3 replies to this topic

[SPencil]

(specs and settings can be found below.)

part 1:

Spoiler

gorgeous, ain't it?

Greetings,

About two years ago, I made a video documenting how much sacrifice was needed to play MWO on lower end machines. The thread and video are available here for posterity and comparison. A friend compared it to looking like the game was developed ten years ago, and he was not wrong. That video was recorded just before a patch tanked my framerate hard. Heavily tweaked user.cfg (which is mostly obsolete), tweaked video drivers, and harvesting blood for the blood god made it playable. Not pretty, but playable at the most minimal level.

In that two years, MWO has seen a fair share of patches and updates that tweaked the performance both client and server side, balance, mech details and so on. Balance and meta-game are the subjects that get talked about the most in general discussion, but little about performance, and how it affects us all. Depending on how we play and what we do, balance and meta-game affects us in varying amounts; performance is something we all care and feel for, from the soggiest of potatoes to the most extreme of behemoth computers.

So lets have a discussion regarding the fidelity and detail of the game, versus the performance we get and expect. What are the specs of your rig and what is your average framerate? How does it vary across maps? Are you willing to sacrifice FPS if required for a greater visual experience, or would you rather be running as fast as possible?

For people like myself, graphical beauty takes a back seat to performance. On the other side, others want to feel as immersed as possible and bask in the glory of graphics, accepting no less then the best possible. Regardless of personal tastes, what would you like to see a greater focus on? Ignore for a second weapon balance, meta-game, and tournaments for a second; consider how the game looks and plays, versus the overall performance.

Assume that balance is a non-issue: what would you like to see implemented into the game? Higher resolution textures, better effects and details, or more of a focus on tuning and squeezing every last bit of speed from the engine? The major changes since the first video are DX11, 64 bit support, a heavy handicap on the user.cfg, 8 extra players running around and a slew of optimization passes. The absolutely terrible texture quality of the first video was a result of lowering the texture resolution in the user.cfg by a factor of 4. There have also been optimization passes on maps, effects, and mechs. Overall, there has been a perceivable and quantitative improvement in the game, at least as far as performance and quality are concerned.

Personally, I'd like to see a bit more freedom in tinkering the user.cfg file and if a dev has the time, a compiled list of settings that are changeable through it. Maybe more graphics options? If PGI does implement higher resolution textures, have a setting to switch between them, instead of locking us in. I've heard it said that the user base is dwindling^{[citation needed]}, and at least one way of retaining players and attracting new players would be to make the game run as smoothly as possible, across as many different systems and specs as possible. With the possibility of the game being released on Steam, performance and stability for lower end machines and quality for higher end ones are arguably among the most important of considerations, alongside an improved new-player experience.

So, considerations and thoughts? I want to know your thoughts on what would better help make the game better, short-term and long-term. Whether performance and quality should be focused on, or balance and meta-game?

If you've come this far, my thanks for hearing me out. I'd appreciate your thoughts. As well, any tips or advice on further performance improvements are welcome and encouraged.

Gooooooooood luck and haaaaaaaaaaaaave fun

---

Specs and user.cfg

Abridged dxdiag:

Spoiler

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/4/2015, 18:09:18
Machine name: RINCEWIND-W
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.130801-1533)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire 7551
BIOS: Default System BIOS
Processor: AMD Turion™ II P540 Dual-Core Processor (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4094MB RAM
Page File: 1630MB used, 6555MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

...

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5400 Series
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x68E0)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68E0&SUBSYS_03881025&REV_00
Display Memory: 2296 MB
Dedicated Memory: 505 MB
Shared Memory: 1791 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 720 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: unknown
Monitor Id: LGD0289
Native Mode: 1600 x 900(p) (60.080Hz)
Output Type: Internal
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1247 (English)
Driver Version: 13.251.0.0
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 12/6/2013 18:01:52, 1318552 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2BA0-11CF-4A77-8223BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x68E0
SubSys ID: 0x03881025
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem15.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_ManhattanP:13.251.0.0:pci\ven_1002&dev_68e0
Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
Deinterlace Caps: [REDACTED]
D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: Speakers (Realtek High Definition Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0272&SUBSYS_10250388&REV_1000
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.00.0001.6167 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 7/28/2010 22:26:00, 2445672 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX™ 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2™ Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura™ ZoomFX™: No

