Does Shadow Details in OA video settings affect your FPS significantly? (Poll)

[Vipera 10]

If I have Shadow Details in AO any than Disabled than I have huge FPS drops when I start to move. Original Arma2 1.07 doesn't have this problem. Does Shadow Details in OA video settings affect your FPS significantly?

To check FPS drops do the next.

1. Start Fraps.

2. Start Arma2: CO

3. Start editor and load Utes map

4. Put LAV-25 on airfield tarmac.

5. Set Shadow Details in video settings any than Disabled.

5a Switch to external view!

6. Start to drive LAV-25 and check FPS.

7. Disable Shadow Details in video settings and repeat step 6.

Do you have big difference in FPS when you drive? I have drop from 60fps (when I stay) to 30fps (when I start to drive vehicle).

This post is for purpose to figure out the problem I have in Ama2:OA.

http://dev-heaven.net/issues/11739#note-4

PS: I probably found problem with fps drops on my ASUS Matrix 5870. The problem is in iTracker2 software which comes with video card. I have uninstalled this program and fixed fps drops.

iTracker2 lets to adjust and monitor GPU, memory and fan of video card.

http://www.lostcircuits.com/mambo//i...1&limitstart=2

I didn't have any problems with ARMA2 but ARMA2:AO doesn't want to work with this program.

Edited September 1, 2010 by Vipera
Added link to CIT

[maddogx 13]

Interesting. I noticed some FPS drops while moving in OA and was wondering what might be causing them. My shadow details are usually on very high, so it may be an idea to turn them off and see what happens. I'll post feedback ASAP. :)

[twisted 128]

have negligable fps drop on shadow set to highest. post processing also highest and view distance just over 4500m. no AA of course.

update - have almost exactly same pc as thread starter.

[CarlGustaffa 4]

I have an impact when using shadows combined with post processing (ssoa?). But I can't live without either, so...

[Grizzle 0]

Why start FRAPS? Download the FPS mod for Arma2 and run it in game. Fraps is just going to hurt that much more.

[Dynamic Echo 10]

I have the exact same drop in frames when I move with or without shadows on, ie. 2 frames. Then again that is only with normal shadows as my laptop doesn't like anything higher than that. I'll try with my main in a bit.

[-)rStrangelove 0]

Why start FRAPS? Download the FPS mod for Arma2 and run it in game. Fraps is just going to hurt that much more.

I can recommend the MSI Afterburner OnScreenDisplay. Displays fps in all games, works like a charm.

[Nutlink 10]

With shadows on Very High I get good FPS, but I stutter every 5-10 seconds or so. Dropping it down to just High fixes that, along with a minor FPS boost. Tested using FRAPS, but also noticeable without using FRAPS.

Edited August 4, 2010 by BOTA:49

[Murklor 10]

PS: This post is for purpose to figure out the problem I have in Ama2:OA

So do you get the same by using say a Linebacker on Desert, since its an OA problem? Also turn vsync off! I noticed in your video of the lav25 driving that your fps drop from 60 to 30. Well yeah... It will do that if it just go a single fps below 60. Vsync is bad unless you can maintain 60+ all the time. Its not good for testing purposes either.

However, while driving in the desert with the linebacker/tusk and various other vehicles, I did notice an interesting behaviour, lets use some example figures (NOT EXACT cause I never wrote it down, just take it as general behaviour):

Standing still: 120fps

Driving: 110-120fps (small loss)

Stopping: Instant frame-rate loss to ~80 fps, only to rocket back up to ~110 fps, and then dip down to 100fps again, then slowly creep towards 110fps (like its bouncing down then bouncing up then bouncing down again)

Driving again: fps increase to 110-120fps (fps ALWAYS increase from a driving-stopped position)

And then of course it repeat if you continue doing it. This happens irregardless of shadowsetting.

[MavericK96 0]

Just tried your repro in Combined Operations with the latest beta patch (72418). No real change in FPS other than when driving and loading new terrain. Turning shadows to Disabled (from Very High) caused a gain of only a few FPS, and I didn't notice any significant drop while moving versus not moving.

