Graphical tweaks for TF2? Configs for FPS?

**Consultant** · 10-17-08, 05:15 PM

I get plenty of FPS but was wondering.....

I've seen a few scrim videos where people had the "uber" effect toned way down where the guy was just glowing red or blu in a solid color, none of that extra detailed swirly haze stuff - anybody know if that saves a bunch of FPS or something?

What are some other gfx stuff you can tweak to get extra frames? I know CS:S had all kinds of config files you could run to get the most out of your rig for scrims where FPS is more important than visual quality.

**jason_jinx** · 10-17-08, 07:17 PM

They have recommended settings.

Get a ATI card then you get all the eye bling without all the fuss.

**Arreo** · 10-17-08, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by jason_jinx

Get a ATI card then you get all the eye bling without all the fuss.

You're like ATI's pimp...

**Captain Coors** · 10-17-08, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by Consultant

I get plenty of FPS but was wondering.....

I've seen a few scrim videos where people  had the "uber" effect toned way down where the guy was just glowing red or blu in a solid color, none of that extra detailed swirly haze stuff - anybody know if that saves a bunch of FPS or something?

What are some other gfx stuff you can tweak to get extra frames? I know CS:S had all kinds of config files you could run to get the most out of your rig for scrims where FPS is more important than visual quality.

Yep I tried a setting that caused the uber effect to go solid color, I didn't notice any changes at all to be honest.

I believe it does that if you set mat_picmap 2 instead of mat_picmap 0 or 1. 2 is a super low setting that isn't configurable via the regular video settings I think. I was goofing around with a lot of settings so sorry if I am not naming the right command.

That uber effect looked so terrible I probably would have switched it back to normal even if I got an fps savings.

I found the two biggest FPS savings are turning HDR completely off, and changing my directx level to 81 instead of the default 90. You can do this by adding -dxlevel 81 into your launch command prompt in steam. But after it loads, take it out otherwise your settings will reset everytime. To go back to 90, (or 95 if you were running super high level visuals) change that command to -dxlevel 90, etc.

If people have old machines, you can even go down to dxlevel 7 I think.

mat_queue_mode 2 enables multicore which is an AWESOME fps increase, but its unstable. I can only use that setting in non-payload maps. For whatever reason, payload maps crash when I use it, so I revert back to mat_queue_mode 1 (single threaded) for those maps. Hopefully valve will fix it up later. Some people can't use it for more than 5 mins and it crashes, so your mileage may vary.

I've got two keys bound to switch back and forth depending on the map.

You can tell from this post that I'm limping around on a machine I am not satisfied with.

**kibner** · 10-17-08, 09:05 PM

Originally Posted by Captain Coors

You can tell from this post that I'm limping around on a machine I am not satisfied with.

Well, when you can afford to buy a new computer, be sure to let me know so I can help you spec out a great machine for whatever budget you have. It should be possible to grab a mobo, cpu, gpu, ram, and powersupply (if your current one isn't good enough) to play TF2 maxed out for $400 or so.

**Ruukil** · 10-18-08, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by kibner

Originally Posted by Captain Coors

You can tell from this post that I'm limping around on a machine I am not satisfied with.

Well, when you can afford to buy a new computer, be sure to let me know so I can help you spec out a great machine for whatever budget you have. It should be possible to grab a mobo, cpu, gpu, ram, and powersupply (if your current one isn't good enough) to play TF2 maxed out for $400 or so.

I doubt it.... But if you could you would be a god amongst men.

**kibner** · 10-18-08, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by Ruukil

I doubt it.... But if you could you would be a god amongst men.

Well, I was close. $413 before any mail in rebates.

**Veovis** · 10-18-08, 10:04 AM

I'm not sure why the video had that effect, but we were probably seeing the results of the cfg settings on the .dem viewer's computer, not on the original players' computers.

In the old days, graphical tweaks were done not only to make games run better on slow machines, but also to allow you to see and track the enemy better. Dumbing down textures, increasing contrast, etc. It was a hotly debated topic how much of this was "smart playing" vs "unfair advantage." However, with Punkbuster and other server controls, most games pretty well limit what you can do in that regard these days, though of course there are still some controls available to us that we'd be stupid not to configure, like brightness and FOV (range limited).

**Eagle882** · 10-18-08, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by jason_jinx

They have recommended settings.

Get a ATI card then you get all the eye bling without all the fuss.

I would have to agree there, ATI is amazing I get some crazy FPS with my cards. Hopefully they fix their drivers sometime soon.

**Captain Coors** · 10-18-08, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted by kibner

Originally Posted by Captain Coors

You can tell from this post that I'm limping around on a machine I am not satisfied with.

Well, when you can afford to buy a new computer, be sure to let me know so I can help you spec out a great machine for whatever budget you have. It should be possible to grab a mobo, cpu, gpu, ram, and powersupply (if your current one isn't good enough) to play TF2 maxed out for $400 or so.

What's funny is that newegg cart you put together is almost the same config I have, except my CPU. And I think that is what my problem is.

I've got the 8800GT card, 3 gigs ram, but I'm on a x2 4000 CPU that is really CPU bottlenecking me I think. Granted I want to run at 1680x1050, so in the mean time I am running at a lower res until I buy a new CPU. I'm thinking of bumping up to a x2 6000.