Visionary's Full Guide on Improving Your Counter-Strike: Source Frames Per Second (FPS)
This guide will cover the following:
-Drivers
-Launch Options
-CVARs
-Tweaks and Performance
This guide was created to get the most out of your graphics card for
CS:S, and is exceptionally helpful for increasing your ingame FPS. This guide increased my average fps by upwards of 30-40 depending on the server, and it will help you as well.
I do not take full credit for this guide. It has been compiled over several others, and with my own adjustments based on tests with trial and error, and don't forget to +rep if you found this useful! Lets Begin.
1.0 DRIVERS
First and foremost, drivers are key to performance; but not all drivers are created equal, and no one driver is right for every card. It is up to you to research and test to find the best driver for your specific card. However, below are some generally recommended 3rd-party drivers for your brand of card. One thing to keep in mind: Just because a driver is newer doesn't mean it's better. You'll need to test different versions to find out which one best suits your card.
ATi Recommended Drivers:
OmegaDrivers:
OmegaDrivers.net - Home of the ATI & NVIDIA Omega Drivers. Home
DNA-Drivers:
eXp.de - Spielemagazin für PC und Konsole - total pervers seit '99
ATI Pure:
https://support.ati.com/ics/support/...ge&folderID=27
nVidia Recommended Drivers:
DNA-Drivers:
eXp.de - Spielemagazin für PC und Konsole - total pervers seit '99
NGO Drivers:
ATI Radeon HD 4870 4850 3850 3870 2900 2600 NVIDIA GeForce 280 260 9800 9600 8800 8600 - NGOHQ.com
nVidia pure:
Drivers - Download NVIDIA Drivers
When removing previous driver installations, it's very important to make sure all files and registry entries have been removed before installing your new driver. Following these directions should help ensure your old drivers are properly uninstalled and new ones installed:
Download, install, and update Driver Cleaner:
drivercleaner.net
Download new driver
Uninstall previous driver via Add/Remove Programs in the Control Panel
Reboot in Safe Mode
Run Driver Cleaner
Reboot
Install new driver
Note: If you have discovered an optimal driver for a specific model of card, feel free to PM me and I'll compile a list of recommended drivers for different card models.
2.0 LAUNCH OPTIONS
After the recent steam updates, some commands you may be using are out of date, and with upgrades on zblock, I got the latest legal commands to make your game run its best.
First you will want to set some launch options. You can do this by right clicking on steam.
Then click on the mygames tab and rightclick on Counter-strike: Source and go to properties.
Click on the set launch options button and you should get a box like this.
There are a number of commands that could be use, so I will break it down. To disable the mouse acceleration(programs like SetPoint for Logitech can already do this), add these commands;
-noforcemspd -noforcemparms -noforcemaccel
Next you can set the DXLevel. Basically this is the quality of the picture. The lower the number more frames you will get in most cases* (7.0 is disabled in zBlock and most servers):
-dxlevel 80
-dxlevel 81
-dxlevel 90
-dxlevel 95
This can also be done in game using the mat_dxlevel command. I believe the default is 95
A great option to use is the heapsize command. This will set an amount of your system memory just for source to keep it from lagging less when you have multiple programs running. Use the correct amount based on your system ram. You can find out how much ram you have by clicking on the start menu, then right clicking on mycomputer and go to properties. You should get a window like this.
Here is a basic chart I have made for all common amounts of ram.
256MB System Memory: -heapsize 131072
512MB System Memory: -heapsize 262144
768MB System Memory: -heapsize 393216
1GB System Memory: -heapsize 524288
1.25GB System Memory: -heapsize 655360
1.5GB System Memory: -heapsize 786432
2GB System Memory: -heapsize 1048576
3GB System Memory: -heapsize 1572864
4GB System Memory: -heapsize 2097152
8GB System Memory: -heapsize 4194304
Additional commands you can add are your resolution settings. If your having trouble loading
css on the resolution you set ingame, you can do it through the launch options, and it will force the right settings. (-w for width and -h for height. rocket science)
For example, if you want your resolution to be 800x600 then add(only use what your video card will allow you to);
-w 800 -h 600
You can also setting your refresh rate for your moniter through the launch options by using(only use what your moniter will allow you to);
-refresh 75
Other options include making your process prority high for
css, and turning off vertical sync: add the commands
-high -nvsync
Here is what mine looks like:
-noforcemspd -noforcemparms -noforcemaccel -heapsize 1048576 -high -refresh 75
3.0 CVARs
All over the internet you can find personal configs that different players including pros use. There are many settings that you will have to adjust to find your own personal preference. If you have a really high end computer, you don’t need a config. Just set what you want in the ingame options and use the client commands(CL COMMANDS are listed below) with setting your binds/buy combos in the autoconfig.
Here is the CEVO FPS config for
Counter-Strike:Source ONLY. It is recommended and used by most players including myself. Sprays and bullet holes are turned off by default. You can simply change the r_decals and mp_decals to what ever you prefer. Modifying commands to your personal preference will have impact on the amount of FPS you will have. I suggest keeping r_3dsky at 0. It removes the junk at tops of buildings and treetops which gives about a 5-15fps gain.