[twisted 128]

i would really like the shadow were visible from a far greater distance. looking at the lovely landscape with no shadows falling off objects really breaks the otherwise great feel and somehow makes things feel flat.

also some how it seems that objects reciev light even when the sun is behind the top of a mountain - which makes units stand out like dogs balls and ruins stealth quite a bit. what's the point of sticking to the shady side if you are incorrectly lit up at even greater contrast to the shadow around you?

i hope for these fixes (even if only for high/very high settings) as shadows seem not to have such a great impact on performance for many.

[Vipera 10]

Also turn vsync off! I noticed in your video of the lav25 driving that your fps drop from 60 to 30.

This is defenetely not a Vsync issue. I don't have fps drop with Arma2 and Vsync ON (I have Win7 64bit and ATI video card, so I can't disable Vsync in CCC). I have found ATI Tray Tools which allowed me to set Vsync OFF. But it doesn't help. I still have fps drop to 20 fps from 60.

PS. In first post I forgot to say one important thing. You have to switch to external view when you make your tests! I have fps drops ONLY when I drive vehicle in external view. It could be linked to the dust particles behind vehicles because when I drive bicycle in external view there is no fps drop.

[MavericK96 0]

I was using external view. No FPS change.

[Vipera 10]

I have found that huge stuttering is coming from wheel tracks behind vehicles. I can disable wheel tracks only turning shadows off. How can I disable wheel tracks but leave shadows?

[Vipera 10]

It is so strange... When i just installed beta patch 72716 i found that stuttering has disappeared. I was so happy that this problem has been fixed. But next day when I started game I found that stuttering is here again. What is wrong?

PS: I will try do delete beta patch and install again.

[ceeeb 147]

I have a noticeable drop with beta 1.52.72716 and an ATI card

Shadows normal - static scene: ~59

Shadows normal - moving forward: ~55

Shadows disabled - static scene: ~59

Shadows normal - moving forward: ~59

I also had some very low FPS at the start of the airport assault mission, where there are many moving tanks on screen at once.

[Vipera 10]

I have a noticeable drop with beta 1.52.72716 and an ATI card

Shadows normal - static scene: ~59

Shadows normal - moving forward: ~55

This is not a noticeable drop what I'm talking about. I have noticeable drop from 60fps to 30fps in 3d person view.

[Vipera 10]

I have installed Catalyst 10.8 and bug disappeared.

PS: After long searches I found that iTracker2 software is causing this problem.

Edited September 1, 2010 by Vipera

[bascule42 10]

Even on tarmac/asphalt, dont all vehicles kick up dust? Wouldnt that drop fps a bit?

[76 0]

Voted FPS drop when I start to move but only by 2-3 FPS difference from 'Disabled' to 'Very High'

Nvidia GTX260 user OC

[Vipera 10]

Voted FPS drop when I start to move but only by 2-3 FPS difference from 'Disabled' to 'Very High'

This is not a bug. 2-3 fps drop is normal.

[Vipera 10]

Next day I started game and this fps drop came again. WTF? It blows my mind!!! :-(((( Is it something wrong with my computer or what?

[Alex72 1]

I have found that huge stuttering is coming from wheel tracks behind vehicles. I can disable wheel tracks only turning shadows off. How can I disable wheel tracks but leave shadows?

So that means your turning off wheeltracks + shadows which of course will remove more stuttering. You dont really know how much the tracks take off since you lower the shadows globably as well.

But yes i agree it would been nice with more separate options to tailor the game after your hardware.

[Vipera 10]

I probably found problem with fps drops on my ASUS Matrix 5870. The problem is in iTracker2 software which comes with video card. I have uninstalled this program and fixed fps drops.

iTracker2 lets to adjust and monitor GPU, memory and fan of video card.

http://www.lostcircuits.com/mambo//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=2

I didn't have any problems with ARMA2 but ARMA2:AO doesn't want to work with this program.

[maddogx 13]

I probably found problem with fps drops on my ASUS Matrix 5870. The problem is in iTracker2 software which comes with video card. I have uninstalled this program and fixed fps drops.

iTracker2 lets to adjust and monitor GPU, memory and fan of video card.

http://www.lostcircuits.com/mambo//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=84&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=2

I didn't have any problems with ARMA2 but ARMA2:AO doesn't want to work with this program.

Sounds like a bad piece of software. Though it is strange that it didn't cause any problems with Arma2. :confused: