TF Friday Update 09/08/2013 -Optimizations

[Mattias]

:salute:

We're all very busy making putting the last pieces of the puzzle that will be our next patch together, so please forgive me for not posting a video...again :D

This Friday's update features some screenshots showing optimizations done to the code for clouds, fires, explosions, smoke and water splashes. They do not eat a lot of FPS when seen from a distance, but I think we all experienced how FPS hungry they are when up close :D

For this comparison test I used the downsampling technique described here (http://theairtacticalassaultgroup.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5131) to stress my poor video card with an internal vertical resolution of 1536 down to 1024.

The only thing changed between the "before" and "after" shots is the code controlling the above mentioned effects (all other mods etc are loaded in both).

Please note that the increase in FPS shown here might not be the same on other systems. More testing is needed :thumbsup:

Oh, and nevermind the average, max and min FPS in the shots as they gets messed up when I pause the sim :recon:

Flying through smoke BEFORE (10 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot8749_zps27f5b6dc.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot8749_zps27f5b6dc.png.html)

Flying through smoke AFTER (33 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot14659_zpse18d6fb9.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot14659_zpse18d6fb9.png.html)

Fire and smoke BEFORE (10 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot9710_zps0a67f3a6.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot9710_zps0a67f3a6.png.html)

Fire and smoke AFTER(22 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot5440_zpsaaa39337.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot5440_zpsaaa39337.png.html)

Water splash BEFORE (13 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot11248_zps90c0683d.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot11248_zps90c0683d.png.html)

Water splash AFTER (41 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot18956_zps1689b449.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot18956_zps1689b449.png.html)

Nearby clouds, some smoke and whatnot BEFORE (19 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot1970_zps4fde8651.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot1970_zps4fde8651.png.html)

Nearby clouds, some smoke and whatnot BEFORE (31 FPS)
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot3629_zps9e8d9642.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot3629_zps9e8d9642.png.html)

Cheers/TF

[Sandy1942]

The result inspires optimism!:thumbsup:

[ATAG_Naz]

Wow, very impressive!


:dthumb:

[92 Sqn. Philstyle (QJ-P)]

Blimey, some nice FPS gains there, well done.

[ATAG_Snapper]

This is excellent work!!! :)

[ram0506]

Great improvements, good job!

[Royraiden]

This is one of the improvements I had been waiting for the most, the clouds have been annoying me since I started playing.Also its nice that the other effects are not going to bring my pc to halt.This patch is going to be huge, thank you:)

[9./JG52 Ziegler]

Brillient guy! Really looking forward to this patch! I've preordered BOS the full Monty but CLoD is really getting better all the time and I still love it! BOS will really have to be something special to one up it. :thumbsup:

I see that "Bravo Sierra" still has his cap on with half a wing and no canopy! :)

[Black]

This is simply stunning! :stunned:

[Royraiden]

While we are on this topic, have the team had a look at the smoke trails when taxxing and taking -off, that brings most of our pc's to their knees but I do realize it is a lower priority issue since it is on the ground.

[92 Sqn. Philstyle (QJ-P)]

While we are on this topic, have the team had a look at the smoke trails when taxxing and taking -off, that brings most of our pc's to their knees but I do realize it is a lower priority issue since it is on the ground.

I just set my effects to "medium". That dealt with most of my FPS loss from the dust, in the meantime.

[ATAG_Jeepy]

Hu Ha.. You guys prob. saved me a LOT of $.. !-)
Guess I'll hang on to my "old" ati6950 for a while..

A BIG ~S~ TF !

[DUI]

Very impressive results! If half of the performance gain makes it into the second patch it already would be huge!

[Kling]

Stunning Mattias!!!!

[=vit_unit=]

Do you need some test pilot? :devilish:

[Mattias]

While we are on this topic, have the team had a look at the smoke trails when taxxing and taking -off, that brings most of our pc's to their knees but I do realize it is a lower priority issue since it is on the ground.

:salute:

Runway smoke BEFORE (6 FPS):
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot1756_zps2e205363.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot1756_zps2e205363.png.html)

Runway smoke AFTER (22 FPS):
http://i1054.photobucket.com/albums/s497/MusseMus77/Screenshot2003_zps1b7ea3ee.png (http://s1054.photobucket.com/user/MusseMus77/media/Screenshot2003_zps1b7ea3ee.png.html)

:)

[vranac]

Excellent work guys !!!

