Will using the SMAA injector trigger VAC?

[MyDreamName]

Hello mates.

I had downloaded this injector from its official link here.

I had originally used this injector for Borderlands (which has no anti-aliasing option, looks horrible without AA, and runs horribly with MSAA).

I had then applied it to Dead Island, which I at the time I was unaware was protected by VAC (which, upon research, seems unnecessary anyway and only has the effect of scaring those who want to modify the game, but that is besides the point). When I had learned that it was in fact protected by VAC, I had already known that some people on the forums hold the belief that these graphics injectors such as FXAA and SMAA can get you banned on VAC-related games.

To my knowledge, the injector does not modify any files which are currently present in the folder containing my executable and any other folders in that filepath. However, it does contain the "d3d9.dll" file, and, if I recall correctly, VAC checks .dll and .exe files present inside the game folders in order to tell if someone is cheating.

I had sent in a ticket about this last Friday, but had not gotten a reply about it yet, which I find concerning.

Does someone have any definitive knowledge about the subject?

[Satoru]

All injectors must modify the core directx files in order to work. This is always dangerous an risks a ban because injecting for smaa is the same methodology to do wall hacks and such. Use such tools at your own risk.

[Silicon Vampire]

I concur, anything like that is "use at your own risk".

[eco3576]

Oh, yes. Heck, even running one in the background got me banned when I didn't have anything injected.

[punkboy459]

Originally Posted by eco3576

Oh, yes. Heck, even running one in the background got me banned when I didn't have anything injected.

I don't believe that...

[Satoru]

Note that the latest Nvidia beta drivers have a LEGITIMATE way of injecting FXAA now. Don't use non-supported tools to do this.

[adz]

Originally Posted by Satoru

Note that the latest Nvidia beta drivers have a LEGITIMATE way of injecting FXAA now. Don't use non-supported tools to do this.

can this get you VAC'd, the nvida beta driver?

[GDL]

Originally Posted by adz

can this get you VAC'd, the nvida beta driver?

No, offical drivers, even beta ones won't cause a VAC ban.

[Zodiark1593]

Originally Posted by Satoru

Note that the latest Nvidia beta drivers have a LEGITIMATE way of injecting FXAA now. Don't use non-supported tools to do this.

What about AMD cards? Any legitimate FXAA for them?

[Manuel859]

Originally Posted by Zodiark1593

What about AMD cards? Any legitimate FXAA for them?

AMD developed MLAA and I heard it's similar to FXAA.

[Zodiark1593]

Originally Posted by Manuel859

AMD developed MLAA and I heard it's similar to FXAA.

I'll tell you first hand it's not. Framerate takes a complete nosedive for one, while with FXAA, framerate hardly changes.

[Mimonome]

Originally Posted by Zodiark1593

I'll tell you first hand it's not. Framerate takes a complete nosedive for one, while with FXAA, framerate hardly changes.

Use newer drivers (12.4). MLAA 2.0 looks better than FXAA and has minimal performance impact. MLAA was originally created by Intel.

[Tool1996]

I don't know if you should do that...

[PedexReemexDK]

In your graphics cards control panel you should be allowed to make ALL games have AA (minecraft is very buggy) but most older games this works wonders

[Scorcher24]

Originally Posted by PedexReemexDK

In your graphics cards control panel you should be allowed to make ALL games have AA (minecraft is very buggy) but most older games this works wonders

It is not the same. SMAA works without performance loss. That's what makes it so great.

@OP
Don't use it with VAC Games. Borderlands is fine, don't use it with Dead Island though.