Description: Speakers (Logitech USB Headset H540)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: USB\VID_046D&PID_0A37&REV_0116&MI_00
Manufacturer ID: 65535
Product ID: 65535
Type: WDM
Driver Name: USBAUDIO.sys
Driver Version: 6.01.7601.17514 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
Date and Size: 11/20/2010 06:43:52, 109696 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Microsoft
HW Accel Level: Basic
Cap Flags: 0x0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX™ 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2™ Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura™ ZoomFX™: No

user.cfg:

Spoiler

;************************************************************************
;*********************** MWO LOWEST PRO Config **************************
;************************************************************************
;---
;============================ Core ======================================
;---
r_VSync = 0
sys_spec_Environment = 0
sys_spec_GameEffects = 0
sys_spec_ObjectDetail = 0
sys_spec_Particles = 0
sys_spec_PostProcessing = 0
sys_spec_Shading = 0
sys_spec_Shadows = 0
sys_spec_Texture = 0
sys_spec_Physics = 0
sys_spec_Sound = 1
;r_MultiThreaded = 2
;--- 0=disabled, 1=enabling rendering in separate thread, 2(default)=automatic detection
;s_FileCacheManagerSize = 80
;---
;============================ Controller ================================
;---
i_mouse_smooth = 0
i_mouse_accel=0
;cl_sensitivity = 0.25
;cl_sensitivityController = 0.1
;i_mouse_accel_max = 100
;---
;============================= Renderer ================================
;---
q_Quality = 0
q_Renderer = 0
q_ShaderFX = 0
q_ShaderGeneral = 0
q_ShaderGlass = 0
q_ShaderHDR = 0
q_ShaderIce = 0
q_ShaderMetal = 0
q_ShaderPostProcess = 0
q_ShaderShadow = 0
q_ShaderSky = 0
q_ShaderTerrain = 0
q_ShaderVegetation = 0
q_ShaderWater = 0
;---
;============================= ObjectDetail =============================
;---
e_ViewDistMin = 10
e_ViewDistRatio = 100
e_ViewDistRatioCustom = 100
e_ViewDistRatioDetail = 75
e_ViewDistRatioLights = 50
e_ViewDistRatioVegetation = 25
r_DrawNearZRange = 0.08
e_ObjQuality = 0
e_Lods = 1
e_LodRatio = 20
e_LodMin = 0
e_decals=0
ca_useDecals = 0
e_DecalsAllowGameDecals = 1
e_DecalsLifeTimeScale = 5
e_DecalsOverlapping = 0
e_DecalsHitCache=0
e_DecalsForceDeferred = 0
e_VegetationBending = 0
e_VegetationMinSize = 0
e_VegetationSpritesDistanceCustomRatioMin = 1
e_VegetationSpritesDistanceRatio = 1
e_ProcVegetation = 1
e_TerrainDetailMaterialsViewDistXY = 1024
e_TerrainDetailMaterialsViewDistZ = 128
e_TerrainOcclusionCullingMaxDist = 200
e_Dissolve = 1
e_MaxViewDistSpecLerp = 1
e_OcclusionCullingViewDistRatio = 1
e_streamCgf = 0
ca_AttachmentCullingRation = 200
ca_DrawFaceAttachments = 1
es_DebrisLifetimeScale = 0
;---
;============================= Textures ================================
;---
r_TexResolution = 2
;--- Diffuse. When 0 (default) texture resolution is unaffected, 1 halves, 2 quarters etc.
r_TexBumpResolution = 2
;--- Reduces bump texture resolution. Same as ^^^
r_EnvTexResolution = 0
;--- Sets resolution for 2d target environment texture, in pixels. 0: 64 / 1: 128 / 2: 256 / 3: 512
r_EnvCMResolution = 0
;--- Sets resolution for target environment cubemap, in pixels. 0: 64 / 1: 128 / 2: 256
r_TexSkyResolution = 0
r_DynTexAtlasCloudsMaxSize = 32
r_DynTexAtlasSpritesMaxSize = 32
r_DynTexMaxSize = 80
r_EnvTexUpdateInterval = 0.001
r_ImposterRatio = 1
r_TexAtlasSize = 512
r_TexMinAnisotropy = 0
r_TexturesFilteringQuality = 0
r_VegetationSpritesTexRes = 16
;----------------------------- Detail Textures -------------------------
r_DetailTextures = 0
r_DetailNumLayers = 0
r_DetailDistance = 1
;---
;================ Post-Processing / HDR / DOF / Motion Blur ============
;---
r_ColorGrading = 0
r_DepthOfField = 0
r_dofMinZScale = 0
r_dofMinZ = 1
r_DepthOfFieldBokeh = 0
r_DepthOfFieldBokehQuality = 0
r_EyeAdaptationBase = 0.1
r_EyeAdaptationFactor = 0.85
r_EyeAdaptationSpeed = 0.1
r_GlowAnamorphicFlares = 1
r_HDRBloomMul = 0.5
r_HDRBlueShift = 0.2
r_HDRBrightLevel = 0.50
r_HDRBrightOffset = 30
r_HDRBrightThreshold = 5
r_HDREyeAdaptionCache = 30
r_HDRGrainAmount = 0
r_HDRLevel = 0
r_HDROffset = 10
r_HDRRendering = 1
r_MotionBlurMaxViewDist = 0
r_PostProcessHUD3DCache = 0
r_RainMaxViewDist_Deferred = 0
r_sunshafts = 0
r_Coronashafts = 0
r_Coronas = 0
r_Flares = 0
r_MotionBlur = 0
r_MotionBlurShutterSpeed = 0.00001
ca_MotionBlurMovementThreshold = 0.00001
r_Reflections = 0
r_ReflectionsQuality = 0
;---
;============================= Light/Shading ===========================
;---
e_DynamicLightsMaxEntityLights = 8
e_GI = 1
e_GIAmount = 0.5
e_GIMaxDistance = 80
e_GINumCascades = 1
e_SkyType = 1
e_SkyUpdateRate = 0
e_TerrainAo = 0
e_TerrainNormalMap = 1
e_VegetationUseTerrainColor = 1
;---
;============================= Shadows =================================
;---
e_GsmCache = 0
e_GsmCastFromTerrain = 0
e_GsmLodsNum = 0
e_GsmRange = 0
e_ParticlesShadows = 0
e_Shadows = 0
e_ShadowsCastViewDistRatio = 0
e_ShadowsMaxTexRes = 0
e_ShadowsOnAlphaBlend = 0
e_ShadowsResScale = 0
e_ShadowsTessellateCascades = 0
r_ShadowBlur = 0
r_ShadowJittering = 0
r_ShadowsMaskResolution = 0
r_ShadowsPCFiltering = 0
r_ShadowsUseClipVolume = 0
e_ShadowsSlopeBias=0
;---
;============================= AA/MSAA/FSAA ============================
;---
r_PostMSAA = 0
r_PostMSAAMode = 0
r_PostMSAAEdgeFilterNV = 0
r_FSAA = 0
r_UseEdgeAA = 0
;---
;============================= SSAO ====================================
;---
r_ssdo = 0
r_SSAO = 0
r_SSAOQuality = 0
r_SSAODownscale = 0
r_refraction = 0
r_ssreflections = 0
r_ssdoAmbientAmount = 0
r_ssdoAmount = 0
;---
;============================= Volumetrics =============================
;---
r_FogColorGradient = 0
r_Beams = 0
r_BeamsDistFactor = 0.05
r_BeamsMaxSlices = 200
e_Clouds = 0
r_CloudsUpdateAlways = 0
;---
;============================ Particles ================================
;---
e_ParticlesQuality = 0
e_ParticlesLights = 0
e_ParticlesMaxScreenFill = 32
e_ParticlesMinDrawPixels = 1
e_ParticlesMotionBlur = 0
e_ParticlesObjectCollisions = 1
r_UseParticlesHalfRes = 0
r_UseSoftParticles = 0
r_UseParticlesRefraction = 0
r_UseParticlesGlow = 0
r_UseParticlesMerging = 0
r_UseParticlesHalfResForce = 0
r_RainDropEffect = 0
r_RainAmount = 0
r_Rain = 0
;e_particles_thread = 1
;---
;============================ Water ===================================
;---
e_WaterOceanFFT = 0
e_WaterTesselationAmount = 10
e_WaterTesselationAmountX = 10
e_WaterTesselationAmountY = 10
e_WaterTesselationSwathWidth = 10
r_WaterCaustics = 0
r_WaterReflections = 0
r_WaterReflectionsQuality = 0
r_WaterReflectionsMinVisiblePixelsUpdate = 0
r_WaterUpdateDistance = 0
r_WaterUpdateFactor = 0
;---
;============================ Physics ==================================
;---
;Physics
g_breakage_particles_limit = 90
g_joint_breaking = 1
g_tree_cut_reuse_dist = 0
e_CullVegActivation = 0
e_FoliageWindActivationDist = 0
e_PhysFoliage = 0
e_PhysOceanCell = 0.5
p_gravity_z = -36.3
p_joint_damage_accum = 2
p_joint_damage_accum_threshold = 0.2
p_max_MC_iters = 4000
p_max_object_splashes = 3
p_max_substeps_large_group = 5
p_num_bodies_large_group = 100
p_splash_dist0 = 7
p_splash_dist1 = 30
p_splash_force0 = 10
p_splash_force1 = 100
p_splash_vel0 = 4.5
p_splash_vel1 = 10
v_vehicle_quality = 3
es_MaxPhysDist = 100
es_MaxPhysDistInvisible = 15
;---
;============================ Sound ===================================
;---
s_FormatSampleRate = 44100
s_MaxChannels=32
s_MPEGDecoders = 32
s_Obstruction = 1
s_ObstructionAccuracy = 1
s_ObstructionUpdate = 0.1
s_ReverbType = 1
s_SoundMoodsDSP = 1
s_VariationLimiter = 1
s_PrecacheData = 1
s_PriorityThreshold = 1
;---
;============================ STREAMING ===============================
gp_option_ShowCockpitGlass=0
r_DepthOfField=0
r_HDRGrainAmount=0.0
r_TexturesStreaming=0

