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Active: 1214 users

Best graphics setting

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1 2 Next All
roflcopter420
Profile Joined July 2009
Sweden168 Posts
August 27 2010 20:14 GMT
#1
So I am experimenting with different graphics settings. There are several pros and cons to different graphical settings. On too high settings, everything becomes less clear, especially the red dot when nuking becomes harder to see. On lower settings, forcefields, thor air-attack and hellion-attack becomes harder to see. Having shadows helps a lot to spot units.

So what is the perfect setting? Currently I'm playing with medium and full shadows turned on.
Its much the same as milking a cow
CScythe
Profile Joined June 2009
Canada810 Posts
August 27 2010 20:16 GMT
#2
I'm medium all around except "effects" is ultra, and shadows are turned off entirely via variables.txt.
Bob300
Profile Joined April 2010
United States505 Posts
August 27 2010 20:17 GMT
#3
I like Ultra all... but some people say Lowest is best.
NYC Suburbs --- College Freshman --- Season 1 - Drone Whiskey
Jhax
Profile Joined July 2010
Ireland201 Posts
August 27 2010 20:17 GMT
#4
Lowest everything. It increases FPS and as you said the lack of shadows makes things easier to see. I play on high when playing the campaign though. Although low is probably the best setting for a competitive sc2 player it does look pretty bad
Fast and Free
socal50
Profile Joined July 2010
United States93 Posts
August 27 2010 20:18 GMT
#5
i noticed early on in beta and development that medium seems to work best

low is obv not enough detail and kinda dull
high you have too much gloss and everything looks like a terran building
mid is a good compromise of both
Moondye
Profile Joined August 2010
Germany2 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-27 20:26:10
August 27 2010 20:22 GMT
#6
I tested a lot around and found these low settings, they represent a good mix of detail reduction and visibility of FFs or scans

+ Show Spoiler +
alphadepthWrite=0
aolight=0
buildgridhint=1
creepnormalmap=1
creepQuality=1
creepreflection=0
creepselfshadow=0
creeptrans=1
deff=0
deffspec=0
depthDisp=0
displaymode=1
displayunitstatus=All
dof=0
fogvolume=0
foliagedensity=0.250000
foliagequality=1
gamehdr8bit=1
gamma=1.037580
GraphicsOptionEffectsDetail=1
GraphicsOptionLightingQuality=0
GraphicsOptionModelQuality=2
GraphicsOptionMovies=0
GraphicsOptionOverallQualityVer7[5]=4
GraphicsOptionPhysicsQuality=1
GraphicsOptionPortraits=1
GraphicsOptionPostProcessing=0
GraphicsOptionReflections=0
GraphicsOptionShaderDetail=0
GraphicsOptionShadowQuality=0
GraphicsOptionTerrainQuality=1
GraphicsOptionTextureQuality[2]=0
halo=0
hdr=0
hdr8bit=1
height=1080
hotkeyprofile=0_Default
LastChallengeId=TerranCovertOps
lastDeviceId=37954
lightingLevel=0
lightmap=1
lightmapcastshadows=0
localao=0
localeidassets=enGB
localeiddata=enGB
localight=0
localShadows=0
lowqualitymodels=0
lowQualityMovies=1
mastervolume=0.422222
menubarclickable=0
mousescrollspeed=70
MoviesSeen=1
MusicHeard=1
musicvolume=0.101639
normalmap=0
parallax=0
parallaxshadow=0
particlelod=1
particleobjects=0.200000
particleterrain=0.500000
physicsdensity=4
pixellight=0
portraits3d=0
preBlendedCreep=0
profanityfilter=0
reducemouselagenabled=0
ribbonlod=1
sampleFOW=0
shadowmapsize=512
shadows=0
simplifiedCloaking=0
simplifiedShaders=0
soft=0
softshadows=0
softshadowTaps=6
sound=1
soundambiencevolume=0.303704
SoundAutoDetectCPUCoreCount=4
soundchannels=40
soundeffectsvolume=1.000000
soundoutput=Lautsprecher (7- Sennheiser USB Headset)
SoundQuality=1
sounduivolume=0.503704
speakermode=Unknown
spec=0
splatlod=1
targettexeldensity=0.150000
TerrainTextureLowResCacheSize=40
TerrainTextureSize=480
texQualityLevel=0
texSpace[2]=1024
textureBasedFOW=0
toastFade=10.000000
transparentshadows=0
treadlod=1
unitcolorstyle=2
useLowqualitymodels=0
voicechat=0
voicechatsoftwaremute=1
vsync=0
watercaustics=0
waterflipbook=1
waterreflection=0
waterrendertargetformat=1
waterrendertargetsize=768
watershadow=0
width=1920
winkeydisabled=1
worldobjecttooltips=0


