GeForce FX: the best way to play HL2 (revised)

Discussion in 'Videocards - NVIDIA GeForce Drivers Section' started by Presi, Dec 8, 2004.

  1. JeedaiJoe

    JeedaiJoe Master Guru

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    well the patch method looks not to shabby, and no performance hit....the other way i haven't tried yet
     
  2. adrichardson

    adrichardson Guest

    Anyone tried any of this with Vampire Bloodlines?
     
  3. Presi

    Presi Member Guru

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    I made some tests today @ 1024x768 2xaa 2xaf, all maxed, water reflection to all. These are my CS:S stress test results and HL2 game experience:

    - dx9 forced with ATI path and FP16 - 68 fps HL2: No glithes, 100% dx 9 graphic - min fps rate 34.
    - dx9 forced with mat_dxlevel and mat_clipz commands, FP32 - 42 fps HL2: lot of glitches, min fps rate 15.
    - dx8.1 + JoshuaC Patch - 86 fps HL2: No glitches, dx8.1 graphic + awesome dx9 water reflections - min fps rate 46.
    - dx8.1 no patch/tricks - 100 fps HL2 No glitches, min fps rate 58.

    I've also tried the knyz's patch, downloaded from this website
    http://www.driverheaven.net/showthread.php?t=63330, but I couldn't make it work. Did anyone have success with that patch?
     
  4. Guise

    Guise Guest

    hey presi,

    i followed your instructions to the letter, several times now, but whenever i try and load a level, it starts rendering for about 2 seconds and then crashes. The force dx 90 is working, when i check it in the advanced video options from the main game menu. The only way i can load to the main menu is if i dont use the rendered background. If i try to use the rendered background, the same thing happens as when i try and load a level. Any help would be appreciated.
     

  5. Riksu

    Riksu Member

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    6703 and vampire and half life works fine;)
     
  6. Lord Banshee

    Lord Banshee Master Guru

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    Not to flame but.


    The only thing about Presi's Guide that works is the 3D Analazer's FP16 trick. I've done some testing with the at_prision_05_rev7 demo from anandtech.

    All test were done with fellowing settings
    patch hl2 knyz
    Res - 1024x768
    Texture Detail - High
    AA - None
    Filtering Mode - Trilinear
    Water Detail - Reflect All
    Shadow Detail - High
    Shader Detail - High

    -DX8.1 Nothing changed: 63 FPS
    -Set DX9 with Command mat_dxlevel 90 at main main: 25 fps
    -Doing Presi method without FP16: 25 FPS
    -Doing Presi method with FP16: 42 FPS

    as you can see i didn't gain anything by tricking half-life that my card is an ATI card not sure how any you guys did. I even went one by one of each command inside the 9800 Pro and 5900FX and ran benchmarks turning the varibles on and off. They affects frames +- 1 fps.

    If someone finds a way to enable FP16 without 3D Analazer i would like know that.

    Thanks
     
  7. thevoid

    thevoid Master Guru

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    Yes, and this is because there are no different shader
    codepaths for ATi or for NVIDIA.... there is only 1 (one)
    shader path for DirectX-9 in Half-Life2.

    It is amazing that this discussion about forcing the so-called
    "Ati-path" is going on for weeks now...

    Anyone can test this pretty easily, just run the game from
    "3D-analyzer" program and make sure to check the "Save Shaders to File". The shaders the game used will be saved
    in a file "shaders.out" in the game directory. Save this file to another place for later comparison.

    Now just make that "forcing the ATi-path" trick, or whatever "magic" method you want in order to force the so called "ATi-path" and after playing ( the same level ofcourse - use the same savegame or something - cuz` different levels use different shaders ) just leave the game and you have the second "shaders.out" file, now with the "ati-path" forced...

    ONE HINT: just make a comparison between the files... they are ABSOLUTELY THE SAME SHADERS...

    Bottom line:
    =========

    There are no different DX-9 shader paths for NV and ATI

    If you want more information on what exactly is happening,
    just check one of my previous posts regarding this topic.

    http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=115782

    The time of the posting was absolutely "overlooked" because everybody was just crazy about forcing the so-called "ati-path" in Half-Life2...

    P.S. the stuff with forcing FP16 is also NOT OK, just check the objects underwater in the "Water Hazard" level... OOPS...
     
  8. Lord Banshee

    Lord Banshee Master Guru

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    Ok good. Make i wasn't alone on this one...

    Right now i am running with DX8.1 and everything works and looks great. With the settings i posted above.


    Another thing i found to be odd is with the settings above...

    If i set NVIDIA Display Panel to AA and AF set off and Set to High Proformance Mode i only get 1-2fps which would be nothing figureing the margin of error.