This kind of improvements can attract new pilots with weaker PC's to CloD.And there are lots of them.

[ATAG_Colander]

Mattias,

I see you've been smoking too much lately ;)

[ATAG_Snapper]

Mattias,

I see you've been smoking too much lately ;)



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVWdRsq-v2g&sns=em


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVWdRsq-v2g&sns=em

[Continu0]

Guys, you are doubling fps? I mean, really... :stunned:

[Mattias]

Guys, you are doubling fps? I mean, really... :stunned:

:salute:

At some situations, yes, at least on my test rig (with visual effects set to "high" in the in-game video options).
The frame rate when not near clouds, smoke, fire, explosions and water splashes are pretty much unchanged by this optimization (just some 2-5 FPS more on my rig)

Cheers/m

[Mattias]

Mattias,

I see you've been smoking too much lately ;)

...and setting too many fires :devilish: :)

[Royraiden]

Thanks Mattias,as Vranac said these type of improvements will definitely attract a lot of new pilots.

[Continu0]

:salute:

At some situations, yes, at least on my test rig (with visual effects set to "high" in the in-game video options).
The frame rate when not near clouds, smoke, fire, explosions and water splashes are pretty much unchanged by this optimization (just some 2-5 FPS more on my rig)

Cheers/m

well, the last "bastion" of fps-hits then is flying over cities. If you can fix that, the system-specs required should no longer be a problem at all... not for anyone...

[Royraiden]

:salute:

At some situations, yes, at least on my test rig (with visual effects set to "high" in the in-game video options).
The frame rate when not near clouds, smoke, fire, explosions and water splashes are pretty much unchanged by this optimization (just some 2-5 FPS more on my rig)

Cheers/m

The great thing is that apart from these situations I get solid 60fps, the slow downs come specifically when one or more of the above mentioned situations occur. :)

[Dutch]

I just set my effects to "medium". That dealt with most of my FPS loss from the dust, in the meantime.

Ditto. Looks like we'll all be tweaking things upwards pretty soon. Awesome stuff, Matthias. :thumbsup:

(Oh God, I'm really starting to feel the initial symptoms of patch fever now.....:goofy )

[Mattias]

I just set my effects to "medium". That dealt with most of my FPS loss from the dust, in the meantime.

:salute:

I forgot to test this on "medium"... did a quick test now and in the same situations as in the top post "medium" gave me:
Flying through smoke BEFORE (31 FPS)
Flying through smoke AFTER (40 FPS)

Fire and smoke BEFORE (15 FPS)
Fire and smoke AFTER(27 FPS)

Water splash BEFORE (29 FPS)
Water splash AFTER (44 FPS)

So it seems the optimization might benefit the "medium guys" as well :thumbsup:

Of course I have to once again point out that this is so far only tested on a few machines. Maybe the rest of you will get a huge FPS drop :-P:)

Cheers/m

[Zappatime]

great stuff, a real game changer and at last we can handle the 'whatnot' with decent fps :D:thumbsup:

[Roblex]

I can't believe what you 'amateurs' are achieving in your spare time! :stunned:

[RAF74_Buzzsaw]

I can't believe what you 'amateurs' are achieving in your spare time! :stunned:

Not really 'spare time' in the case of Mattias... more like 'every available second'....:goofy

He's said he will take a well deserved rest after this release. :clap:

[Continu0]

He's said he will take a well deserved rest after this release. :clap:

Just give us his contact/bank info and we will send him to the bahamas... or just where he wants...:thumbsup:

[UpsilonCrux]

Brilliant stuff, looking forward to this

[Sandy1942]

Mattias, write a computer configuration on which the test was executed?

[skouras]

W7 64
12 giga ddr3
i74770k 4.5
gtx titan

[Mattias]

Mattias, write a computer configuration on which the test was executed?

:salute:

Win64
Q9550 2.83GHz OC to 3.60 GHz
8 GB RAM
GTX560 IT DCII TOP OC to Vcore 1.15 V and 2GHz


Just give us his contact/bank info and we will send him to the bahamas... or just where he wants...:thumbsup:

We should all go there :)

Cheers/m

[trooph]

:salute:

Win64
Q9550 2.83GHz OC to 3.60 GHz
8 GB RAM
GTX560 IT DCII TOP OC to Vcore 1.15 V and 2GHz



We should all go there :)

Cheers/m


Do You use all the "plane visibility tweaks" like meshShowLOD=1?

