CPU optimization in Planetside 2 is currently a work in progress, so users craving higher framerates even after tweaking should sit tight while SOE works on it (some work has been done already, but more is expected). Note all cores are not supposed to be at 100% at all times, by any means – some overhead (about 30%) is ideal, partly to account for the unpredictability prominent in multiplayer shooters.

An option to consider in the meantime is “unparking” your cores. As of Windows 7, the OS will “park” one or more cores of a multi-core processor at low load, so as to reduce power consumption and thermal emissions. In most cases, this works well and does not interfere with gaming. However, there are cases – particularly with certain CPUs – where performance as a whole suffers.

To test the potential benefits for Planetside 2 and your CPU, first ensure you have parked cores by booting Planetside 2, accessing Resource Monitor via Windows Search, clicking the CPU tab, then looking for a blue line in any of the graphs on the right – this and the 'Maximum Frequency' number to the left of it indicate the cap placed on your CPU frequency. If you see any, you can download the minimalist CPU Core Parking Utility application to quickly enable and disable parking on all cores or individual cores (do so only after exiting Planetside 2). Be warned this requires registry changes, however, so do so at your own risk, and backup the registry before making any changes (type 'regedit' in Windows search, click 'regedit.exe', then click File > Export).

Planetside 2 can also benefit greatly from a Solid State Cache (SSC). While straight-up Solid State Drives (SSDs) are the dominant hardware of choice for those looking to improve load times and/or OS performance, an SSC provides similar benefits at much less cost ($90 on the high end). And because it functions like a buffer to your current hard drive (frequently used data is kept on the SSC to maximize performance), you don't have to worry about nearing the low storage limits imposed by SSDs. In our testing with the Crucial Adrenaline SSC, Planetside 2 continent loading dropped from 45 seconds to 10 seconds. While impressive in itself, the benefit becomes even clearer when you consider how often you load continents or maps in multiplayer shooters.

The catches: performance on infrequently used data will be lower than what you'd see with an SSD, and online software activation is mandatory (activation keys are limited, also, and while they can be released when needed after hardware changes, this can be a hassle). As for hardware requirements, you'll need Windows Vista or Windows 7 for Intel Smart Response Technology (SRT)-powered solutions, and Windows 7 for Dataplex-powered solutions (note Dataplex is currently being developed for Windows 8). As well, NVIDIA chipset motherboards are not supported, and HD storage limits may be imposed (in the case of Adrenaline, nothing beyond 2TB with work with it).

The SRT route is supported only by Z68 and Z77 chipsets – if you go this way, you'll need to configure SATA Mode in your BIOS so it's set to RAID, install the OS and Intel Rapid Storage Technology on the HDD, then run the SRT software via the All Programs menu. If you go with any Dataplex-enabled SSD (which works on any recent motherboard, excluding NVIDIA chipset motherboards), setup is a little simpler: attach the SSC to a SATA port, boot the PC, and follow the software wizard.