Easiest way of increasing your Crysis Warhead performance on enthusiast mode by 20%.

[DarkMatter]

As I've stated those changes provide minimal IQ change to none. A person can pick and choose what they want to achieve a reasonable frame rate:
-Disabling POM in favor of AF is a common practice that many have used when Crysis is released. The effects are minimal and from what I've seen hard to distinguish. In any case it's either POM or AF you can't have both.

-SSAO does not have a high impact on objects as much as you make it out to be. It only adds shadows to the object itself. Then can be minimized to a degree where FPS can be increase.

-Motion blur is very overrated and many disable this without me posting it. The amount of blur induced with moving objects and just turning 90 degrees is in far excess to real life. If there is nothing wrong with your vision turning your head 90 degrees does not induce blur. Objects moving about as they do in this game do not induce blur as it does in this game. For me as well as many others this feature is turned off.

-Glow is something that can be turned off and would actually sharpen objects in the distance instead of blurring them with a glow effect.

-Static physics is part of the optional selection and it's a personal taste if a person wants it on or off. Depending on frame rates if it's not important it's something that can be turned off. This has no effect on IQ that's why I added it as an option.

In all what I suggest does offer some IQ trade offs but from what I've seen are minimal. Unlike the r_colorgrading=0 depending on where/what you looking at the IQ can be drastically changed. For example 1 and

Example 2:

The use of color grading as you suggested offer as much change to IQ if not more then what I suggested when a person is in shaded areas. Don't get me wrong, reducing/removing colorgrading offers little IQ change when it's sunny outside but when you are in shaded areas IQ is altered. Now don't take this the wrong way, the photo does show a 1.0 FPS improvement. However, when in shaded areas without sunlight is this the level of IQ people are willing to deal with? IMO, they would look for other alternatives and perhaps use this as a last resort.

I think we can agree that the goal is to offer some level of performance boost with as little to no IQ changes as possible. However, it's unavoidable that IQ will change to some degree. In the end it will be up to the end user to decide on how they will balance the scale of IQ vs performance if they are having a problem.

Well part of my point was that changing those DO NOT have as much of an impact on performance as those two. FOR ME at least changing all those together don't offer as much performance boost as one of mines alone. SSAO only changes few decimals when disabled, same with POM, motion blur, etc. agree all the settings change the image to the same degree, to tell that in some way. But colorgrading mostly alters the whole image tone, while the ones you suggested reduce the detail. It's very possible to attain similar results of colorgrading by tweaking the monitor, for example. Nothing will return you the bump detail of POM, the lighting of SSAO (it has nothing to do with self shadowing BTW, it's ambient occlusion, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_Space_Ambient_Occlusion, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ambient_occlusion) or the vitality of dynamic foliage.

Of course it's up to each to decide, but in no way colorgrading affects IQ more than the others. It does alter the IMAGE LOOK more, but not IQ. All others are dependant on geometry, light placement and bump mapping in order to create realistic looking objects. Colorgrading alteres the general tone of the image, using an algorithm that depends on the amount of light. Nowhere near what all the other things add up to the IQ.

Motion blur amount is too personal to disagree though.

EDIT: Hmm I just tried a similar place as the one on your Example1 and colorgrading has nowhere that same impact as it does for you. Just look at my examples, there's not as much of a difference. I wonder if it is graphics brand dependant?

EDIT2: e_lods default is 1, enabled, and it does have a great impact on performance, but not much in IQ as you said. Dissabling would be stupid as all games have been using it since... I can't even remember when. I confused it with e_lod_min or e_lod_ratio, which do reduce IQ a lot.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Here is the results of using what I suggested vs play Warhead without any modding.
photos here

The option I provided offers very little change and can offer a FPS boost. The idea here is offer more alternatives to increasing frame rates with as little IQ difference as possible.

 

[DarkMatter]

Here is the results of using what I suggested vs play Warhead without any modding.
photos here

The option I provided offers very little change and can offer a FPS boost. The idea here is offer more alternatives to increasing frame rates with as little IQ difference as possible.

First of all my apologies regarding e_lods and r_glow as are not what I thought they were. Glow is a very valid option for outdoor scenes, it has far greater impact on indoor scenes though.

Now, on your comparison look at the bushes in the right. When default they look realistic as they cast shadows as a real object would do. On the moded one they seem completely artificial, as if they were put there. Compare that to your first example:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/crysis/Colorgrading.gif

Here the overall color changed, but the shadow detail is still there.

