[TUT] Optimizing Nvidia for HaloCE

[Patrickssj6]

I just felt like doing this </reason>

http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/2162/19068947fk5.png
(Fake Bloom Not Included)


Please read carefully and don't skip any parts unless you know what you are doing.


You can do this tutorial if...

-you have a Nvidia card that is capable at running Halo at highest settings and at a high framerate (>50fps) usually -7,-8 series.
-tearing issues (Halo runs faster (sometimes you don't even notice this); massive lag)
-Nvidia camouflage problem


What do I need?

Latest Nvidia Driver/Control Center
http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

DXTweaker (my settings included)
http://files.filefront.com/DXTweakerrar/;9366190;/fileinfo.html

MapManager (with DXtweaker support)
http://hce.halomaps.org/index.cfm?fid=2758

A brain/2 eyes/at least 1 hand/opt. ePenor/ePuss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal


Installing DXTweaker

Extract the archive (I recommend into the HaloCE directory). Open up DXTweaker and make sure the existing configurations for HaloCE (which I included) are correct (paths etc.) and that's basically it.

Configuring Nvidia

Open up the Nvidia Control Panel.
http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/1010/17210836km7.png
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/5020/74006190st0.png

Now for the settings...I'll try to explain as much as possible (I actually just quote Wikipedia)

Every time you change a settings from it's original state it will be bold.

Anisotropic Filtering

"...is a method of enhancing the image quality of textures (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_filtering) on surfaces that are at oblique viewing angles..." - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anisotropic_filtering)I set this to 16x...even though I'm not sure if this has a direct effect in HaloCE since I don't know how Nvidia affects these settings or how it cooperates with HaloCE in the first place.

Texture Filtering - Quality

"In computer graphics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics), texture filtering is the method used to determine the texture color for a texture mapped (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_mapping) pixel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pixel), using the colors of nearby texels (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texel_&#37;28graphics%29) (pixels of the texture)." - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texture_filtering)I set this to very high, I'm pretty sure this doesn't have a direct effect in HaloCE though.

Threaded Optimization
If you have multiple CPU's, use this.

Now for the vital parts:

Triple Buffering

"In computer graphics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_graphics), triple buffering is a variant on double buffering (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_buffering), a technique for drawing graphics that shows no (or less) flicker, shearing, and tearing artifacts." - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triple_Buffering)As you can see, this can help us with the tearing. Set this to "On".

Vertical Sync

"Vertical synchronization (v-sync, vbl-sync) refers generally to the synchronization of frame changes with the vertical blanking interval (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_blanking_interval)." - Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertical_sync)This will defiantly help us with our tearing. Set this to "Force On".

MapManager
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/9591/awdawdawduw3.png

If you configured everything correctly, this should work perfectly. No more camo errors, no more tearing in VSync / No VSync.

Credits:

DXTweaker - nonatainment
Camo Fix Tutorial - IcebirdCE
MapManager - Skyline & Patrickssj6

This Tutorial - Patrickssj6

:awesome:

[TPE]

I use DisableAlphaRenderTargets in my config file so I don't get shiny camo no matter what I try.

What you will notice with AF in HCE/PC is if you look farther in a map (BG is a really good one) the ground and wall textures don't look super low res and blurry at a distance. I think 8X does the job in HCE/PC

[Patrickssj6]

I know what AF does, I just don't have an eye for that. (needz moar girlz tbh)

[beele]

Finally everything brought together, Now I can finally enjoy the real camo on my 8 series card :)

[InnerGoat]

Tripple buffer and Vsync? No plz thnx. :v

[Masterz1337]

How do you do the fake bloom?

[Kalub]

Halo Ce doesnt work for me anymore :(


I hear the menu music, and I move my mouse around and hear the menu sounds, but the first splash screen logo wont go away

[Reaper Man]

Iirc 16x AF doesn't work with Halo, only 8x.

[InnerGoat]

16xAF works fine.



How do you do the fake bloom?
:lol:

[ExAm]

I can't use DXTweaker, because I use Battery. No shiny camo for me :(


Halo Ce doesnt work for me anymore :(


I hear the menu music, and I move my mouse around and hear the menu sounds, but the first splash screen logo wont go away
If you have an 8 series card, downgrade your drivers to the version you installed that didn't have the problem. I had that issue for a while.

[Kalub]

I have a 7950gt

[Cortexian]

So... I skipped out on the Map Manager part because I know how to make DXTweaker shortcuts... This solved the tearing issues I've been having on my 8800 GTX, and as an added bonus (that I discovered whilst fuxing around), it also makes the Halo/Halo CE 3rd person hack run smoothly. This is awesome.

[Patrickssj6]

Yeah, I had the same issues. <-8600GT

[Kalub]

Gah, even without this I cannot run Halo:Ce.... it just stalls up on the fullscreen-splash and I can hear my mouse bumping into things.

:(

[Patrickssj6]

What? Record screen or more detailed description? Sounds :awesome: though, sorry

[InnerGoat]

It sounds like he's got AA stuck on somehow

[Kalub]

Yea, oh well reinstall fixed it... :D

[Patrickssj6]

Ouch.

[ExAm]

reinstalling Halo fixed it? I just uninstalled the latest NVidia drivers and downgraded to an older version.

[TPE]

Disabling AA on mine fixed it.

Anyway why would I want to use AA on my 6200 :gonk:

[Kalub]

I was just mucking around, and AA didnt do it because my card is set to application decision, and I tried to downgrade my drivers before, no dice. Oh well, I only had 2 custom maps so I didnt lose much.

[ExAm]

I was just mucking around, and AA didnt do it because my card is set to application decision, and I tried to downgrade my drivers before, no dice. Oh well, I only had 2 custom maps so I didnt lose much.

Did you go to Control panel>Add/Remove programs>nvidia video drivers and remove them, restart and then install an older version? If you don't have an older version, I've got the .02s. Those work. I can upload them if you can't find them elsewhere.