right everything low,
left with:
simplifiedCloaking=0
simplifiedShaders=0

[image loading]

be mannered, tinker things out
dogmeatstew
Profile Joined April 2010
Canada574 Posts
August 27 2010 20:27 GMT
#7
I think it's the reduced violence option which gets rid of stuff taking forever to die and instead they just kinda pop out of existence -- I find this helps just for clarity.

Otherwise I play on a mix of ultra/high/med, there's a couple things I turned down cause of nuke dot visibility on creep and such. I started on all ultra as that was my default and have been tweaking from there though so it also depends on your card.
TheAngelofDeath
Profile Blog Joined May 2010
United States2033 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-27 20:31:57
August 27 2010 20:29 GMT
#8
I prefer medium settings by far. It looks the best IMO without sacrificing ability to see things such as the red nuke dot, etc.


Edit: Then again, my default setting was medium, so maybe I'm just a little bias.
"Infestors are the suck" - LzGamer
DrBoo
Profile Joined April 2010
Canada1177 Posts
August 27 2010 20:35 GMT
#9
I personally play on high and ultra for some settings. Mostly due to frame rate else everything would be ultra.
"DrBoo is an elaborate troll" -Pufftrees
roflcopter420
Profile Joined July 2009
Sweden168 Posts
August 27 2010 20:38 GMT
#10
On August 28 2010 05:22 Moondye wrote:
I tested a lot around and found these low settings, they represent a good mix of detail reduction and visibility of FFs or scans

+ Show Spoiler +
alphadepthWrite=0
aolight=0
buildgridhint=1
creepnormalmap=1
creepQuality=1
creepreflection=0
creepselfshadow=0
creeptrans=1
deff=0
deffspec=0
depthDisp=0
displaymode=1
displayunitstatus=All
dof=0
fogvolume=0
foliagedensity=0.250000
foliagequality=1
gamehdr8bit=1
gamma=1.037580
GraphicsOptionEffectsDetail=1
GraphicsOptionLightingQuality=0
GraphicsOptionModelQuality=2
GraphicsOptionMovies=0
GraphicsOptionOverallQualityVer7[5]=4
GraphicsOptionPhysicsQuality=1
GraphicsOptionPortraits=1
GraphicsOptionPostProcessing=0
GraphicsOptionReflections=0
GraphicsOptionShaderDetail=0
GraphicsOptionShadowQuality=0
GraphicsOptionTerrainQuality=1
GraphicsOptionTextureQuality[2]=0
halo=0
hdr=0
hdr8bit=1
height=1080
hotkeyprofile=0_Default
LastChallengeId=TerranCovertOps
lastDeviceId=37954
lightingLevel=0
lightmap=1
lightmapcastshadows=0
localao=0
localeidassets=enGB
localeiddata=enGB
localight=0
localShadows=0
lowqualitymodels=0
lowQualityMovies=1
mastervolume=0.422222
menubarclickable=0
mousescrollspeed=70
MoviesSeen=1
MusicHeard=1
musicvolume=0.101639
normalmap=0
parallax=0
parallaxshadow=0
particlelod=1
particleobjects=0.200000
particleterrain=0.500000
physicsdensity=4
pixellight=0
portraits3d=0
preBlendedCreep=0
profanityfilter=0
reducemouselagenabled=0
ribbonlod=1
sampleFOW=0
shadowmapsize=512
shadows=0
simplifiedCloaking=0
simplifiedShaders=0
soft=0
softshadows=0
softshadowTaps=6
sound=1
soundambiencevolume=0.303704
SoundAutoDetectCPUCoreCount=4
soundchannels=40
soundeffectsvolume=1.000000
soundoutput=Lautsprecher (7- Sennheiser USB Headset)
SoundQuality=1
sounduivolume=0.503704
speakermode=Unknown
spec=0
splatlod=1
targettexeldensity=0.150000
TerrainTextureLowResCacheSize=40
TerrainTextureSize=480
texQualityLevel=0
texSpace[2]=1024
textureBasedFOW=0
toastFade=10.000000
transparentshadows=0
treadlod=1
unitcolorstyle=2
useLowqualitymodels=0
voicechat=0
voicechatsoftwaremute=1
vsync=0
watercaustics=0
waterflipbook=1
waterreflection=0
waterrendertargetformat=1
waterrendertargetsize=768
watershadow=0
width=1920
winkeydisabled=1
worldobjecttooltips=0


