Promised performance increases observed - with Patch 16.1 - updated 05.02.2015

[alQamar]

Threads intention:
- Objectively verify the performance increases as advertised by CA's patch logs and estimate the overall game performance development of Rome 2.
- Discussing the results and comparing them to todays and former patch states of the game to verdict whether the promised performance increases could be validated or not.

To see a direct and clean comparison of the current Nvidia Driver 347.25 comparing the non-patched Rome 2 RTM version versus Patch 16.1 click here


Benchmark: TotalWar: Rome 2 forest
OS: Windows 8.1 Update 1
Hardware: 4.6 GHz Intel i7 2600K, NVIDIA GTX 670 FTW, 16 GB RAM DDR3L 1600 CL, 1,30Volts.

The percentage in brackets show the peformance gain / loss compared to patch 3 release on 2nd October 2013.
We cannot take measures from 3rd September 2013 , as the benchmark was bugged and capped FPS higher than 63 so would not gave us correct values. This issues was addressed by CA in patch 3.

maxed out settings (+/- performance compared to release):
Patch 3: 29.9 fps average
best result: Patch 14 beta: 33.9 fps average (+13.38%)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Patch 8.1 final: 31.8 fps average (+6.35%)
Patch 9 final: 28.3 fps average (-5.35%)
Patch 9.1 final: 31.5 fps average (+5.35%)
Patch 10 beta: 32.2 fps average (+7.69%) no change 334.89 > 335.23 driver
Patch 10 final: 32.1 fps average (+7.36%)
Patch 11.1 final: 32.3 fps average (+8.03%)
Patch 12 beta: 31.8 fps average (+6.35%)
Patch 12 beta HF1: 31.9 fps average (+6.69%)
Patch 12 final: 31.6 fps average (+5.69%) slight perf. decrease 337.81 compared to 337.61
Patch 13.1 final: 33.8 fps average (+13.04%)
Patch 14 beta: 33.9 fps average (+13.38%)
Patch 14.1 final: 33.5 fps average (+12.04%)
Patch 15 final: 33.7 fps average (+12.71%) 344.11 driver
Patch 15.1 final: 32.6 fps average (+9.03%) 344.65 driver
Patch 16 final: 32.8 fps average (+9.70%) 344.75 driver

Patch 16.1 final: 33.6 fps average (+12.37%) 344.75 driver
Patch 16.1 final: 33.9 fps average (+13.38%) 347.25 driver


extreme settings:
Patch 3: 37.0 fps average
best result: Patch 10 beta: 41.3 fps average (+11.62 %)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Patch 8.1 final: 40.0 fps average (+8.11%)
Patch 9 final: 38.0 fps average (+2.70%)
Patch 9.1 final: 39.5 fps average (+6.76%)
Patch 10 beta: 41.3 fps average (+11.62 %) no change 334.89 > 335.23 driver
Patch 10 final: 41.0 fps average (+10.81%)
Patch 11.1 final: 40.7 fps average (+10.00%)
Patch 12 beta: 40.7 fps average (+10.00%)
Patch 12 beta HF1: 41.0 fps average (+10.81%)
Patch 12 final : 39.4 fps average (+6.49%) slight perf. decrease 337.81 compared to 337.61
Patch 13.1 final: 39.5 fps average (+6.76%)
Patch 14 beta: 39.4 fps average (+6.49%)
Patch 14.1 final: 39.2 fps average (+5.95%)
Patch 15 final: 39.4 fps average (+6.49%) 344.11 driver
Patch 15.1 final: 38.3 fps average (+3.51%) 344.65 driver
Patch 16 final: 38.3 fps average (+3.51%) 344.75 driver

Patch 16.1 final: 39.3 fps average (+6.22%) 344.75 driver
Patch 16.1 final: 40.2 fps average (+8.65%) 347.25 driver


ultra settings:
Patch 3: 62.1 fps average
best result: Patch 8.1 final: 67.4 fps average (+8.53%)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Patch 8.1 final: 67.4 fps average (+8.53%)
Patch 9 final: 62.9 fps average (+1.29%)
Patch 9.1 final: 65.8 fps average (+5.96%) 66.3 fps with the older driver 332.21
Patch 10 beta: 64.8 fps average (+4.35%) no change 334.89 > 335.23 driver
Patch 10 final: 63.1 fps average (+1.61%)
Patch 11.1 final: 63.8 fps average (+2.74%)
Patch 12 beta: 63.6 fps average (+2.42%)
Patch 12 beta HF1: 63.7 fps average (+2.58%)
Patch 12 final : 61.6 fps average (-0.81%) slight perf. decrease 337.81 compared to 337.61
Patch 13.1 final: 62.5 fps average (+0.64%)
Patch 14 beta: 62.2 fps average (-1.45%)
Patch 14.1 final: 61.0 fps average (-1.77%)
Patch 15 final: 63.3 fps average (+1.93%) driver 344.11
Patch 15.1 final: 59.0 fps average(-4.99%) driver 344.65
Patch 16 final: 58.2 fps average(-6.28%) driver 344.75

