Launch Options
Source has many performance-friendly launch options built-in that you may find give you a significant performance gain. Launch properties can be added by right-clicking Counter-Strike: Source in Steam's My Games menu, clicking Properties, then Launch Options.
-dxlevel: Sets the rendering level. (If you have a newer video card, lower dxlevels, will actually slow down your video rendering resulting in lower frames per second.)
You may find that setting this value lower to than what your card can actually support yields a performance increase. For example, a DirectX 9 card may run significantly faster in DirectX 8.1. Again, it is best to test various settings to find out what is right for you. Use the following:
* -dxlevel 95 for DirectX 9c
* -dxlevel 90 for DirectX 9
* -dxlevel 81 for DirectX 8.1
-heapsize: Dedicates a specific amount of memory to Source.
Increasing the allotted memory can yield substantial performance gains. However, it is important that you dedicate the right amount of memory. Dedicating too much or too little could actually cause a performance decrease.
It is recommended you dedicate half of your system memory. Below is the recommended usage:
* 512MB System Memory: -heapsize 262144
* 1GB System Memory: -heapsize 524288
* 2GB System Memory: -heapsize 1048576
-w800 -h600 Sets screen resolution to 800?600. I use a low resolution setting to get optimal refresh rates. Disregard this setting if you’re on a LCD.
-console Enables the console
-refresh 120 Sets monitor refresh rate to locked rate of 120hz. You need to be on a CRT to be able to make use of this command. If you’re on an LCD, you unfortunately cannot go above 60 or 75 due to limitations with the technology. Contrary to popular belief, refresh rates do effect LCD’s, even though they do not refresh like standard CRT’s. That’s an entire another article though.
-high This command is probably the most important. It will force your computer to put Counter-Strike in high cpu priority, giving less resources to background processes, and more for CS.
-noforcemaccel This command disables mouse acceleration in CS. Very important if you’d like to build consistent aim.
-noforcemparms This command prevents windows from interfering with Counter-Strike and using desktop mouse acceleration settings.
-noipx Disables local network settings.
-nojoy Disables joystick detection
-full Runs CSS in full-screen upon loading.
CVARs
The following is a list of CVAR tweaks I've compiled through experimenting and various research. These commands help to strike an appropriate balance between quality and performance. You can find other CFGs that basically destroy the look of the game. I tried to maintain the appeal of Source while making it playable. These commands are CAL / CSP compliant.
Simply paste the following into Notepad, and save the file as autoexec.cfg in your Steam\SteamApps\[email protected]\counter-strike source\cstrike\cfg folder.
Note: The comments will not interfere with the commands.
ALSO NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE CONFIG I USE. IT IS ONE THAT I SUGGEST USING IF YOU WANT TO GET BETTER FPS/REGISTRY AND DON'T CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT GRAPHICS. I WILL NOT BE RELEASING MY CONFIG UNTIL WE ARE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE IN LEAGUE PLAY.
Source has many performance-friendly launch options built-in that you may find give you a significant performance gain. Launch properties can be added by right-clicking Counter-Strike: Source in Steam's My Games menu, clicking Properties, then Launch Options.
-dxlevel: Sets the rendering level. (If you have a newer video card, lower dxlevels, will actually slow down your video rendering resulting in lower frames per second.)
You may find that setting this value lower to than what your card can actually support yields a performance increase. For example, a DirectX 9 card may run significantly faster in DirectX 8.1. Again, it is best to test various settings to find out what is right for you. Use the following:
* -dxlevel 95 for DirectX 9c
* -dxlevel 90 for DirectX 9
* -dxlevel 81 for DirectX 8.1
-heapsize: Dedicates a specific amount of memory to Source.
Increasing the allotted memory can yield substantial performance gains. However, it is important that you dedicate the right amount of memory. Dedicating too much or too little could actually cause a performance decrease.
It is recommended you dedicate half of your system memory. Below is the recommended usage:
* 512MB System Memory: -heapsize 262144
* 1GB System Memory: -heapsize 524288
* 2GB System Memory: -heapsize 1048576
-w800 -h600 Sets screen resolution to 800?600. I use a low resolution setting to get optimal refresh rates. Disregard this setting if you’re on a LCD.
-console Enables the console
-refresh 120 Sets monitor refresh rate to locked rate of 120hz. You need to be on a CRT to be able to make use of this command. If you’re on an LCD, you unfortunately cannot go above 60 or 75 due to limitations with the technology. Contrary to popular belief, refresh rates do effect LCD’s, even though they do not refresh like standard CRT’s. That’s an entire another article though.
-high This command is probably the most important. It will force your computer to put Counter-Strike in high cpu priority, giving less resources to background processes, and more for CS.
-noforcemaccel This command disables mouse acceleration in CS. Very important if you’d like to build consistent aim.
-noforcemparms This command prevents windows from interfering with Counter-Strike and using desktop mouse acceleration settings.
-noipx Disables local network settings.
-nojoy Disables joystick detection
-full Runs CSS in full-screen upon loading.
CVARs
The following is a list of CVAR tweaks I've compiled through experimenting and various research. These commands help to strike an appropriate balance between quality and performance. You can find other CFGs that basically destroy the look of the game. I tried to maintain the appeal of Source while making it playable. These commands are CAL / CSP compliant.
