MultiCore Boost

[Blown65]

Well, I tested this a little, does help my FPS a crap load but how it plays is yet to be seen.

You can do it however you want but this is how I did it.

Default setting is +mat_queue_mode -1

To enable multicore its +mat_queue_mode 2

Add that to your launch options. Go to games, right click TF2, select properties, then launch options and paste that there.


83 fps default to 133fps with the setting, on the same server, same map and looking at the same spot. Didn't look to see how much of my 4 core machine its using, but obviously its using something.

May be worth trying out.

[YevGenie]

Will that work with a dual core? I have AMD x2 4600, would be interesting to check it out methinks? also, do you have to take out the default code? Or just paste the new one in?

[Blown65]

just pasting the new one will do. To change back just change the number to -1.

Yes it should work on anything that has more than one core.

[YevGenie]

Neat, thx Blown

[pugnacious]

I tried this with a quad core, and I crashed within 10 minutes. I'll stick to default I think.

[Stevo]

It was very unstable and the FPS was all over the place. Doesn't work well on my system.

[Barrel Bomber]

sounds kinda crazy...im gunna stay away from it my systems already unstable

[MrBlah]

yeah it may have got my fps upa bit, but the game did crash, amnd i dont need the extra fps any way lol

[MauryPovich]

Here is a steam forum thread about multi core settings:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... hread_mode

I used +host_thread_mode 1 +snd_mix_async 1 for a few days(I have a q6600 proc) but after a few crashes and no real noticeable performance difference, I don't use them anymore.

Disregard the host_thread_mode setting the guy gives in the first post, the settings for that are either: 0 - off, 1 - multi core, 2- force

Here is a post from A valve employee:

Code: Select all

There are two cvars you can test for multicore support currently:

host_threadmode 1
snd_mix_async 1

In general, changing various other thread-related settings will just expose you to bugs and may not increase performance. I wouldn't recommend tweaking any of the other cvars mentioned in this forum thread.

The two I've mentioned above both shipped in the xbox 360 version and are fairly well tested, but still need a bit more testing on the PC platform before we enable them by default on multicore PCs.

host_threadmode allows server simulation to happen in parallel with some of the rendering. It is fine to set this to 1 in general, but it will only provide performance boosts in games where your machine is running both the client and the server (ep2 & portal for example, or tf2 if you are hosting the game but not if you are connected to an internet server).

snd_mix_async 1 will use multicore CPUs to run the most of the sound engine in parallel with the renderer.

Various parts of the particle, I/O and networking systems are already using multicore CPUs to improve performance. There are no settings to change for that behavior.

host_thread_mode doesn't do a thing when playing on internet servers , not sure on the other settings, try them out but prepare to unleash bugs and crashes.

From this post:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/s ... ost6953418

Found something else I may try:

Use the launch option "-threads 4".

Apparently "-threads 8" will also work with the current engine build but you'll need 8 cores ...

Set -threads 2 or 4 in your launch options depending on which cpu you have. I'm going to give it a whirl tonight.

[Laggin]

I got about 10 minutes of play time, did not not notice any diff. before game crashed...running Q6600. thanks for trying Blown!

[Blown65]

ya, I read the steamforums post. Sounds like its a no win here. heh

I did try it but only on an empty server, didnt have time to test it playing normally, but I did get a huge fps improvement. Might have to try some of the other settings. oh well, maybe valve will fix it so it will use the rest of my cores.