Someone post the highest quality cfg of Source Games

[Jamsers]

So I'm playing Source games which are HL2, HL2EP1, CSS, HLS. I'm playing these games on forced dx8.1, the default for my card, FX 5500, is dx8. Amazingly, I still wanna slow down my computer some more! I'm pumping out 70 FPS on HL2, but that drops to 16 FPS on dx9, so that's no option.

What I want is cfgs, mods, patches or whatever to make dx81 LOOK AT ITS BEST. If possible, even make it look like dx9. One of the things I'm really irritated about is the water in HL2. On dx8.1, there's no live reflections. I also want some improvements like props can be seen from farther away, highest mesh wherever place. I hear it can be done on the cfg files.

Thanks in advance.

[Aus_Karlos]

mat_picmip -10 [2 to -10] Increases texture detail on small props and some character models clothing 2 been lowest -10 the Highest.
mat_parallaxmap 1 [0 to 1] Uses a different texture filter (other than bumpmapping). Also might require DX9 to be enabled.
mat_specular 1 [0 to 1] Enables specular lighting.
r_rootlod 0 [0 to 2] Detail of characters 0 been Very High and 2 Low.
mp_usehwmmodels 1 [0 to 1] Use Hardware models
mp_usehwmvcds 1 [0 to 1] Use Hardware models

Note* Dual core users only using these on Single core CPU will cause the game to crash.
r_threaded_particles 1 - Extra threads used by CPU
r_threaded_client_shadow_manager 1 - Client PC manages shadows (MP games only)
cl_threaded_bone_setup 1 - Smother Ragdoll movement for collisions (not really noticeable)
cl_threaded_client_leaf_system 1 - Not sure about this one but something along the lines of the Visual rendering of geometry.

Enter the game folder and save a cfg file in that folder, typically:

\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\[username]\[game name]\[game name]\cfg\

Right click -> New -> Text Document

Write down as many commands you'd like to add, each in a different line. Save the document as autoexec.cfg

[Jamsers]

Cool, thanks a lot. Could you give me a command that will stop stuff like grass, rocks from just popping in the screen when I close in on them? Something that will extend the viewing distance of these things?

[Jamsers]

Oh, and please post only pre 2007 engine commands. I'm using the EP1 engine, which means some commands in EP2 might not work on my game.

[Aus_Karlos]

r_lod -1 or i think r_lod 0 will give you maximum quality on all objects no matter what the distance. But the actual distance of render was set when the map was created. The mapper can select the minimum and maximum render distance of all objects. Its what valve does to increase performance. I dont think it can be changed.

[Jamsers]

bump bump bump bump please

[Jamsers]

whats the maximum value for these commands?

r_propsmaxdist
r_DispFullRadius
r_DispRadius
cl_maxrenderable_dist
cl_detaildist
cl_detailfade

[Aus_Karlos]

There is no maximum for these settings as far as i know. But they dont do anything if the props in the map have been compiled with a set distance.

[Jamsers]

i need

something that will make dx8.1 water reflective
make static objects appear from farthest value possible(i think its a cvar)

[Tiber Septim]

I'm not even sure if this will work, but when you tried forcing it to a higher DX level, did you use the mat_dxlevel XX command.
I read here, that you can't force DX 9 using that command, but it may work if you use the dx_level 90 command.

I don't know why you're bothering though, at the rate you're going the game will be barely playable.

[Aus_Karlos]

There is no water reflection texture for DirectX 8.1, Only DX9. You will need to make your own texture if you want reflections on water surfaces in DX8.1. (I dont know how to make reflection textures for source yet)

[Jamsers]

cool... found a patch to put reflections on dx80 and dx81. drool......

and i guess the rendering for the objects is controlled by the mapper.
but i found a way to override detail props render distance(ie. grass, shrubs) by going to dxsupport.cfg or some file like that.
but i just couldnt change the render distance for stuff like crates, ragdolls, barrels, static props(ie. logs, trees)