Lower resolution shadow maps?

[Liz Lemon]

I was looking at the config file, and hadn't seen this mentioned before. So don't shoot if this is old news!

But changing this value under the [core] subheading

ShadowMapSize=5

To 3, so it reads

ShadowMapSize=3

I end up getting a noticeable boost in fps, and some quick bench marking seems to confirm it.

IT also makes sense that changing this improves performance, as this controls the resolution of the maps used to generate the shadows in game.

THE DOWNSIDE

Shadows in the cockpit and ground are blotchier/lower resolution. Tress, and in particular the shadows under them shimmer more.

Using a value of 4 instead of 3 should alleviate some of these issues, but with a lower benefit in performance. Similarly a value of 2 or 1 should have worst artifacting, but better speed.

I don't have time to do full bench marking now, but I'd like to see some other people confirm this.

[David198502]

yes this works, but is old news.although im not sure how many people are aware of it, so it cant be wrong to be posted again.

[VO101_Tom]

It's new for me, thanks.

[Verhängnis]

Tried it, thanks.

Seems 3-4 are absolutely great for cockpit internal shadows but in external view the shadow graphics suffer alot for some reason, they instantly become all blocky and patchy, which is fine however if you have cockpit only on setting. Only minor FPS increase though at below 5.

[Ribbs67]

Tried it, thanks.

Seems 3-4 are absolutely great for cockpit internal shadows but in external view the shadow graphics suffer alot for some reason, they instantly become all blocky and patchy, which is fine however if you have cockpit only on setting. Only minor FPS increase though at below 5.


What do you mean by cockpit only setting?



352ndRibbs

[Covert_Death]

he means it looks fine if you stay in F1 view (cockpit) but if you go F2 you see some pretty crummy shadow maps

[stndbfrgrn]

Sorry to bring this back up, but is anyone having these kind of shadows while using the latest official patch? Shadow map setting here reads 5, but it doesn't look right. Shadows from little cockpit details look far worse than they used to during beta updates. Seems that there's some kind of shadow map size switch when zooming in and out... is that correct? Is this part of the let's-cut-good-things-out-to-let-them-believe-it-runs-better process? Can it be helped?
Thanks in advance.

For reference:

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3533/screenshot5037.png

[Sokol1]

The lastest patchs tone down the graphics, I see shadows like your pic...

Sokol1