    In doom3 i get about 15fps extra by doing this. I am going to assume that half-life doesn't have all the High Quaility setting enabled by default where Doom3 does so makeing them more optimized i get better performance.....
     
  9. i unlike most of u have a an almost obsolete card...Gainwar geforce fx5200...n i'll like to know how can i get the best performance on my graphic card on HL@..pleaase help me as none of the methods described are helpig me...please please help me....
    i am not getting a smooth gameplay...
     
  10. Guise

    Guise Guest

    ok, i figured out my problem, lol
    it was the -heapsize command...typing "512" instead of "512000"...doh..

    the settings definitely worked, everything looked beautiful,
    but the framerate made it unplayable. I guess my 5700le just doesnt have the horsepower.

    ultimateone, i'd imagine you would have to make your graphics look worse, instead of better as this method does. Just turn down all the graphics settings and resolution. with only 256mb of system memory and an old video card there isnt much you can do. :)
     

  11. Shabaco

    Shabaco Guest

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    i did'nt try these dx9 tweaks as my water looks just fine in dx81 mode...what's the big deal anyway? are there screenshots with of what us dx9 losers are missing out on?
    All i did to tweak the perf was to add the following to the shortcut;

    -width 800 -height 600 -dxlevel 81 -refresh 100 -applaunch 220 -heapsize 300000 -console -preload -mat_preloadshader

    this is my config file;

    unbindall
    bind "ESCAPE" "cancelselect"
    bind "SPACE" "+jump"
    bind "1" "slot1"
    bind "2" "slot2"
    bind "3" "slot3"
    bind "4" "slot4"
    bind "5" "slot5"
    bind "6" "slot6"
    bind "7" "slot7"
    bind "`" "toggleconsole"
    bind "a" "+moveleft"
    bind "c" "impulse 50"
    bind "d" "+moveright"
    bind "e" "+use"
    bind "f" "impulse 100"
    bind "g" "phys_swap"
    bind "q" "lastinv"
    bind "r" "+reload"
    bind "s" "+back"
    bind "w" "+forward"
    bind "z" "+zoom"
    bind "ALT" "+walk"
    bind "CTRL" "+duck"
    bind "SHIFT" "+speed"
    bind "F5" "jpeg"
    bind "F6" "save quick"
    bind "F9" "load quick"
    bind "MWHEELDOWN" "invnext"
    bind "MWHEELUP" "invprev"
    bind "MOUSE1" "+attack"
    bind "MOUSE2" "+attack2"
    bind "PAUSE" "pause"
    g_antlion_maxgibs "16"
    hud_quickinfo "0"
    muzzleflash_light "1"
    spec_scoreboard "0"
    cl_team "default"
    cl_class "default"
    closecaption "0"
    cc_linger_time "1.0"
    cc_predisplay_time "0.25"
    cc_subtitles "0"
    cc_lang ""
    crosshair "1"
    cl_observercrosshair "1"
    cam_command "0"
    cam_snapto "0"
    cam_idealyaw "90"
    cam_idealpitch "0"
    cam_idealdist "64"
    c_maxpitch "90"
    c_minpitch "0"
    c_maxyaw "135"
    c_minyaw "-135"
    c_maxdistance "200"
    c_mindistance "30"
    c_orthowidth "100"
    c_orthoheight "100"
    joy_name "joystick"
    joy_forwardthreshold "0.15"
    joy_sidethreshold "0.15"
    joy_pitchthreshold "0.15"
    joy_yawthreshold "0.15"
    joy_forwardsensitivity "-1"
    joy_sidesensitivity "-1"
    joy_pitchsensitivity "1"
    joy_yawsensitivity "-1"
    joy_wingmanwarrier_centerhack "0"
    joy_wingmanwarrier_turnhack "0"
    joy_diagonalpov "0"
    cl_upspeed "320"
    cl_forwardspeed "400"
    cl_backspeed "400"
    lookspring "0"
    lookstrafe "0"
    joystick "0"
    m_pitch "0.022"
    m_filter "1"
    sensitivity "3"
    m_side "0.8"
    m_yaw "0.022"
    m_forward "1"
    m_customaccel "0"
    m_customaccel_scale "0.04"
    m_customaccel_max "0"
    m_customaccel_exponent "1"
    m_mouseaccel1 "0"
    m_mouseaccel2 "0"
    m_mousespeed "1"
    cl_idealpitchscale "0.8"
    net_graph "0"
    net_scale "5"
    net_graphpos "1"
    net_graphsolid "1"
    voice_modenable "1"
    hud_fastswitch "0"
    g_test_new_antlion_jump "1"
    scene_showfaceto "0"
    ai_report_task_timings_on_limit "0"
    ai_think_limit_label "0"
    npc_height_adjust "1"
    scene_showlook "0"
    scene_showmoveto "0"
    func_break_max_pieces "15"
    suitvolume "0.25"
    sv_noclipaccelerate "5"
    sv_noclipspeed "5"
    sv_specaccelerate "5"
    sv_specspeed "3"
    sv_specnoclip "1"
    sv_skyname "sky_day01_06"
    sv_backspeed "0.6"
    voice_forcemicrecord "1"
    voice_enable "1"
    voice_scale "1"
    snd_duckerthreshold "0.15"
    snd_duckerreleasetime "2.5"
    snd_duckerattacktime "0.5"
    snd_ducktovolume "0.55"
    adsp_debug "0"
    dsp_dist_max "1440.0"
    dsp_dist_min "0.0"
    snd_mixahead "0.5"
    snd_musicvolume "1.0"
    volume "1.0"
    snd_pitchquality "1"
    sv_forcepreload "1"
    sv_voiceenable "1"
    sv_log_onefile "0"
    sv_logecho "1"
    sv_logfile "1"
    sv_logsdir "logs"
    dsp_enhance_stereo "0"
    dsp_volume "1.0"
    dsp_slow_cpu "0"
    cl_allowupload "1"
    mp_decals "200"
    r_drawmodelstatsoverlaymax "1.5"
    r_drawmodelstatsoverlaymin "0.1"
    r_eyesize "0"
    r_eyeshift_z "0"
    r_eyeshift_y "0"
    r_eyeshift_x "0"
    r_eyemove "1"
    r_eyegloss "1"
    skill "1"
    r_aspectratio "0"
    con_enable "0"
    cl_allowdownload "1"
    cl_forcepreload "1"
    cl_soundfile "sound/player/jingle.wav"
    cl_logofile "materials/decals/spraylogo.vtf"
    cl_timeout "30"
    cl_showpluginmessages "1"
    sv_unlockedchapters "4"
    password ""
    cl_cmdrate "30"
    name "unnamed"
    cl_cmdbackup "2"
    cl_updaterate "20"
    bgmvolume "1"
    vprof_unaccounted_limit "0.3"
    vprof_verbose "1"
    vprof_graphheight "256"
    vprof_graphwidth "512"
    texture_budget_background_alpha "128"
    texture_budget_panel_bottom_of_history_fraction ".25"
    texture_budget_panel_height "284"
    texture_budget_panel_width "512"
    texture_budget_panel_y "450"
    texture_budget_panel_x "0"
    budget_panel_height "384"
    budget_panel_width "512"
    budget_panel_y "50"
    budget_panel_x "0"
    budget_background_alpha "128"
    budget_bargraph_range_ms "16.6666666667"
    budget_panel_bottom_of_history_fraction ".25"
    budget_history_range_ms "66.666666667"
    budget_history_numsamplesvisible "100"
    budget_show_history "1"
    budget_show_averages "0"
    budget_show_peaks "1"
    budget_averages_window "30"
    budget_peaks_window "30"
    budget_bargraph_background_alpha "128"

