Anyone with problems with ATI drivers read this.

[Flanker35M]

S!

After testing some more..I set on the Vertex Array options in conf.ini and got following results...There is an impact for sure. Hoping ATI will issue this un upcoming drivers.


Black Death track, both VertexArray option enabled

Minimum: 28fps
Maximum: 284fps
Average: 93fps

+ Increase of fps in smoke and flame intense scenes of the track and average boosted a bit.
+ No artifacts or anomalies, either no console errors.
- The "blue hue" is there with these on.


Black Death track, only VertexArrayEXT enabled

Minimum: 24fps
Maximum: 285fps
Average: 93fps

+ Perfromance still good
+ No "blue hue" noticed nor artifacting, console clean.
- Would perform better with both options on.


So ATI has some homework to do with their drivers. I post the results I got without the vertex arrays enabled below. Figure the rest


Black Death track, no vertex arrays

Minimum: 23fps
Maximum: 286fps
Average: 93fps

+ No artifacts or errors, no blue hue
- Slightly lesser overall performance in dense places of the track.


If you look at the numbers there is no big difference. The difference was in overall performance of the track playing. With both Vertex Arrays ON, the track ran at a higher consistent FPS than without them in many places so definitely has an impact on performance of IL2. This can explain the difference between nVidia and ATI in IL2 as nVidia can use Vertex Array option without problems thus giving more FPS in certain situations. If ATI and/or MG/TD can fix this issue then there is none or very small difference in performance of either card brand.

Back to testing...

[=PF=Coastie]

You should send those test results into the ATI feedback form....good stuff!

[Flanker35M]

S!

Feel free to use them if you are in direct contact with Terry I can be your tester if he asks for something

[13th Hsqn Protos]

S~! Coastie

Long time no see.

I have done a lot of experimenting with ATI and confirm flankers results with vertex. Its also the same with AnisotropicExt changing to 0 or 1 yeilds little to no difference.

I recently went to the darkside (temp rma my sapphire) with an Nvidia 275 GTX and must say that the performance increase is incredible.
Over 30 fps increase in Black Death average and minimum frames up by over 15fps.

My understanding is that SoW is going to be heavily optimized for Nvidia...... I hate to admit it but I think my move to Nvidia may be permanent.

Ati is not supporting S.o.W according to some devs..... highly doubt there will be anything really done to improve IL2

But keep pluggin

My settings FOR MAX visual quality while maintaining high frames as follows

[Render_OpenGL]
TexQual=3
TexMipFilter=3
TexCompress=0
TexFlags.UseDither=0
TexFlags.UseAlpha=0
TexFlags.UseIndex=0
TexFlags.PolygonStipple=1
TexFlags.UseClampedSprites=0
TexFlags.DrawLandByTriangles=0
TexFlags.UseVertexArrays=0
TexFlags.DisableAPIExtensions=0
TexFlags.ARBMultitextureExt=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineExt=1
TexFlags.SecondaryColorExt=1
TexFlags.VertexArrayExt=0
TexFlags.ClipHintExt=0
TexFlags.UsePaletteExt=0
TexFlags.TexAnisotropicExt=1
TexFlags.TexCompressARBExt=0

TexFlags.TexEnvCombine4NV=1
TexFlags.TexEnvCombineDot3=1
TexFlags.DepthClampNV=1
TexFlags.SeparateSpecular=1
TexFlags.TextureShaderNV=1

HardwareShaders=1

Shadows=2
Specular=2
SpecularLight=2
DiffuseLight=2
DynamicalLights=1
MeshDetail=2
VisibilityDistance=3

Sky=1
Forest=3
LandShading=3
LandDetails=2

LandGeom=2
TexLarge=1
TexLandQual=3
TexLandLarge=1

VideoSetupId=17
Water=0 (change as you see fit)
Effects=1 (change as you see fit)
ForceShaders1x=0
PolygonOffsetFactor=-0.0625
PolygonOffsetUnits=-3.0

[Flanker35M]

S!

I really really hope SoW is NOT going to be a "one trick nVidia pony" like IL2 is. There was a reason for this, but with SoW I do not see ANY. Not gonna buy nVidia just to play one game my current ATI maybe could have problems with. I read the forums how people bitch about ATI but in most cases I do not have their problems at all..so the BIGGEST factor here is the organic plump that is between the keyboard and chair People expect and assume too much, think they know it all etc. And even then..after all the moaning they have to admit it was a thing they did. IMHO. And if there really is a problem, then there are channels to voice your concerns, if done in an appropriate manner of course. Saying: it won't work you suxxors is hardly constructive feedback that a dev will react to

DirectX 11 is same for both brands..and both brands provide massive performance in it. Also if devs say ATI gives no support..it really is a 2-way road to be honest. Have they even put effort to it..and what do we even know what is going on behind the MG curtain? Sure nVidia could be lobbying and smearing, nothing new there in the world of business and hard cash. But I do not think ATI would ignore a title that will be a benchmark for years to come. Like shooting yourself in the leg.

But not to derail from the topic..The pipe towards ATI is open regarding drivers with IL2 which is a good thing

[13th Hsqn Protos]

Wishing on it REALLY hard won't make it so ...... ATI has never had proper drivers for IL2 ... never mind 'optimized' ones.

Devs code for NV ..... it has been stated. You can bury your head in the sand or you can deal.

I have been ATI in this game from day one, but now its not really feasible .....when one brand gives you a 30fps average frame advantage ...... its time to move on.

ATI is great piece of hardware for a good price ..... but its not for this series of sims if you are looking for maximum performance.

[Flanker35M]

S!

ATI is looking into IL2 now and even with the bugs in drivers I have come very close to the FPS nVidia users get Maybe should start lobbying ATI to take a look in SoW. They have DirectX 11 certified hardware already and SoW is DX 11

To put it this way..If regurarly I run many other games without a glitch, namely Rise Of Flight, Aces High 2, Mass Effect 2, STALKER, Dawn Of War, EVE Online etc. and ONLY IL2 or SoW would cause me any kind of need to tweak or such..that should tell something and not very flattering in my book.

I will buy SoW to support flight sims anyway..and tinker to make it work if ATI supposedly does not look into SoW..which I think is not true.