I've been using the particle shadows ini.txt edit but I don't think it's made any difference in fps during high intensity firefights. You get the framerate you get, and no changing of graphics settings affects it. Such is the power of the Stingray engine.
I also bet I can thank the 30% CPU usage in the main menu (BEFORE even loading into the ship) to the bitcoin mine- I mean, the great and effective anticheat.