Optimization Question: Brushes vs. Displacements

[A Gentleman's Mustache]

In terms of rendering and performance, is it "cheaper" to make the floor of a map out of brushes that can seal the map on their own, or out of displacements which require nodraw brushes underneath them to seal the map? Does the increased file size from using the second method matter much?

 

[Vel0city]

Well, if you want detailed ground you pretty much need displacements anyway. File size doesn't really increase, as the brush underneath a displacement should be covered in nodraw anyway. Nodraw also doesn't render, so it's not a performance decrease.

 

[A Gentleman's Mustache]

Perfect. Thanks.

 

[henke37]

I hear that displacements are cheaper than normal brushes for some reason. Personally I wouldn't bother with the difference.