ok, well when i run them tests, i make
ob=130>>> segsize=20 >>>fps 120
ob=130>>> segsize=21 >>>fps 114
ob=130>>> segsize=22 >>>fps 105
ob=130>>> segsize=23 >>>fps 74 (at this point each sphere has 2100 polys in it
ob=130>>> segsize=24 >>>fps 69
ob=130>>> segsize=25 >>>fps 65
so the big drop seems to occur when each object has 2000 or more polys in it
ob=130>>> segsize=20 >>>fps 120
ob=130>>> segsize=21 >>>fps 114
ob=130>>> segsize=22 >>>fps 105
ob=130>>> segsize=23 >>>fps 74 (at this point each sphere has 2100 polys in it
ob=130>>> segsize=24 >>>fps 69
ob=130>>> segsize=25 >>>fps 65
so the big drop seems to occur when each object has 2000 or more polys in it