Oblivion PC tweaks

[Noema]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Made a FRAPS video while playing the game. I didn't try to capture any special HDR effects, just played the game normally with 16xAF and effects at max. Video was encoded using the Xvid codec. The indoors video uses less compression than the outdoors one:

Outdoors Video X1900 XTX (~80 MB)
Indoors Video X1900 XTX (~22 MB)
Fight Against An Ogre (~38 MB)

Settings: 1680x1050 16xAF all settings maxed (except self shadows) + HDR. Ben FYI the brightness settings are on default for the game and the driver. I'd recommend using a download accelerator.

Get the xvid codec here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/

Dear God, those clips are amazing. I really need to get my act together and get a decent video card to play that game. I won't even bother installing it with my current crap card.

By the way...I played the X-Box 360 version today for about 30 minutes at the mall. It was plugged to a HD Samsung LCD TV running at 720p. It's a close call but I must say the clips
5150joker posted look better.

Also, the X-Box 360 version had noticiable longer loading times, specially when new areas are loading. The PC version, at least iin Joker's clips, didn't pause at all to load, if anything for less than a second.

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: MBrown

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: MBrown

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Made a FRAPS video while playing the game. I didn't try to capture any special HDR effects, just played the game normally with 16xAF and effects at max. Video was encoded using the Xvid codec. The indoors video uses less compression than the outdoors one:

Outdoors Video X1900 XTX (~80 MB)
Indoors Video X1900 XTX (~22 MB)


Settings: 1680x1050 16xAF all settings maxed (except self shadows) + HDR. Ben FYI the brightness settings are on default for the game and the driver. I'd recommend using a download accelerator.

These vids wont play on my PC.

You need the xvid codec to play them: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/

Still wont play.

Really? Hmm try getting the divx codec as well: http://www.divxmovies.com/codec/

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: Noema

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
Made a FRAPS video while playing the game. I didn't try to capture any special HDR effects, just played the game normally with 16xAF and effects at max. Video was encoded using the Xvid codec. The indoors video uses less compression than the outdoors one:

Outdoors Video X1900 XTX (~80 MB)
Indoors Video X1900 XTX (~22 MB)
Fight Against An Ogre (~38 MB)

Settings: 1680x1050 16xAF all settings maxed (except self shadows) + HDR. Ben FYI the brightness settings are on default for the game and the driver. I'd recommend using a download accelerator.

Get the xvid codec here: http://www.xvidmovies.com/codec/

Dear God, those clips are amazing. I really need to get my act together and get a decent video card to play that game. I won't even bother installing it with my current crap card.

By the way...I played the X-Box 360 version today for about 30 minutes at the mall. It was plugged to a HD Samsung LCD TV running at 720p. It's a close call but I must say the clips
5150joker posted look better.

Also, the X-Box 360 version had noticiable longer loading times, specially when new areas are loading. The PC version, at least iin Joker's clips, didn't pause at all to load, if anything for less than a second.

Heh glad you liked them. I'm gonna see if I can get some more interesting clips as I progress through the game a bit more. This game is truly beautiful, I wish they'd have included HDR+AA as well - maybe in a patch or two they might. Even in the outdoor video during the first loading part it seems like the game stopped for a sec to load but that wasn't the case, I just let off my walk button for a split second at that time. So far I haven't come across any loading scene in the outdoors that required more than a second to load.

 

[zanta]

5150Joker,

What utility did you use to encode the files once you recorded them using FRAPS? I downloaded Xvid and I also have the Windows Encoder installed on my system. I never created an in-game video and just captured a small one using FRAPS and then used the Windows Encoder to shrink the file. There are a ton of options, but I'm just going with the default as I'm new to this.

Thanks

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: zanta
5150Joker,

What utility did you use to encode the files once you recorded them using FRAPS? I downloaded Xvid and I also have the Windows Encoder installed on my system. I never created an in-game video and just captured a small one using FRAPS and then used the Windows Encoder to shrink the file. There are a ton of options, but I'm just going with the default as I'm new to this.

Thanks

I use virtual dub: http://www.digital-digest.com/software/virtualdub.html#downloads It works really well. BTW be sure to use those ini tweaks I posted above, they will make the game much better than default.

 

[zanta]

5150Joker,

I found the file. What settings are you currently using seeing as we have the same video card and similar systems....

Thanks

 

[knifemyglitter]

there are a lot of settings to mess with here in the .ini, i hope someone finds out what all of them do!

 

[zanta]

5150Joker,

Okay, I modified the .ini file using the same settings as suggested by the developer. Looks great! I ran FRAPS and went through the same areas again:

Frames: 4788
Time(ms): 104431
Min: 33 FPS
Max: 55 FPS
Avg: 45.848 FPS

Seems like the average increased, but it's hard to capture the exact same steps, movements, etc.

