Does this FPS seem low to you?

[Stingray]

Howdy,

 

I put together a new computer: intel core i7 920 cpu running at 2.66, 6 gb ddr3 in tripple channel model, ati 4870x2 with 2gb memory, WD velociraptor hd, giga-byte X58 UD3R mobo, after market CPU heatsink (Thermalright ultra edition 120), memory cooler, plus two extra case fans. Using Vista 64 as operating system. I've also got an azuntech forte sound card, track ir 4, x-50 pro, x-52 rudders.

 

Using a 24" LCD at 1920x1200, 2xAA, 8xAF, "quality" mip map, catalyst a.i. disabled, adaptive aa disabled running all the best graphics options in DCS, and FPS seems to be around 16-20.

 

If I bring the visibility distance, to medium, scenes to low, textures to medium, FPS goes up to about 25, so not a big improvement.

 

Do these frame rates seem slow to you for this powerfull of a computer?

 

Thanks,

 

Stingray

[EtherealN]

Not really.

 

The clock speed isn't all that fantastic and the performance per clock difference to the Core2 series isn't massive. DCS is a single-thread application wherefore it does not spread out to different cores, so a fast Core2 will perform better than a "slow" i7.

 

Have you tried using the affinity-trick application in the sticky? That should boost you if you have not. Click http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=39261

 

EDIT: Oh, and the two really big FPS-killers are water effects on high and running it in windowed mode. If you do either or both of those, change that right away and you should see further performance enhancements.

Edited March 14, 2009 by EtherealN

[WynnTTr]

hmm.. I've almost got the same rig, gtx 260 and normal 7200 WD HD - playing at 1920x1200 everything on max, forced 16AF, 16Q AA. I average 25-35 fps. I do use the affinity tool.

[Stingray]

Ah, thanks for the advice. So, I easily overclocked my i7 920 to 3.2ghz, and I wasn't using the afininity tool. Combing the two, I get around 30-40 fps with 16xAA and 16xAF

 

This is much much better! Thanks,

 

Stingray

 

Not really.

 

The clock speed isn't all that fantastic and the performance per clock difference to the Core2 series isn't massive. DCS is a single-thread application wherefore it does not spread out to different cores, so a fast Core2 will perform better than a "slow" i7.

 

Have you tried using the affinity-trick application in the sticky? That should boost you if you have not. Click http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=39261

 

EDIT: Oh, and the two really big FPS-killers are water effects on high and running it in windowed mode. If you do either or both of those, change that right away and you should see further performance enhancements.

Edited March 14, 2009 by Stingray

[WynnTTr]

Stingray did you have any problems with the Thermalright? Was wanting to buy an aftermarket cpu cooler myself but read that some didn't fit the Gigabyte x58 series well.

[Stingray]

Stingray did you have any problems with the Thermalright? Was wanting to buy an aftermarket cpu cooler myself but read that some didn't fit the Gigabyte x58 series well.

 

Nope, no problems at all. Motherboard is Gigabyte x58 UD3R, fits with plenty of room, and it still fits the ATI 4870x2 in the E-PCI slot nearest the CPU with plenty of room, I've got the corsair dominator dual-fan memory cooler as well, and the TRUE 120 fits that fine. I've got the stock 120mm fan setup in a push combo, and think I will get the clips to get another 120mm fan to do a push/pull fan setup.

 

I did read that mounting the TRUE 120mm could be a bit of a pain, so I spent some time fiddling with it before mounting it on the CPU, and mounted it on the mobo outside the case so it was easy to work with. The cooler works great, I would recommend it. I've got a i7 920 overclocked to 3.2ghz and speedfan reports the temperatures on all cores to be less than 30 degrees C, and thats after running the passmark benchmark program.

 

Stingray

[EtherealN]

A further trick you could look at is disabling hyperthreading. A test I read (admittedly of the top-range i7, not the 920) gave obscene boosts when hyperthreading was disabled. However, that was only for a few games and it did cause performance losses in various other types of applications.

 

But the interesting thing there was that in those games where that did have effect, it was only the non-hyperthreading i7 that was beating a similarly clocked E8500. My hypothesis on it is that those games in specific were not coded with any kind of thought to hyperthreading or the 8 logical cores you get with hyperthreading (if I have understood it correctly) and that you might effectively then be getting a "half" core in that game. Since DCS is such a game that works in one thread it might be one where you can get some benefit.

 

Obviously though, if you use the computer for other stuff it might not be worth it anyhow.

