Improving Counter-Strike: Source frame rates

[Jameson]

------ Casey's Config ------

Casey's Config v2 (CAL compliant)
Updated 01/23/07 - Added misc settings section
Download the .cfg file already created here

Below is my expanded tweak guide for getting the best performance out of CS: Source.

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 DirectX level Source runs in.

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

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\your@email.com\counter-strike source\cstrike\cfg folder.

Note: The comments will not interfere with the commands.

// 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_

[Mike]

Hey, that's cool! I'm going to give it a try and I'll post my own results on here...

[Mike]

Hey, that didn't work too bad at all! I didn't think I'd see much difference because of the really poor setup I'm using.
So with my Radeon 9550 @ 640x480 res, here's what I got:

Before tweak - 64.4 fps
After tweak - 84.82 fps!

Dude! That's an extra 20 fps just for applying that simple tweak! :cool:

[Jameson]

Yeah it actually works!

Stupidly I heard about this and just jumped in and changed all my settings before testing, but i did notice CS:S frame rates soared into the 150fps range.

I'm going to put all the settings back and test this throughly, with screen shots of image quality with standard settings and then with these tweaks, as i have noticed the image quality reduces by more than 1%.

[fossilv925]

Wow, this is really works. My fps at first was around 30-40 now its 70-90 and 90+ on surf maps. Thx man.

[Jameson]

welcome to the forums

Nice to know it helped, and to be honest i can't play CS with bad frame rates, can't hit a damn thing

[champluipio]

I want to try out this tweak, but I have no idea where to put the text file. I don't have CounterStrikeSource under program files, all I have is steam.

[Jameson]

Hello, i should have made it more detailed, the dir is:

Steam\SteamApps\your email address\counter-strike source and then follow the directory listed in the first post.

[romeozor]

i have a usefull command to add:
cl_downloadfilter "nosounds"

now this wont effect the fps, but it will prevent the download of stupid sounds from the servers. if you like them its fine but i like to get on a server asap and not wait for 30MB of custom sounds to be downloaded

[4DConsumer]

I get 20 fps normally and with the autoexec you posted I still get 20 fps. Am I doing something wrong? Also, the second suggestion you mentioned does not work for me either. I right-click the steam icon on my desktop, choose properties and do not see a "launch options" tab. Any help is appreciated. My system specs are:

Intel Celeron 2.30 ghz
1 GB ram
ATI Radeon 9250 256mb

Thanks.

[romeozor]

i think the correct command is mat_dxlevel
btw wouldnt expect much from that rig, sry

[Jameson]

Welcome

I believe most of the performance increase is largely down to changing from directX 9 to 8.1, and as your card is a direct X 8 part it won't benefit from this command as your already in DX8.1 by default.

Romeozor got it pretty much right, you won't see the major benefits liek those posted below on this card i'm afraid.

[hollowpoint]

ok so, recently i bought a new dell inspiron e1505. Got it home updated everything and installed hl2 and cs:s. started playing and realized how terrible my fps was. 6-13 to be exact. tried lowering all my video options didnt help much 7-19fps. ran the above configuration and it helped a little now i get around 20-25 fps. Now, correct me if im wrong but shouldn't i be getting better fps than that.

Ill post my stats in case they dont show in my profile.

Intel Centrino Duo T2500 2.0ghz
Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 256mb
2.0 GB DIMM Ram
Soundblaster Audigy Soundcard
Windows Xp SP2 fully updated

any help would be greatly appreciated

[romeozor]

imo css is a very cpu demanding game, dont have any xp playing it on laptops but maybe the core duo just wont cut it

[Jameson]

Do you know if the 7300 is the turbo cache version? This version actually takes most of its memory from the system, they are truly horrible cards for gaming.

Anyhow, i'm not surprised if that is the best frame you can manage with this card as its one of the lowest in Nvidia's range. You'll probably want to upgrade to a 7600 as a minimum for gaming. Probably not what you wanted to hear

This thread is about your card, it may help: http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardw...ict193519.html

[Jameson]

Originally Posted by romeozor

imo css is a very cpu demanding game, dont have any xp playing it on laptops but maybe the core duo just wont cut it

Isn't this Yonah we're talking about? Clock for clock they're faster than an A64 and are what Conroe is heavily based on.