Which is better for performance: Fewer large models or many small models?

[hardcore_gamer]

For the sake of keeping framerate smooth, which is the least harmful to performance: A fewer number of larger models with more polygons or a larger number of models with fewer? Or perhaps it doesn't even matter?

[Kappes Buur]

Enjay's Gene-Tech: Before the Storm uses only models which runs well enough

at 45fps with my dated Geforce 660GTX with the most models active in a fight.

With only some models in view at ca 200fps.

[hardcore_gamer]

11 hours ago, Kappes Buur said:

Enjay's Gene-Tech: Before the Storm uses only models which runs well enough

at 45fps with my dated Geforce 660GTX with the most models active in a fight.

With only some models in view at ca 200fps.

 

Ah, so there is no reason to not go crazy with the models? Nice!

[Jerry.C]

On a modern system it is mostly irrelevant. Each model is one draw call so whether you draw 1000000 polygons with 10 or 200 models won't make much of a difference. Far more time will be spent on processing walls.

 

[torekk]

Seeing as most people have a lot of RAM nowadays, I'd say go for fewer large models or better, just make "one" model and place that in your map, if we're talking about static models. That way you can reduce the amount of stuff that needs to be loaded from the HDD into RAM, which might decrease load times, though nowadays propably not as much as back in the day.