Tweaking TF2: The Guide

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Coding/Scripting
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3 years ago
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Learn how to get the most out of TF2.

Please allow the image to load.

To open the console in-game, press "~" the tild key.

Links and such can be found at the bottom.

Tired of the start-up movies? Disable them.
Here's how. Boot up steam, go to your games, right click TF2 > Properties > Set Launch Options and add the following line: -novid

Now, another cool little tweak you can use it -heapsize basically it uses the amount of ram you tell it too use. When using this tweak, it's recommended to use half your ram rather then all. The easiest way to get a rough estimate on how much ram you have.. would be going into the start menu, right clicking "My Computer" and going to Properties.
If you can't find it there, then I suggest downloading cpuZ and run that. Once it's done, click the "Memory" tab. It's also a nice way to find out what else you have in your system. Another way, is opening your run tool and typing in dxdiag.exe

Once you've found out how much ram you have in your system, multiply that number by 1024 and then divide that by 2.

So, if you have 1024mb of ram, you're heapsize should be: 524288.
I have 3072mb of ram. my heapsize is: 1572864, in the image it's less because I used 2048mb.

Posted by BrainZ
Fyi, heapsize is also addable in the AutoExec.cfg.
mem\_max\_heapsize 512 For a half a gig.
- Warning! Chief\_runningwater was having problems with this. You may as well.

Now, directX levels. These can be put into either your about config, or directly into the area we just added our heapsize.

There are a few different settings here.

-dxlevel 96-99 = Directx 9.0 (Maxed Quality)
-dxlevel 95 = Directx 9.0 (Higher Quality)
-dxlevel 90 = Directx 9.0
-dxlevel 81 = Directx 8.1 (Medium Quality)
-dxlevel 80 = Directx 8.0 (S'medium Quality)
-dxlevel 70 = Directx 7.0 (Lower Quality)

Here are some random tricks for the advanced menu.

By adding -noborder you remove the borders from the window if you're playing in windowed mode.
If you have a Nvidia Graphics card, by putting in -gl is forces Open GL mode. For ATI card, put -d3d

If you know your monitors refresh rate, you can set your games maximum refresh rate to match your monitor by adding a simple command line -refresh # My monitors refresh rate would be 60. So, I input -refresh 60

By adding -console to the command line, you can help increase your start-up time. Rather then the background being the main focus of loading, your console is. Which, is no doubt simpler.
-novid also helps speed up your load time.

-32bit enables 32bit mode. This is mainly for 64bit users.

Posted By: M_oo_P Vista Ultimate 64 bit (3.40 Duel core 4 gs ram 8800) with the -32bit start code on Css, Video stress tested, improved about 20 FPS very good.
-width [resolution width] this sets a custom resolution width. -height [resolution width] this sets your resolution height. So, for example.. my desktop resolution is 1680x1050. So, I input -width 1680 -height 1050, this sets a custom resolution.

-windowed enables window mode. Works well with -noboder and -width/-height explained above.

My autoexec.cfg has these settings within it's mighty lines.

cl_forcepreload 1 //Forces Textures to load before hand.
cl_updaterate 67 //Keeps your rates up to date!
cl_cmdrate 67 //Helps keep rates steady.
mat_picmip -10 // Explained Above
mat_dxlevel 98 //Enables dx10 support or at least improved quality and sometimes frame rate.
mat_specular 1 //Enables specular lighting.

Links:
I recommend using NotePad++ it's very clean and organized. Great for editing your .cfg files. NotePad++

Want some more cool tips for Source games? Then check out: Majin_DiggZ Tutorial

If you'd like some special tweaks, contact me!

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Comments

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    If you've added -console to your launch options i suggest adding -hideconsole as well, it hides the console on startup so you don't have to close it everytime

    Bananite
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    Posted by fmpfmp I have a Radeon 3870 DirectX 10 videocard at Windows Vista, but if I try to use mat_dxlevel 98 I can't to set AA and AF. When I try setting AA and AF with dxlevel 98 enabled strangely Steam video setting detect my video card as DirectX 7. I need to come back to dxlevel 95 for use AA and AF. And I can't to set dexlevel by autoexec.cfg, I need to do this by line command switch (-dxlevel 98), or else console pop a error. In other words, I think that dxlevel 98 is still somewhat bugged. At least for me. Maybe is better to wait full official support from Valve to DirectX10, not a "DirectX 9 support with DirectX 10 hardware"...

    Yeah, it works fine for some, but not so much for others. There isn't to much of a different, however. The real graphic booster is mat_picmip set to -10

    Thanks for the feedback!

    A Simple Virus of the Mind.
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    I have a Radeon 3870 DirectX 10 videocard at Windows Vista, but if I try to use mat_dxlevel 98 I can't to set AA and AF. When I try setting AA and AF with dxlevel 98 enabled strangely Steam video setting detect my video card as DirectX 7. I need to come back to dxlevel 95 for use AA and AF. And I can't to set dexlevel by autoexec.cfg, I need to do this by line command switch (-dxlevel 98), or else console pop a error.

    In other words, I think that dxlevel 98 is still somewhat bugged. At least for me.

    Maybe is better to wait full official support from Valve to DirectX10, not a "DirectX 9 support with DirectX 10 hardware"...

    Hello mate
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    Posted by hfc Pros: thank you Cons: none Improvements: none Notes: none

    You're welcome!

    A Simple Virus of the Mind.
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    Pros: thank you Cons: none Improvements: none Notes: none

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    Pros: layout, info Cons: complex but it has to be so.. Improvements: idk? Notes: yay

    Bananite
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    Posted by Pathard
    Posted by Leetality
    Posted by Pathard
    Posted by Leetality Ok i tried the mat_dxlevel 98 cuz i have dx10 and my fps dropped from 120-150 ingame to around 30-50 sometimes 60. and when i triend mat_dxlevel 90/5/6 still nothing. can anybody help?
    Your computer might just not support it. I'd try setting it to its default.
    what and how?
    I'm not sure what it was set for you to begin with.. try setting it to.. 81 then bump it up to 90.

    hm.k

    For the Emperor!
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    Posted by Leetality
    Posted by Pathard
    Posted by Leetality Ok i tried the mat_dxlevel 98 cuz i have dx10 and my fps dropped from 120-150 ingame to around 30-50 sometimes 60. and when i triend mat_dxlevel 90/5/6 still nothing. can anybody help?
    Your computer might just not support it. I'd try setting it to its default.
    what and how?

    I'm not sure what it was set for you to begin with.. try setting it to.. 81 then bump it up to 90.

    A Simple Virus of the Mind.
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    Posted by Pathard
    Posted by Leetality Ok i tried the mat_dxlevel 98 cuz i have dx10 and my fps dropped from 120-150 ingame to around 30-50 sometimes 60. and when i triend mat_dxlevel 90/5/6 still nothing. can anybody help?
    Your computer might just not support it. I'd try setting it to its default.

    what and how?

    For the Emperor!
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    Posted by Leetality Ok i tried the mat_dxlevel 98 cuz i have dx10 and my fps dropped from 120-150 ingame to around 30-50 sometimes 60. and when i triend mat_dxlevel 90/5/6 still nothing. can anybody help?

    Your computer might just not support it. I'd try setting it to its default.

    A Simple Virus of the Mind.
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