While many users reported significant performance improvements, there are some issues that we are investigating. Some users are experiencing crashes, and some reported a reduction in performance.



We have investigated the crash reports and have fixes in progress. We expect to have those fixes deployed within a day.



To investigate the performance impact for our users, we used our telemetry system to analyse how the performance changed for various hardware setups. We found that users who have only two hardware threads (cores) indeed experience worse performance than before when using the new mode. Due to the nature of the improvement, it is probably necessary to only engage it if you have four or more hardware threads.



Results (Average Frame Rates)

All users, without optimisation: 53.502fps

All users, with optimisation: 65.385fps (+22.210%)



In maps, without optimisation: 47.351fps

In maps, with optimisation: 55.699fps (+17.630%)

The improvement in maps is likely more easily capped due to GPU fill-rate.



Geforce 970 series, without optimisation: 70.298fps

Geforce 970 series, with optimisation: 80.767fps (+14.892%)

This is the most common graphics card series used to play Path of Exile.



2 hardware threads, without optimisation: 34.910fps

2 hardware threads, with optimisation: 30.921fps (-11.426%)

This is a case where users are experiencing reduced performance. 4% of our users have two hardware threads. This optimisation will be disabled for users with only two hardware threads.



4 hardware threads, without optimisation: 51.765fps

4 hardware threads, with optimisation: 62.955fps (+21.615%)

49% of our users have four hardware threads.



8 hardware threads, without optimisation: 61.707fps

8 hardware threads, with optimisation: 71.526fps (+15.911%)

40% of our users have eight hardware threads



Intel CPU, without optimisation: 54.962fps

Intel CPU, with optimisation: 67.208fps (+22.281%)



AMD CPU, without optimisation: 49.442fps

AMD CPU, with optimisation: 58.806fps (+18.940%)



No shadows, without optimisation: 51.714fps

No shadows, with optimisation: 60.618fps (+17.217%)



Low shadows, without optimisation: 49.268fps

Low shadows, with optimisation: 64.387fps (+30.687%)



High shadows, without optimisation: 56.614fps

High shadows, with optimisation: 72.804fps (+28.596%)

It's faster with shadows because users with more powerful machines play with shadows on



Note that these averages include all gameplay. The improvements are more noticeable (and represent larger percentage increases) under extreme combat than when idling or running around.



To more accurately judge the improvements, we should examine the variance of the frame rate rather than just the average frame rate. We'll keep collecting data and will share anything interesting we find! Last bumped on Aug 11, 2016, 3:30:28 PM

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Bex_GGG

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