Performance optimization on Ryzen *updated 2021

Common and unknown guidelines for improving cpu performance on AMD Ryzen systems in TPF2

Game ressource utilization

TPF2 can use up to 4 cpu cores.
TPF2 wont differ between physical core, virtual cores or SMT(AMD)/Hyperthreading(Intel).
TPF2 draws maximum cpu performance until framerate-cap or gpu limit is reached.
TPF2 puts heavy load on your cpu memory controller, called SOC.

General tipps

1) Use a core assignment tool like "process lasso"
Assign 2 cores to system and background tasks, use the other cores fo gameplay. This will lead to smoother gameplay because cpu wont switch between tasks on this assigned cores.

2) Keep your operating system clean
Avoid unnessecary software, look for adware with adwcleaner (google it), and remove not needed software from autostart. Reinstall your OS when needed, make sure to backup your files first.

3) Update drivers if needed
You can use Steam Driver Booster if you are unsure what to download. Dont forget drivers for chipset. Update your BIOS only if needed or to fight known bugs of your hardware.

4) Monitor your system
Windows does not provide enough diagnostic software. If you change parameters of your system, please monitor the results via additional software like hwinfo. Your system wont break instantly because of wrong settings, but suffer from lower performance.

General AMD Ryzen tipps

1) Set your infinity fabric speed to match your memory speed.
AMD Ryzen cores and SOC communicate with each other over the infinity fabric bus.
Its essential to set it to 1:1 until you reach 1866 Mhz (maximum)
Example: Your RAM is set to DDR4-3200 (1600Mhz), so set IF speed to 1600 too.
You can adjust this setting in your BIOS under AMD Overclock or AMD CBS and in Ryzen Master (Software).

2) Check your RAM speed.
Ryzen benefits from fast RAM up to DDR4-3733. Most people buy DDR4-3600, because its cheaper and widly available on market. If you got such fast modules, make sure it run with this speed and also activate XMP, boosting latency. You can check RAM speed in Task Manager or CPU-Z.

3) Disable HPET.
HPET is an intel technology not meant to be used on AMD systems. TPF2 can gain up to 10% of extra performance when you disable "High Precicion Event Timer" in your BIOS.

4) Disable SMT.
Only recommended if you focus on gaming. This will limit TPF2 on physical cores only. In some cases its better to leave it enabled. In my case there was a 5% improvement.

5) Custom energy plan
Use a custom energy plan for your windows 10, to improve core assignment and higher usable clocks. A popular author is 1usmus, just google it. Otherwise you should stick to power plan amd ryzen balanced.

6) Update your bios to latest version
So you can make use of latest AMD Agesa 1.2.0.1 released march 2021. Make sure you use Windows 10 version 20H1, otherwise you wont be able to benefit. (type "winver" in your windows search bar and press enter)- Agesa 1.2.0.2 is only a USB hotfix and does not affect performance. Newer Agesa live 1.2.0.3 or .4 does provide better cpu frequency stepping, making Ryzen a bit more energy efficient.

7) Undervolt and hold your power target
To ensure system stability AMD puts too much voltage on your cpu cores. Under default conditions any Ryzen CPU will run within a range of 1.35 to 1.45 volts. This results in more power consumption and heat. I recommend lowering the vcore by -0.050V to -0.100V. Use dynamic vcore offset in your bios for this. In my case the result was a +100Mhz on all cpu cores under full load.

8) Dont use PBO (Precision Boost Overdrive)
A completly useless features in Ryzen Gen3 (Zen2). Use instead manual overclocking in your Ryzen Master software if you like to, but be aware its not very beneficial. / update 2021 - on Ryzen 5000 and Agesa 1.2.0.1 PBO2 is released by AMD, providing same results as dynamic undervolt - so use it if you can. This technique is also known as curve optimizer.

9) rBAR (rezizeable basic address register)
Allows your cpu to deposit data directly in your gpu memory. Not used in TPF2 what so ever. You can enable it to gain performance in other games, and maybe in a later version of TPF2 or TPF3.