Patch 16.1 final: 62 fps average (-0.16%) driver 344.75
Patch 16.1 final: 62.5 fps average (+0.64%) driver 347.25


very high settings:
Patch 3: 82.2 fps average
best result: Patch 8.1 final: 88.8 fps average (+8.03%)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Patch 8.1 final: 88.8 fps average (+8.03%)
Patch 9 final: 86.1 fps average (+4.74%)
Patch 9.1 final: 85.3 fps average (+3.77%) 88.8 fps with the older driver 332.21
Patch 10 beta: 82.8 fps average (+0.73%) no change 334.89 > 335.23 driver
Patch 10 final: 79.9 fps average (-2.80%)
Patch 11.1 final: 81.4 fps average (-0.97%)
Patch 12 beta : 80.9 fps average (-1.58%)
Patch 12 beta HF1: 81.8 fps average (-0.49%)
Patch 12 final : 78.1 fps average (-4.99%) slight perf. decrease 337.81 compared to 337.61
Patch 13.1 final: 79,7 fps average (-3.04%)
Patch 14 beta: 77,1 fps average (-6.20%)
Patch 14.1 final: 77,1 fps average (-5.84%)
Patch 15 final: 79.8 fps average (-2.92%) driver 344.11
Patch 15.1 final: 73.9 fps average (-9.61%) driver 344.65
Patch 16 final: 74.3 fps average (-9.61%) driver 344.75

Patch 16.1 final: 79.2 fps average (-3.65%) driver 344.75
Patch 16.1 final: 79.9 fps average (-2.80%) driver 347.25


high settings:
Patch 3: 139.5 fps average
best result: Patch 8.1 final: 156.2 fps average (+11.97%)

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Patch 8.1 final: 156.2 fps average (+11.97%)
Patch 9 final: 153.1 fps average (+9.75%)
Patch 9.1 final: 155.3 fps average (+11.33%) 157.1 fps with the older driver 332.21
Patch 10 beta: 141.4 fps average (+1.36%) no change 334.89 > 335.23 driver
Patch 10 final: 132 fps average (-5.38%)
Patch 11.1 final: 138.2 fps average (-0.93%)
Patch 12 beta: 135 fps average (-3.23%)
Patch 12 beta HF1: 136.9 fps average (-1.86%)
Patch 12 final : 129.9 fps average (-6.88%) some perf. decrease 337.81 compared to 337.61
Patch 13.1 final: 138.8 fps average (-0.50%)
Patch 14 beta: 128.4 fps average (-7.96%)
Patch 14.1 final: 135.0 fps average (-3.23%)
Patch 15 final: 135.9 fps average (-2.58%) driver 344.11
Patch 15.1 final: 134.2 fps average (-3.80%) driver 344.65
Patch 16 final: 134.3 fps average (-3.73%) driver 344.75

Patch 16.1 final: 138.7 fps average (-0.57%) driver 344.65
Patch 16.1 final: 137.7 fps average (-1.29%) driver 347.25


Performance level over time with different presets (patch 3 - patch 16.1) including hotfixes / beta patches and drivers

[Sun Jetzu]

just played shogun 2 after a long hiatus. realized how much less lag i get on ultra settings lol

[alQamar]

What rages me is that if I am running the game on lowered settings, CA has made sustained optimizations for "low end" consumers. But none of them are documented, and on the top of they even tell us the opposite in the patch logs.

PATCH 4
Incremental performance improvements, reduced CPU bottleneck in a number of scenarios - further improvements pending in future patch.

PATCH 7
Performance – Unit rendering performance on high spec gpu’s has been optimised, resulting in higher frame rates on EXTREME settings in most scenarios.


That did not happen, or their scenarios are completely unrelated to modern computers or their benchmark. They practially avoid to name certain hardware configurations where they achieved the performance increases. This is really unbelievable. Instead throwing smoke grenades towards the audience.

[alQamar]

indeed, my performance is more than twice in Shogun2 maxed out using FXAA. And this game has decent Antialiasing, HDR AND even DX11 Tesselation. But that have been said literally 1000 times by now.
Shameful dispray.

[Jasheon]

Agreed!!! Horrible performance i am still getting on my higher end rig.

[alQamar]

Al Jabberwock just moved my thread to rants and raves... anyone that could read the forums on .com know there are more rants that will not be moved. They don't like the truth. This is my end on totalwar.com I promised it.

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthrea...ilous-with-8.1

requested a deletion of my profile. TWC will be my last asylum.

[Durnaug]

TWC will be my last asylum.

Yup. Moderation here is extra cool.

[alQamar]

Yup. Moderation here is extra cool.

That's all so pathetic I cannot find much more words. However lets get back to the topic. I am happy now that I've taken the right decision to repost it here as I have no longer access to the one on .com.

Do you bascially think I am right with my posting - because on top of moving the thread he said others with even same hardware have quite other results? Have you really noticed a meaninful improvement in battles when you apply extreme settings or above?
I am not relating to turn times and the campaign map performance here.

