-dxlevel + CS:Source = Mucho performance!

[bobsaget]

I'm running CS:Source (the game I was going to upgrade my video from, which is a 6200) at 1280x960 and 8xAF and most settings on medium/high with an average of 45-60 fps. My 6200 isn't even OCed or has unlocked pipes.

All I did was go to Steam ---> Play games ---> Right click CS:S ---> Properties ---> Launch options ---> and in the box type "-dxlevel 61"

By changing the numbers, you can change the directx.

I did a few tests.

-dxlevel 81 = 55 fps
-dxlevel 61 = 75 fps
-dxlevel 51 = 65 fps


I didn't test dxlevel 71 because I got white artifacts with it. I like playing with dxlevel 61. It has good performance and still looks good, except for the water, but I play dust most often so that is not an issue for me.


Is this not a really widely known tweak? Or am I just WAY out of the loop?


EDIT: Now that I have been messing with this more, I have to say something. One little hitch. It seems as though if you want to save your graphics settings after exiting out of the game, you have to set them, and then go to the "launch options" box again and delete the text in there. But there is a problem doing this too; it defaults to dxlevel 71, which gives me artifacts. These artifacts aren't anything horrible, as I'm willing to sacrafice them for the performance.

If anyone knows a workaround, let me know.


Thanks.

 

[bobsaget]

HL2 worked too... but doesn't look as good as DX9. Still worth it with it with my video card though.

 

[Lord of Shadows]

mat_dxlevel <x> does the same thing and its a console command so you wont need to mess with steam.

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

lol id do this,i like to max my RES but i have all other settings as low as it goes i just gots ta have my 90+constant fps for competive play lol

 

[Tiny]

I did not know this.

This is rad!

Now I can play CS:S again after going from a 9800pro to a FX5200.

 

[DragonNOA1]

Does it look as good? You would think that setting to run at lower paths would increase speed and decrease quality. LMK

 

[bobsaget]

Remember all this on a 64-bit 6200 non OCed, 4 pipelines.

Oh and it is DirectX 6.




CS:S seems to be left unchanged.

HL2, you be the judge. I personally think some of the textures look bad.

 

[legcramp]

well if ya want to play CS but want performance go back to 1.6! lol

but I guess it isn't "THAT" bad... not at all if ya want competitive gameplay.. which I still own with 30 fps and such hehe

 

[Ballz2TheWallz]

bob those are some big crosshairs in CS:S, i make mine like as big as a lady bug(or smaller) on my screen

 

[bobsaget]

bob those are some big crosshairs in CS:S, i make mine like as big as a lady bug(or smaller) on my screen

I think I set them a long time ago... maybe I need to play around with those settings.

 

[darktiger]

pretty cool advice, now I can play on my laptop...