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Halo: How to get the best performance from the game!
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:26:29
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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I wanted to share with everyone from ZÅ how to get the best use from your halo. I have looked into this myself to get halo running at its best performance and I've noticed a lot of people in the clan probably don't have their halo on the best possible settings. I will share what I have learned and if you have anything to add please do!
Your Halo Video settings:
This is important to how your halo looks and plays. Their are alot of different settings here you can change to get better performance out of your halo but for a price. Better performance will come at the price of making your halo less pretty. Yes you will have to lose all of those pretty effects but if you feel you want to up your performance then this is necessary.
The default Halo settings:
This is the default settings for halo. If you notice all the effects are on and framerates are locked at 30. For those of you that don't know framerates are very important. FPS or frames per second is basically how a single frame or image is presented to your screen rapidly to make it seem like your game is in motion, so FPS is how many of those frames your game can produce in one second. The higher the Framerate the smoother your halo will be.
My settings:
Resolution-Low as you can go
Your resolution is one of the most important factors that affects your framerate. The higher the resolution the better halo looks but you will get less frames. 800x600 is the best resolution to get the most frames and play ability. 640x400 will get you more frames than 800x600 but it looked so bad i could never tolerate it. Your resolution also has a lot to do with your monitor and size of your screen. So remember Higher the resolution = Prettier the halo but less frames you get.
Refresh Rate-As high as you can go
Set the Refresh rate to the highest it'll go. If you can, up the refresh rate to 75 hz. You can only do this for monitor and can't on a laptop or with certain graphics cards. This should earn you a few more frames.
Framerate- No Vsync
Halo has your frames locked at 30 for default. Halo was made a long time ago and many computers have become a lot better then they were. If your computer isnt totally out of date you need to change the framerate to No Vsync. No Vsync will allow you to get the maximum amount of frames your computer can get, even sometimes if your computer can't handle it. You will see a big jump in how your game is presented on No Vsync but the game play should be smoother. You will have to get used to it since its such a change though it will help in the long run.
If you feel No Vsync is too much for your computer to handle then put it on just Vsync. Setting your refresh rate to Vsync instead of No Vsync will just let your frames be as high as your refresh rate, in most cases 60
Specular- Preferably off
I prefer to leave specular on, it is what makes things more shiny and better looking. I'd advice leaving this off if you have a bad graphics card. If you don't care for the looks you can turn it off and you will get more frames. Specular can really eat your frames on some maps due to the map being really shiny (ex. gephy and damnation). Remember the less effects you have the less halo has to work and you'll get more frames from it.
Shadows- Off
Turn shadows off, its a pretty effect that isn't needed and hampers on your frames. I really haven't noticed a visual difference with it on or off so might as well get some more frames by leaving it off.
Decals- Preferably off
Decals are basically bullet holes and blood. I have left decals on so that i can see (and write) with bullet holes but if you don't care for that then you can turn it off and get more frames. When alot of bullet holes and such build up it can hurt your frames.
Particles- Preferably off
Particles are basically just sparks, explosions, flames, and things of that nature. When they are off you will not be able to see all the bullets, flames and other things listed but your halo won't have to show it on screen and thus you should gain frames. I prefer halos performance over these pretty trivial effects. When their are tons of explosions, shots, or flames going off having particles on high can slow down your fps. I keep mine on low or off depending. On low you will still be able to see bullets but it won't hurt your frames as much as when particles are on high
Texture quality- low as you can go
Texture quality makes your halo look nice for sure but also hampers on your framerate. I keep mine on medium just because i don't like the low setting but if you don't care for looks and want performance drop it to low and earn the extra frames.
So yea try these settings out and find what best works for you. Determine how much quality you want for performance. To determine your frame rates u can use xfire in-game.
on the bottom toolbar where is says fps, 90 is my framerates. Framerates changes during gameplay based on how much stuff is going on and what is happening. But the more frames you have the smoother your halo will turn out.
You can also press cntrl f12 during a game to see your frames in real time. The number that is changing rapidly is your fps. Also if you have a recording device such as fraps or dxtory it will tell you your frames also.
Other helpful hints: lead and ping
Your lead in halo is how far ahead of a moving target you have to aim for your shots to connect. I bring this up here because your ping mostly determines what your lead is. Everyone will have a different lead based on their ping. The lower the ping the less you have to lead and you can just basically aim and shoot. This is why people with 33 ping have such an advantage, they barley have to aim ahead of their target at all and can just aim and fire. So the higher your ping is the farther you'll have to aim ahead of your target for your shots to connect, which in turn will make halo more difficult for you. So to help with your ping and lead you need to run as few as programs as possible while playing halo. You don't need anything else taking up bandwidth from your internet. Just have halo and xfire running and nothing else. If your running off wireless internet other users using your internet can take up your bandwidth too so try to be the only person using your internet. If you can directly hook up your computer to your router then that can help with lag too.
If you have any questions for corrections for me pls add them to this thread! More discussion the better! Post your feedback if this helped or not!
Edited by MasterA on 04/05/2013 13:15:09
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| FC Wings |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:39:27
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Super Admin
Posts: 4425
Joined: 16.11.10
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mine's on full graphics and sound so im good  but this makes me want to try another smoother setting
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/23/2012 20:41:07
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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FC Wings wrote:
mine's on full graphics and sound so im good but this makes me want to try another smoother setting
if your on full graphics and sound then you're not playing at the best performance you can get. I recommend trying out these settings and seeing if your game play improves.
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| Phoenix |
Posted on 05/23/2012 22:00:49
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 2309
Joined: 16.04.11
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Cool thread. Remember to also give this time. You will be kinda "relearning" how to play Halo. At least that is how it was for me.
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| ZA EZrab |
Posted on 05/23/2012 22:47:31
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 3268
Joined: 26.07.11
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I might as well post how i have my settings latr, but might wana put some stuff in about the mouse settings? Or if you like I will. |
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| collegenet |
Posted on 05/23/2012 23:08:30
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Member
Posts: 62
Joined: 21.03.12
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a quick side note about ping, the reason 33 is an advantage over 66 is because of delay.
if you are pinging 33ms to a server, and your opponent is pinging 66, when something happens, say a weapon is shot,
you, pinging 33, it takes you 33milliseconds(ms) to see that action on your screen, but that EXACT same action takes the 66 ping player 66ms to see the action, which is often why 33 pingers can shoot you before you see them if you have 100-133 ping.
hope that makes sense
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| ZA EZrab |
Posted on 05/23/2012 23:34:26
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 3268
Joined: 26.07.11
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That is one of the reasons i have such a disadvantage with my 233 ping |
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| ZA BrickSquad |
Posted on 05/24/2012 02:16:44
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 5303
Joined: 12.05.11
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Thank you very much Master A for the tips!
I told you, you're cool xD |
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| The Hat of Love |
Posted on 05/24/2012 06:43:56
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 9035
Joined: 31.07.11
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Damn you - not even on lowest graphics and you get 90 fps?! Mine's as low as it will go and I average ~25.
my signature broke, here is a fox snek:
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| Devase |
Posted on 05/24/2012 08:51:22
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I got a big blue star for posting. i must be special
Posts: 1949
Joined: 30.03.11
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Well done
[Use this link to sign up for League of Legends!] |
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/24/2012 12:27:01
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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The Hat of Love wrote:
Damn you - not even on lowest graphics and you get 90 fps?! Mine's as low as it will go and I average ~25.
are u sure no vsync is on? also is your resolution on a low setting?
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| collegenet |
Posted on 05/24/2012 12:28:00
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Member
Posts: 62
Joined: 21.03.12
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collegenet wrote:
a quick side note about ping, the reason 33 is an advantage over 66 is because of delay.
if you are pinging 33ms to a server, and your opponent is pinging 66, when something happens, say a weapon is shot,
you, pinging 33, it takes you 33milliseconds(ms) to see that action on your screen, but that EXACT same action takes the 66 ping player 66ms to see the action, which is often why 33 pingers can shoot you before you see them if you have 100-133 ping.
hope that makes sense
i got bored of typing that so i just kinda hit send, but to finish that thought, the reason your lead is smaller with 33 as compared to 233 is because the action of the MasterChief moving takes 33ms for it to register to your computer, so you have to shoot ~33ms ahead of where you actually see the MasterChief, as apposed to 233, where every action in the game is delayed 233ms, you have to shoot 233ms ahead of somebody for it to register as a hit, this is also why most people with 166+ ping get hit before they even see anybody, because somebody with 33 ping can see the 233 pinger before they even appear on his opponents screen
hope that makes sense also....
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| The Hat of Love |
Posted on 05/24/2012 14:33:10
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ShawnPeezy
Posts: 9035
Joined: 31.07.11
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MasterA wrote:
The Hat of Love wrote:
Damn you - not even on lowest graphics and you get 90 fps?! Mine's as low as it will go and I average ~25.
are u sure no vsync is on? also is your resolution on a low setting?
I put my res down to 800x600 (from whatever the highest is). The text looked awful but it seemed smoother. Averaged about 30 fps.
Of course, it probably doesn't help that I usually have Steam, Xfire, MSN, Opera and iTunes open in the background, does it?
my signature broke, here is a fox snek:
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/24/2012 16:14:31
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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The Hat of Love wrote:
MasterA wrote:
The Hat of Love wrote:
Damn you - not even on lowest graphics and you get 90 fps?! Mine's as low as it will go and I average ~25.
are u sure no vsync is on? also is your resolution on a low setting?
I put my res down to 800x600 (from whatever the highest is). The text looked awful but it seemed smoother. Averaged about 30 fps.
Of course, it probably doesn't help that I usually have Steam, Xfire, MSN, Opera and iTunes open in the background, does it?
and u had no vsync on under framerates right? if your framerates are on 30 fps then it will stay locked on that.
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| ZA reaper |
Posted on 05/24/2012 16:21:07
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Wanker
Posts: 871
Joined: 15.11.10
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um i followed ur advice and i now have 250 to 1000+ fps with 65 ping is that normal?
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/24/2012 16:23:25
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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ZA reaper wrote:
um i followed ur advice and i now have 250 to 1000+ fps with 65 ping is that normal?
during voteing time or before u join a game your fps is going to be extremely high since halo has to do little work and can present the frames faster. What is your fps in the server and what is it in the middle of gameplay?
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| ZA RedXlll |
Posted on 05/24/2012 16:27:05
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Numpty
Posts: 1181
Joined: 30.12.10
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I have everything set to max, including resolution that my monitor can handle. I get alot of fps ingame http://screenshot...9902-4.jpg
Usually its 200-250+
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| MasterA |
Posted on 05/24/2012 16:30:31
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Super Admin
Posts: 2582
Joined: 21.07.11
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ZA RedXlll wrote:
I have everything set to max, including resolution that my monitor can handle. I get alot of fps ingame http://screenshot...9902-4.jpg
Usually its 200-250+
what kind of graphics card do u have?
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| ZA reaper |
Posted on 05/24/2012 16:38:29
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Wanker
Posts: 871
Joined: 15.11.10
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according to my comp a nvidia geforce 8600 gt
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| ZA reaper |
Posted on 05/24/2012 16:39:17
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Wanker
Posts: 871
Joined: 15.11.10
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in the server im anywhere from 150 to 500
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