Optimize Your Windows and Serious Sam for better game performance

[Ostap]

Hi everyone ...

I"ve just helped Petar with his system and Serious Sam better performance ..
and would like to share it with the rest..


Step 1:
Everyone probably already know there are some scripts going around that would tweak network settings to get better connection..
Well - there was just new one released on SeriousZone (in feb 2012) (you can get it there or from Upload Section)
Patch contains scripts that would tweak your graphic card settings (actually introducing more support for newest cards)
As well it has scripts for better network configuration including latest cable and fiber cable connections)



Download the patch - and follow instructions inside

Step 2:
Optimize your windows.
Windows originally configured with mostly "conservative" settings ... - so tweaking some of the parameters - might unlock some of the
limited before possibilities - making your windows networking a bit ...or in some cases a lot faster in general.

For this - there is nice free program "TCP Optimizer" from Speedguide.net (also located in Upload Section)
Download it - and just run (no install required)

it will offer you bunch of unknown settings - dont be scared - you would only need 2
your speed ...and selection of "optimal" settings:





select it - and click Save.. (you will see list of updated or left unchanged settings)
You will have to reboot after this operation ...


And TA-DA ...
Enjoy ..

[Skyward]

and what happens if I put the cursor on "100mb+" ?

I've noticed the MTU value also, i'm not that good in network but I heard somewhere it has something with our connection speed.. how could I know the best value to optimize my connection?

btw, I checked these net settings, I should test them but from my own tests, te best result always has been 999999 max bps and 0 as min bps, for slowest opponents moves and lowest ping possible...

thanks for sharing

[Ostap]

and what happens if I put the cursor on "100mb+" ?

I've noticed the MTU value also, i'm not that good in network but I heard somewhere it has something with our connection speed.. how could I know the best value to optimize my connection?

btw, I checked these net settings, I should test them but from my own tests, te best result always has been 999999 max bps and 0 as min bps, for slowest opponents moves and lowest ping possible...

thanks for sharing

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...e-3029c2da4a98

[Skyward]

that doesn't help me a lot

[Ostap]

that doesn't help me a lot

[Skyward]

oh I see now but can't I at least set it a bit higher? I mean around 5 or 8 mb.. ?

[Ostap]

oh I see now but can't I at least set it a bit higher? I mean around 5 or 8 mb.. ?

Sure - it should not mater that much ...
i guess it uses it to tune up some packages sizes or internal delays and timeouts ...

I would try to do 3 tests - 1-2mb lower than real speed, real speed , and same above ...
and see what you'll get ...
Network communications are pretty unpredictable especially on inet ...Your neighbor that makes his hot-dog in microwave could have more impact on your speed than whole country...

[X Fighter]

But isn't this patch total crap? I heard it screws everything and causes only problems. Finnish Guy told me so.

[Barktooth]

Makes no difference for me either, and messes up my settings. Good thing I backed up the Scripts folder.

[Skyward]

btw, GL settings are about OpenGL right? or i'm totally wrong... if it's the case then why doing new net settings with something that nobody uses? better use direct3D for sam than open gl trust me.

[Ostap]

btw, GL settings are about OpenGL right? or i'm totally wrong... if it's the case then why doing new net settings with something that nobody uses? better use direct3D for sam than open gl trust me.

Both ...


this is contents of NVidia ini file (NV40+.ini)

include "Scripts\GLSettings\Default.ini";


if( iQualityIndex>7) { iQualityIndex = 7; }
if( sam_iVideoSetup==2) { iQualityIndex = iQualityIndex +1; }
if( sam_iVideoSetup==0) { iQualityIndex = iQualityIndex -1; }


include "Scripts\GLSettings\RAM.ini";


ogl_bAlternateClipPlane = 1; // faster mirrors


if( sam_iVideoSetup==2) {
gap_iTextureAnisotropy = 8;
gap_fTextureLODBias = -0.25;
}


that includes RAM.ini:



// determine texture and shadowmap quality/size
// (depends on ammount of video memory)


if( iQualityIndex>8) { iQualityIndex = 8; }


if( iQualityIndex==8) // 512MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n >512 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 0; // Optimal
tex_iAnimationQuality = 0; // Optimal?
tex_iNormalSize = 9; // Large
tex_iAnimationSize = 8; // Large
tex_iEffectSize = 8; // Large
shd_iStaticSize = 8; // Large
shd_iDynamicSize = 8;
shd_bFineQuality = 1; // 32-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 24; // Huge
shd_tmFlushDelay = 70;
mdl_bFineQuality = 1; // Normal *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 600;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 3.5; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 1792; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}


else if( iQualityIndex==7) // 256MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n >256 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 0; // Optimal
tex_iAnimationQuality = 0; // Optimal?
tex_iNormalSize = 9; // Large
tex_iAnimationSize = 8; // Large
tex_iEffectSize = 8; // Large
shd_iStaticSize = 8; // Large
shd_iDynamicSize = 8;
shd_bFineQuality = 1; // 32-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 24; // Huge
shd_tmFlushDelay = 60;
mdl_bFineQuality = 1; // Normal *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 500;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 3.0; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 1536; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}


else if( iQualityIndex==6) // 128MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n >128 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 0; // Optimal
tex_iAnimationQuality = 0; // Optimal?
tex_iNormalSize = 9; // Large
tex_iAnimationSize = 8; // Large
tex_iEffectSize = 8; // Large
shd_iStaticSize = 8; // Large
shd_iDynamicSize = 8;
shd_bFineQuality = 1; // 32-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 24; // Huge
shd_tmFlushDelay = 50;
mdl_bFineQuality = 1; // Normal *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 400;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 2.5; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 1280; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}


