![Optimize FPS [D3.08.06]](/images/heroes/doom-3.webp)
Struggling with low FPS in Doom 3? This guide breaks down essential console commands and autoexec.cfg tweaks to balance graphics and performance for smoother gameplay, tailored for different video card VRAM.
Hey there! So, Doom 3 can be a bit of a hog when it comes to performance, and honestly, it doesn't always make the best choices for you out of the box. But don't sweat it! We can totally tweak this thing to run like a dream. I'm going to walk you through some settings that'll give you a sweet spot between looking good and running smooth. If you're feeling adventurous and want to dive even deeper, there are other resources out there, but this will get you sorted.
You might have noticed that turning r_shadowscodecode to 1codecode can make shadows look way better, but it'll absolutely tank your FPS. I did some quick tests, and here's what I found:
- Medium tweaks, shadows off: around 29.2 FPS
- Medium tweaks, shadows on: dropped to 23.6 FPS
- Lowest tweaks, shadows off: about 28.8 FPS (my video card really didn't seem to like all those low settings!)
My own PC isn't exactly a powerhouse, as you can probably tell from those FPS numbers. The real goal here is to get you closer to that sweet 60 FPS mark. Wanna see what your FPS is doing? Here's how:
- First up, you need to open the console. Just hit
Ctrl + Alt + ~codecode (that's the tilde key). - Once the console is open, type in
timedemo demo1 usecachecodecode and hit Enter. - When the demo finishes, jot down that FPS number. If it's not where you want it, feel free to tweak some settings and try again.
To actually make these tweaks stick, you'll need to create a file named autoexec.cfgcodecode. Just pop that file into your Doom 3 base directory. Then, you can add the following commands, making sure to use the ones that are right for your system, of course!
64MB Video-Cards:
seta image_usePrecompressedTextures "1"codecodeseta image_useCompression "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeLimit "256"codecodeseta image_ignoreHighQuality "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeBumpLimit "256"codecodeseta image_downSizeSpecularLimit "64"codecodeseta image_downSizeBump "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeSpecular "1"codecodeseta image_downSize "1"codecodeseta image_forceDownSize "1"codecodeseta image_roundDown "1"codecodeseta image_lodbias "0"codecodeseta r_preload "1"codecodeseta r_useCachedDynamicModels "1"codecodeseta r_skipBump "0"codecodeseta r_skipPostProcess "0"codecodeseta r_skipParticles "0"codecodeseta r_skipSpecular "0"codecodeseta r_skipNewAmbient "1"codecodeseta r_multiSamples "0"codecodeseta r_shadows "0"codecodeseta r_useOptimizedShadows "1"codecodeseta r_useTurboShadow "1"codecodeseta g_projectilelights "1"codecodeseta g_bloodEffects "1"codecodeseta g_decals "0"codecodeseta g_showBrass "0"codecodeseta g_muzzleFlash "1"codecodeseta g_doublevision "0"codecodeseta g_showPlayerShadow "0"codecodeseta image_anisotropy "1"codecodeseta image_filter "GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST"codecode
128MB Video-Cards:
seta image_usePrecompressedTextures "1"codecodeseta image_useCompression "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeLimit "512"codecodeseta image_ignoreHighQuality "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeBumpLimit "512"codecodeseta image_downSizeSpecularLimit "128"codecodeseta image_downSizeBump "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeSpecular "1"codecodeseta image_downSize "1"codecodeseta image_forceDownSize "1"codecodeseta image_roundDown "1"codecodeseta image_lodbias "0"codecodeseta r_preload "1"codecodeseta r_useCachedDynamicModels "1"codecodeseta r_skipBump "0"codecodeseta r_skipPostProcess "0"codecodeseta r_skipParticles "0"codecodeseta r_skipSpecular "0"codecodeseta r_skipNewAmbient "1"codecodeseta r_multiSamples "0"codecodeseta r_shadows "0"codecodeseta r_useOptimizedShadows "1"codecodeseta r_useTurboShadow "1"codecodeseta g_projectilelights "1"codecodeseta g_bloodEffects "1"codecodeseta g_decals "0"codecodeseta g_showBrass "0"codecodeseta g_muzzleFlash "1"codecodeseta g_doublevision "0"codecodeseta g_showPlayerShadow "0"codecodeseta image_anisotropy "1"codecodeseta image_filter "GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST"codecode
256MB Video-Cards:
seta image_usePrecompressedTextures "1"codecodeseta image_useCompression "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeLimit "1024"codecodeseta image_ignoreHighQuality "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeBumpLimit "1024"codecodeseta image_downSizeSpecularLimit "256"codecodeseta image_downSizeBump "1"codecodeseta image_downSizeSpecular "1"codecodeseta image_downSize "1"codecodeseta image_forceDownSize "1"codecodeseta image_roundDown "1"codecodeseta image_lodbias "0"codecodeseta r_preload "1"codecodeseta r_useCachedDynamicModels "1"codecodeseta r_skipBump "0"codecodeseta r_skipPostProcess "0"codecodeseta r_skipParticles "0"codecodeseta r_skipSpecular "0"codecodeseta r_skipNewAmbient "1"codecodeseta r_multiSamples "0"codecodeseta r_shadows "0"codecodeseta r_useOptimizedShadows "1"codecodeseta r_useTurboShadow "1"codecodeseta g_projectilelights "1"codecodeseta g_bloodEffects "1"codecodeseta g_decals "0"codecodeseta g_showBrass "0"codecodeseta g_muzzleFlash "1"codecodeseta g_doublevision "0"codecodeseta g_showPlayerShadow "0"codecodeseta image_anisotropy "1"codecodeseta image_filter "GL_LINEAR_MIPMAP_NEAREST"codecode
For even more advanced tweaks that go way beyond what we've covered here, you can check out this site: https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/469881-doom-3/faqs/31621_
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