right everything low,
left with:
simplifiedCloaking=0
simplifiedShaders=0

[image loading]



wow very nice. Does this also give that blue look on detected invisible units so you can see them easily? Ima try it first game i play tomorrow =)
Its much the same as milking a cow
Pandu1986
Profile Joined June 2010
72 Posts
August 27 2010 20:41 GMT
#11
I play it on ultra, however personally the difference between medium and ultra is only more "pretty" not anything of substance.

If you were wondering about getting the highest end graphics cards and such for SC2, I would definitely not recommend it, as you can run it on medium with very modest graphic horsepower, without sacrificing much in the way of appeal.

Low to me looks basically like a slight upgrade from SC:BW so I cant play it like that.
Azile
Profile Joined March 2010
United States339 Posts
Last Edited: 2010-08-27 20:52:19
August 27 2010 20:50 GMT
#12
On August 28 2010 05:18 socal50 wrote:
i noticed early on in beta and development that medium seems to work best

low is obv not enough detail and kinda dull
high you have too much gloss and everything looks like a terran building
mid is a good compromise of both


Same here, exactly the same.

I played around with the settings a lot in beta, and medium is where I settled. Low just looks so terrible it's distracting, the jump from low to medium is huge and anything higher than medium starts getting cluttered and too flashy.

Poll: What settings do you play ladder with?

Low (66)
 
45%

Ultra (43)
 
29%

Medium (28)
 
19%

High (11)
 
7%

148 total votes

Your vote: What settings do you play ladder with?

(Vote): Low
(Vote): Medium
(Vote): High
(Vote): Ultra



Leeto
Profile Joined August 2007
United States1320 Posts
August 27 2010 20:58 GMT
#13
I ran on medium during phase 1 of beta, and it was fine IMO. It looked very pretty but was very playable at the same time. I have to run everything on lowest now though. My computer can't handle anything higher ever since phase 2 of beta/release.
VanGarde
Profile Joined July 2010
Sweden755 Posts
August 27 2010 20:59 GMT
#14
On August 28 2010 05:22 Moondye wrote:
I tested a lot around and found these low settings, they represent a good mix of detail reduction and visibility of FFs or scans

