Optimizing and speeding up time in Hearts of Iron 4

Since the game engine tries to process everything on a single core, you need to optimize it by enabling multithreading, which the devs supposedly added at some point.

Here's what you need to do:
1) Browse the local game files and find "hoi4.exe";
2) Create a shortcut for that file;
3) In the shortcut's "Properties", find the "Target" field;
4) After the last quotation mark, add a "space" and paste:
-threads=16
5) 16 is the number of threads you want (adjust based on your computer's specs);
6) Click "OK";
7) Launch the game through this shortcut.

In the path "Documents\Paradox Interactive\Hearts of Iron IV" there is a "backup" folder. You can delete it either manually or through the launcher by using the "clear user folder" option.

You can enter the following commands in the console:

debug_smooth
(Disables smoothing / frame rate smoothing)

weather
(Turns off weather)
(Weather remains active even if you disable it in the game's settings)

Recommended graphics settings:

1) Lower graphics settings to minimum;
2) Disable:
- High quality shaders;
- Weather;
- Reflections;
- Shadows.

(If you want maximum speed, uncheck everything)

Download a mod to increase the game's tick rate (clock speed).
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3741171983

You can look for mods that try to optimize the gameplay and speed up the clock as well.