cl_fov = 86
sys_MaxFPS = 30
e_TerrainAo = 0
sys_PakPriority = 0
sys_PakValidateFileHash = 0

The in-game settings are all set low, and is run in windowed mode at 1024x768, using dx9.

I use a registry tweak found in this thread, which also contains some other user.cfg setups that some of you may find useful. The tweak just makes sure MWO is run at highest priority upon launch. The video was recorded with FRAPS

[Goose]

…

If you'd posted in the right forum, I might find some energy for ya' …

[Goose]

Right: So

Smokeyjedi was working on a FX, but I'd done up the Dueal-Core stuff on a Pentium G, which should cover your Thurban<sp?> …

I'd suggest replacing the user.cfg in this case: The vast majority of what you have listed is redundant with to the sliders, and I can get away with not checking it for conflicts that way.

Edited by Goose, 05 April 2015 - 09:27 AM.

[Goose]

So much for one-stop shopping

You've only got the VRAM for Low Textures; When you turn off Damage Glow, you can fallow it up with

r_Beams = 2

Out on the bleeding edge of untested-at-such-core-counts is

sys_job_system_max_worker =
e_AutoPrecacheCgfMaxTasks =
p_num_jobs =

which could all be set to "1" or "2" … or some combo thereof.

Also: No one knows how log sys_budget_soundCPU can be set for the guys without real soundcards, so you can play with that, too.

Edited by Goose, 05 April 2015 - 09:53 AM.