 

But for comparison, my computer as per my sig will on a completely empty map (other than a singular FARP with some objects on it) offer FPS of between 60-70 and closing in on 100 on outside views. (EDIT: This is at 1680x1050 with everything on max except water and 8x AA and so forth.) One of these days I'm going to have to subject it to a more controlled test though since I am starting to think that something has to be real weird with my relatively cheap hardware offering that kind of results when some other systems are so much slower. Who knows, might have been a fluke. :P And of course, an empty map is not representative at all of more busy environments.

Edited March 14, 2009 by EtherealN

[Stingray]

Yo, I will give disabling hyperthreading a shot, is that done in the bios settings? I agree that in some situations you might get half a core. How do you get a completely empy level to load? Just pick a quiet airbase somewhere in the mission editor?

 

Thanks,

 

Stingray

 

A further trick you could look at is disabling hyperthreading. A test I read (admittedly of the top-range i7, not the 920) gave obscene boosts when hyperthreading was disabled. However, that was only for a few games and it did cause performance losses in various other types of applications.

 

But the interesting thing there was that in those games where that did have effect, it was only the non-hyperthreading i7 that was beating a similarly clocked E8500. My hypothesis on it is that those games in specific were not coded with any kind of thought to hyperthreading or the 8 logical cores you get with hyperthreading (if I have understood it correctly) and that you might effectively then be getting a "half" core in that game. Since DCS is such a game that works in one thread it might be one where you can get some benefit.

 

Obviously though, if you use the computer for other stuff it might not be worth it anyhow.

 

But for comparison, my computer as per my sig will on a completely empty map (other than a singular FARP with some objects on it) offer FPS of between 60-70 and closing in on 100 on outside views. (EDIT: This is at 1680x1050 with everything on max except water and 8x AA and so forth.) One of these days I'm going to have to subject it to a more controlled test though since I am starting to think that something has to be real weird with my relatively cheap hardware offering that kind of results when some other systems are so much slower. Who knows, might have been a fluke. :P And of course, an empty map is not representative at all of more busy environments.

[EtherealN]

Unfortunately I have no clue on how you go about disabling hyperthreading. :(

 

And yeah, the empty level I made was basically just an empty map on which I placed a FARP and my chopper. If one wants a REALLY empty one you just place the chopper in the air somewhere or on a regular airbase and run that.

[Stingray]

Yo, so I disabled hyper-threading, yep, its an option in the advanced bios options. So, running "balanced" graphics in catalyst a single helicopter on an airfield seems to get 70-90 fps for me after disabling hyper-threading and over-clocked at 3.2ghz. In the campaign mission I was playing earlier, where I was getting 16-25 fps I am now getting consistently 35-55 fps

 

This is using the affinity tool on the four cores.

 

Stingray

[WynnTTr]

Can't think of any games that use HT currently. So unless you're doing other stuff, such as rendering/CAD etc... it's better to disable it. Not only for gaming improvements but HT produces a ton of heat. I lost 6-10C just from disabling HT.

 

What did you sue to get 3.2 Stingray? Just the EasyTunes software that came with the Gigabyte mobo, or did you manually set timings via bios?

[AlphaInfinity]

Howdy,

 

I put together a new computer: intel core i7 920 cpu running at 2.66, 6 gb ddr3 in tripple channel model, ati 4870x2 with 2gb memory, WD velociraptor hd, giga-byte X58 UD3R mobo, after market CPU heatsink (Thermalright ultra edition 120), memory cooler, plus two extra case fans. Using Vista 64 as operating system. I've also got an azuntech forte sound card, track ir 4, x-50 pro, x-52 rudders.

 

Using a 24" LCD at 1920x1200, 2xAA, 8xAF, "quality" mip map, catalyst a.i. disabled, adaptive aa disabled running all the best graphics options in DCS, and FPS seems to be around 16-20.

 

If I bring the visibility distance, to medium, scenes to low, textures to medium, FPS goes up to about 25, so not a big improvement.

 

Do these frame rates seem slow to you for this powerfull of a computer?

 

Thanks,

 

Stingray

 

 

Stingray, I was seeing about 30 FPS on my rig at stock clock speeds. You can easily overclock this processor to 3.2 ghz and not take a huge penalty in processor temp. I have mine running at 3.2 ghz and I now average around 50 fps. I posted some screenshots in this thread:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=39266

[Stingray]

Stingray, I was seeing about 30 FPS on my rig at stock clock speeds. You can easily overclock this processor to 3.2 ghz and not take a huge penalty in processor temp. I have mine running at 3.2 ghz and I now average around 50 fps. I posted some screenshots in this thread:

 

http://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=39266

 

Yep, I am oc'd at 3.2GHZ no problem, temperatures are usually below 30 C, huge improvement in FPS.

 

Thanks, huge performance increase tonight, its a night-and-day difference in playing this sim,

 

Stingray

[EtherealN]

Awesome to hear. Have lots of fun in the virtual skies. :)