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Difference between revisions of "Team Fortress 2"

From PCGamingWiki, the wiki about fixing PC games
(This isn't actually useful at all. The 64-bit Source engine was recalled indefinitely; the -32bit option doesn't even exist)
(added much content. removed dangerous option "threads". source: http://etf2l.org/forum/customise/topic-16829/ (this is coming from the creator of the best available performance configs). removed the reconnect script since it's very much redundant.)
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A generic way of solving the majority of Team Fortress 2 related problems is as below, proceed down the list if the previous list item fails; or search for your exact problem and find an exact solution.
 
A generic way of solving the majority of Team Fortress 2 related problems is as below, proceed down the list if the previous list item fails; or search for your exact problem and find an exact solution.
 
# Validate the game files.
 
# Validate the game files.
−
#: Right click ''Team Fortress 2'' in Steam and select ''Properties''.  Navigate into the ''Local Files' tab and select ''Verify integrity of game cache''.  Steam will then (re)download any missing or corrupt files.
+
#: Right click ''Team Fortress 2'' in Steam and select ''Properties''.  Navigate into the ''Local Files'' tab and select ''Verify integrity of game cache''.  Steam will then (re)download any missing or corrupt files.
 
# Delete your Team Fortress 2 user folder
 
# Delete your Team Fortress 2 user folder
−
#: TF2's main game files are stored in the ''steamapps'' folder, so you won't need to re-downloading ~10GB.  Navigate to your user folder within <code>'''*steam directory*'''/steamapps/</code> (e.g. <code>'''*steam directory*'''/steamapps/rabscuttle</code>) and delete or rename (to keep a backup) your ''team fortress 2'' folder.  The folder will be automatically re-created when you next launch Team Fortress 2.
+
#: TF2's main game files are stored in the ''steamapps'' folder, so you won't need to re-downloading ~10GB.  Navigate to your user folder within <code>'''*steam directory*'''/steamapps/</code> (e.g. <code>'''*steam directory*'''/steamapps/username</code>) and delete or rename (to keep a backup) your ''team fortress 2'' folder.  The folder will be automatically re-created when you next launch Team Fortress 2.
 +
# Delete your Team Fortress 2 registry settings
 +
#: Delete the entire content of <code>HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Source\tf\Settings</code> in the Windows registry using ''regedit''.
 
# Re-install Steam!
 
# Re-install Steam!
 
#:  Delete (or move/back up) all of your steam directories content '''excluding''' the ''steamapps'' folder and ''steam.exe''.  Launch ''steam.exe'' and all the relevant Steam files will be re-downloaded.
 
#:  Delete (or move/back up) all of your steam directories content '''excluding''' the ''steamapps'' folder and ''steam.exe''.  Launch ''steam.exe'' and all the relevant Steam files will be re-downloaded.
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| <code>-console</code> || Starts the game with the developer console enabled.
 
| <code>-console</code> || Starts the game with the developer console enabled.
 
|-
 
|-
−
| <code>-dxlevel ''xx''</code> || Forces the game to launch in a specific DirectX version, where <code>''xx''</code> is: 80 (DirectX 8 (buggy, use 81 instead for high performance)), 81 (DirectX 8.1), 90 (DX9 with Shader Model 2), 95 (DX9 with Shader Model 3) and 98 (DX9 on DX10 hardware (SM 4)).
+
| <code>-dxlevel ''xx''</code> || Forces the game to launch in a specific DirectX version, where <code>''xx''</code> is: 80 (DirectX 8 (buggy, use 81 instead for high performance)), 81 (DirectX 8.1), 90 (DX9 with Shader Model 2), 95 (DX9 with Shader Model 3) and 98 (DX9 on DX10 hardware (SM 4)). Remove this argument after starting TF2 once or it will keep reseting your other settings. The overridden DirectX version will still be saved (mat_dxlevel).
 
|-
 
|-
−
| <code>-noborder -window</code> || Launches the game in a borderless fullscreen window (i.e. very alt-tab friendly).
+
| <code>-noborder -window</code> || Launches the game in a borderless fullscreen window (i.e. very alt-tab friendly). This may result in a minor performance loss. If you experience stuttering, disable Windows Aero.
−
|-
 
−
| -threads <code>''x''</code> || [[Force Multicore Support|Forces multi-core support]], <code>''x''</code> being the amount of threads you want to use (4 is recommended for quadcores).
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
| <code>-h ''height'' or -height ''height''</code> || Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code>height</code>.
 
| <code>-h ''height'' or -height ''height''</code> || Forces the engine to start with resolution set to <code>height</code>.
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|-
 
|-
 
| <code>cl_showfps 1</code> || Shows FPS only. 1 is real-time, 2 is averaged over the past second.
 
| <code>cl_showfps 1</code> || Shows FPS only. 1 is real-time, 2 is averaged over the past second.
 +
|-
 +
| <code>rate ''x''</code> || Max bytes/sec the host can receive data. A too low value may result in the server starving the client for data it could otherwise have received. A too high value may result in the server overwhelming the client with too much data and packets being lost. For example, if you can download data at 1 megabit/s, ''x'' should be 125000. However do not set higher than the maximum value of 1048576 (just over 8 megabit/s).
 
