BF2: Best FPS Video Settings

Das Capitolin · 22nd May 2006, 01:48 AM

You could nearly consider me an expert on this subject. I play(ed) BF2 competitivly in prize and money leagues... and boy did I learn some performance tricks.

Note: With each patch the video configuration settings are reset to default (Medium for everything).

First: In BF2 there are two video settings that make more of an impact then all of the others combined. They are Terrain and Lighting. I recommend never going beyond med for terrain and low for lighting; no matter what video card you own. Sure my 7900GT can play everything on the "High" settings, but then I would see shadows when I want to see the enemy. My custom recipe sheet for the BF2 video settings is this:

Terrain = med
Effects = low
Geometry = high
Texture = high
Lighting = low
Dyn Shadows = med
Dyn Light = med
AA = off
Text Filter = high

I get over 100 FPS full time in the game with these settings. While in-game, go to your console using the "~" key, and type in "renderer.drawfps 1". It will show FPS and time between frames in ms.

Zenphic · 22nd May 2006, 03:10 AM

Ouhhh, your settings might come in handy once I upgrade my video card

Thanks!

By the way, did you have luck in winning in those BF2 competitions?

Das Capitolin · 22nd May 2006, 04:01 AM

What video card do you run now? I used these settings all the way back when I had an ATI X800GT; even then I would normally see 90-100 FPS.

We (Hostile Faction =]-[f=) won many of the leagues and tournaments, and a few we lost. I am amazed at the skill level of some clans, but they make up less then 1%. All in all it was high stress competition, and I couldn't see doing it anymore because all of the fun was gone. It was robotic, the way we played.

Zenphic · 23rd May 2006, 12:34 AM

lol my video card is a Radeon Xpress 200 (integrated video card built on the X300 core)... let's not speak of it anymore

Yeah, when games become a competition where your pride is on the line, it's no longer a game for fun

eg660 · 9th Jun 2006, 08:30 AM

Do you have a picture with these settings. I'm just curious...

goldfries · 9th Jun 2006, 11:28 AM

hi Das,

mine telling us what resolution are you referring to?

ultimately it will be the resolution that determines whether some things CAN or CANNOT be turned on.

Das Capitolin · 9th Jun 2006, 01:51 PM

Here is my Video Options screen showing the competition settings:

Remember that "renderer.drawfps 1" displays the current frames per second (FPS) and the time in milliseconds between frames in the upper left corner of the screen.

References were all done on 16-player size Karkand, MEC side, get into tank without moving anything, and taking the screen shot using a 1280x1024 screen resolution.

Here is the LOWEST SETTINGS 100FPS reference screen shot:

Here is the COMPETITION SETTINGS 100FPS reference screen shot:

Here is the HIGHEST SETTINGS (with highest AA) 37FPS reference screen shot:

Now keep in mind, this is on my old overclocked ATI X800 GT, which still posts 100FPS with the competition settings. Obviously my SLI 7900GTX's will post much faster FPS speeds, but that's not the point of these settings. You will notice major differences in how objects stand out with the competitive settings. Try them and see for yourself.

goldfries · 9th Jun 2006, 03:46 PM

thx. interesting. i'm using X800GT myself, OCed of course.

but i play at 1024x768 instead (15" LCD)

usually i play at 2xAA and most of the details at high.

from my tests so far, Dynamic Lights and Shadows are the killer. and AA of course.

what is your opinion?

Olle P · 9th Jun 2006, 08:15 PM

Seems simple enough to reach a high framerate in that static scene.
The issue is what happens when you have plenty of troops and vehicles moving in view. I bet your "competition" settings will drop more than the "lowest" settings, and the question is just how far the framerate will drop.

Cheers
Olle

s p r a n k i k o · 9th Jun 2006, 08:42 PM

I don't really play for the competition but for fun.

And I like my games when the graphics don't look like it came from a console from the 80's.

22nd May 2006, 01:48 AM	#1 (permalink)
Das Capitolin Warming up Join Date: 21 May 2006 Posts: 93 Reputation: 36 Rep Power: 0	BF2: Best FPS Video Settings You could nearly consider me an expert on this subject. I play(ed) BF2 competitivly in prize and money leagues... and boy did I learn some performance tricks. Note: With each patch the video configuration settings are reset to default (Medium for everything). First: In BF2 there are two video settings that make more of an impact then all of the others combined. They are Terrain and Lighting. I recommend never going beyond med for terrain and low for lighting; no matter what video card you own. Sure my 7900GT can play everything on the "High" settings, but then I would see shadows when I want to see the enemy. My custom recipe sheet for the BF2 video settings is this: Terrain = med Effects = low Geometry = high Texture = high Lighting = low Dyn Shadows = med Dyn Light = med AA = off Text Filter = high I get over 100 FPS full time in the game with these settings. While in-game, go to your console using the "~" key, and type in "renderer.drawfps 1". It will show FPS and time between frames in ms. Last edited by Das Capitolin : 9th Jun 2006 at 01:53 PM.