[Denco]

Do you bascially thing I am right with my posting - because on top of moving the thread he said others with even same hardware have quite other results? Have you really noticed a meaninful improvement in battles when you apply extreme settings or above?
I am not relating to turn times and the campaign map performance here.

You were absolutely right to post that alQamar the performance is still a joke and will never be fixed because any of the optimizations they have done did not help me one bit.

[Yojimbo]

Yup. Moderation here is extra cool.

completely agree. What other forum has such fair mods and a tribunal?

And sorry to hear this game sucks on high end hardware its weird when it runs quite well on my non gaming laptop.

[stevehoos]

Al Jabberwock just moved my thread to rants and raves... anyone that could read the forums on .com know there are more rants that will not be moved. They don't like the truth. This is my end on totalwar.com I promised it.

http://forums.totalwar.com/showthrea...ilous-with-8.1

requested a deletion of my profile. TWC will be my last asylum.

The thought police came in to stop you. That moderator, ___________.

So they are killing LODS but yet the game continues to run worse? WTF?

[alQamar]

The thought police came in to stop you. That moderator, ___________.

So they are killing LODS but yet the game continues to run worse? WTF?

They do steve since patch 8 it became obvious.
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...raforming-game
http://www.twcenter.net/forums/showt...-ins-in-Rome-2

[alQamar]

Hi guys, it was quite late for me to post the screenshots of PrussianPrince, as promised. But now here they are. This PrussianPrince is a lucky and talented TW fan, also known by his various youtube broadcasts. He won the first sponsered TW tourney, which was limited to youtube broadcasters and actively discussed here on TWC. From the prize he won, he was able to get a great graphics card upgrade, and he deserved it.

He usually speaks calm about Rome 2 and it was very nice to meet him on Teamspeak several times, and joining interesting discussions with him, zaript and other which joined that teamspeak sessions.

Here are his own results with patch 10 compared to patch 9. They luckily cover my figures I posted yesterday. Please allow me to note that his rig is very outstanding and clearly surpasses mine aswell. I am not sure about his complete configuration but I can edit this information later, if he shares.


so the behaviour of patch 10 and the particular drivers is the same as as on my own rig. Which is good to see, as they provide the objectivity of my results.
However we need to take into consideration that the texture pop-ins are still in the game and people reported they got worse even. Also texture flickering issues, which were fixed by patch 9.1 are back again in patch 10 beta, linked above

[william456]

Hi guys, it was quite late for me to post the screenshots of PrussianPrince, as promised. But now here they are. This PrussianPrince is a lucky and talented TW fan, also known by his various youtube broadcasts. He won the first sponsered TW tourney, which was limited to youtube broadcasters and actively discussed here on TWC. From the prize he won, he was able to get a great graphics card upgrade, and he deserved it.

He usually speaks calm about Rome 2 and it was very nice to meet him on Teamspeak several times, and joining interesting discussions with him, zaript and other which joined that teamspeak sessions.

Here are his own results with patch 10 compared to patch 9. They luckily cover my figures I posted yesterday. Please allow me to note that his rig is very outstanding and clearly surpasses mine aswell. I am not sure about his complete configuration but I can edit this information later, if he shares.


so the behaviour of patch 10 and the particular drivers is the same as as on my own rig. Which is good to see, as they provide the objectivity of my results.
However we need to take into consideration that the texture pop-ins are still in the game and people reported they got worse even. Also texture flickering issues, which were fixed by patch 9.1 are back again in patch 10 beta, linked above

i have to say tje benchmark is not useful
in real game, large battle(10000 peoples up) has pretty fps,but the game stutter

Solider move seem like old man

the cpu/gpu useage after game released to patch 10 beta are not much difference

[stevehoos]

Moderation here is very fair, it's appreciated.

[Aussie-tosser]

Yeah I have to agree the optimisation in this game is terrible. While I've been really enjoying the game with DEI mod, it really annoys me that I have a quite a good computer, but am unable to get over 30fps on extreme settings. And I can't even lower the settings to get better fps, as my performance is even worse on lower settings.

[iWarsaw]

The shadow jiggies have started to annoy me. When I zoom out to watch my army its like watching a wave of shadows pass over then its gone. Then the wave of shadows comes again. It's pretty darn ugly.


Also I posted on Rome2 forums as well. Your title name is a bit crude, but that's hardly a rant. Its a shame the mod moved it.

Al. Im really pissed he moved your thread man.... I dont agree with you sometimes but damn it your posts are always an intelligent post.

[Wolar]

+rep for keeping up the good fight mate!

[Aussie-tosser]

More to the point, is there anything that we can do to improve performance in the meantime before CA finally optimises it better?

[wangrin]

Excellent work, as usual.
Sorry to not be able to +rep you right now al Qamar.

I could try to translate your OP in French and post it in French "totalwar.com" sub forum, it look like we are saved from "zealous" totalwar.com totalitarian moderators... at least up until now.
Moreover, Nico CA, the French community coordinator is very active.