ArmaHolic ArmA 2 Optimization

[GLeek]

any advice on best ATI flip queue size value ?

[moosenoodles]

any advice on best ATI flip queue size value ?

I can tell you now, if you go altering that and other settings with the ATT application eventually you could be removing ATT and resetting your arma profile...

I found in testing with ATT and FQS, that there was marginal if any diff. The issues are driver/game locked down with vsynch, even using the work around for vsynch can work temporarily, but if your a fiddler to get maximum all the time from playing various scenarios etc then my experience is the game shaders/cache or anything else for profile and running wise of said game seems to spit it all back at you after a while..

Of course if your up for messing about with it then its no biggie...

[LeftSkidLow]

I just set a 1.5gb ramdisk, and loaded all the chernarus, trees, and building pbos into a mod folder on the ramdisk.

I didn't notice any increase in performance on the ground but flying was a little smoother. The FPS isn't really affected, I just got less stuttering.

I only have 4gb of ram, but someone with more could try to load the whole addons folder.

[Placebo]

hi..i have 4850..cpu 3.4 4 meg catch..xp 32...fsp 15..all dirve update..4gig ram...what can i do?

There's no need at all to quote the original 846 word post just to add one line from yourself.

[Ginger McAle]

That means the game does NOT issue any calls to the page file as far as I am aware hard faults

Excellent post Masterfragg.

Ive made the same observation. I had started filemon (a tool from the sysinternals suite to see hard drive access). I wanted to check what Arma 2 was doing with the hard drive. While flying around or when turning around in cities there is always a pause/lagg (caused by hard drive access). I checked task manager and saw that Arma 2 used only 650 MB of ram. Then i started filemon to record hard drive usage.

Here you see one second of three minutes record (i was flying over the big island during multiplayer (warfare session)):

34850	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data_Layers.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 142905344 Length: 4096	
34851	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 325636096 Length: 4096	
34852	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 325521408 Length: 4096	
34853	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 325197824 Length: 4096	
34854	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\misc.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 59895808 Length: 8192	
34855	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\misc.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 59547648 Length: 4096	
34856	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\misc.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 58626048 Length: 4096	
34857	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 98406400 Length: 4096	
34858	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 615821312 Length: 4096	
34859	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 233078784 Length: 4096	
34860	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 615333888 Length: 4096	
34861	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 528830464 Length: 4096	
34862	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 528547840 Length: 4096	
34863	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 556793856 Length: 4096	
34864	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 556740608 Length: 4096	
34865	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 556613632 Length: 4096	
34866	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 901545984 Length: 8192	
34867	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data_Layers.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 29425664 Length: 4096	
34868	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data_Layers.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 134316032 Length: 4096	
34869	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 634851328 Length: 8192	
34870	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 901529600 Length: 12288	
34871	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\wheeled.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 41787392 Length: 4096	
34872	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data_Layers.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 32911360 Length: 4096	
34873	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 634847232 Length: 4096	
34874	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data_Layers.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 28663808 Length: 73728	
34875	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\chernarus_Data_Layers.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 132648960 Length: 151552	
34876	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 901513216 Length: 16384	
34877	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 901664768 Length: 4096	
34878	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 894345216 Length: 4096	
34879	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 894566400 Length: 4096	
34880	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 325009408 Length: 4096	
34881	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\sounds.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 82489344 Length: 4096	
34882	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 358920192 Length: 8192	
34883	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 295882752 Length: 12288	
34884	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 635510784 Length: 24576	
34885	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 357548032 Length: 4096	
34886	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 357728256 Length: 4096	
34887	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 358232064 Length: 4096	
34888	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 357605376 Length: 4096	
34889	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 357765120 Length: 4096	
34890	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 358313984 Length: 4096	
34891	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 357560320 Length: 4096	
34892	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 357650432 Length: 4096	
34893	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 402472960 Length: 40960	
34894	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 402464768 Length: 8192	
34895	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\structures.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 634986496 Length: 73728	
34896	04:05:05	arma2.exe:2936	READ 	G:\ArmA 2\AddOns\buildings2.pbo	SUCCESS	Offset: 295878656 Length: 4096

As you can see there is much data that is read from the hard drive, nothing from the pagefile, arma2.exe is using also only a fractional part of available system RAM. Here is the complete three minutes hard drive access log made by filemon:
http://static.tsviewer.com/stuff/arma/Arma2_fly.LOG

[hamis]

That shows we really need patch.The game should first use all available ram,then use pagefile and as last resort read from game directory.Otherwise there is no smooth gameplay for any of us ever.

