Mass Effect 3 Tweaks

[Cyanide89]

Hello everyone,

I just started playing Mass Effect 3 and am about 8 hours in: however, I'm struggling to ignore the massive flaws in the visuals. Now don't hate on me for this, but this is my first time playing Mass Effect... and I am loving it! I regret not starting from the first game. But! Now that I'm hooked, and thoroughly enjoying the story and cinematic experience, I have to address the elephant in the game... the very very VERY poor textures and DOF. I don't want to hear Mass Effect fanboys saying the graphics are amazing when it is obviously far from that.

I'm currently running the game on highest settIngs and max at 120 fps. What I am wondering is if the game has an .ini file like Skyrim that I can edit to increase visuals? Am I able to access the console somehow?

 

[BKCXb]

I think alot of companies are coming back to PC games, I think they sent out a coded console version, just to see how well it sells.

I just got it Tuesday, and yeah the graphics suck for a computer game, but they are awsome for a console game which is what this game is.

afterburner says that my 560Ti jumps between 33-45% GPU usage and only uses half of the memory, so its not a very demanding game.

I really like this game so far, but yeah the $60 price tag hurts alot more when you get it installed and see the grapfics.

hopefully they will release a high-res texture pack like they did with Crysis 2 if people complain enough about it.

 

[Cyanide89]

Crysis, Skyrim... it's happening more often to big titles. I thought ME would be doing it as well.

 

[SieB]

The graphics are good in ME3 they just aren't good by PC standards.

The graphics are a lot better than they were in 2, the textures in 2 were terrible, a few texture mods were released for it though. There will probably be a few mods appearing in a few weeks time for ME3.

There is a config file in

C:\Users\"username"\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\BIOGame\Config

Spoiler

[AppCompat]

MeasuredCPUScore=-1.000000

CompatLevelComposite=3

CompatLevelCPU=6

CompatLevelGPU=3

GPUVendorID=4098

GPUDeviceID=26425

CPUNumLogicalProcessors=4

[SystemSettings]

BorderlessWindow=False

Fullscreen=True

DynamicShadows=True

MaxCharacterCinematicLightingPasses=3

SHSecondaryLighting=True

MotionBlur=True

bAllowPostprocessAA=True

MaxAnisotropy=2

ResX=1920

ResY=1080

MouseSensitivity=75

UseMouseDampening=True

MPVoiceChatInputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatOutputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatVolume=100

MPVoiceChatMode=0

MPVoiceContinueOnLostFocus=False

Nothing really to change, don't know if you can add lines to it like in Skyrim though.

 

[Cyanide89]

The graphics are good in ME3 they just aren't good by PC standards.

The graphics are a lot better than they were in 2, the textures in 2 were terrible, a few texture mods were released for it though. There will probably be a few mods appearing in a few weeks time for ME3.

There is a config file in

C:\Users\"username"\Documents\BioWare\Mass Effect 3\BIOGame\Config

Spoiler

[AppCompat]

MeasuredCPUScore=-1.000000

CompatLevelComposite=3

CompatLevelCPU=6

CompatLevelGPU=3

GPUVendorID=4098

GPUDeviceID=26425

CPUNumLogicalProcessors=4

[SystemSettings]

BorderlessWindow=False

Fullscreen=True

DynamicShadows=True

MaxCharacterCinematicLightingPasses=3

SHSecondaryLighting=True

MotionBlur=True

bAllowPostprocessAA=True

MaxAnisotropy=2

ResX=1920

ResY=1080

MouseSensitivity=75

UseMouseDampening=True

MPVoiceChatInputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatOutputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatVolume=100

MPVoiceChatMode=0

MPVoiceContinueOnLostFocus=False

Nothing really to change, don't know if you can add lines to it like in Skyrim though.

I added some lines from ME2 that appeared to have worked.

 

[SieB]

I added some lines from ME2 that appeared to have worked.

Post your config file please, i'll give them a try as well

 

[Cyanide89]

Post your config file please, i'll give them a try as well

This is what I had... most of it was working until I added depth tweaks. Now my frame rate is capped at 60 again... gonna figure out what changed.

Spoiler

[AppCompat]

MeasuredCPUScore=-1.000000

CompatLevelComposite=3

CompatLevelCPU=6

CompatLevelGPU=3

GPUVendorID=4318

GPUDeviceID=4232

CPUNumLogicalProcessors=8

[SystemSettings]

Resolution=_800x600

ResX=1920

ResY=1080

FullScreen=True

bAllowPostprocessAA=True

MotionBlur=True

DynamicShadows=True

MaxCharacterCinematicLightingPasses=3

SHSecondaryLighting=True

MaxAnisotropy=16

BorderlessWindow=False

MouseSensitivity=75

UseMouseDampening=True

MPVoiceChatInputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatOutputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatVolume=100

MPVoiceChatMode=0

MPVoiceContinueOnLostFocus=False

Trilinear=True

[Engine.GameEngine]

UseVsync=False

bSmoothFrameRate=False

MinSmoothedFrameRate=22

MaxSmoothedFrameRate=120

MaxTextureSize=2048

ShadowFilterRadius=1.000000

DepthBias=0.001000

ShadowFilterQualityBias=2

MaxShadowResolution=2048

MinShadowResolution=1024

ModShadowFadeDistanceExponent=0.020000

[SaveGames]

Location=

Edit: Figured out that I accidentally moved the FPS settings under [Engine.GameEngine] instead of [SystemSettings]. Now its back to 120 fps again.