+ Show Spoiler +
alphadepthWrite=0
aolight=0
buildgridhint=1
creepnormalmap=1
creepQuality=1
creepreflection=0
creepselfshadow=0
creeptrans=1
deff=0
deffspec=0
depthDisp=0
displaymode=1
displayunitstatus=All
dof=0
fogvolume=0
foliagedensity=0.250000
foliagequality=1
gamehdr8bit=1
gamma=1.037580
GraphicsOptionEffectsDetail=1
GraphicsOptionLightingQuality=0
GraphicsOptionModelQuality=2
GraphicsOptionMovies=0
GraphicsOptionOverallQualityVer7[5]=4
GraphicsOptionPhysicsQuality=1
GraphicsOptionPortraits=1
GraphicsOptionPostProcessing=0
GraphicsOptionReflections=0
GraphicsOptionShaderDetail=0
GraphicsOptionShadowQuality=0
GraphicsOptionTerrainQuality=1
GraphicsOptionTextureQuality[2]=0
halo=0
hdr=0
hdr8bit=1
height=1080
hotkeyprofile=0_Default
LastChallengeId=TerranCovertOps
lastDeviceId=37954
lightingLevel=0
lightmap=1
lightmapcastshadows=0
localao=0
localeidassets=enGB
localeiddata=enGB
localight=0
localShadows=0
lowqualitymodels=0
lowQualityMovies=1
mastervolume=0.422222
menubarclickable=0
mousescrollspeed=70
MoviesSeen=1
MusicHeard=1
musicvolume=0.101639
normalmap=0
parallax=0
parallaxshadow=0
particlelod=1
particleobjects=0.200000
particleterrain=0.500000
physicsdensity=4
pixellight=0
portraits3d=0
preBlendedCreep=0
profanityfilter=0
reducemouselagenabled=0
ribbonlod=1
sampleFOW=0
shadowmapsize=512
shadows=0
simplifiedCloaking=0
simplifiedShaders=0
soft=0
softshadows=0
softshadowTaps=6
sound=1
soundambiencevolume=0.303704
SoundAutoDetectCPUCoreCount=4
soundchannels=40
soundeffectsvolume=1.000000
soundoutput=Lautsprecher (7- Sennheiser USB Headset)
SoundQuality=1
sounduivolume=0.503704
speakermode=Unknown
spec=0
splatlod=1
targettexeldensity=0.150000
TerrainTextureLowResCacheSize=40
TerrainTextureSize=480
texQualityLevel=0
texSpace[2]=1024
textureBasedFOW=0
toastFade=10.000000
transparentshadows=0
treadlod=1
unitcolorstyle=2
useLowqualitymodels=0
voicechat=0
voicechatsoftwaremute=1
vsync=0
watercaustics=0
waterflipbook=1
waterreflection=0
waterrendertargetformat=1
waterrendertargetsize=768
watershadow=0
width=1920
winkeydisabled=1
worldobjecttooltips=0


right everything low,
left with:
simplifiedCloaking=0
simplifiedShaders=0

[image loading]


THANK YOU!

I have always wanted to play on low because I like the clear terrain without the mishmash and the absence of shadows makes it all very crisp and clear. But I could never play with it because forcefield/cloaking and scanners etc just wasn't visible enough.

I did not know you could edit those things individually
War does not determine who is right - only who is left.
Rkie
Profile Blog Joined October 2009
United States1278 Posts
August 27 2010 21:15 GMT
#15
I use low on ladder. Well I am truly limited only to medium or low, but i can run a few things on high because my computer sucks, and i was luckily given an old graphics card to even be able to play SC. I must say that the difference between medium and low is leaps and bounds. I hate everything about medium, it just seems too busy with too many distractions. I mean do the minerals really HAVE to glow?
Ryuu314
Profile Joined October 2009
United States12679 Posts
August 27 2010 21:18 GMT
#16
Ultra 'cause I can. Cept I keep shaders and effects at medium because there are issues with nuke dots on ultra.
IPA
Profile Joined August 2010
United States3206 Posts
August 27 2010 21:21 GMT
#17
Ultra because I'm not a professional player and my PC is amazing.
Time held me green and dying though I sang in my chains like the sea.
surLoop
Profile Joined May 2010
United States80 Posts
August 27 2010 21:22 GMT
#18
ultra with no reflections on my desktop and low on my laptop, not much of a difference either way for me. Although If i was a pro I think I could justify the low settings even if it were just a placebo effect.
MingoDynasty
Profile Joined May 2006
United States43 Posts
August 27 2010 21:53 GMT
#19
I play on ultra/maxed settings because my comp isn't a piece of shit like yours and can handle it with >60fps.
http://www.youtube.com/MingoDynasty
Vz0
Profile Joined August 2010
Canada378 Posts
August 27 2010 21:56 GMT
#20
On August 28 2010 05:14 roflcopter420 wrote:
So I am experimenting with different graphics settings. There are several pros and cons to different graphical settings. On too high settings, everything becomes less clear, especially the red dot when nuking becomes harder to see. On lower settings, forcefields, thor air-attack and hellion-attack becomes harder to see. Having shadows helps a lot to spot units.

So what is the perfect setting? Currently I'm playing with medium and full shadows turned on.

Everything on ultra.

it looks the best trust me.
1 2 Next All
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