Minimizing Loading Times

[Maverick2201]

I'd like to start a discussion in which I unfortunately have very little insight. I would like some information for myself but I am likely not the only one interested.

I want to know what in-game graphics settings would yield the absolute fastest loading times. Please take into consideration that some settings do not affect loading times at all (such as Texture Filtering, Anti-Aliasing, etc.) so please don't respond with, "Just set everything to the lowest possible setting," as that isn't what I'm after here. I'd like to start a discussion in which people contribute what they've learned about optimizing the map loading times.

I have heard (but not personally tested) that Lighting and Texture settings seem to affect the loading times significantly. Also, I've learned that servers with either the Linux penguin or a "64" next to the server name on the left can not and will not do a "Verifying" sequence making map loading that much faster.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

[camper.]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

Not sure about most but:

Anti-aliasing, view distance scale, texture filtering, possibly dynamic lights/shadows, geometry and effects will not do much for loading times, or be worth sacrificing the eye-candy for a minimal decrease. Out of those, geometry and effects will have the largest effect on loading times.

Texture settings (high => medium) can and will cut your load times by half, terrain MIGHT, I have always had it set to high.


Really not much you can do about the atrocious load times in this game.

CS is at MOST 20 seconds - from selecting a server from game-monitor and being in the game, about to spawn.

[WNx Makka99]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

the skipping of the verifying client data phase is not true. every single server you join will have it

[Sir. tehdude]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

I found while running for a short time on XP x64 that load times were better.

[LuckySeven]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

Lightning probably has the biggest effect. Highest setting loads textures, normal maps and specular maps. Medium only loads textures and speculars I think, while lowest only has the basic texture. So high vs. low = 3 textures vs. 1 texture.

Texture quality of course affects too. So low texture quality and low lightning gives the fastest time.

[metalgear138]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

I'd like to start a discussion in which I unfortunately have very little insight. I would like some information for myself but I am likely not the only one interested.

I want to know what in-game graphics settings would yield the absolute fastest loading times. Please take into consideration that some settings do not affect loading times at all (such as Texture Filtering, Anti-Aliasing, etc.) so please don't respond with, "Just set everything to the lowest possible setting," as that isn't what I'm after here. I'd like to start a discussion in which people contribute what they've learned about optimizing the map loading times.

I have heard (but not personally tested) that Lighting and Texture settings seem to affect the loading times significantly. Also, I've learned that servers with either the Linux penguin or a "64" next to the server name on the left can not and will not do a "Verifying" sequence making map loading that much faster.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Definitely your lighting and shadows.

[phantasm11B]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

Well i dont know what to say. I run BF2 on High with 8x AA and i'm always the first one in the game.

My guess would be faster HD's and more RAM would help with the load times. Also make sure your drive is Defraged as this will help when the HD is seeking.

[LuckySeven]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

Defragging drive and positioning BF2 in the very beginning of the drive help of course. With 2 gigs of ram and a C2D loading time is hardly a problem. Even though with my old system with just 1 gig and slow processor I usually was in the game before the round had started after all optimizations. With new system I can't match it because I run it on higher settings.

[lonegunm4n]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

Best loading times:

Lots of RAM (1.5 gigs or higher)
Fast Processor
Right in game settings (Textures to medium mainly)

[Maverick2201]

Re: Minimizing Loading Times

Well i dont know what to say. I run BF2 on High with 8x AA and i'm always the first one in the game.

My guess would be faster HD's and more RAM would help with the load times. Also make sure your drive is Defraged as this will help when the HD is seeking.

I have 2GB of RAM in dual-channel and a 36GB 10k RPM Western Digital Raptor devoted to BF2 and defrag them with Diskeeper daily... Not sure what else I could do other than put my Raptors in RAID 0

Defragging drive and positioning BF2 in the very beginning of the drive help of course. With 2 gigs of ram and a C2D loading time is hardly a problem. Even though with my old system with just 1 gig and slow processor I usually was in the game before the round had started after all optimizations. With new system I can't match it because I run it on higher settings.

How does one put BF2 at the beginning of the drive??