Spoiler

[AppCompat]

MeasuredCPUScore=-1.000000

CompatLevelComposite=3

CompatLevelCPU=6

CompatLevelGPU=3

GPUVendorID=4318

GPUDeviceID=4232

CPUNumLogicalProcessors=8

[SystemSettings]

Resolution=_800x600

ResX=1920

ResY=1080

FullScreen=True

bAllowPostprocessAA=True

MotionBlur=True

DynamicShadows=True

MaxCharacterCinematicLightingPasses=3

SHSecondaryLighting=True

MaxAnisotropy=16

BorderlessWindow=False

MouseSensitivity=75

UseMouseDampening=True

MPVoiceChatInputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatOutputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatVolume=100

MPVoiceChatMode=0

MPVoiceContinueOnLostFocus=False

Trilinear=True

UseVsync=False

bSmoothFrameRate=False

MinSmoothedFrameRate=22

MaxSmoothedFrameRate=120

MaxTextureSize=2048

ShadowFilterRadius=1.000000

DepthBias=0.001000

ShadowFilterQualityBias=2

MaxShadowResolution=1024

MinShadowResolution=512

ModShadowFadeDistanceExponent=0.020000

[SaveGames]

Location=

 

[Cyanide89]

Ok, I just figured out ALL the answer to EVERYTHING!

I've attached a ME3coalesced editor. Run the program, located coalesced.bin in ... \Mass Effect 3\BIOGame\CookedPCConsole

It will show all available options for tweaking the system settings. I tried using the program to locate settings and then add them to the .ini to be safe, rather than messing around with the .bin.

 

[SieB]

Ok, I just figured out ALL the answer to EVERYTHING!

I've attached a ME3coalesced editor. Run the program, located coalesced.bin in ... \Mass Effect 3\BIOGame\CookedPCConsole

It will show all available options for tweaking the system settings. I tried using the program to locate settings and then add them to the .ini to be safe, rather than messing around with the .bin.

Cheers dude, i'll give it a go later.

 

[Cyanide89]

Let me know which changes you make and if they work. I'm still experimenting and would like to know which ones make the most visual impact.

 

[Cyanide89]

Ok, so I've been messing around with the .ini a lot after searching through the ME3coalesced.bin and have found several tweaks that I have found to be a great improvement in environmental textures and shadows. Unfortunately, I still can't get the skybox to render at a higher resolution and the character shadows look strange, but here is the .ini and a few screens:

Spoiler

[AppCompat]

MeasuredCPUScore=-1.000000

CompatLevelComposite=3

CompatLevelCPU=6

CompatLevelGPU=3

GPUVendorID=4318

GPUDeviceID=4232

CPUNumLogicalProcessors=8

[SystemSettings]

Resolution=_800x600

ResX=1920

ResY=1080

FullScreen=True

bAllowPostprocessAA=True

MotionBlur=True

DynamicShadows=True

MaxCharacterCinematicLightingPasses=3

SHSecondaryLighting=True

MaxAnisotropy=16

BorderlessWindow=False

MouseSensitivity=75

UseMouseDampening=True

MPVoiceChatInputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatOutputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatVolume=100

MPVoiceChatMode=0

MPVoiceContinueOnLostFocus=False

Trilinear=True

UseVsync=False

bSmoothFrameRate=False

MinSmoothedFrameRate=22

MaxSmoothedFrameRate=120

MaxTextureSize=4096

ShadowFilterRadius=5.000000

DepthBias=0.001000

ShadowFilterQualityBias=2

MaxShadowResolution=2048

MinShadowResolution=1024

ModShadowFadeDistanceExponent=0.020000

EnableHighPolyChars=True

SkeletalMeshLODBias=-1

ParticleLODBias=-1

bSmoothFrameRate=False

SizeOfPermanentObjectPool=19600000

FilmGrain=False

EnableLightEnvSHLights=True

[TextureStreaming]

PoolSize=1500

[TextureLODSettings]

TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=8,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=4096,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=4096,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=4096,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_World=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_WorldNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_AmbientLightMap=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Diff=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Norm=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_512=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_256=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_128=(MinLODSize=128,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_64=(MinLODSize=64,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_512=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_256=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_128=(MinLODSize=128,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_64=(MinLODSize=64,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_GUI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=2048,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_128=(MinLODSize=128,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_256=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_512=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Promotional=(MinLODSize=2048,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

[SaveGames]

Location=

 

[SieB]

That definitely looks better, I had a look at the settings to change using the .bin but I have no idea what to change to make improvements to be honest.

I have my fingers crossed for a hi res texture pack coming soon, i've been putting off playing the game just incase. Those settings you posted look good enough though.

 

[LFiasco]

Ok, so I've been messing around with the .ini a lot after searching through the ME3coalesced.bin and have found several tweaks that I have found to be a great improvement in environmental textures and shadows. Unfortunately, I still can't get the skybox to render at a higher resolution and the character shadows look strange, but here is the .ini and a few screens:

Spoiler

[AppCompat]

MeasuredCPUScore=-1.000000

CompatLevelComposite=3

CompatLevelCPU=6

CompatLevelGPU=3

GPUVendorID=4318

GPUDeviceID=4232

CPUNumLogicalProcessors=8

[SystemSettings]

Resolution=_800x600

ResX=1920

ResY=1080

FullScreen=True

bAllowPostprocessAA=True

MotionBlur=True

DynamicShadows=True

MaxCharacterCinematicLightingPasses=3

SHSecondaryLighting=True

MaxAnisotropy=16

BorderlessWindow=False

MouseSensitivity=75

UseMouseDampening=True

MPVoiceChatInputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatOutputDevice=0

MPVoiceChatVolume=100

MPVoiceChatMode=0

MPVoiceContinueOnLostFocus=False

Trilinear=True

UseVsync=False

bSmoothFrameRate=False

MinSmoothedFrameRate=22

MaxSmoothedFrameRate=120

MaxTextureSize=4096

ShadowFilterRadius=5.000000

DepthBias=0.001000

ShadowFilterQualityBias=2

MaxShadowResolution=2048

MinShadowResolution=1024

ModShadowFadeDistanceExponent=0.020000

EnableHighPolyChars=True

SkeletalMeshLODBias=-1

ParticleLODBias=-1

bSmoothFrameRate=False

SizeOfPermanentObjectPool=19600000

FilmGrain=False

EnableLightEnvSHLights=True

[TextureStreaming]

PoolSize=1500

[TextureLODSettings]

TEXTUREGROUP_Character=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_CharacterNormalMap=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_Effects=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_LightAndShadowMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_RenderTarget=(MinLODSize=8,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Skybox=(MinLODSize=4096,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_UI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Vehicle=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_VehicleNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Weapon=(MinLODSize=4096,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_WeaponNormalMap=(MinLODSize=4096,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_World=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_WorldNormalMap=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_AmbientLightMap=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Diff=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Norm=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_Spec=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_512=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_256=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_128=(MinLODSize=128,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_64=(MinLODSize=64,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_512=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_256=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_128=(MinLODSize=128,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_64=(MinLODSize=64,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_GUI=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=2048,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Environment_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_VFX_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=0)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_128=(MinLODSize=128,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_256=(MinLODSize=256,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_512=(MinLODSize=512,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_APL_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Character_1024=(MinLODSize=1024,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

TEXTUREGROUP_Promotional=(MinLODSize=2048,MaxLODSize=4096,LODBias=-1)

[SaveGames]

Location=

Dude, thank you so much for this!!!!! Please keep us updated on the graphical settings you find.

Also, this might be of help to you? http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/106/index/2060374/1

 

[Cyanide89]

You're very welcome.

I'll keep you posted on any changes and if you find anything else that at be of use, be sure to post it here as well.

 

[SieB]

Just found this

http://social.bioware.com/forum/1/topic/323/index/9735492

 

[Cyanide89]

Just found this

http://social.biowar...3/index/9735492

To be honest, I don't see much of a difference. Nothing that couldn't be done with brightness/contrast/gamma tweaking in game.

 

[SieB]

Not tried it myself yet but it did improve Skyrim quite a bit when I used the FXAA injector on that a while ago.

I think i'm just going to hold out until there is a Hi Res texture pack available and start a new game of Alan Wake, first time I played it I had sound issues and couldn't hear half of what was said, but I have sorted the sound probs out now.

 

[Cyanide89]

I would very much like a high-res texture pack. But isn't the game long enough to play a bit until that (if that) comes out?

 

[SieB]

I would very much like a high-res texture pack. But isn't the game long enough to play a bit until that (if that) comes out?

Don't know how long the game is to be honest, probably around 20hrs or so.

I am fussy when it comes to games though, I'll wait weeks if it means i'll get a better experience from a patch or a mod. I even waited until the DX11 patch for Crysis 2 was released before I played it and I bought that on the day it was released

 

[Cyanide89]

But when Crysis 2 was released, we didn't even know if a DX11 patch was coming... so... you must be psychic.