    and my autoexec file;

    r_3dnow "1"
    r_sse "1"
    r_mmx "1"
    mat_trilinear "0"
    mat_forcehardwaresync "0"
    snd_async_fullyasync "1"
    cl_forcepreload "1"
    sv_forcepreload "1"
    dsp_enhance_stereo "1"
    snd_mixahead "0.5"

    get nice gfx and perf all in one, havn't checked what my fps are but it seems smooth enough just jerks a little when theres a tone of explosions and between loadin new areas.
     
  12. chupacabraSVK

    chupacabraSVK Member Guru

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    im ok with dx 8.1 :)
     
  13. i want to do this for cs:s...

    where do i put the fiels i cant find it
     
  14. volkov956

    volkov956 Ancient Guru

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    maybe people should just bug valve to allow people to choose they;re DX settings
     
    Last edited: Jan 28, 2005
  15. 3dzoef

    3dzoef New Member

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    Ive got an offtopic question about the register editor, sometimes we download reg files such as the WINDOWS XP MOUSE FIX or the COOLBITS.REG file...

    But how can we make such a file ourself does anyone know that?
    For example how do i make a reg file like the QUOTE above. That enables directx 9.0 just by double clicking on the REG file the next time you want easier and faster way of REGISTRY EDITING...

    Sorry for being a "noob" but since you people are always helpfull..... NO STOP dont hurt me! I WONT POST OFFTOPIC questions anymore!
     
    Last edited: Feb 22, 2005

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