|-
 
|-
 
| <code>snd_async_fullyasync 1</code> || May help you are experiencing freezes when some sounds that aren't cached are playing. Allows sounds to play when ready if loading it is too slow, instead of freezing the entire game until it is.
 
| <code>snd_async_fullyasync 1</code> || May help you are experiencing freezes when some sounds that aren't cached are playing. Allows sounds to play when ready if loading it is too slow, instead of freezing the entire game until it is.
 +
|-
 +
| <code>bind "END" "hud_reloadscheme; snd_restart; record fix; stop"</code> || Works around most common bugs that can be encountered TF2 by pressing the ''END''-key (or any other key of your choice) in-game. This will usually fix invisible players, displaced or invisible props, erroneously looping sounds at full volume, the HUD having the wrong team color or being otherwise broken, and more.
 
|-
 
|-
 
| <code>fps_max 59.9</code> || If you have vsync enabled and your mouse feels sluggish then enter this into the console on the menu to resolve the issue. This setting cannot be changed while connected to a server. It's a better idea to just disable vsync if you don't mind tearing.
 
| <code>fps_max 59.9</code> || If you have vsync enabled and your mouse feels sluggish then enter this into the console on the menu to resolve the issue. This setting cannot be changed while connected to a server. It's a better idea to just disable vsync if you don't mind tearing.
−
|-
 
−
| <code>disconnect;fps_max 59.9;retry</code> || Same as above, if you're connected to a server.
 
−
|-
 
−
| <code>net_graph 1</code> || [[View In Game FPS & Ping]].
 
 
|}
 
|}
  
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|-
 
|-
 
| Video - Advanced || Multicore rendering || Will grant a massive performance boost on multicore machines. Always enable unless it's incompatible with your system. If you're working with in-game demos it may cause crashes even though it works when playing.
 
| Video - Advanced || Multicore rendering || Will grant a massive performance boost on multicore machines. Always enable unless it's incompatible with your system. If you're working with in-game demos it may cause crashes even though it works when playing.
 +
|-
 +
| Video - Advanced || Windows Aero extensions || Direct3D 9Ex (introduced in Windows Vista) is known to cause problems with the Mumble and possibly other overlays. Disable this option if you are experiencing problems. Doing may degrade alt-tab functionality, see the borderless window launch option for a remedy.
 
|}
 
|}
  
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== Notes ==
 
== Notes ==
−
* Any settings/configuration changes made in-game will synch with the [[Steam Cloud]] (if Steam Cloud is enabled - it is by default).
+
* Any settings/configuration changes made in-game will sync with the [[Steam Cloud]] (enabled by default).
  
 
== See also ==
 
== See also ==

Revision as of 23:48, 15 February 2012


Solutions

A generic way of solving the majority of Team Fortress 2 related problems is as below, proceed down the list if the previous list item fails; or search for your exact problem and find an exact solution.

  1. Validate the game files.
    Right click Team Fortress 2 in Steam and select Properties. Navigate into the Local Files tab and select Verify integrity of game cache. Steam will then (re)download any missing or corrupt files.
  2. Delete your Team Fortress 2 user folder
    TF2's main game files are stored in the steamapps folder, so you won't need to re-downloading ~10GB. Navigate to your user folder within *steam directory*/steamapps/ (e.g. *steam directory*/steamapps/username) and delete or rename (to keep a backup) your team fortress 2 folder. The folder will be automatically re-created when you next launch Team Fortress 2.
  3. Delete your Team Fortress 2 registry settings
    Delete the entire content of HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Valve\Source\tf\Settings in the Windows registry using regedit.
  4. Re-install Steam!
    Delete (or move/back up) all of your steam directories content excluding the steamapps folder and steam.exe. Launch steam.exe and all the relevant Steam files will be re-downloaded.
  5. Contact Steam Support.
    Open a new support ticket here, and document your problem and your attempted solutions in as much detail as possible. Steam Support can be slow to respond to tickets, and by providing as much information as you can you negate the need for Support to contact you for more information (and thereby take longer to help solve the problem).
  6. Re-install Team Fortress 2
    This is pretty extreme, and it is therefore recommended you try and find a case of your problem happening to somebody else and see how they solved it. You will usually never need to do this, unless Steam Support themselves are unable to help with your case.

Recommended gameplay tweaks

Launch parameters

See also: Command-line parameters on the Valve Developer Community

You can launch Team Fortress 2 with launch parameters - these parameters dictating how certain aspects of the game behaves (outside of gameplay).

To add launch parameters:

  • Right click Team Fortress 2 within Steam and select Properties
  • Select Set Launch Options
  • Add your launch parameters and click OK
  • Close the properties window and launch the game with the specified launch parameters.

Launch parameters are typically prefixed with - (dash), however you can also set console commands by providing the console command with a + (plus) prefix.