[Potatomasher]

You can hear your HDD crunching almost all the time when moving around. Only time it's quiet is when your completely still and all the textures are loaded, but as soon you start to move crunching begins.

What about Arma1 ? Does it load as much from HDD aswell. I don't remember my HDD was so frigging noisy when i last time played it.

[Sniper Pilot]

Yeah I would really like an official statement on this, as this is a major issue imho.

[hamis]

What about Arma1 ? Does it load as much from HDD aswell. I don't remember my HDD was so frigging noisy when i last time played it.

Well,i'm playing A1 yet and it is very noticeable.Especially when turning around.And it's not about my hardware,i have Raptor 10000 rpm,4870x2 and E8600 @3.6 Ghz.Also i keep view distance just enough for the mission,mostly 500-1500.

[Masterfragg]

You can hear your HDD crunching almost all the time when moving around. Only time it's quiet is when your completely still and all the textures are loaded, but as soon you start to move crunching begins.

What about Arma1 ? Does it load as much from HDD aswell. I don't remember my HDD was so frigging noisy when i last time played it.

Hi Potatomasher

Yes Arma1 does load all data from the HDD and nothing from the pagefile but it is not nearly as much as Arma2 loads.
Thats why Arma1 gives such better fps, although both games run on a pretty much exact engine (graphically minus the new HDR effects and motion blur...I'm a fan of neither sadly) Arma2 just trys to force feed everything to be read from hdd.

Also the HDD noise that you hear mainly where moving is due to the Arma2 engine loading a terrain grid, as you move it's ripping more data from the hdd and loading dynamically.

---------- Post added at 06:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:36 PM ----------

Excellent post Masterfragg.

Ive made the same observation. I had started filemon (a tool from the sysinternals suite to see hard drive access). I wanted to check what Arma 2 was doing with the hard drive. While flying around or when turning around in cities there is always a pause/lagg (caused by hard drive access). I checked task manager and saw that Arma 2 used only 650 MB of ram. Then i started filemon to record hard drive usage.

As you can see there is much data that is read from the hard drive, nothing from the pagefile, arma2.exe is using also only a fractional part of available system RAM. Here is the complete three minutes hard drive access log made by filemon:
http://static.tsviewer.com/stuff/arma/Arma2_fly.LOG

Thanks Ginger, I'm unsure if the engine can now be edited to use the Pagefile and/or ram more.
As with BIS we could be waiting until Arma3 before they'll give a statement on this matter, either that or they'll suddenly fix it although I'm unsure as Arma1 has the same issue.

Heres a tip for everyone just to triple check it.

Remove your pagefile completely and see if it makes any difference to the game.
If it doesn't you are now allowed to throw shoes and gloves at the BIS staff!

---------- Post added at 06:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 PM ----------

Yeah I would really like an official statement on this, as this is a major issue imho.

You are not the only one mate, but an official statement on this issue from BIS I would say is unlikely.
Or they would say something along the lines of

****THIS IS A MOCK BIS REPLY NOT REAL****
"We have many satisfied customers and are sorry that there are a "Few" that can't enjoy the game due to hardware limitations, sadly not all hardware configurations are able to play this game but only 1% of the units sold have experienced issues"

I'm not putting words in their mouth or anything but this is starting to feel very Electronic Arts and thats their default response :P

Just kiddin' lol

BIS won't give an official statement though hopefully they'll start beta testing on a closed team (Btw BIS if you want a good beta tester just message me I'll send you my CV and I'll work a 2 week free trial! and!!! I'll even stop bitching! because if I miss a bug I'll hit myself in the bawls!)