mess about with it next time I'm on!

Right testing on Zargabad.

Grid 054 038 Facing 290

Settings:

VD: 2400 PP: Disabled

Texture: Low Terrain: Normal 1440x900 3D & Interface

Video: Low Objects: Normal

AF:High Shadows: High

AA:Normal (Makes no difference to FPS which is nice)

FPS ~ 46

After changing texture and video to normal....~26 FPS. I'm even down by 20FPS already on the intro! Was 60fps constant and is now ~42

Edited July 8, 2010 by U|K Andy
Testing

[Iroquois Pliskin 0]

Okay, thanks for the replies guys. I'll mess about with it next time I'm on!

Right testing on Zargabad.

Grid 054 038 Facing 290

Settings:

VD: 2400 PP: Disabled

Texture: Low Terrain: Normal 1440x900 3D & Interface

Video: Low Objects: Normal

AF:High Shadows: High

AA:Normal (Makes no difference to FPS which is nice)

FPS ~ 46

After changing texture and video to normal....~26 FPS. I'm even down by 20FPS already on the intro! Was 60fps constant and is now ~42

Zargabad is texture-heavy, just like Cherno is. You could squeeze medium-high tex with a view distance of 1.6km or less.

[U-K Andy 10]

The thing is though, no matter what texture and video memory setting above Low, I never get an FPS above 30 apart from the intro. (It's like this on all islands!).