Thanks again!

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Eventually, I'll see some of what all of the Hoo-hah is all about, but I have to finish setting up a backup PC with a new Radeon 9800XT in place of a 9600 Pro. I haven't had much luck so far with a PC in here with me that has an old FX 5900 in it. Heck, I couldn't find a source in town that I didn't have to drive clear to the boonies to buy it, until last evening!

Meanwhile, I just did a search for whatever that newest nVidia unified driver set that had the built in enhancements for Oblivion. Is it the 84.24 Beta driver? What the heck, if it will help the FX card just a LITTLE? The Beta was the one, and a CTD symptom was cured by installing it on the FX 5900- equipped system. I haven't retested at any sharper resolutions.

(This is being edited about four hours later: I had trouble getting a clean, uncorrupted d/l of the drivers. When I finally got one I could use, l installed, and even before the opening menu, I got the advice that I was being set to Low Quality, 640 x 480. I left it this time, to let the least demanding graphics start off. But I will try 1024 x 768.)

 

[5150Joker]

I don't think the FX will have much luck running this game above 800x600.

 

[R3MF]

i tried and shacknews ini tweaks at 1920x1200 and they seemed to work ok.

didn't notice a vast difference in qaulity, but it was a heavily shadowed sunset shot.....

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker
I don't think the FX will have much luck running this game above 800x600.

I do have the backup PC, and it is in the BR, whch is where I have usually played computer games, but since KOTOR, I hadn't liked anything newer to try, and just about the only PC entertainment I've spent any time in has been Bejeweled and Spider Solitaiire. The spare PC has hardly been used, and needs an OS reinstall, as well as the 9800 XT VGA upgrade. I'm going to try 1024 x 768 later this evening in here on the XP 3000 system with the FX.

 

[JRW]

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker
360 running Oblivion.

BTW Joker- it looks like your in game gamma is cranked way too high- your screenshots look particularly poor even when compared to the rest of the PC shots I've seen. Also- since your rig is incapable of running HDR+AA for Oblivion ATM it would serve your point better to pick areas that show off HDR in action instead of simply pushing the fact that you are playing with serious aliasing issues going on.

Gamma wasn't changed at all..wtf? You sure you don't have a screwy monitor?

Edit: Watched the videos, that looks worse than the PC version. Doesn't even look like the 360 version has any AF turned on.

5150Joker's screenshots look fine on my monitor and im very picky about brightness / gamma.

This game is fantastic ..time goes by to fast when playing tho

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: JRW

Originally posted by: 5150Joker

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker
360 running Oblivion.

BTW Joker- it looks like your in game gamma is cranked way too high- your screenshots look particularly poor even when compared to the rest of the PC shots I've seen. Also- since your rig is incapable of running HDR+AA for Oblivion ATM it would serve your point better to pick areas that show off HDR in action instead of simply pushing the fact that you are playing with serious aliasing issues going on.

Gamma wasn't changed at all..wtf? You sure you don't have a screwy monitor?

Edit: Watched the videos, that looks worse than the PC version. Doesn't even look like the 360 version has any AF turned on.

5150Joker's screenshots look fine on my monitor and im very picky about brightness / gamma.

This game is fantastic ..time goes by to fast when playing tho

I figured he was b.s.'ing. Oh well the vids are evidence enough that the PC game looks every bit as good as the Xbox 360 (well at least when using an ATi X1K card). As for his claims of the xbox 360 version being so great, here's what some owners had to say about it's load times: http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=11861561 Contrast that with the PC where load times are virtually non-existant.

 

[Compddd]

Is there a special way to make these .ini changes "take"? I changed them all to what was recommened in the thread and noticed no difference whatsoever, I even went nuts and changed uGridsToLoad=5 to uGridsToLoad=49 and noticed no change at all. At that setting the game should run like a slideshow shouldnt it? Can someone help me please?

 

[Acanthus]

For a game being raved so hard for graphics the textures sure do suck ass.

Nice videos joker, on a side note LOL at you adding the ATi watermark.

 

[5150Joker]

Originally posted by: Compddd
Is there a special way to make these .ini changes "take"? I changed them all to what was recommened in the thread and noticed no difference whatsoever, I even went nuts and changed uGridsToLoad=5 to uGridsToLoad=49 and noticed no change at all. At that setting the game should run like a slideshow shouldnt it? Can someone help me please?

You have to modify the ini file located in the My Documents>My Games>Oblivion folder.

 

[starwars7]

great thread, thank you guys!

