Units with effect model = Less Lag??

[PurgeandFire]

Hello, I was just surfing the wc3 webs and I noticed a spell that used units instead of effects. The spell was great and it didn't lag at all. If you must know it, here is the link to the spell.
The thing is, he used a trick by converting the effect into an actual unit, but with the effect's model. Tinki (The Spellmaker) claims that he thinks that the effect conversion to the unit created less lag for the spell. What I am wondering is if that is entirely true. I don't usually trust just one person unless it is backed up with one or more, or if the person is a wiz at the subject. :emote_grin:

This is basically a clarification question, so don't jump all over me and call me stupid if this is really logical and simple.

 

[Mechanical Man]

By effect you mean particles? Particles are very CPU consuming, even more that higher poly model. However they last usually only for short time, this permits them to be used widely. However glows are the best effect type, since they are only planes.

For example, in warcraft previewer (art tools) normally it has around 30 fps (opengl). With bigger particles can drop below 10.

Sorry in case I misunderstood .

 

[Dr Super Good]

Particles are CPU demanding becuase each particle is a plane that is moved constantly in a 3D environment. But as for glows are just one plane that is attached to a fixed location that seltomly moves. High poly models are not very CPU demmanding, yet they still can lag. This is due to high poly models demanding GPU culculations and not CPU.

Planes are basicly 2D sprites that are held at the location and then overlayed/underlayed depending on where they are. They use pure pixcell colour culculations as opposed to advanced geomotry culculations like 3D stuff does.

Special effects ARE more efficent than units since units since units demand A LOT of cpu to have and ram while effects only require graphic culculations (where to go). The problem is that if they are not removed after use they leak and thus if you make 30 effects for 10 seconds you end up with it being like 300 effects at once while units auto remove once killed stopping that. Propper jassing should totaly avoid this problem and thus, special effects are better for effects than units.

 

[PurgeandFire]

@Dr Super Good: Thanx; you completely answered my question, thoroughly as well. +rep :emote_clap: