KNiVES' Consistent Warhead Config

[KNiVES]

A specially-made custom config made from complete scratch using all enthusiast standards settings as the canvas, for the denizens of OcUK. The config was made with 4850+ users in mind, and will run at approximately 30 frames per second - or your money back. This is thanks to a special command that now limits frames per second rendered in Crysis, eliminating inconsistent frame rates or unwanted oscillations between 30-60fps that most are not particularly fond of. The three biggest changes are:

- Frames per second locked at 30
- Object quality consistent at all distances (no pop-in)
- Lighting and shadowing changes, including HDR and SSAO levels

It's named so because it tries to guarantee consistency to graphics and performance, unlike most other configs that either go for the most graphics-intensive configurations, or a strained struggle between finding the best graphics/performance ratio. This config isn't an exception by any means, but the end aims are a little different in that it looks for eliminating or reducing intrusive aspects of the gameplay above all else. Along with keeping the framerate steady, you will notice little to no pop-in or level of detail changes. The config has been set so that objects will retain their quality and detail in the distance, and significantly reduces jarring pop-in or level of detail changes that may otherwise suspend disbelief. In layman's term, the village you left will still look as good 200 metres away as if you were standing inside it. The lighting changes were made as so to try and obscure some of the still-remaining transitional changes from lower to higher details in the environment between indoors and outdoors. It's hard to explain but you might understand more if you look for yourself.

The configuration is intended to guarantee 30 frames per second gameplay at
1280x1024 with edge AA x2
for systems of at least

Core 2 Duo 2.5ghz
2.5GB DDR2
4850

You may feel free to crank the resolution higher, but you may experience dips in framerate unless your hardware is of a higher specification than listed above. It should be stated that this config isn't really intended for those seeking performance/graphics ratio improvements, just a more useful config to try out on your powerful hardware.

The following screenshots have not been edited or resized.

The config itself - no downloading required, just copy and paste this text into a notepad document and save it as system.cfg, then place it in Crysis Warhead/Game folder. Make sure your game settings is set to 'Enthusiast' before opening the game with the config file! And finally, it is assumed you're running in DX9 mode. :-

con_restricted = 0
r_displayinfo = 1
e_phys_foliage = 1
e_shadows_max_texture_size = 384
e_shadows_on_alpha_blended = 0
e_vegetation_sprites_distance_ratio = 1
r_colorgrading = 1
e_view_dist_ratio = 50
r_shadowjittering = 2
r_useedgeaa = 2
r_usepom = 0
r_usesoftparticles = 1
r_hdrlevel = 0.5
r_hdrtype = 2
r_eyeadaptationbase = 0.8
r_hdrbrightoffset = 5
r_hdrbrightthreshold = 3
r_ssao_darkening = 0.3
r_ssao_amount = 1
r_ssao_blur = 4
r_ssao_radius = 5
r_motionblur = 1
r_texturesstreaming = 0
e_precache_level = 1
e_lods = 0
e_obj_quality = 3
e_dissolve = 1
fixed_time_step = -0.0335
e_particles_thread = 1
sys_physics_CPU = 1
e_stream = 0
e_Precache_level = 1
r_MeshPrecache = 1
gpu_particle_physics = 1
r_GeomInstancing = 1
e_cbuffer = 2
es_ondemandphysics = 1
e_particles_receive_shadows = 0

Changes from the first config:
- HDR and SSAO levels adjusted for more realistic lighting conditions (thanks Gashman)
- Odd lighting and shader behaviour in certain snow areas fixed
- Shadows made softer (improved performance as a result)
- Several preloading/caching commands added
- Distant foliage settings adjusted for improved visuals and performance
- Sprites visible through terrain bug fixed

Bugs:
- Certain snow areas won't be locked at 30fps, you will have to manually enter fixed_time_step 0.0335 in the console

Feel free to ridicule if it doesn't quite meet your expectations but it is my first shot at my own real custom config tailored to my specific wants that I feel many other OcUKers would be looking for as well. This hasn't really been shown anywhere else, and please go easy on me if you don't like it.

 

[KNiVES]

Thanks for the input guys. Curiously enough, one of the snow levels crash the entire config half the time it loads - I don't know why. It shuts off the FPS limit, makes everything glows white and is pretty much glitched to hell and back. I'm guessing this is what Gashman is referring to - oops! I'll try and fix it, I've an inkling it's to do with HDR (of which I'm also going to tone down).

I'm not surprised the config isn't quite doing what it says on the tin but I'll try my damndest to get it sorted out.

 

[KNiVES]

Reduce r_hdrlevel 0.8 to something like 0.5 and increase r_hdrbrightoffset 5 to something like 7 or 8 - those two are the major commands for adjusting how strong the HDR is and how it appears through openings such as you peering through the forests or through a window from indoors.

For those who are seeing places that are far too dark, tone the r_ssao_darkening from 0.8 to 0.2-0.3. That was a slip-up on my part.

 

[KNiVES]

People think they can magically improve Crysis when they have no idea and no respect for how difficult and complex the original coding actually is.

Crytek have the industry's finest working on this game yet countless morons think they can improve the game given a couple of hours and notepad.

Well, you're wrong and you have no idea what you're doing. Don't even try and tell me you know more than Crytek do.

Nobody is claiming to know better than Crytek, just that people have differing preferences on graphical to performance ratio. Some people prefer blurrier shadows along with the couple of frames gained for example. That still doesn't mean they 'know better' or are disrespecting Crytek. You are being extremely self-righteous and hostile here.

It could be that people also want something inbetween Gamer and Enthusiast settings for example as well. It says a lot that Crytek is encouraging this kind of thing too, Crytek budapest said in an interview recently that they liked to look at playerbase interaction too, and that Warhead benefited from some of the playerbase knowledge.

Don't appreciate the 'countless morons' comment either. You just came in and trolled everyone.

second edit: Actually it'd be great if Alf-Life was reading this and told you to go away. He's one of the Crytek devs and I'm sure he'll agree with my sentiments.

 

[KNiVES]

It's the command r_displayinfo. Set it to 0

 

[KNiVES]

I've managed to fix the weird behaviour in certain snow areas Gashman. I've made a bunch of performance-related changes as well.

Where do I add the -dx9 command? I know it should go at the end of the command line but when i right click on crysis.exe and select properties then is no way i can see to add the -dx9 command.
Any help appreciated
ps good work on the config KNiVES

Make a shortcut of the Crysis.exe that's in the program files folder, and right click on it. Head to properties and in the line where it says where its address is, add -dx9 to the end of it, so it looks like
"C:\Program Files\Electronic Arts\Crytek\Crysis\Bin32\Crysis.exe" -dx9 (not exact address you will see but it will look something like this)

Open the game with that shortcut


New config's up in the first post, see if that fixes issues people are having!