Using REPLAY for benchmarking and performance tuning?

[SnorreSelmer]

Hi all.

 

I installed an ASUS R9 390X STRIX in my PC and I'm trying to tune my performance to stay well above 60fps at all times.

 

I made a 10 minute long .trk file using the A-10C "Free Flight - Air Start" mission where I do a left-hand spiral from 19.000' to ~1.500' and fly over forests and urban areas.

 

I've then replayed the .trk using various default graphics settings (LOW, MEDIUM and HIGH) and also tried tweaking individual settings, but the fps stays virtually unchanged at ~70fps average with ~90fps max and ~45fps minimum no matter what the graphics are set to.

 

One thing I noticed is that even I set CIVILIAN TRAFFIC to NONE I still get cars on the roads when playing back the .trk (civilian traffic was set to medium or high when I made the .trk), and this has led me to two theories:

1. CIVILIAN TRAFFIC is bugged and shows traffic regardless.
   
2. (Many?) Settings are stored in the .trk file and therefore override the changes I make to graphics settings.
   

I feel I should easily crank out 120fps on the lowest (and medium?) settings.

 

Anyone got any input here?

 

High fps example:

 

Low fps example:

 

Settings used for the above pictures:

 

 

I've attached the .trk file. The relevant portion is about 4 minutes in.

demo.trk

Edited February 24, 2016 by SnorreSelmer
Added various clarifications

[SnorreSelmer]

I installed the "No-shadow trees" mod and the FPS went through the roof! I really hope ED releases an option for this in the game soon. While trees casting shadows is great for realism, when it hurts FPS that bad there should be an option to remove them (other than removing the forests themselves).

[SkateZilla]

for replay bench marking I recommend a simple flight ie ONE aircraft, flying in a straight as possible path,

to stress and bench have the aircraft fly low over water onto land near city or airbase, gradually populate the ground with static objects while placing AI aircraft as well.

 

the more complex the replay is the more it will deviate from the original when settings are changed. due to syncing etc.