In fairness the shader warming is probably the only thing that isn't voodoo - for me it removes the 'approaching a planet' stutter (AMD card).
Just for a laugh, below is a list of all the voodoo I have tried - when I look back, some of them are cringeworthy (wallpaper timer, really? I must have been desperate LOL).
GraphicsConfiguration.xml - different values for texture size and WPF
core parking (app)
set port forwarding in router (UPnP disabled)
16/2/15 changed Windows sound from 44 to 48khz (cd to dvd quality)
20/2/15 turned of SC music (based on forum post)
21/2/15 disabled several Windows services and other components - see seperate file
21/2/15 uninstalled WinPCap
21/2/15 set wallpaper timer to 1 hour
22/2/15 16:00 HDD set acoustic management to max performance in HD Sentinel
22/2/15 tried training scenarios with Philips monitor 60 and 75hz still microstutter
22/2/15 tried refresh rate of 59Hz still microstutter in training scenario
22/2/15 set PnP O/S to yes in BIOS
23/2/15 swapped HDD and BD-ROM SATA cables over
24/2/15 disabled SpeedStep in BIOS
24/2/15 tried via VGA using VGA/DVI adapter
24/2/15 disabled C1E in BIOS
24/2/15 turned off HWiNFO64 (including disabling driver)
25/2/15 disabled serial port in BIOS
27/2/15 overclocked GPU+mem
27/2/15 underclocked GPU
2/3/15 killed traystatus process
2/3/15 killed googleupdate and googlecrashhandler processes
2/3/15 killed sidebar (gadgets) process
3/3/15 un-installed AVG
3/3/15 tried Shadows=Off
4/3/15 changed some parameters on network adapter - see seperate file
5/3/15 changed max IRQ parameter on network adapter
9/3/15 Windows basic display scheme
9/3/15 set ED32 exe to High/Realtime (changes back to Normal)
9/3/15 core parking registry change http://forum.cakewalk.com/Windows-7-amp-Core-Parking-a-better-way-to-Turn-It-OFF-m1861804.aspx
12/3/15 disabled "virtual cache" in launcher options
12/3/15 turned on Aero
20/3/15 disabled page file
23/3/15 textsuresize to 64 (normally 256) in GraphicsConfigurationOverride.xml
23/3/15 PerformanceScaling from 1 to 0 in AppConfig.xml (suggestion in forum post)
23/3/15 textsuresize to 64 in GraphicsConfigurationOverride.xml
24/3/15 complete un-install (including reg entries) of AMD driver and install Beta 15.3 driver
9/4/15 in BIOS set CPU Margin Enhancement to Performance Mode
20/4/15 in BIOS virtualization tech to disabled
20/4/15 CPU TM function to disabled
24/4/15 installed Beta 15.4 driver (actually same driver version # as 15.3)
29/5/15 installed Beta 15.5 driver
10/6/15 Multimedia Class Scheduler/Windows Audio "fix" here: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=154456&page=3&p=2375135&viewfull=1#post2375135
9/7/15 installed AMD 15.7 driver
10/7/15 Radeon Pro with Dynamic Vsync Control, did help with micro-stutter on Low settings – see seperate file
AppConfig.xml settings tried (one at a time):
24/2/15 numworkerthreads=1
25/2/15 UseThreadPriorities=1
27/2/15 OptimiseForPerformance="0"
2/3/15 numworkerthreads=4
2/3/15 tried setting HxW to 1920x1080
AppData->Local->...->Graphics->Settings.xml:
AMDcrashfix=true
I still have a list of another 20 or so things I had intended to try but I know it would be a complete waste of time.
Ah but what about combinations of the above?