The hidden "Ultra High" settings.

Dysan-XI · 04-19-2008, 04:39 AM

If you don't care much for how the command works and my comparisons, just skip to the bottom.

---

Currently, the highest settings that texture resolution can can be set to is "Very High". The command in the console that controls this setting is "mat_picmip". Looking at mat_picmip, the values go from 4 to -10. The higher the number, the more compression the texture is under.

Low settings: mat_picmip 2
Medium settings: mat_picmip 1
High settings: mat_picmip 0
Very High settings: mat_picmip -1

Here is the Very High settings compared to my own settings while looking at an object.
As you can see, there is a lot more detail in -3 than there is in Very High's -1 setting.

Here is another comparison:
Look at the circled spot on the left-side. This shows a bit of texture artifacting/blurring that follows the floor pattern. This mark doesn't show in mat_picmip -3.
You can also compare the seams in the Spy's gloves. On the left side, they are a bit blurry. On the right, the seams are much easier to see and even have more depth to them.

This image shows -1, -3, and the maximum value, -10 all together.
The leap between each of them is very noticeable, but there's a point before you won't really notice the detail, especially in a heated game. Other things such as in-game resolution will effect how well you will notice the higher settings, too.

I understand Valve's reasoning for not having any higher settings, as many of the people who play this game run it at medium-ish settings. I just thought I'd put this out there, for those like me who want every little graphical upgrade they can.

One final comparison, showing the difference in normal mapping.

---

To enable this and see the differences yourself, type into the console (or preferably, in an autoexec):

Code:

mat_picmip #

In place of the #, put in a negative number from -2 to -10 (-10 being the highest quality). If your system is a bit slow on these settings, just keep decreasing the number until you're somewhere you like.

MiRoMe · 04-19-2008, 04:48 AM

Thank you SO much. 5stared

Abomonog · 04-19-2008, 04:58 AM

The rest looks alright but the can looks more like it got a texture replacement than better mipmapping. The reason I say that is that the diagonal line on the can looks like it got it's resolution reduced some time in the past. Are you sure your looking at mipmapping results and not being fooled by a game that is merely loading a separate texture set?

oldmeme · 04-19-2008, 05:00 AM

Although keeping every texture that high for me while gaming is like me trying play Crysis, this is a very good find for those who have "Mega" computers.
I have tried it and the textures really improved ten fold.

Very nice find.

MangoNinja · 04-19-2008, 05:07 AM

at what cost to fps are these values in comparison?

Vi3trice · 04-19-2008, 05:08 AM

There's another "Ultra High" setting, by the way.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50...ice/Heavy2.jpg

Yes, that's the heavy from Meet the Heavy, but in-game.

MiRoMe · 04-19-2008, 05:14 AM

Is there anyway to make the models have higher details? Mine have this staggered edge to them?

Vi3trice · 04-19-2008, 05:18 AM

mp_usehwmmodels 1
mp_usehwmvcds 1

Although, don't come and whine at me because you lost frames by putting these settings. They do take a lot of resources compared to the default models.

Sturmeh · 04-19-2008, 05:42 AM

You set them to 0 to remove the higher models right?

MiRoMe · 04-19-2008, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vi3trice

mp_usehwmmodels 1
mp_usehwmvcds 1

Although, don't come and whine at me because you lost frames by putting these settings. They do take a lot of resources compared to the default models.

Pish I have a computer made by twenty thousand dwarves in the mines of Mordor!

Sturmeh · 04-19-2008, 05:55 AM

alias ultrahigh_gfx "mp_usehwmmodels 1; mp_usehwmvcds 1; mat_picmip -10"
alias veryhigh_gfx "mp_usehwmmodels 0; mp_usehwmvcds 0; mat_picmip -1"

Type "ultrahigh_gfx" in console, and see if you can spot the difference.

Gripen2 · 04-19-2008, 06:05 AM

So .Whats the command to get all on Ultra High? :P

SmerBuick · 04-19-2008, 06:23 AM

Mr. GTX thanks you.

havocau · 04-19-2008, 06:24 AM

any comparison screens of the normal heavy model with that one vietrice?

Also is there a way to get higher quality models for the other classes from the vids?

poptart_fairy · 04-19-2008, 06:26 AM

Anyone know if this works for the TF2 models inside Garry's Mod?

04-19-2008, 04:39 AM	#1
Dysan-XI Join Date: Dec 2005 Reputation: 83 Posts: 3,774	The hidden "Ultra High" settings. If you don't care much for how the command works and my comparisons, just skip to the bottom. --- Currently, the highest settings that texture resolution can can be set to is "Very High". The command in the console that controls this setting is "mat_picmip". Looking at mat_picmip, the values go from 4 to -10. The higher the number, the more compression the texture is under. Low settings: mat_picmip 2 Medium settings: mat_picmip 1 High settings: mat_picmip 0 Very High settings: mat_picmip -1 Here is the Very High settings compared to my own settings while looking at an object. As you can see, there is a lot more detail in -3 than there is in Very High's -1 setting. Here is another comparison: Look at the circled spot on the left-side. This shows a bit of texture artifacting/blurring that follows the floor pattern. This mark doesn't show in mat_picmip -3. You can also compare the seams in the Spy's gloves. On the left side, they are a bit blurry. On the right, the seams are much easier to see and even have more depth to them. This image shows -1, -3, and the maximum value, -10 all together. The leap between each of them is very noticeable, but there's a point before you won't really notice the detail, especially in a heated game. Other things such as in-game resolution will effect how well you will notice the higher settings, too. I understand Valve's reasoning for not having any higher settings, as many of the people who play this game run it at medium-ish settings. I just thought I'd put this out there, for those like me who want every little graphical upgrade they can. One final comparison, showing the difference in normal mapping. --- To enable this and see the differences yourself, type into the console (or preferably, in an autoexec): Code: mat_picmip # In place of the #, put in a negative number from -2 to -10 (-10 being the highest quality). If your system is a bit slow on these settings, just keep decreasing the number until you're somewhere you like.

04-19-2008, 05:08 AM	#6
Vi3trice Join Date: Mar 2006 Reputation: 0 Posts: 659	There's another "Ultra High" setting, by the way. http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y50...ice/Heavy2.jpg Yes, that's the heavy from Meet the Heavy, but in-game. Last edited by Vi3trice : 04-19-2008 at 05:14 AM.

04-19-2008, 05:55 AM	#11
Sturmeh Join Date: Jan 2008 Reputation: 20 Posts: 1,637	alias ultrahigh_gfx "mp_usehwmmodels 1; mp_usehwmvcds 1; mat_picmip -10" alias veryhigh_gfx "mp_usehwmmodels 0; mp_usehwmvcds 0; mat_picmip -1" Type "ultrahigh_gfx" in console, and see if you can spot the difference. Last edited by Sturmeh : 04-19-2008 at 09:57 AM.

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04-19-2008, 04:48 AM	#2
MiRoMe Join Date: Feb 2008 Reputation: 4 Posts: 267	Thank you SO much. 5stared

04-19-2008, 04:58 AM	#3
Abomonog Join Date: Mar 2008 Reputation: 0 Posts: 56	The rest looks alright but the can looks more like it got a texture replacement than better mipmapping. The reason I say that is that the diagonal line on the can looks like it got it's resolution reduced some time in the past. Are you sure your looking at mipmapping results and not being fooled by a game that is merely loading a separate texture set?

04-19-2008, 05:00 AM	#4
oldmeme Join Date: Feb 2008 Reputation: 4 Posts: 171	Although keeping every texture that high for me while gaming is like me trying play Crysis, this is a very good find for those who have "Mega" computers. I have tried it and the textures really improved ten fold. Very nice find.

04-19-2008, 05:07 AM	#5
MangoNinja Join Date: Sep 2007 Reputation: 28 Posts: 165	at what cost to fps are these values in comparison?

04-19-2008, 05:14 AM	#7
MiRoMe Join Date: Feb 2008 Reputation: 4 Posts: 267	Is there anyway to make the models have higher details? Mine have this staggered edge to them?

04-19-2008, 05:18 AM	#8
Vi3trice Join Date: Mar 2006 Reputation: 0 Posts: 659	mp_usehwmmodels 1 mp_usehwmvcds 1 Although, don't come and whine at me because you lost frames by putting these settings. They do take a lot of resources compared to the default models.

04-19-2008, 05:42 AM	#9
Sturmeh Join Date: Jan 2008 Reputation: 20 Posts: 1,637	You set them to 0 to remove the higher models right?

04-19-2008, 06:05 AM	#12
Gripen2 Join Date: Mar 2008 Reputation: 0 Posts: 17	So .Whats the command to get all on Ultra High? :P

04-19-2008, 06:23 AM	#13
SmerBuick Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Reputation: 0 Posts: 220	Mr. GTX thanks you.

04-19-2008, 06:24 AM	#14
havocau Join Date: Sep 2007 Reputation: 0 Posts: 102	any comparison screens of the normal heavy model with that one vietrice? Also is there a way to get higher quality models for the other classes from the vids?

04-19-2008, 06:26 AM	#15
poptart_fairy Join Date: Feb 2008 Reputation: 0 Posts: 151	Anyone know if this works for the TF2 models inside Garry's Mod?