Can you force TF2 to run in Direct X 7 or 8?

[CroutonsofDeath{RD}]

I'm really sick and tired of getting 15 FPS average, and I'm even more sick and tired of getting 19 fps average with a tiny 640 x 480 resolution with black bars taking up most of the screen (16:9 Monitor. Stretching is available, but it makes the game even harder to play thanks to screwed up depth perception.) and jagged lines that hurt my eyes. Back when HL2 came out, I had a different computer for about 2 months (My new one was on the way) and there was a command line to force Direct X7 or 8, but since I haven't needed to use it much anymore I forgot the code, and I know it doesn't work on L4D1/2 (Though they run much faster anyways) but does it work with TF2? I'll take DX8, though DX7 would be even better. If it does work, what is the code? Greatly appreciated if I could get it.

 

[Simon]

Whats your computer's specs?

 

[Passerby]

ya

add -dxlevel80 to the startup parameters for tf2

you can also try 70 and 81

 

[Darklethal12]

You can also type mat_dxlevel 80 in console to try it out as well.

 

[JunK]

You can also type mat_dxlevel 80 in console to try it out as well.

do it this way. forcing dx levels from the properties thing resets all graphical settings etc whatever. so basically everytime you start the game you'll have to change them all over again.
least thats what it does for CSS.

anyway what are your pc specs? because if lowering resolution to that low doesn't increase fps, then its most likely a cpu bottleneck. meaning you basically won't get any increase in fps no matter what you do. low settings, high settings, resolutions, dx levels.

 

[CroutonsofDeath{RD}]

Whats your computer's specs?

Pentium 4 Hyper Threaded 3.2 ghz
512 MB AGP ATI Radeon x1650
3gb DDRAM
120 gb HDD
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value

 

[Passerby]

ya all of it is pretty old im usre that a new graphics card would get bottlenecked by P4.

edit:

what

how can you work with only a 120gb hardrive my music cant even fit on that.

 

[JunK]

ya definitely the rig, you shouldn't get any boost in performance until you do an upgrade.
and even with almost all of my games installed i only use 72 gb =P i have my music and videos on my linux drive

 

[Angellas]

Pentium 4 Hyper Threaded 3.2 ghz
512 MB AGP ATI Radeon x1650
3gb DDRAM
120 gb HDD
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Value

Honestly, that's PLENTY of machine to run TF2 at 40ish fps. What monitor are you using? If it's an LCD or equivalent, I would suggest using the native resolution of the monitor. Yes, I know 1440x900 is WAY more than 640x480. You will be amazed at the amount of system resources that are consumed by porting resolutions. (Such as a native 1440 monitor running the prehistoric 640 res.)

To the inevitable 'huh-uh'....that's an old computer..... I am correct, get over it! With similar specs, less ram, and a lower-class GPU I was running 60+ fps. It's all about the resources, baby! (and quite a bit of driver-cocktail tweaking)

If swapping to the native resolution of your monitor makes no change in your fps, or improves it, then I am correct in my assumption. If you, however, drop your fps in half or worse, then we can explore other options.

mat_dxlevel 70/80/81/etc... (and the shortcut additions of -dxlevel) beware....most servers (including those run by eGO to my knowledge) do not allow a dxlevel below 8.0. Just a tidbit to share

In the words of a great movie character, "...and that's all I have to say about that."

 

[Passerby]

ya i do the same my windows install with apps and games is taking about 100gb of the 150gb partition i gave it.

and most of my music and files are kept on a headless Linux(SuSE) server that has 4x 1tb drives in it which i assessable via NFS or Samba.

and on top of that i got 4 1tb externals and a 6 250gb externals