And regarding POM. Post screens on the snow for a fair comparison. Maybe I'll do it myself.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

First of all my apologies regarding e_lods and r_glow as are not what I thought they were. Glow is a very valid option for outdoor scenes, it has far greater impact on indoor scenes though.

Now, on your comparison look at the bushes in the right. When default they look realistic as they cast shadows as a real object would do. On the moded one they seem completely artificial, as if they were put there. Compare that to your first example:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a154/eastcoasthandle/crysis/Colorgrading.gif

Here the overall color changed, but the shadow detail is still there.

And regarding POM. Post screens on the snow for a fair comparison. Maybe I'll do it myself.

The 1st pic relates to color grading. The second comparison involves a modded autoexec.bat vs original. They have nothing in common with one another. When I attempted what you suggested with color grading that's what I get in shaded areas outdoors.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Here is another example of the original vs modded Warhead this time in the frost level. Minimal IQ difference with a nice boost in frame rates (which will vary from one PC to the next).

 

[DarkMatter]

The 1st pic relates to color grading. The second comparison involves a modded autoexec.bat vs original. They have nothing in common with one another. When I attempted what you suggested with color grading that's what I get in shaded areas outdoors.

I'm saying here all the depth and richness of lighting/shadowing is gone and is specially noticeable in the bushes, but also in the ground, while here all the details, depth and richness still remain. It's just that the color is a bit duller, but you can almost fix the color issue in the second one by altering your monitor settings. That's what I'm saying.

POM

POM enabled

POM disabled

Enabled

Disabled

It does have some performance impact, but usually not as much as in the second SS, more like in the frozen one.

 

[DarkMatter]

Here is another example of the original vs modded Warhead this time in the frost level. Minimal IQ difference with a nice boost in frame rates (which will vary from one PC to the next).

Again look at all the bushes and the rocks on th right, they look plastic and artifiacially placed there compared to the original one.

All in all is a matter of preference. but the drop in IQ is far greater than dissabling colorgrading.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

DarkMatter,
You are basically going around in circles here. While you insists on nit-picking IQ I've already said there will be IQ difference but they are minimal. And, people can pick and choose which they prefer based on the frame rates they need. Now at this point, this is getting moot as what you point out I've already summed up (but not as bad as you make it out to be). The person performing the tweaks will decided on what they prefer. The whole idea is to improve frame rates with as little impact to IQ as possible.

Your statements of "look at the bush" & "look at that" are derived from a statement I never made or imply to make. And, because I offer another suggestion you want to down play them as the result of some personal issue. What's been shown here is IMO very good IQ for the frame rate boost you get. And, I certainly would not tweak my monitor because it's already properly calibrated.

Now keep in mine all my photos are at:
-1680x1050
-4xAA
-PC specs in System Specs

 

[DarkMatter]

DarkMatter,
You are basically going around in circles here. While you insists on nit-picking IQ I've already said there will be IQ difference but they are minimal. And, people can pick and choose which they prefer based on the frame rates they need. Now at this point, this is getting moot as what you point out I've already summed up (but not as bad as you make it out to be). The person performing the tweaks will decided on what they prefer. The whole idea is to improve frame rates with as little impact to IQ as possible.

Your statements of "look at the bush" & "look at that" are derived from a statement I never made or imply to make. And, because I offer another suggestion you want to down play them as the result of some personal issue. What's been shown here is IMO very good IQ for the frame rate boost you get. And, I certainly would not tweak my monitor because it's already properly calibrated.

Now keep in mine all my photos are at:
-1680x1050
-4xAA
-PC specs in System Specs

I can give on the performance issue on SSAO, as I never tested it in Warhead (I have now and there is a big hit when indoor). In Crysis the fps increase was minimal.

About IQ is undeniable SSAO increases IQ A LOT, you can try to obscure the thing as much as you want, but Crysis' graphics are all about lighting and shadowing and those are ALL about SSAO, here you havescreens:

Enabled

Disabled

Enabled with colorgrading put to 0, for comparison.

Like night and day, black and white, REALITY or playing around with TOYS or MODELS.

I'll let people decide, but if they choose the SSAO = 0 one, I'll have to quit my job and migrate to the mountains, because all the orientation and the point of my job would be pointless...

 

[EastCoasthandle]

That's not night and day, far from it. Your Tris count went from 506.XX to 504.XX which shows the complexity of the scene being rendered. A difference of -/+ 2 and looking at the scene itself indicates to me a minimal change in IQ. But the lack of AA is noticeable though.

 

[DarkMatter]

That's not night and day, far from it. Your Tris count went from 506.XX to 504.XX which shows the complexity of the scene being rendered. A difference of -/+ 2 and looking at the scene itself indicates to me a minimal change in IQ. But the lack of AA is noticeable though.

AA has nothing to do with this. As you can see colorgrading has a greater impact on performance so it would actually leave more room for enabling AA.

Yeah and the colorgrading 0 one has 507.xxx and what? Please...

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

I personally run fine on my 3800+ (single core) since I have optimized. Most things are on Mainstream, detail is on "Enthusiast." I don't get why you guys lag behind.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

AA has nothing to do with this. As you can see colorgrading has a greater impact on performance so it would actually leave more room for enabling AA.

Yeah and the colorgrading 0 one has 507.xxx and what? Please...

Your images are at 1280x960 without AA. My images are at 1680x1050 with 4xAA on Enthusiast. There are going to be IQ difference and the amount of AA has everything to do with it as they are part of what you are trying to criticize. What I offer is simply another option at higher resolution using AA which you obviously have personal issues with (IQ aside).

 

[DarkMatter]

Your images are at 1280x960 without AA. My images are at 1680x1050 with 4xAA. There are going to be IQ difference and the amount of AA has everything to do with it as they are part of what you are trying to criticize. What I offer is simply another option at higher resolution using AA which you obviously have personal issues with (IQ aside). Instead of taking the additional information as a compliment to this thread you get mad :shadedshu. What you consider night/day, black/white is obviously not that different and you are making a bigger deal out this then need be.

In all, you cannot help me as I have a setup that works for me .

As I said, you can just dissable colorgrading and play on 1680x1050 without having to dissable many things of what you said. Your suggestions may help AFTER my suggestions are applied, but the impact on IQ is undeniable! Of course you can post some screens where what you dissabled is not being used and claim no difference, but that's simply not the truth!

r_glow 1

r_glow 0

Now tell me there's no difference!

I'm not saying to not use your suggestions, but SAYING they would not affect IQ is the BIGGEST LIE EVER!!!

I don't have any issue with your person, but this thread is to inform people, and there is no place for missunderstatements as the ones you are saying. There's nothing wrong in suggesting your changes, but tell what is the IQ reduction they will experiment!!

MY suggestions don't change the lighting, shadows object detail or anything else. Only some minor colour adjustements. The pictures are there for them to choose. I don't need words when I hace pictures.

As for what works for you or it doesn't, I couldn't care less.

EDIT: Same pictures with 4xAA. Since you so desperately need them!!

 

[EastCoasthandle]

As I said, you can just dissable colorgrading and play on 1680x1050 without having to dissable many things of what you said. Your suggestions may help AFTER my suggestions are applied, but the impact on IQ is undeniable! Of course you can post some screens where what you dissabled is not being used and claim no difference, but that's simply not the truth!

Now tell me there's no difference!

I'm not saying to not use your suggestions, but SAYING they would not affect IQ is the BIGGEST LIE EVER!!!

I don't have any issue with your person, but this thread is to inform people, and there is no place for missunderstatements as the ones you are saying. There's nothing wrong in suggesting your changes, but tell what is the IQ reduction they will experiment!!

MY suggestions don't change the lighting, shadows object detail or anything else. Only some minor colour adjustements. The pictures are there for them to choose. I don't need words when I hace pictures.

As for what works for you or it doesn't, I couldn't care less.

I never said there would be no difference in IQ (as explained in other posts). This is something you've made up as a arguing point when I said minimal IQ differences. Also, I said that people can pick and choose what they want to add to their customization. Also, I don't need any help with the customizations, I've shown how they look when combined together. .

Is there anything else I need to clear up for you so we are on the same page?

 

[DarkMatter]

I never said there would be no difference in IQ (as explained in other posts). This is something you've made up as a arguing point when I said minimal IQ differences. Also, I said that people can pick and choose what they want to add to their customization. Also, I don't need any help with the customizations, I've shown how they look when combined together.

Let's refresh your mind just a bit:

r_TexturesStreaming=0 doesn't work for me when I use the "~" key to see what commands are active when using Enthusiast mode. I've found the following to offer the best frame rates with little to no difference in image quality depending on what's being used:

r_ssao = 0; = 1 enables self shadowing which makes objects more life like
r_usePOM = 0; replace this with AF instead
r_TexMaxAnisotropy = 8; or =16 (replaces r_usePOM with sharper textures)
r_DepthofField = 1; when = 0 there is a slight difference in IQ
e_precache_level = 1; level is loaded up beforehand or a potential drop in any in-level stuttering.
r_MotionBlur = 0; this is simply not needed and not realistic
r_Glow =0; Removes the excessive glow on distant objects


Optional
e_phys_foliage =1; This will make foliage static and will not react to your movement
cl_fov = 55; instead of default of = 60
r_UseEdgeAA = 1; instead of = 2 makes palm tree leaves, etc look more fuller
e_lods = 1; uses less detail on objects as they recede into the distance

Example:
Create autoexec.bat file using notepad and save it:
Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis WARHEAD\

con_restricted = 0
r_ssao = 0
r_usePOM = 0
r_TexMaxAnisotropy = 8
r_DepthofField = 1
e_precache_level = 1
r_MotionBlur = 0
r_Glow =0
e_phys_foliage =1
cl_fov = 55
r_UseEdgeAA = 1
e_lods = 1

Once the autoexec.bat file is created go to:
\My Documents\My Games\Crysis_WARHEAD\Shaders\Cache
and delete all the *.cfxb files
then go to
\My Documents\My Games\Crysis_WARHEAD\Shaders\Cache\D3D9\CGPShaders
and delete all *.cfxb
\My Documents\My Games\Crysis_WARHEAD\Shaders\Cache\D3D9\CGVShaders
and deleta all *.cfxb

Next defrag the harddrive that these files are stored in (usually C:\drive). Then start Warhead. Make sure you defrag the harddrive after you delete those cache files.

On the other hand this is how I presented my suggestions:

I finished the game on enthusiast mode, changing to gamer when performance was not pleasing and as I always do, on games that is possible, it was the time to make some tweaking to Cvars and see how much performance I could squeeze out of the game. Many Cvars increase performance a bit, but the result with two of them was shocking. I found an easy way to increase framerate by as much as 20% (or 5-10 fps depending actual framerate of 25-50fps, good scaling up to 100 fps) changing only two values that have a little inpact on image quality. This is subjective, so test it yourselves. You know how to do it:

- Create an autoexec file on the game directory.
- Write this into the file:

con_restricted=0 - Enables you to change many values in the console. I don't actually know if it is required, but won't hurt if you write it.

r_displayinfo=1 - Will show many info on the screen, fps included.

- Save.

Once you made that, you can try changing any cvar on the console. To enter the console press "~" key (the one below Esc).

The two values in question are the next:

- r_DepthOfField [0,1,2] - You have to put it to 1. Default is 2 when on enthusiast, 0 on lowest setting and 1 on others. It does impact the quality of depht of field in outdoor scenes, but it's not too noticeable when you are actually playing. Indoor you will not see the difference in the image, but the impact in performance is notorious.

- r_colorgrading [0,1] - 1 only on enthusiast mode. Put it to 0 to dissable it. Ok, there's a big difference in the color of the image, but the image still looks great without it. Better than gamer mode and performance is close to gamer once you dissable this and DOF.

This is intended for those who can play the game on enthusiast mode, but they need some extra fps on some places and don't want to lower the graphics to gamer settings. Those who cannot just play it at enthusiast mode by a few fps can give this a try too, but performce will be compromised on many places, it will be up to them if they can stand playing at below fluent framerates.

EDIT: Of course I can't assure this will work for every system or operating system. Send some feedback so we can help as many people as we can.

Something else?

 

[EastCoasthandle]

depending on what's being used

For example if someone just uses:
e_phys_foliage =1;
etc
which offers no IQ difference.

Is there any other level of confusion that I can clear up for you?

 

[bigtye]

Um guys, as a person running a socket 939 rig, I appreciate your posts on what settings I could try to alter to give me the IQ I am happy with at a frame rate I can play at. Which ones I decide to keep in the end will be personal choice.

But I do appreciate the time spent in gathering the info and posting the screenies. From what I can gather, that was the entire intention of the thread.

Thanks

Tye

 

[EastCoasthandle]

Um guys, as a person running a socket 939 rig, I appreciate your posts on what settings I could try to alter to give me the IQ I am happy with at a frame rate I can play at. Which ones I decide to keep in the end will be personal choice.

But I do appreciate the time spent in gathering the info and posting the screenies. From what I can gather, that was the entire intention of the thread.

Thanks

Tye

That's what the thread should be about. By all means if you find something useful let us know

 

[DarkMatter]

Actually the thread was just about making enthusiast mode more affordable. It was not meant as a tweak guide, there are far better ones out there and it's far more complex than dissabling a pair of features. i.e. http://www.tweakguides.com/Crysis_1.html

But since the thread has been expanded, may I do some suggesions, before disabling features, you can actually tweak them.

For instance SSAO can be easily tweaked and will do the job while performing closer to what you will get with it dissabled. You need to change these variables:

r_SSAO_quality = 1 //down from 2 on enthusiast, 1 for gamer and mainstream.

r_SSAO_radius = 1 //down from 2 again, 1 for gamer again.

r_DetailDistance // enthusuast= 8; gamer= 4; unnoticeable to me both in perf and IQ.

For shadows:

r_ShadowJittering // 2.5 is enthusiast, 1 gamer and below. Anything from 1 to 2.5 will slightly increase the performance compared to enthusiast, while looking better than gamer.

r_shadows_cast_view_dist_ratio //enthusiast=0.8; gamer=0.53; anything inbetween will offer better performance than enthusiast and better IQ than gamer.

Effects

Ones that have some IQ impact but only on few areas/circunstances:

g_battledust_enable // enabled only on entusiast mode. Tremendous perf boost under some circunstances (when it's actually being used for instance). But at the same time it has a great impact on the experience on some battles. You won't notice it lacking for the most part though.

i_lighteffects // enabled only on enthusiast.

Effects with overall impact through the game:

r_BeamDistFactor // enthusiast= 0.05; gamer=0.5

r_BeamsMaxSlices //enthusiast= 200 ; gamer= 64; medium= 32; at 128 there's an almost unnoticeable impact on both IQ and perf ON MY MACHINE and in Warhead. In Crysis and when I had the X2 4800+ the impact was bigger but small in comparison with the 2 in the OP.

Object detail:

e_vegetation_min_size // enthusiast=0; gamer= 0,5; small impact on IQ and perf.

That's the ones I remember and that I lowered in Crysis with good gains. That was with the X2 4800+, I never tested them with the Quad. In Warhead and with my rig on specs they have almost no effect in performance. Test them and see if they help.

 

[DarkMatter]

Now that enough time has passed for EastCoastHandle or anyone else to notice it, it's time to reveal the true joke: PICTURES ON MY POST #39 WERE PURPOSEDLY TAKEN WITH r_colorgrading=0!!

It's so noticeable no one noticed it.

 

[ShogoXT]

Well its kinda hard to tell unless their a side by side. Its not like we have a photographic memory. We need EZ mode compare!

 

[DarkMatter]

Well its kinda hard to tell unless their a side by side. Its not like we have a photographic memory. We need EZ mode compare!

Yeah, but you don't need another picture to compare SSAO or glow once you know what it is and where to look at it. Either it's there or is not.

Colorgrading on the other hand will be unnoticeable unless you compare it side by side. Even the greatest expert would be unable to tell if it is enabled or not, or if it is an issue with the clor balance on the card, monitor, etc. If he can EVEN notice there is something "wrong" at all.

Did I mention colorgrading is 0 by default in anything but enthusiast, and that SSAO is enabled by default in both gamer and enthusiast? Clearly Crytek thought SSAO was more important. Dunno IMO is something to think about...

 

[TheMailMan78]

I personally run fine on my 3800+ (single core) since I have optimized. Most things are on Mainstream, detail is on "Enthusiast." I don't get why you guys lag behind.

Well my rig barley pushes this game and slows down to a complete freeze when loading areas of a map. I put everything on mainstream and 1200x rez and AA off. I have no clue what the hell is wrong. If your pushing it with a 3800+ the my CPU should be fine.

 

[kyle2020]

Ive had some bugs with it, i hope this relates!

Basically i kept getting an error message after pressing play on the disc screen saying "MSOCK32.dll cannot be found" or something like that. I have to press ok 5 times and then the game loads. My second bug WAS (its stopped now) the game stopped loading at around 84% - black screen greeted me and i had to shut the game down via task manager.

Its stopped now but still, its bugs that shouldnt be there. Oh, and the games way too short. completed it last night ffs :shadedshu