 

[NoDamage]

Originally posted by: 5150JokerI figured he was b.s.'ing. Oh well the vids are evidence enough that the PC game looks every bit as good as the Xbox 360 (well at least when using an ATi X1K card). As for his claims of the xbox 360 version being so great, here's what some owners had to say about it's load times: http://www.shacknews.com/ja.zz?id=11861561 Contrast that with the PC where load times are virtually non-existant.

If you look at direct comparison images it is abundantly clear that the PC version looks better than the 360 version, both in terms of draw distance and texture filtering.

http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=847880&postcount=30
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=847881&postcount=31
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=847882&postcount=32

If you include .ini tweaks and mods like better water (which makes a striking difference), you can tweak the PC version to have far superior image quality than what is given by default on either system.

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: NoDamage
If you include .ini tweaks and mods like better water (which makes a striking difference), you can tweak the PC version to have far superior image quality than what is given by default on either system.

Totally agreed. After the tweaks, the LOD and generally the IQ of the game changed drastically in many points .. Not that it was bad b4 but after the tweaks OMG it became simply amazing..
I cannot believe the magnificent graphics especially in some places in the game..

p.s : How can you use the water mod?

 

[BenSkywalker]

If you look at direct comparison images it is abundantly clear that the PC version looks better than the 360 version, both in terms of draw distance and texture filtering.

Looking over all the shots the PC has an edge in filtering while the 360 has the edge in AA- the water with the ini tweak actually makes the PC version look the same as the 360- it is appearing that there may have been some encouragement from MS to have Bethesda make the game look like crap out of the box on the PC. Anyone have any shots from the interior of a cave? Those shots seem to leave the most to be desired now that they have the rest looking better.

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker

If you look at direct comparison images it is abundantly clear that the PC version looks better than the 360 version, both in terms of draw distance and texture filtering.

Looking over all the shots the PC has an edge in filtering while the 360 has the edge in AA- the water with the ini tweak actually makes the PC version look the same as the 360- it is appearing that there may have been some encouragement from MS to have Bethesda make the game look like crap out of the box on the PC. Anyone have any shots from the interior of a cave? Those shots seem to leave the most to be desired now that they have the rest looking better.

Could be the case..
Fact is that after the tweaks and mods(which unfortunately as expected come with a high cost in performance) the game becomes amazing if you ask me..
There are so many scenes that I've seen so far that look so much better than the actual screenshots or videos posted so far..
And I prefer HDR than Bloom, it makes the difference.. Though AA is apparently missing when you enable it. I wish that Bethesda will enable the codepath in the near future..

 

[ArchAngel777]

Originally posted by: jim1976

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker

If you look at direct comparison images it is abundantly clear that the PC version looks better than the 360 version, both in terms of draw distance and texture filtering.

Looking over all the shots the PC has an edge in filtering while the 360 has the edge in AA- the water with the ini tweak actually makes the PC version look the same as the 360- it is appearing that there may have been some encouragement from MS to have Bethesda make the game look like crap out of the box on the PC. Anyone have any shots from the interior of a cave? Those shots seem to leave the most to be desired now that they have the rest looking better.

Could be the case..
Fact is that after the tweaks and mods(which unfortunately as expected come with a high cost in performance) the game becomes amazing if you ask me..
There are so many scenes that I've seen so far that look so much better than the actual screenshots or videos posted so far..
And I prefer HDR than Bloom, it makes the difference.. Though AA is apparently missing when you enable it. I wish that Bethesda will enable the codepath in the near future..

I have not tweaked any settings and the water looks absolutely beautiful to me. Looks like all the screenshots I see on their website... Whatever the case, absolutely terrific game.

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: ArchAngel777

Originally posted by: jim1976

Originally posted by: BenSkywalker

If you look at direct comparison images it is abundantly clear that the PC version looks better than the 360 version, both in terms of draw distance and texture filtering.

Looking over all the shots the PC has an edge in filtering while the 360 has the edge in AA- the water with the ini tweak actually makes the PC version look the same as the 360- it is appearing that there may have been some encouragement from MS to have Bethesda make the game look like crap out of the box on the PC. Anyone have any shots from the interior of a cave? Those shots seem to leave the most to be desired now that they have the rest looking better.

Could be the case..
Fact is that after the tweaks and mods(which unfortunately as expected come with a high cost in performance) the game becomes amazing if you ask me..
There are so many scenes that I've seen so far that look so much better than the actual screenshots or videos posted so far..
And I prefer HDR than Bloom, it makes the difference.. Though AA is apparently missing when you enable it. I wish that Bethesda will enable the codepath in the near future..

I have not tweaked any settings and the water looks absolutely beautiful to me. Looks like all the screenshots I see on their website... Whatever the case, absolutely terrific game.

Do tweak m8 to the point you can.. You will be much more amazed..

 

[jim1976]

Added two more links , one for support for older cards and one for a great thread about tweaks over at NVnews..