I agree with me old mucker rusty.
Myself and the OP did a test before 12.11 and i did one after 12.11 came out. On these parts fps didnt change and if they did it was only by 1-2 fps.
I had a 7970 plus i5 overclocked and he had two 560ti's overclocked plus an i5 overclocked to the same speed.
In these two screenshots we both had fps dropping to around 40-50 per screenshot. They were idential in the fps drops. All i did was change to an i7 and that has now turned into 85 and 61 minimum fps.
This is just one small example and all i have to hand, i didn't think about needing to justify the claims on a forum.
This is also not a great example as the server i was on was empty. There are just certain points on certain large 64 man maps where fps can dip with an i5 that i don't see with an i7.
As i said, its slight and probably not something you would notice but i look for these things.
I even compared my fps with dave beast and we had similar systems but he had an i7 compared to my i5 and in certain parts he was getting better minimums than me.
This is on running a full ultra preset. Not disabling anything, all eye candy and most demanding on busy 64 man maps.
A few other spots i can think of. Top of the Hotel at G on Gulf Of Oman. Caspian boarder leaving the US base looking across the whole map.
I'll leave it at that because i think people will remain sceptical regardless, just posting what i and others here have found.