Simply paste the following into Notepad, and save the file as autoexec.cfg in your Steam\SteamApps\[email protected]\counter-strike source\cstrike\cfg folder.
Note: The comments will not interfere with the commands.
ALSO NOTE: THIS IS NOT THE CONFIG I USE. IT IS ONE THAT I SUGGEST USING IF YOU WANT TO GET BETTER FPS/REGISTRY AND DON'T CARE TOO MUCH ABOUT GRAPHICS. I WILL NOT BE RELEASING MY CONFIG UNTIL WE ARE FURTHER DOWN THE LINE IN LEAGUE PLAY.
Code:
// Casey's Config v2 (CAL compliant)
// Updated for new season by CAL|Stone
// Updated 01/23/07 - Added misc settings section
//_Set Netcode vars_
cl_cmdrate "101"
cl_interp "0.01"
cl_interpolate "1"
cl_lagcomp_errorcheck "0" // Disables lagcompensation error checking, only needed if you're having any registration/loss/choke problems.
cl_lagcompensation "1"
cl_smooth "1"
cl_updaterate "101"
rate "25000"
//_Set MP vars_
mp_decals "0" // How many player sprays will be shown.
//_Set Client vars_
cl_drawmonitors "0" // Disables the rendering of ingame "monitors" which contain 3d rendered images.
cl_ejectbrass "0" // Disables brass ejection
cl_forcepreload "1" // Forces the game to load all texture and model information into memory on map load.
cl_phys_props_enable "1" // Enables phsyics props.
cl_phys_props_max "50" // Maximum amount of physics props allowed.
cl_ragdoll_physics_enable "0" // Disables ragdoll.
cl_restrict_server_commands "0" // Compatible/needed with serverplugins
cl_show_splashes "0" // Disables water splashes.
//_Set Render vars_
r_3dsky "0" // Disables the rendering of 3d sky boxes.
r_decal_cullsize "9999" // Any decals under this size are not rendered.
r_decals "0" // Disables decals.
r_drawbatchdecals "1" // Enables the rendering of decals in batch.
r_drawdetailprops "1" // Enables the rendering of detail props.
r_drawflecks "0" // Disables the sparks and dirt from bullet impacts.
r_drawmodeldecals "0" // Models decals (i.e. blood).
r_eyes "0" // Disables eyes in models.
r_lod "-1" // Different level of details on models. -1 = Variable at distance. 0 = None. 1 = Minor. 2 = Less minor.
r_modellodscale "1.0" // The transitioning power of LOD.
r_occlusion "0" // Enables the Model Occlusion system.
r_propsmaxdist "100" // Max distance at which props are rendered.
r_renderoverlayfragment "0"
r_rootlod "2" // Base lod of the model in the memory.
r_shadowmaxrendered "32" // Max shadows the game will render.
r_shadowrendertotexture "1" // Rendered the shadow texture causing it to match the player model.
r_shadows "1" // Enables shadows (Change be disabled for additional performance.)
r_teeth "0" // Disables teeth in models.
r_waterdrawreflection "0" // Disables the rendering of water reflections.
r_waterforceexpensive "0" // Forces cheap water.
gl_clear "0" // Disables the gl_clear convariable.
props_break_max_pieces "0" // Disables prop fragmenting
//_Set Materials vars_
mat_antialias "0" // Disables the use of multisampling to smooth out edges.
mat_bumpmap "0" // Disables bump mapping.
mat_clipz "0" // Disables optimized Z-Buffer rendering.
mat_compressedtextures "1" // Disables texture compression. Users with low amounts of system memory should turn this on.
mat_disable_bloom "1" // Disables bloom effects.
mat_hdr_enabled "0" // Disables HDR.
mat_hdr_level "0" // Double Disables HDR.
mat_mipmaptextures "1" // Enables the use of mipmapping to make textures look smooth.
mat_monitorgamma "1.6" // Lower the number the brighter the screen. Only works in fullscreen.
mat_picmip "2" // Changes the resolutions of textures when they're loaded into memory. May improve FPS on graphics cards with low memory sizes.
mat_reducefillrate "1" // Reduces the fillrate when the game is run in DXLevel 8.
mat_specular "0" // Disables Specularity on objects.
mat_trilinear "0" // Disables the use of Trilinear mipmapping.
mat_wateroverlaysize "8" // Sets the resolution of water distortion. Must be multiple of 8.
//_Set Violence vars_
violence_ablood "1"
violence_agibs "1"
violence_hblood "1"
violence_hgibs "1"
//_Set HUD vars_
hud_centerid "1" // Centers player IDs
net_graph "3" // Enables net_graph (Required in SS round)
net_graphpos "2" // Adjusts netgraph position-set between 1 and 3.
//_Set Misc settings_
cl_downloadfilter "nosounds" // Disables annoying pub sound downloads
fps_max "101" // Caps framerate. Set to max monitor refresh rate + 1.
jpeg_quality "100" // High quality screenshots
clear
echo _Casey's Config v2 (CAL compliant) loaded_
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