How to best determine the computer components requiring an upgrade?

[GarrettKajmowicz]

KSP runs reasonably well for me right now. However, sometimes when I'm in a high part-count scene the frame rate I'm able to draw drops down to about 20fps. This isn't horrible, but it is noticeable. I'm considering upgrading some components. However, I'm not certain if the bottleneck is in the CPU or GPU. Is there a way to easily find out which is the constraining resource?

-     Garrett

[Rocket In My Pocket]

Giving us your system specs would be helpful. What kind of CPU/GPU do you have?

Generally speaking; if high part count is the issue, it's the CPU holding you back.

Another question, what do you consider "high part count?" 100? 200? 300?

[GarrettKajmowicz]

I purposefully didn't provide system specs because I'm looking for a process to determine what needs improvement as opposed to a single determination of "that's your problem". The whole teach-a-man-to-fish thing.

The higher-part count cases are typically starting around 200 parts.

Another case is that if I'm close to the planet, I get noticeably much better frame rates angling the camera to look at the sky rather than at the ground. This is true both for flying a plane at Kerbin as well as running a rover on Minmus. I don't have a lot other example cases where I both am in the craft view while at the same time not actually needing to look where I'm going.

If it's any help, I'm also running Linux so I'm able to use out-of-game tools to get system information if that can determine the bottleneck.

 

-     Garrett

[AlexanderB]

The fan on my GPU revs up to full blast when I'm looking at a full screen of water, and immediately revs down when I look up at the sky, somewhere inbetween most of the time during normal gameplay, so yeah. If you're suffering actual FPS problems from looking at planet surfaces, upgrade your GPU and/or turn down your sky water and/or surface detail settings.

If you're suffering lag issues with large(r) part counts, you need to upgrade (and/or overclock) your CPU.

Edited August 21, 2016 by AlexanderB
I meant water, d0h.

[Majorjim!]

KSP requires a fast CPU to run at it's best. The GPU will make a very small difference and only if you are using some visual mods.

 If you want your PC to be for KSP upgrade the CPU before anything else.