How hard does unit count hit performance?

[GoldenElite0]

I run the game on normal unit amount and it's great. When entering large battles of a few thousand men the loading is significantly longer, but gameplay is unaffected.

I got a Pent 4 3.2, 1 gig RAM and a 9800 XT and the video settings are default to my hardware except for shadows which I always lower. Will I have to make reductions in any areas to increase my toop numbers? And are the numbers just aesthetics? Or is there a lot more enemy to kill?

[snuggans]

you actually see more men in the units.

[foolfromhell]

There are more men in the units, requiring different tactics.
Affects performance, as in, 2x the units requires about 1.7x the resources..