Couple UT2k4 Performance Tips

[high]

Been playin the game since it came out, and although it ran *good* (85fps constant @ holy sh!t 1024x768) it didn't *FEEL* as smooth as it should. I have a couple nice tweaks here + cat4.8's you may want to try.

[Engine.Engine]
;RenderDevice=D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice
RenderDevice=D3D9Drv.D3D9RenderDevice **use this instead of the default d3ddrv**
;RenderDevice=Engine.NullRenderDevice
;RenderDevice=OpenGLDrv.OpenGLRenderDevice
;RenderDevice=PixoDrv.PixoRenderDevice

This first one made the biggest impact. AMAZING....IQ is better, feels WAY smoother. It only, however, will work with DX9 supporting cards

Under the [D3D9Drv.D3D9RenderDevice] add / change:

UseStencil=True
UseTripleBuffering=True
UseTrilinear=True
UsePrecaching=True (only if u have a gig)

Lemme know if anyone has any other nice little tricks

 

[ntdz]

where do we make these changes/additions?

Edit: nevermind, UT2004.ini

 

[John]

Whenever I edit the ut2004.ini and enable RenderDevice=D3D9Drv.D3D9RenderDevice I get an error launching UT2K4 even though I have a 6800GT w/ the 61.77 drivers.

UT2004 Build UT2004_Patch_[2004-07-27_14.28]

OS: Windows XP 5.1 (Build: 2600)
CPU: AuthenticAMD PentiumPro-class processor @ 2500 MHz with 1023MB RAM
Video: No Video

Can't find file for package 'D3D9Drv'

History: UObject::SafeLoadError <- UObject::StaticLoadClass <- UGameEngine::Init <- InitEngine <- FMallocWindows::Free <- FMallocWindows::Free

 

[PrayForDeath]

Looks interesting, can you provide some before/after FPS?
I am gonna try that when I get home

 

[SynthDude2001]

I've used the D3D9 renderer and didn't notice any difference in framerates, although admittedly I didn't check specific spots with the FPS counter turned on. However, I did notice that the game seemed to crash or hang sometimes when switching between windowed and full-screen, and that did bother me so I went back to the standard D3D renderer.

I have a 6800GT w/ the 61.77 drivers, if it matters.

 

[high]

oh, sorry guys...install the ut3204 patch because they took the .dll out of the last couple, then install the newest one over top and it should keep it....if not, when u install the 3204, go into your ut2004/system dir and copy the d3d9drv.dll file, install the newest (3270?) and paste it back into your ut2004/system folder and you're good to go

 

[high]

I can now run at 1600x1200 with everything @ Holy sh1t and push 70+ fps, although I prefer the COMPLETE smoothness of 1280x960

 

[SynthDude2001]

Originally posted by: high
I can now run at 1600x1200 with everything @ Holy sh1t and push 70+ fps, although I prefer the COMPLETE smoothness of 1280x960

I also play at 1280x960. :thumbsup:

Not that my monitor can really go any higher though.

 

[high]

I personally think 1280x960 is ut2k4's sweetspot, especially with this tweak.

 

[Dman877]

What kinds of lows do you see in a big onslaught game? That's all I really care about...

 

[John]

Originally posted by: high
oh, sorry guys...install the ut3204 patch because they took the .dll out of the last couple, then install the newest one over top and it should keep it....if not, when u install the 3204, go into your ut2004/system dir and copy the d3d9drv.dll file, install the newest (3270?) and paste it back into your ut2004/system folder and you're good to go

I used winrar to extract all the files from the 3204 patch to a folder, copied the d3d9drv.dll to the system folder, and it works like a champ.

 

[rogue1979]

I enabled the OpenGL mode for my GF4 rig and get a solid 55-60fps average without AA and AF at 1024 x 768. No noticable slowdowns, decently smooth and definately playable.

 

[high]

nice that is actually a really good idea for older card owners looking to see a free perf increase

 

[Actaeon]

Sorry, this has really no relation to the performance tweak.

I don't see this "Holy sh1t" video settings you guys are talking about.

These are the highest options available for me... screenshot.