Quote:
//CEVO FPS Config
//----------------------
//Email all questions or concerns to MStevens@cevolved.com
//Re-name this config to "autoexec.cfg" to enable
clear
echo "***********************"
echo "CEVO FPS Configuration v1.3 loaded"
echo "http://www.cevolved.com"
echo "Email any questions or concerns to MStevens@cevolved.com"
echo "***********************"
// FPS Settings
// ----------------
//Cl_ Commands
cl_cmdrate "100" // Must be set to 100/101
cl_drawmonitors "0" // changeable
cl_ejectbrass "0" // changeable
cl_forcepreload "1" // changeable
cl_interp "0.01" // Must be set to .01
cl_interpolate "1" // Must be set to 1
cl_lagcomp_errorcheck "1" // changeable
cl_lagcompensation "1" // changeable
cl_predictweapons "1" // changeable
cl_pred_optimize "2" // changeable
cl_phys_props_max "50" // Must be set to 50+
cl_ragdoll_physics_enable "0" // changeable
cl_ragdoll_collide "0" // changeable
cl_smooth "1" // changeable
cl_smoothtime "0.01" // changeable
cl_updaterate "101" // Must be set to 100/101
//Mat_ commands
mat_bloomscale "0" // changeable
mat_bumpmap "0" // changeable
mat_clipz "1" // changeable
mat_colorcorrection "0" // changeable
mat_compressedtextures "1" // changeable
mat_debug_postprocessing_effects "0" // Must be set to 0
mat_debugdepthmode "0" // Must be set to 0
mat_debugdepthval "128" // Must be set to 128
mat_debugdepthvalmax "256" // Must be set to 256
mat_disable_bloom "1" // changeable
//already set it launch options, if not remove double slashes and set number
//mat_dxlevel 90 // Must be set to 81 or higher
mat_filterlightmaps "1" // changeable
mat_forcehardwaresync "0" // changeable
mat_hdr_enabled "0" // changeable
mat_parallaxmap "0" // changeable
mat_picmip "0" // Must not be higher than 2
mat_reducefillrate "1" // changeable
mat_specular "0" // changeable
mat_vsync "0" // changeable
//R_ Commands
r_decals "0" // changeable
r_decal_cullsize "0" // changeable
r_dopixelvisibility "0" // changeable
r_drawbatchdecals "0" // changeable
r_drawflecks "0" // changeable
r_drawmodeldecals "0" // changeable
r_dynamic "0" // changeable
r_eyes "0" // changeable
r_flex "0" // changeable
r_lightaverage "1" // Must be set to 1
r_lod "-1" // Must be set to -1/0/1/2
r_maxdlights "32" // Must be set to 32
r_occlusion "1" // changeable
r_renderoverlayfragment "0" // changeable
r_rootlod "2" // Must be set to 0/1/2
r_shadows "1" // changeable
r_shadowmaxrendered "1" // changeable
r_shadowrendertotexture "1" // changeable
r_teeth "0" // changeable
r_waterforceexpensive "0" // changeable
r_waterdrawreflection "0" // changeable
r_worldlights "2" // Must be set to 2
r_worldlightmin "0.0002" // Must be set to .0002
//r_3dnow "1" // changeable
//r_mmx "1" // changeable
//r_sse "1" // changeable
//r_sse2 "1" // changeable
r_3dsky 0 // changeable
//Rope_
rope_averagelight "0" // changeable
rope_collide "0" // changeable
rope_shake "0" // changeable
rope_smooth "0" // changeable
rope_smooth_minwidth "0" // changeable
rope_smooth_minalpha "0" // changeable
rope_smooth_maxalphawidth "0" // changeable
rope_smooth_maxalpha "0" // changeable
rope_smooth_enlarge "0" // changeable
rope_subdiv "0" // changeable
rope_wind_dist "0.01" // changeable
//Miscellaneous
fps_max "120" // changeable
func_break_max_pieces "0" // changeable
gl_clear "1" // Must be set to 1
jpeg_quality "100" // Must be set to 100
mp_decals "0" // changeable
net_showevents "0" // Must be set to 0
props_break_max_pieces "0" // changeable
props_break_max_pieces_perframe "0" // changeable
rate "25000" // Must be set to 25000+
snd_flushasync
texture_budget_background_alpha "999 // changeable
texture_budget_panel_height "0" // changeable
texture_budget_panel_width "0" // changeable
voice_enable "1" // changeable
voice_scale "1" // changeable
voice_modenable "1" // changeable
violence_agibs "1" // changeable
violence_hgibs "1" // changeable
violence_hblood "1" // changeable
violence_ablood "1" // changeable |
Simply copy the code into a notepad or wordpad file and save as “autoexec.cfg” into your cstrike/cfg folder. Make sure you include the .cfg.
Example: C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\account name\Counter-Strike Source\cstrike\cfg\autoexec.cfg
4.0 TWEAKS AND PERFORMANCE
(XP USERS ONLY)
Using the right drivers, launch options, and a config will go along way into improving the look, feel, and performance of your game. But there is one last step we can take.
Take a look at this guide. It will improve the performance for all those XP users out there. You really should only do this if your computer is outdated and you can not run source and other games very well. Most of the modifications have impact on other programs(windows login, printer services, etc). Unless you are experienced and know what services you need to disable, I recommend you not doing this.
http://www.sogamed.com/index.php?s=f...feature_id=171
(FOR EVERYONE)
Now, not everyone needs to take desperate measures in improving there computer’s performance. Take a look at this program called Tune-Up Utilities. I currently have 2007 and it has improved my computers performance quite a bit.
TuneUp America - TuneUp Utilities 2008
Run the registry clean up, and defragment your hard drives everyone once in a while. It will keep your computer from slowing down plus removes junk data from your hard disks.
Also, here's a good program for cleaning up random junk on your computer. Very fast program, lot faster than disc cleanup. If you haven't run disc defragment or other programs of the sort for a while, this program will clear off a good 100mb+ of junk your computer in just a couple of minutes or less, depending on your computer speed.
Ccleaner
Enjoy!
~Visionary.