9th Jun 2006, 08:30 AM	#5 (permalink)
eg660 I'm a regular Join Date: 2 Sep 2004 Location: USA Posts: 273 Reputation: 23 Rep Power: 4	Do you have a picture with these settings. I'm just curious... __________________ Dfi Lanparty Nf3 250gb Athlon 64 3000+ 250X10 @ 1.625V 2X 1gb G.Skill HZ XFX 6800GT (420/1.1) 120GB Seagate Barracuda SATA SoundBlaster Audigy ZS X-Blade Case 430watts PSU(cheap)

9th Jun 2006, 11:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
goldfries More Than Meets The Eye Join Date: 22 Jan 2003 Location: KL/PJ Malaysia Posts: 7,841 Reputation: 398 Rep Power: 16	hi Das, mine telling us what resolution are you referring to? ultimately it will be the resolution that determines whether some things CAN or CANNOT be turned on. __________________ no computer specs \| no photography gear list \| no userbars \| no quotes

9th Jun 2006, 01:51 PM	#7 (permalink)
Das Capitolin Warming up Join Date: 21 May 2006 Posts: 93 Reputation: 36 Rep Power: 0	Here is my Video Options screen showing the competition settings: Remember that "renderer.drawfps 1" displays the current frames per second (FPS) and the time in milliseconds between frames in the upper left corner of the screen. References were all done on 16-player size Karkand, MEC side, get into tank without moving anything, and taking the screen shot using a 1280x1024 screen resolution. Here is the LOWEST SETTINGS 100FPS reference screen shot: Here is the COMPETITION SETTINGS 100FPS reference screen shot: Here is the HIGHEST SETTINGS (with highest AA) 37FPS reference screen shot: Now keep in mind, this is on my old overclocked ATI X800 GT, which still posts 100FPS with the competition settings. Obviously my SLI 7900GTX's will post much faster FPS speeds, but that's not the point of these settings. You will notice major differences in how objects stand out with the competitive settings. Try them and see for yourself. __________________ If my post helps you, please use the reputation system in appreciation. Shameless plug: http://www.pci-express.info

9th Jun 2006, 03:46 PM	#8 (permalink)
goldfries More Than Meets The Eye Join Date: 22 Jan 2003 Location: KL/PJ Malaysia Posts: 7,841 Reputation: 398 Rep Power: 16	thx. interesting. i'm using X800GT myself, OCed of course. but i play at 1024x768 instead (15" LCD) usually i play at 2xAA and most of the details at high. from my tests so far, Dynamic Lights and Shadows are the killer. and AA of course. what is your opinion? __________________ no computer specs \| no photography gear list \| no userbars \| no quotes

22nd May 2006, 03:10 AM	#2 (permalink)
Zenphic Active Join Date: 23 Apr 2006 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 694 Reputation: 176 Rep Power: 4	Ouhhh, your settings might come in handy once I upgrade my video card Thanks! By the way, did you have luck in winning in those BF2 competitions?

22nd May 2006, 04:01 AM	#3 (permalink)
Das Capitolin Warming up Join Date: 21 May 2006 Posts: 93 Reputation: 36 Rep Power: 0	What video card do you run now? I used these settings all the way back when I had an ATI X800GT; even then I would normally see 90-100 FPS. We (Hostile Faction =]-[f=) won many of the leagues and tournaments, and a few we lost. I am amazed at the skill level of some clans, but they make up less then 1%. All in all it was high stress competition, and I couldn't see doing it anymore because all of the fun was gone. It was robotic, the way we played.

23rd May 2006, 12:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Zenphic Active Join Date: 23 Apr 2006 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 694 Reputation: 176 Rep Power: 4	lol my video card is a Radeon Xpress 200 (integrated video card built on the X300 core)... let's not speak of it anymore Yeah, when games become a competition where your pride is on the line, it's no longer a game for fun

9th Jun 2006, 08:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
Olle P Active Join Date: 12 Jan 2005 Location: Sweden Posts: 815 Reputation: 315 Rep Power: 7	Seems simple enough to reach a high framerate in that static scene. The issue is what happens when you have plenty of troops and vehicles moving in view. I bet your "competition" settings will drop more than the "lowest" settings, and the question is just how far the framerate will drop. Cheers Olle __________________ If you're not living on the edge you take up too much space... Asus A8E-N, Athlon64 X2 4600+, 1024MB Kingston value, XFX GF7800GT, Seagate 160GB/8MB

9th Jun 2006, 08:42 PM	#10 (permalink)
s p r a n k i k o "0104" Join Date: 31 Aug 2005 Location: Manila Posts: 780 Reputation: 213 Rep Power: 6	I don't really play for the competition but for fun. And I like my games when the graphics don't look like it came from a console from the 80's. __________________ Main rig: Opteron 170/3Ghz \| DFI NF4 Ultra-D \| http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=163569 OCZ Platinum Elite Edition 1Gb/2-3-3-5/1T \| EVGA7900GTO Secondary rig: Opteron 144/2.9Ghz \| Abit KN8 Ultra \| http://valid.x86-secret.com/show_oc?id=212009 Team Xtreme 1Gb/2-3-3-5/1T \| XFX7900GS