Great work.. those are the main fps killers for me. A bit of smoke and my FPS goes down to hell...
I U ever gonna need tester with medium rig just send me a PM :) im avaliable all day:)

[Sandy1942]

Thank you Mattias!

[buster_dee]

Beautiful!!! Thanks for all this.

[ATAG_Lewis]

Brilliant work.....and very exciting.....Thank you Team Fusion.....

~S~

...lew...

[Mattias]

Do You use all the "plane visibility tweaks" like meshShowLOD=1?


:salute:

I used to when flying "vanilla" Clod, but when using the mods for the upcoming patch I feel I don't need it anymore :thumbsup: (and I also had meshShowLOD=0 during the FPS testing)

We will do a closed beta testing first to iron out the most obvious bugs :thumbsup:

Cheers/m

[Catseye]

Brillient guy! Really looking forward to this patch! I've preordered BOS the full Monty but CLoD is really getting better all the time and I still love it! BOS will really have to be something special to one up it. :thumbsup:

I see that "Bravo Sierra" still has his cap on with half a wing and no canopy! :)

Must be properly attired "old chap".

Do you think we are a bunch of frontier Canadians?

[Injerin]

Wonderful work fellas, and thank you!

Its going to be a good winter in the Midwest this year :P

[Tvrdi]

Fantastic news!

[VMF214_Jupp]

Holy protonic reversal! Thanks TF!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyaLZHiJJnE

[Katdog5]

huge.

[ATAG_Ribbs]

We should all go there :)

Cheers/m


How are the graphics? :)

[Gix]

Get pretty nice results with this. Drop of fps but still playable. Thx.
Strange that the TrackIR thing is more affected that the game itself...
It fix shimmering but above all it improves the LOS issue. Does somebody compares it with the LOS improvement coming with ongoing patch ?

[Continu0]

Get pretty nice results with this. Drop of fps but still playable. Thx.
Strange that the TrackIR thing is more affected that the game itself...
It fix shimmering but above all it improves the LOS issue. Does somebody compares it with the LOS improvement coming with ongoing patch ?

Huh? What are you talking about?

[trooph]

:salute:

I used to when flying "vanilla" Clod, but when using the mods for the upcoming patch I feel I don't need it anymore :thumbsup: (and I also had meshShowLOD=0 during the FPS testing)

We will do a closed beta testing first to iron out the most obvious bugs :thumbsup:

Cheers/m

Now thats something.
Would You please post Your results with meshShowLOD=1? :) This tweak had my performance drop from 60 FPS to around 30... so im really eager to see if i will be able to disable it :)

[Mattias]

Get pretty nice results with this. Drop of fps but still playable. Thx.
Strange that the TrackIR thing is more affected that the game itself...
It fix shimmering but above all it improves the LOS issue. Does somebody compares it with the LOS improvement coming with ongoing patch ?
Huh? What are you talking about?

:salute:

I think Gix is referring to the fact that using TrackIR moves your view constantly and gives a slightly different and altering FOV (if your head is not dead still). This helps to overcome the rasterization/LOD problem :thumbsup:

The LOD fixes for the upcoming patch works very well both with and without TrackIR. There are still some problems with shimmering/broken wings when approaching a plane on it's dead 6 if a too wide FOV is used and resolution is low. We are trying to get rid of this last problem as well, but at least the planes no longer disappear in theese situations :thumbsup:

Cheers/m

[Mattias]

Now thats something.
Would You please post Your results with meshShowLOD=1? :) This tweak had my performance drop from 60 FPS to around 30... so im really eager to see if i will be able to disable it :)

:salute:

I might if I have them time, but as I said I hope that no one will feel forced to use meshShowLOD=1 anymore :)

[Gix]

Huh? What are you talking about?

Oups, was talking about the downsampling mentionned in the initial post. I just post it in the wrong thread sry, my bad.

[Wolfskid]

Hi Mattias,

i have installed the downsampling tool from a german page, named: PC-Games Hardware Extreme. And here are the link for downsampling a ATI - Card: http://extreme.pcgameshardware.de/grafikkarten/216481-amd-radeon-hd-79xx-downsampling-thread-faq-bilder.html . Sorry but this is in GERMAN LANGUAGE:(. But i think a picture is more as thousand words...:). I hope its helps a little bit, maybe the GERMAN Fighters:)

Thank you very much for your thread, mattias.

Greets

Wolfskid


PS: With downsampling is Cliffs of Dover a NEW GAME, a little bit:). But the PICS are:stunned: