In ur DOOM3 Folder find "DoomConfig.cfg" under "C:\Program Files\Doom3\base" Open DoomConfig.cfg in Notepad.

Find the line:

seta image_cacheMegs "20"

Change this from 20 to either 128 or 256 depends how much Graphic card onboard ram u have.

It boost ur performance at Ultra High setting the most.

It does help gaining performance but make sure u have 512MB + memory, recommend 1GB ram though. U will notice the game run smoother at Ultra High and High details and have resolution above 1024x768. and yes it dun really help at Low reso and low detail or mid detail since they dun use much textures as High and Ultra High detail. It will help when u starting to bump ur graphic details. and u will also find smoother at intensive fighting.

if u have video card with 128MB and AGP Aperture size at 128MB then u can set the cache value at 256 and yes that will smooth out of fps when u playing Ultra High detail

if u have 256MB graphic card and AGP aperture size at 128MB then u only need to change the cache size to 128MB

so on~

PS: Timedemo is not acurate to test this modification since it's fixed bench with fixed textures, u will only see difference in game play when polygons starts to rise and textures starts to get more, that's the time this cache size thing become useful.

Hope this helps some of gamers that wanna improve performance under High and Ultra High quality setting.

Update: (2004/08/04)

(8:22pm)
Make sure "seta image_usecache" is set to 1 to enable using cache (default Value = 0 )
if u r experiencing crashing when u enabled "seta image_usecache "1"
Have "seta image_cacheMinK" to 25600 and "seta image_cacheMegs" to 256
seta image_cacheMinK = Cache Size minimum in Kilobytes
seta image_cacheMegs = Amount of cache in Megabytes

(8:51pm)
TimeDemo Benchmarking
To enable the console add +seta com_allowConsole "1" to ur short cut

It will look like below:
-> Doom3.exe +seta com_allowConsole "1" <-
Access the console using the "~" key
When above done, type this command in the console without quote "timedemo demo1"
After TimeDemo end itself, it will show ur avg FPS.

(9:01pm)
For Gamers that dun want to mess with DoomConfig.cfg can do followings to auto add codes u want to add~
Create a file called autoexec.cfg in your Doom3 'Base' directory and edit it with Note pad

(2004/08/05)

(8:38am)
NVIDIA Card that support Ultra Shadow Technology and Up Only
Add this -> seta r_useDepthBoundsTest "1" <- (without arrows)
Please save and check the read only file after add this code in doomConfig.cfg
This Tweak is to take advantage on NVIDIA's Ultra Shadow 1 & 2 Technology
and also improves form of occlusion culling (removing pixels that you won't actually see on screen)
With this tweak, u can gain about 5fps more and no IQ lose if u ask
Sorry I dunno how this will do with ATi cards though

(9:05am)
Enable Shadow Culling
add this code to doomConfig.cfg -> seta r_useShadowCulling "1" <- and save then check the read only file again.

(9:10am)
Enable Ocllusion Culling (removing pixels that u dun actually see on screen)
seta r_useCulling "2"
0 = none, 1 = sphere, 2 = sphere + box

(9:27am)
seta g_dragEntity "1"
Allows dragging physics objects around by placing the crosshair over them and holding the fire button
PS: U might want to bind this key to a key in ur own choice (since enabling this will make weapons unswitchable)

seta pm_thirdPerson "1"
Allows third person view
U might want to enable this using console sometimes in the game

(12:26pm)
[seta com_videoRam "64"] ( yes I have no idea why it is set at 64 for video cards above 128MB) And no, this code can not be found in doomConfig.cfg so by adding this code it allows u to set it manually when DOOM 3 detected it wrong. U might wanna ask how to check if DOOM3 detects wrong, read below for more details.

Doom III has detected I have 64mb of ram on my video card but the fact is that I have 128mb, which is probably why a few settings were set wrong in the doomConfig.cfg

set image_downSizeBumpLimit "512" (For 128MB Graphic Card)
1024 for 256mb gfx.
512 for 128mb gfx.
256 for 64mb gfx.
seta image_downSizeBump "1" to enable above

Originally the above was set to 256, as if I had a 64mb card. What I believe it does is decide how large in pixels the bump map textures should be on screen. Without a performance hit I was able to use 512mb with a 128mb card. I am going to try 1024 later to see if it works too.

set image_downSizeLimit "512"
1024 for 256 cards.
512 for 128mb gfx.
256 for 64mb gfx.
seta image_downSize "1" to enable above

Refresh Rate
[seta r_displayRefresh "85"]
Set number of ur own choice.

FOV
[seta g_fov "90"]
FOV = Field of View
THe higer the number the wider area u see, this decreases ur fps though. (not much fps lose, so it's good to use) I myself have it on FOV value @ 120 for more realism and better view.

(01:14pm)
DOOM3 Cheat Command Codes for people who have finished the game:
Type followings in Console, press "~" key to access console
god - God mode
noclip -> No clipping (fly through walls)
give weapon_machinegun -> Machinegun
give weapon_shotgun -> Shotgun
give weapon_plasmagun - Plasmagun
give weapon_ bfg -> BFG (no space between _ bfg when entering command)
give weapon_chainsaw -> Chainsaw
give weapon_rocketlauncher -> R-Launcher
give ammo -> Ammo

Cheers mate shall have to try tonight

I've also found a tool i'm going to experiment.
WIll extract all the pk4 data, for better load times (1 hopes).

Remember to turn Anti Aliasing off as well, doom3 models do not require this.

Quote: Originally posted by Wake Remember to turn Anti Aliasing off as well, doom3 models do not require this.

lol the game does need it if you are useing low res...

i have my res at 1280x1024 and i have 2xAA on ...
and the outcome is like if you have 640x480 with 8xAA on .... and with 2xAA on you dont get a performance hit as if you had it set to 8/16xAA

Updated!

Please look at my first post for more updated infos about getting smoother gaming at Ultra High and High quality setting.
And guide to enable console and DOOM3 TimeDemo Benchmarking

More update! 2004/08/05

Added Codes-

seta r_useDepthBoundsTest "1" (For more info please check the first post)
seta r_useShadowCulling "1" (For more info please check the first post)
seta r_useCulling "2" (For more info please check the first post)
seta g_dragEntity "1" (For more info please check the first post)
seta pm_thirdPerson "1" (For more info please check the first post)
seta com_videoRam "128" (depends how much gfx mem u have)
seta image_downSizeBumpLimit "512" (For more info please check the first post)
seta image_downSizeBump "1" (For more info please check the first post)
seta image_downSizeLimit "512" (For more info please check the first post)
seta image_downSize "1" (For more info please check the first post)
seta r_displayRefresh "85" (refresh Rates)
set g_fov "90" (Field of View)

DOOM3 Cheat Command Codes added

Dunno how this will work on ATi cards though for some of the codes, u might want to try it out too
seta g_dragEntity "1" is fun where u can drag physics obkects
seta pm_thirdPerson "1"
Allows third person view
PS: Read my First post as I often update it with more tweaks for DOOM3

Yes with all this added and done in doomConfig.cfg will definetly give u better performance and smoother gameplay.

I might just post my modified doomConfig.cfg so that u can backup ur own original copy and replace it with modified one for more convinience.

These tweaks does not degrade ur image qualities at very all.
These tweaks are here to help u smoothing out ur gameplay performance as well as free Image Quality etc.

Quote: Originally posted by ringu61 seta g_dragEntity "1" is fun where u can drag physics obkects

how does that work exactly?

Quote: Originally posted by ringu61 Yes with all this added and done in doomConfig.cfg will definetly give u better performance and smoother gameplay. I might just post my modified doomConfig.cfg so that u can backup ur own original copy and replace it with modified one for more convinience. These tweaks does not degrade ur image qualities at very all. These tweaks are here to help u smoothing out ur gameplay performance as well as free Image Quality etc.

Post your doomConfig.cfg!!!

ringu61, keep up the good work dude .... will try some of this stuff tonight ... thnx for the info =)

I've been trying this for a few hours, and it seems to work. I'm using the highest settings possible now and it runs acceptably well, and my computer only has a P4 1.7 processor. Thanks for the info.

Here is a thorough tweaking guide, related to what Ringu is saying.

http://ucguides.savagehelp.com/Doom3/FPSVisuals.htm

just out of curiosity, have any of u tried that patch that gives u extreme ultra high quality mode? it gives character shadows or something

aye? what patch ...
you can turn your charaters shadow on via the config file.
and all ultrahigh setting does is the smae as high settings except the lights are not compressed...

....

Quote: Originally posted by cApTaIn_cRoNiC just out of curiosity, have any of u tried that patch that gives u extreme ultra high quality mode? it gives character shadows or something

i saw that on some site

but havent tried it yet...