ArmA 2 - Optimised Graphic Settings

[cptwhite_uk]

So what settings are people using, and what effects do all the options have on the graphics?

Using a Sapphire HD4870 512Mb at stock clocks and the latest catalyst 9.6 drivers and ATI Tray Tools 1.6 beta.

So far after minimal tweaking I've done the following:

Post process: OFF
To me this just adds unnecessary blurry-ness to the game, some of the effects I would like to like to keep (high dynamic range for example) so I need to edit this in a config file hopefully. Motion blur is a pain in the ass. It also interfers with the effectiveness of AA from my initial testing.

Anti-aliasing: HIGH
In-game AA does work for models, but not on textures with an alpha layer. This really pisses me off, are the graphic artists and programmers that inept!? It was done properly in BF1942 for god's sake (but not BF2 laughably), yet modern games can't do it?!? I've not tried forcing AA in the driver settings yet which should allow sort this. The correct method though would be to edit the alpha layer of the games texture files, which I might experiement with if they're accessible and editable.

I will add my thoughts as I do more testing. Good guide here http://www.pcgameshardware.com/aid,6...actice/?page=2

Post your own thoughts for optimising the game

[Lowe]

Few command line tweaks shamelessly ripped off the BIS Forums.

-winxp : Use it in Vista/W7 to enable multi-GPU support, will disable use of D3D9Ex (a special Vista only D3D9 version)

-nosplash : Skip splash screens

-world=empty : Doesn't load as much for menu, starts faster

-maxmem=2047 : Allows game engine to use more RAM (2047 is hardcoded maximum atm, anything higher falls back to 2047).

-window : Windowed mode

-noCB : Turns off multicore drawing, slow down rendering but may resolve visual glitches

-cpuCount=X : Change X to a number equal or less than numbers of available cores. (2 seems to have the best results....even on quads!)

[Lowe]

Couple of other snippets:

* Shadow setting 'Very High' usually offers better performance than 'High'
* Video memory setting 'Default' uses the value in Arma2.cfg. 'Very High' is 512mb, therefore 'Default' will actually be higher if your card has more than 512mb vram.
* Your terrain detail will automatically be lowered if Arma2 determines that you set your 'Visibility' too high.

[pauleden]

Lowe,
Sometimes setting stuff to high forces it to be done on the GPU rather than the CPU. If you have a powerful GPU, this can result in frame rate increases. Shadows is a particular example of this.

[Disturbedguy]

Lowe, can those command line tweaks not be added to a config instead?

[Lowe]

Not as far as I know. Just add them to your shortcut.

[Flibb]

Cheers for those tweaks will try them later

[cptwhite_uk]

I assume

-maxmem=2047 : Allows game engine to use more RAM (2047 is hardcoded maximum atm, anything higher falls back to 2047)

Is for 64bit OS only, and it would only potentially crash 32bit OS's like mine.

[Zak33]

Would someone please tell me how to add Lowe's commands to my shortcut?

I have found Post Processing sucks too.
I'm still getting De Sync every time I play too

[Lowe]

I assume



Is for 64bit OS only, and it would only potentially crash 32bit OS's like mine.

Not that I'm aware of, it's a 32bit app after all, hence the 2gb limit?

[Lowe]

Would someone please tell me how to add Lowe's commands to my shortcut?

I have found Post Processing sucks too.
I'm still getting De Sync every time I play too

Right click the shortcut, properties, then add after arma2.exe

Mine looks like:

C:\Games\ArmA2\arma2.exe -nosplash -world=empty -maxmem=2047 -cpuCount=2

[cptwhite_uk]

With regard to the -maxmem command and 32 bit OS. I thought 32bit OS were limited to 2Gb RAM per application (as a physical limitation of a 32bit OS). This was definitely true of Supreme Commander which would routinely crash if the 2Gb limit was hit on 80Km maps with masses of units.

As far as I understand it, it's the OS not the app which causes the limit (although I might be wrong and both can be a limiting factor)?

I would assume therefore the limit was put in place to specifically stop crashing in 32bit OS? I'm guessing here, but that does sound a plausible reason as it why it would even be there.

[chuckskull]

Mines pretty similar to Lowe's

With a couple of nvidia specific tweaks, under ARMAII's profile in the control panel, change max pre-rendered frames to 8, gives a nice performance boost. Disabling PhysX helps too. Both from BI's forums.

[Lowe]

The max prerender 8 is a must for anyone with an nvidia card

[cptwhite_uk]

So I've optimised the setting to something I'm comfortable with for now. I seem to average in the low 40fps at base camp. Not sure when the action gets heavier, might have to turn off AA (which makes a BIG difference.... low aa = 45-47fps, no aa (off) = 55-57fps as a quick example)

I have also enabled Adaptive AA using ATI Tray Tools 1.6 beta (go to tweaks > advanced tweaks > top option... deselect (no green square, or tick) > save

then...

go to 3d direct > adaptive anti-aliasing menu (it was hidden before going to advancved tweaks). Recommend performance adaptive AA, quality adaptive AA gives too much of a performance hit for me (but gives nicer results obviously )

Here's ow the game looks with the settings shown on the second image.

Note the grass. In the first image Adaptive AA is enabled, but in the second it isn't (grass is more pixelated)





Note this still isn't the correct way to some alpha layered textures in the game. But until they release tools to open the proprietary .paa graphic files for the game I have no way of implementing smoother grass and tree textures. Look how alpha textures were used on Battlefield 1942...look how smooth and clean the trees look in these screenshots, and AA isn't even enabled in the second! The only reason they're slightly pixelated is because the textures themselves are low res (it's an old game) but this needn't be an issue for a modern game like ArmA 2

[Ebeneezer Dahk]

Thanks for the info gents, very helpful

Currently using the ATi 4870X2 and the motion blur / HDR lighting is terrible, in fact I wouldn't be exaggerating to say that it looks like some muppets smeared half a tub of Vaseline on the screen.

Brilliant game though