Are there higher settings I should be allowed to enable? Why aren't they there? This is on the UT2k4 demo...

 

[Gza]

Originally posted by: Actaeon
Sorry, this has really no relation to the performance tweak.

I don't see this "Holy sh1t" video settings you guys are talking about.

These are the highest options available for me... screenshot.

Are there higher settings I should be allowed to enable? Why aren't they there? This is on the UT2k4 demo...

You wanna go higher? Drop the console down "~" and type "preferences" (without quotes). There's a myriad of settings in there, just explore.

EDIT: Opps, didn't notice that you mentioned demo in there. AFAIK, the demo doesn't come with the highest quality textures and whatnot, so you may be limited.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: Gza

Originally posted by: Actaeon
Sorry, this has really no relation to the performance tweak.

I don't see this "Holy sh1t" video settings you guys are talking about.

These are the highest options available for me... screenshot.

Are there higher settings I should be allowed to enable? Why aren't they there? This is on the UT2k4 demo...

You wanna go higher? Drop the console down "~" and type "preferences" (without quotes). There's a myriad of settings in there, just explore.

EDIT: Opps, didn't notice that you mentioned demo in there. AFAIK, the demo doesn't come with the highest quality textures and whatnot, so you may be limited.

Ah well... thanks for the help. I had figured the demo might not come with all the high res textures and such, but I wasn't 100% sure.

Heh, I was playing with those settings + 4x AA/8xAF pretty smoothly too. Didn't drop below 30fps.

AXP3200+
6800GT @ Ultra
1gb PC3200

 

[BFG10K]

nice that is actually a really good idea for older card owners looking to see a free perf increase

OpenGL not only lacks features that the D3d renderer does but I'd also be astonished if it was any faster.

 

[CP5670]

Is there a way to get that d3d9drv.dll seperately? I patched the game to the latest version before I learned that this file had been removed and don't want to go through the 5 CD install again just for that.

I didn't notice any difference between D3D and OGL after adding some stuff to the UT2004.ini OGL section. The image quality and framerates were pretty much identical. Anyway the game works perfectly at 1600x1200 with max details for me (same specs as actaeon w/o the overclock), as the framerate usually averages around 70 and never drops below 50. 4xAA/8xAF is generally okay too but the fps drops to the high 30s in one or two maps, so I keep those things off. They are hardly noticeable considering the pace of this game anyway.

 

[high]

actually you can install the 3204 patch without reinstalling, it will install over the new one, copy the .dll you need, install the latest patch, paste it into your /system folder

 

[murban135]

Thanks for the tweaks

 

[rogue1979]

Originally posted by: BFG10K

nice that is actually a really good idea for older card owners looking to see a free perf increase

OpenGL not only lacks features that the D3d renderer does but I'd also be astonished if it was any faster.

I haven't noticed any major difference in IQ compared to D3D without AA or AF on a DX8 card. The actual fps average is only slightly higher, but the biggest difference seems to be the minimum framerate. I have noticed with the GF4 series rendering in OpenGL the peaks and lows in the framerates are more even.

With D3D the low fps might drag down into the low 20's and peak up to 100.
OpenGL seems to drop to the low 40's and never peak above 85fps. So when running a game that is graphically challenged by the gpu, it makes a big improvement in actual slowdowns.

This is one of those benchmarks that you have to try for yourself. If you depend on some review to show you real world performance it will just show the average fps and no difference will be realized.

 

[high]

exactly...this is a trial by error type tweak....but I have read a lot of people using 9800's have seen the biggest advantage in using the d3d9drv to render the game

 

[John]

Originally posted by: CP5670
Is there a way to get that d3d9drv.dll seperately? I patched the game to the latest version before I learned that this file had been removed and don't want to go through the 5 CD install again just for that.

Please see my 2nd post.

 

[BFG10K]

I haven't noticed any major difference in IQ compared to D3D without AA or AF on a DX8 card.

That's fine but there are differences. The OGL renderer isn't fully fledged and doesn't implement all of the functions that the D3D does.

With D3D the low fps might drag down into the low 20's and peak up to 100.

Probably in situations when it's not rendering everything D3D does. The OGL path is unofficial and just for compatibility purposes.