else if( iQualityIndex==5) // 64MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n >64 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 0; // Optimal
tex_iAnimationQuality = 0; // Optimal?
tex_iNormalSize = 9; // Large
tex_iAnimationSize = 7; // Normal
tex_iEffectSize = 8; // Large
shd_iStaticSize = 8; // Large
shd_iDynamicSize = 8;
shd_bFineQuality = 1; // 32-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 24; // Huge
shd_tmFlushDelay = 40;
mdl_bFineQuality = 1; // Normal *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 300;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 2.0; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 1024; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}


else if( iQualityIndex==4) // 32MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n >32 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 0; // Optimal
tex_iAnimationQuality = 11; // 16-bit?
tex_iNormalSize = 9; // Large
tex_iAnimationSize = 6; // Small
tex_iEffectSize = 7; // Normal
shd_iStaticSize = 8; // Large
shd_iDynamicSize = 8;
shd_bFineQuality = 1; // 32-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 16; // Large
shd_tmFlushDelay = 30;
mdl_bFineQuality = 1; // Normal *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 200;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 1.5; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 768; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}


else if( iQualityIndex==3) // 16 MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n >16 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 0; // Optimal
tex_iAnimationQuality = 11; // 16-bit?
tex_iNormalSize = 8; // Normal
tex_iAnimationSize = 6; // Small
tex_iEffectSize = 7; // Normal
shd_iStaticSize = 7; // Normal
shd_iDynamicSize = 7;
shd_bFineQuality = 1; // 32-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 8; // Normal
shd_tmFlushDelay = 20;
mdl_bFineQuality = 1; // Normal *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 100;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 1.0; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 512; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}


else if( iQualityIndex==2) // 4-8 MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n >4 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 0; // Optimal
tex_iAnimationQuality = 11; // 16-bit?
tex_iNormalSize = 7; // Small
tex_iAnimationSize = 5; // Tiny
tex_iEffectSize = 6; // Small
shd_iStaticSize = 6; // Small
shd_iDynamicSize = 6;
shd_bFineQuality = 0; // 16-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 4; // Small
shd_tmFlushDelay = 10;
mdl_bFineQuality = 0; // Low *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 50;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 0.5; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 256; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}


else if( iQualityIndex==1) // <4 MB video
{
Echo("DEBUG: Assumed Video Memory:\n <4 MB\n");
tex_iNormalQuality = 11; // 16-bit
tex_iAnimationQuality = 11; // 16-bit?
tex_iNormalSize = 6; // Tiny
tex_iAnimationSize = 5; // Tiny
tex_iEffectSize = 5; // Tiny
shd_iStaticSize = 5; // Tiny
shd_iDynamicSize = 5;
shd_bFineQuality = 0; // 16-bit
shd_fCacheSize = 2; // Tiny
shd_tmFlushDelay = 5;
mdl_bFineQuality = 0; // Low *Removed in 1.50 Patch*
gfx_tmProbeDecay = 25;
gfx_fProbeRatio = 0.25; // Only exists in First Encounter
gfx_iProbeSize = 128; // Only exists in Second Encounter
}

[Ostap]

But isn't this patch total crap? I heard it screws everything and causes only problems. Finnish Guy told me so.

I guess it all depends on network ...
I'm using it - (always 3mbit fiber cable setting) - works better than with defaults from the game....

[Ostap]

Also - if i'm right

Network and Graphics are tide up together ... - tweak offers more options ....nothing more...
but old settings for graphic cards differ from tweaked ....


so if you are testing it - do check with different quality settings - not all graphic cards are the same ...even if they are marked as G-Force 420, 280...
Nvidia released number of cards with same "Undressed" processors that just crap ...some cost 300$ others just 70$ ...but processor is the same...(well with some X or missing X in model number ...or what ever)

Result of incorrect setting could be any of:

wrong network selection + too high graphic card settings (resulting in jittery game and delayed reaction)
correct network selection + too high graphic card settings (resulting in jittery game but good speed)

Sorry dudes if you think i posted wrong tip - but i've pretty nice graphic card and network ....
those settings work better than the old.

[Ostap]

Besides - this is not an Apple ...with half screen size button saying "PLAY"

all PC systems are different ...some have XP , some have Vista or 7
...others have "Pre-optimized" versions of those..

For example - that TCP Optimizer - ....it gave my system about 5-10% boost ...(not only gaming)
But I've got message from "Unskilled" ... saying it screwed his network completely ...leaving only Skype able to connect ..
anyway - that proggy does have "default" option - witch restores all back to the original settings...

Its just - if you are going on the path of "tweaking" - be ready for failure ...
only with test & fail / test & fail again .... - its possible to find better settings...(sometime - defaults are the best settings ...)

[Ostap]

Small trick to prioritize the UDP pockets sent to the game server:

Using windows QoS (Quality of Service) - you can add new policy changing the UDP packets priority when sent to the server.
(42amsterdam already has this policy ...so the traffic sent to the client has max priority.)

To add the policy on your home computer:

Open Group Policy Editor

Run: gpedit.msc




In the left list - navigate to Computer Configuration => Windows Settings => Policy-based QoS



In menu Action select Create New Policy

In the new dialog - give the name to the new policy
and change DSCP value to 63 (possible values 0-63 where 63 has the highest priority)



Next - you can either allow all UDP traffic to be prioritized or specify only the executable of serious sam (SeriousSam.exe)



Next - You can leave that on "Any" ..unless you want to restrict it to specific IP



Next - Select UDP protocol to be prioritized
Additionally - either all possible ports or you can restrict to just few




After this - all UDP traffic from your game - will be re-scheduled with high priority
For anyone who's hosting servers - you can add specific policies for DedicatedServer.exe to ensure that all UDP traffic is delivered to all game clients.

Actually - using those policies - you can prioritize all traffic for your game executable.