Bonus: Ryzen 5000

Ryzen 5000(Zen3) is similiar to Ryzen 3000 (Zen2+), but there are some advantages, besides the IPC (instructions per cycle) improvements.
1. Due to new chip layout, Zen3 is able to achieve up to 2000mhz on infinity fabric
So it is possible to achieve up to DDR4-4000 (2000Mhz) RAM clocks. Please consider to buy atleast DDR-3600 for optimal performance.
2. Zen3 does benefit from lower voltages, allowing higher boost frequency. Dont use dynamic undervolt in your bios - this will lead to system instability. Instead set voltage to default and use the software "Clocktuner for Ryzen". There are serveral guides about this, just search for it.
2. Up to Ryzen 5800X your chip has only 1 CCD, so all cores are in one package, boosting latency and cpu cache bandwidth. With the downside of higher temperatures.
3. Ryzen 5900X has 12 cores distributed over 2 CCD, so cooling is much more easier. You should prefer a 5900X over an 5800X when aircooled.

Windows 11

Sice the release of Windows 11 in September 2022 the operating system got updated serveral times. During release a major Ryzen performance bug appeared. This bug was later fixed in Update 21H2 (press Win+R and type "winver" to see your Windows version).

Windows 11 is a major gui overhaul, but elsewhere its identical to Windows 10 in term of gaming performance. So there is nothing additional to say about that.

Examples and comparision

cpu examples (tested under optimal conditions)
Ryzen 2600 is as fast as Intel 7600K (because 4 cores are used max)
Ryzen 3700 is as fast as Intel 9600K (because 4 cores are used max)
Ryzen 5800X is about 20% faster than Ryzen 3700

ram examples (tested with Ryzen 5800x)
Increasing from 2666 to 3200 with same CL will gain 20% performance
Increasing from 3200 to 3600 with same CL will gain 13% performance
Increasing from 3600 to 3766 with same CL will gain 5% performance

IF examples (tested with Ryzen 5800x)
IF set to 1:2 instead of 1:1 resulting in a 10% performance loss

Bugs

TPF2 is not perfect, there are some bugs affecting cpu performance.

Known bugs so far are

A) Editing terrain will cause high frametimes afterwards. (fixed)
B) Some mods can cause higher draw cell count, resulting in higher gpu usage

Disclaimer

Iam not responsible for any damage inflicted by any suggestion made here.

This guide targets advanced pc users. If you cant follow this guide, please consider getting professional help from this community, friends or family.

I will continue to update and add new hints on this guide.

[Blazergl]

I gotta be real with you have a 5800x and tried everything in the world to get my stock 4000mhz ram to maintain 1:1 at 2000mhz even xmp goes down to 1800 any suggestions would help.

[Parnell]

Is there a guide for an Intel / Nvidia PC user?

[AraxEthyr]

@briansyston: depends on the map that you are playing. I found that a megalomaniac map with lots of stuff on it will use up to 24 GB of Ram.

[Sedge]

Vulkan should help when the new patch drops

[briansyston]

Will 32GB of ram help at all?

[briansyston]

'TPF2 can use up to 4 cores' so my RYZEN 9 can't improve the game !

[Prediter]

Interestingly in the lategame with my 3700x I've binned PBO and just keep it at it's max clock. This really has made a difference but you've gotta keep an eye on the temps.

[KG79]

Another way to improve the performance (as also in many other games): check the tool "Process Lasso" and asign on 8 core systems operating system and background tasks to the first 2 or 4 cores and then asign core 5 to 8 to TPF2. You could check if it also makes sense to NOT asign virtual cores 9, 11, 13 and 15 to give TPF just the "real" cores, like SMT would be off. This method would not rise average fps, but give you more stable framerates, as the game would have CPU cores really for its own. Unfortunetly Windows does not seperate the process that good and there is always something interfering.

[KG79]

"Ryzen benefits from fast RAM up to DDR4-3733. Most people buy DDR4-3600, because its cheaper and widly available on market" - 3600 is the fastest that makes sense on Ryzen, as higher speed changes the multiplier and forces lower IF speeds. 3733 would be senseless and slower than 3600, you would need at least something around 4400 to get a faster speed than with DDR4-3600. Manual OC is the way to go on 1st gen Ryten, but on 3rd Gen I would go with all the boosts the systems offer and not bother about OC. Despite you want to squeeze out the last 2% at costs of much more power consumption and heat.

[villavine10]

Before I do this, what are the fps gains for anyone who did this?