Useful launch parameters

Parameter Description
-autoconfig Restores video and performance settings to default for the current hardware detected. Ignores settings inside any .cfg files until this parameter is removed.
-console Starts the game with the developer console enabled.
-dxlevel xx Forces the game to launch in a specific DirectX version, where xx is: 80 (DirectX 8 (buggy, use 81 instead for high performance)), 81 (DirectX 8.1), 90 (DX9 with Shader Model 2), 95 (DX9 with Shader Model 3) and 98 (DX9 on DX10 hardware (SM 4)). Remove this argument after starting TF2 once or it will keep reseting your other settings. The overridden DirectX version will still be saved (mat_dxlevel).
-noborder -window Launches the game in a borderless fullscreen window (i.e. very alt-tab friendly). This may result in a minor performance loss. If you experience stuttering, disable Windows Aero.
-h height or -height height Forces the engine to start with resolution set to height.
-w width or -width width Forces the engine to start with resolution set to width.

Console Commands

See also: List of useful console commands on the Offical TF2 Wiki

Games running on the source engine can utilize Source Engine Console Commands for various tasks. These commands can be saved into *steam apps*/username/team fortress 2/tf/cfg/autoexec.cfg to be executed when the game launches.

Command Notes
mat_dxlevel xx Same as -dxlevel (above) but doesn't adjust other settings such as resolution.
net_graph 1 View in-game FPS, ping and more. A higher number (up to 4) shows more advanced information. This can result in a performance loss.
cl_showfps 1 Shows FPS only. 1 is real-time, 2 is averaged over the past second.
rate x Max bytes/sec the host can receive data. A too low value may result in the server starving the client for data it could otherwise have received. A too high value may result in the server overwhelming the client with too much data and packets being lost. For example, if you can download data at 1 megabit/s, x should be 125000. However do not set higher than the maximum value of 1048576 (just over 8 megabit/s).
snd_async_fullyasync 1 May help you are experiencing freezes when some sounds that aren't cached are playing. Allows sounds to play when ready if loading it is too slow, instead of freezing the entire game until it is.
bind "END" "hud_reloadscheme; snd_restart; record fix; stop" Works around most common bugs that can be encountered TF2 by pressing the END-key (or any other key of your choice) in-game. This will usually fix invisible players, displaced or invisible props, erroneously looping sounds at full volume, the HUD having the wrong team color or being otherwise broken, and more.
fps_max 59.9 If you have vsync enabled and your mouse feels sluggish then enter this into the console on the menu to resolve the issue. This setting cannot be changed while connected to a server. It's a better idea to just disable vsync if you don't mind tearing.

Options

These are found in each tab listed, in the "Options" section.

Tab Option Notes
Video - Advanced Multicore rendering Will grant a massive performance boost on multicore machines. Always enable unless it's incompatible with your system. If you're working with in-game demos it may cause crashes even though it works when playing.
Video - Advanced Windows Aero extensions Direct3D 9Ex (introduced in Windows Vista) is known to cause problems with the Mumble and possibly other overlays. Disable this option if you are experiencing problems. Doing may degrade alt-tab functionality, see the borderless window launch option for a remedy.

These are found in each tab listed, in the "Advanced..." section.

Tab Option Notes
Keyboard 'Fast weapon switch' This option makes weapon switching not require a left click.
Video 'Field of view' slider Changes the game's FOV to a desired value between 75 and 90. This value will be adjusted depending on your aspect ratio so if set to 90 on a widescreen it will actually end up higher.
Multiplayer 'Automatically reload weapons when you're not firing' Reloads even if gun not empty. All reloads can be aborted by firing while reloading. Potentially problematic for the spy, whose reload animation blocks the screen. Change viewmodel field of view to adjust this.
Multiplayer 'Viewmodel field of view' slider Adjust to change height of the view of your weapon and hands. Values higher than the default may result in some minor graphical bugs since the models are not designed for it.
Multiplayer 'Display damage done as text over your target'
Multiplayer 'Play a hitsound everytime you injure an enemy' Volume can be adjusted by entering the console command "tf_dingaling_volume #", where # is a number between 0 and 1, such as 0.4 for 40% volume. To change the pitch depending on how much damage was dealt, adjust tf_dingaling_pitchmindmg and tf_dingaling_pitchmaxdmg. The hitsound itself can be replaced by a custom sound by installing it as \tf\sound\ui\hitsound.wav in your TF2 directory.
Multiplayer 'MEDIC: Medigun continues healing without holding down fire button'
Multiplayer 'MEDIC: Auto-call Health percentage' Adjust to HP percentage level of when you would like teammates to automatically display a red cross on screen for healing.

Low FPS fix

Anti-virus software can interfere with a file in TF2's folder, which gets updated constantly during gameplay.

  1. Open anti-virus program.
  2. Select settings > exceptions/exclusions.
  3. Add the following folder to the scan exceptions:
%ProgramFiles%\Steam\appcache\stats\

Notes

  • Any settings/configuration changes made in-game will sync with the Steam Cloud (enabled by default).

See also

External links

Team Fortress 2 on the Steam Store

Tweaks

Wikis

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