http://bugs.winehq.org/show_bug.cgi?id=15925
--- Comment #37 from Dimitar Panayotov mitko.p@gmail.com 2008-12-16 11:59:28 --- Hello guys,
I compared Windows Wow (direct3d) and Debian wine WoW (opengl) and here are the data:
=== WHAT I DID:
* I copied Windows installation of WoW 100% to ReiserFS harddisk in Debian.
* I removed "Config.wtf" and after that I got my graphic options to full quality (disabled options: "Full-screen glow effect", "Death effect", "Triple buffering" disabled too although I never noticed difference with or without it).
* I use "-opengl" option.
* Pixel shaders are disabled in "winecfg".
* I removed the so-called "registry hack for FPS boost", and I found out its presence actually impacted my performance, although slightly (4-5 FPS difference, which is still much in raids). Removing the registry key helped.
=== ENVIRONMENT:
* Debian version: 5.0 (lenny)
* WoW version: 3.0.3
* Wine version: 1.1.10
* NVIDIA driver version: 173.14.09
* NVIDIA videocard: 7600GS (256 MB RAM)
* kernel: 2.6.26-1-amd64
* RAM: 3GB DDR-2 800MHz
* CPU: Pentium D 3.40GHz (dual-core)
=== OBSERVATIONS:
* Inside Dalaran, in front of Alliance bank, staying still and looking at a myriad of people running around: 13-16 fps (same in Windows)
* Running around inside Dalaran: 12-15 fps (same in Windows, sometimes even worse).
* Flying from Dalaran to K3 in Storm Peaks: 26-45 fps (Windows hardly ever gets above 30 fps while flying anywhere in Northrend). Seems to vary VERY MUCH, cannot really determine what from... still puzzled.
* Walking on ground mount outside K3: 25-50 fps (Windows hardly gets more than 35 in any ground riding at all in Northrend).
* Entering in high speed from outside to inside K3 *always* results in huge FPS drop: if I was at 45 fps, it drops to 20 fps in a second. I am suspecting network latency is the issue.
* Flying from K3 to Brunnhildar Village on swift flight mount (and back), maintaining low altitude from ground (20-30 meters so there are still lots of details to render): 35-60 fps! Windows gets 50-60 fps only outside Northrend, like riding in Azeroth or most of Outland. Windows NEVER gets above 40 fps in Northrend ANYWHERE.
* Ironforge bank: 13-21 fps. Windows can't beat that as well, it tops 18 fps there.
Something like conclusions:
Debian wine WoW setup works quite well, although the minimum FPS values are lower than Windows (generally). If Windows varies 20-40 FPS in an area, wine WoW varies 12-50. Also, as a general feeling, wine WoW seems bit more sluggish, meaning that entering new areas, quickly diving in populated area etc., gives you huge drop in FPS very quickly. I suspect the network stack is the culprit in this issue, but I really don't have the patience to do the necessary measurements with kernel-level tools.
But in overall, wine WoW is actually more responsive, meaning that when WoW "sleeps" for a short period because of doing screenshot, entering AH etc., wine WoW reacts considerably quicker. I blame the kernel resolution timer for that, but again, cannot be sure.
The last test I did was to try running wine WoW in another computer, far worse in hardware means, and was amazed to find out it actually held 10 fps inside Dalaran while lots of people were riding around! Pretty conclusive for me...
So, my conclusion would be that the struggle which wine WoW experiences in most setups is OpenGL support problems, or huge network latencies in populated areas. But in the end, think about it -- twice as worse computer compared to mine performed almost the same in Dalaran. It's gotta be the network.
Hoping to have given you some valuable data. Ask for more if I missed something crucial.
And finally -- I am not drawing conclusions for another's setups. I also found that certain options (see above) did improved my performance as well.
Dimitar P.