S.T.A.L.K.E.R: how is it running on your pc?

hey guys, i'd like to know if anyone here is running s.t.a.l.k.e.r. i've heard people are having trouble to get the game running at decent fps, especially with dynamic lighting turned on. i've heard horror stories about how graphically demanding, and buggy this game is, is it true?

however, based on my personal experience, i don't think so. i'm about 5 hours into the game, and i havn't encountered any serious problems with the game this far. actually the the only probem i can think of is that the game can be a little bit frustrating, due to the highly advanced AI, so save after every firefight. other than that, this game is a masterpiece, and i think it's the best first person shooter since HALF-LIFE 2, the atmosphere, the design and the intense and realistic firefights, but the best thing about it, is that it's about survival, which makes it very unique undeed.
So, what you guys think?

 

I'd love to hear some suggestions for tweaking STALKER to get the best performance with my setup. I have an Athlon 64 3400+, 1.5GB of RAM and a GeForce 6800GT. I haven't played around much with the settings, but with the defaults it set for me, it's been really kind of choppy, especially outdoors, to the point that it's hard for me to get immersed in it.

I'd love to find out the optimal settings for my setup to get it to run smoothly.

 

Heh... running this game on an Athlon 64 3200 with 2 gigs of RAM and a GeForce 6800... lucky if you can get by with 800x600

Running the game with a C2D E6600 with 2 gigs of RAM and a GeForce 7900 GS w/ 256 VRAM... chances are better...

Even on my new computer, with the 7900, the gameplay is a little choppy... otherwise... fine.

Hope this helps people who have a notebook with a Core 2 Duo and the nVidia Go 7900 cards...

 

Tweakguides has a complete guide to tweaking the game. It's a good guide that covers pretty much everything in Stalker.

I ran the game on my destktop: C2D E6400 with 2GB ram, x850XT video card and regular 7200 hard drive. I can run it a maximum quality setting, some AF (or AA, can't remember), with static lighting, the cheap lighting.
I get 60+ FPS in pretty much any situation.

If I put the lighting up one notch, I fall at around 20-30 FPS. I lose more than 50% of my speed because of the better lighting!!


I got mad at the game though. I was playing, shotting these things and soldiers and I won. They're all over the floor. Then out of nowhere, just like that, *POOF* a soldier appears. I'm dead. Yep, instant "in your face" respawn.

I found a few more things that are messed up. I like to use my numpad to redefine my keys. Well there's some bugs with how fast the time flows and some keys on the numpad. Also, if I configure the numpad to move around etc, I can't start the game anymore. As soon as I get out, I can't get back in. I have to delete my settings file and start it again, loosing my configuration.

I also detested the fact that I had made some progress in the game, only to loose it all because the patch is not compatible with earlyer savegames. Now who makes a patch do that??

It's an ok game, but it has too many problems to be enjoyable.

 

it runs great with static lighting + x1400 for me , i was getting 45+ FPS.

 

Linkified: http://www.tweakguides.com/STALKER_5.html

I imagine you're using AF, as STALKER doesn't support proper AA due to the use of deferred shading. Apparently it doesn't really support correct AF either, but I digress.

To paraphrase the well-known quote, "Lightin' ain't easy." Turning on either level of Dynamic lighting also flips the HDR switch to On.

I've heard reports of people playing this on a GMA900 though ... I suppose more out of sick curiousity than anything else, I'd like to see a screenshot of that in action.

 

strange, because i'm running it on my inspiron 9400, C2D T 7200, 2 GB, go 7900 GS, with everything set on max except for grass distant, and on 1440x900 resolution, and with the dynamic lighting option enabled, and it's running great, actually the frame rate almost never drops below 30 fps, which is very impressive, especially after checking some benchmark testing.

 

i was checking the stalker forums, and found a code that can improve performance greatly, but i havn't tried it, cause i'm having no trouble running on max settings, but many people were reporting great results after trying it, so i thought it could be useful for some of you guys who are having trouble to get decent fps. however remember to make a back-up file in case anything goes wrong.
here is the code:


Go into your User.alx file. It can be found in C documents and SettingsAll UsersDocumentsSTALKER-SHOC

Replace all the text with the following:

_preset Default
ai_use_torch_dynamic_lights on
unbindall
bind jump kSPACE
bind crouch kRCONTROL
bind crouch_toggle kSLASH
bind accel kLSHIFT
bind sprint_toggle kX
bind forward kUP
bind back kDOWN
bind lstrafe kLEFT
bind rstrafe kRIGHT
bind llookout kQ
bind rlookout kE
bind cam_***m_in kADD
bind cam_***m_out kSUBTRACT
bind torch kL
bind night_vision kN
bind wpn_1 k1
bind wpn_2 k2
bind wpn_3 k3
bind wpn_4 k4
bind wpn_5 k5
bind wpn_6 k6
bind artefact k7
bind wpn_next kY
bind wpn_fire mouse1
bind wpn_***m mouse2
bind wpn_reload kR
bind wpn_func kV
bind wpn_firemode_prev k9
bind wpn_firemode_next k0
bind pause kPAUSE
bind drop kG
bind use kF
bind scores kTAB
bind chat kCOMMA
bind chat_team kPERIOD
bind screenshot kF12
bind quit kESCAPE
bind console kGRAVE
bind inventory kI
bind buy_menu kB
bind skin_menu kO
bind team_menu kU
bind active_jobs kP
bind map kM
bind contacts kH
bind vote_begin kF5
bind vote kF6
bind vote_yes kF7
bind vote_no kF8
bind speech_menu_0 kC
bind speech_menu_1 kZ
bind use_bandage kRBRACKET
bind use_medkit kLBRACKET
cam_inert 0.
cam_slide_inert 0.25
cl_cod_pickup_mode 1
cl_dynamiccrosshair on
g_always_run on
g_autopickup on
g_backrun on
g_corpsenum 10
g_eventdelay 0
g_game_difficulty gd_stalker
hud_crosshair on
hud_crosshair_dist off
mm_mm_net_srv_dedicated off
mm_net_con_publicserver off
mm_net_con_spectator 20
mm_net_con_spectator_on off
mm_net_srv_gamemode st_deathmatch
mm_net_srv_maxplayers 32
mm_net_srv_name BLACKBOX
mm_net_srv_reinforcement_type 1
mm_net_weather_rateofchange 1.
mouse_invert off
mouse_sens 0.32
net_cl_icurvesize 0
net_cl_icurvetype 0
net_cl_interpolation 0.
net_cl_log_data off
net_cl_pending_lim 3
net_cl_update_rate 30
net_dedicated_sleep 5
net_sv_log_data off
net_sv_pending_lim 3
net_sv_update_rate 30
ph_frequency 75.00000
ph_iterations 24
r1_dlights on
r1_dlights_clip 10.
r1_glows_per_frame 16
r1_lmodel_lerp 0.1
r1_pps_u -1.
r1_pps_v 0.
r1_ssa_lod_a 64.
r1_ssa_lod_b 48.
r1_tf_mipbias 0.
r2_aa off
r2_aa_break 0.800000,0.500000,0.000000
r2_aa_kernel 0.5
r2_aa_weight 0.250000,0.250000,0.000000
r2_allow_r1_lights off
r2_gi off
r2_gi_clip 0.001
r2_gi_depth 1
r2_gi_photons 16
r2_gi_refl 0.9
r2_gloss_factor 1.4
r2_ls_bloom_fast off
r2_ls_bloom_kernel_b 0.7
r2_ls_bloom_kernel_g 3.
r2_ls_bloom_kernel_scale 0.7
r2_ls_bloom_speed 100.
r2_ls_bloom_threshold 0.001
r2_ls_depth_bias -0.0003
r2_ls_depth_scale 1.00001
r2_ls_dsm_kernel 0.7
r2_ls_psm_kernel 0.7
r2_ls_squality 0.5
r2_ls_ssm_kernel 0.7
r2_mblur 0.
r2_parallax_h 0.04
r2_slight_fade 0.05
r2_ssa_lod_a 96.
r2_ssa_lod_b 64.
r2_sun on
r2_sun_depth_far_bias -0.00001
r2_sun_depth_far_scale 1.
r2_sun_depth_near_bias 0.00001
r2_sun_depth_near_scale 1.
r2_sun_details off
r2_sun_focus on
r2_sun_lumscale 1.
r2_sun_lumscale_amb 0.5
r2_sun_lumscale_hemi 1.
r2_sun_near 12.
r2_sun_near_border 0.75
r2_sun_tsm on
r2_sun_tsm_bias -0.01
r2_sun_tsm_proj 0.3
r2_tf_mipbias -3.
r2_tonemap on
r2_tonemap_adaptation 1.
r2_tonemap_amount 0.7
r2_tonemap_lowlum 0.0001
r2_tonemap_middlegray 0.6
r2_wait_sleep 0
r2_zfill off
r2_zfill_depth 0.5
r2em 2.
r__detail_density 0.44
r__geometry_lod 1.2
r__supersample 4
r__tf_aniso 12
renderer renderer_r2
rs_c_brightness 1.
rs_c_contrast 1.
rs_c_gamma 1.2
rs_fullscreen on
rs_refresh_60hz off
rs_stats off
rs_v_sync off
rs_vis_distance 1.
snd_acceleration on
snd_cache_size 32
snd_efx on
snd_targets 24
snd_volume_eff 0.8
snd_volume_music 1.
sv_anomalies_enabled 1
sv_anomalies_length 3
sv_artefact_respawn_delta 30
sv_artefact_stay_time 3
sv_artefacts_count 10
sv_auto_team_balance 0
sv_auto_team_swap 1
sv_bearercantsprint 1
sv_client_reconnect_time 60
sv_console_update_rate 1
sv_dedicated_server_update_rate 100
sv_dmgblockindicator 1
sv_dmgblocktime 0
sv_forcerespawn 0
sv_fraglimit 10
sv_friendly_indicators 0
sv_friendly_names 0
sv_friendlyfire 1.
sv_hail_to_winner_time 7000
sv_pda_hunt 1
sv_pending_wait_time 10000
sv_reinforcement_time 0
sv_remove_corpse 1
sv_remove_weapon 1
sv_returnplayers 1
sv_rpoint_freeze_time 0
sv_shieldedbases 1
sv_spectr_firsteye 1
sv_spectr_freefly 0
sv_spectr_freelook 1
sv_spectr_lookat 1
sv_spectr_teamcamera 1
sv_statistic_collect 1
sv_statistic_save_auto 0
sv_timelimit 0
sv_vote_enabled 1
sv_vote_participants 0
sv_vote_quota 0.51
sv_vote_time 1.
sv_warm_up 0
texture_lod 2
vid_mode 1280x1024

Make sure you create a backup of your original file in case anything goes wrong.

 

Clipped the non-performance related ones out. And given that this basically sets it to 1280x1024, Full Dynamic Lights (less Grass Shadows) with high LOD, this might hurt lesser-equipped systems. Back up first, folks!

 

Well, I get an average of 30 FPS with the following hardware and settings:

Asus G1 Laptop (2 Ghz C2D, 2g RAM, 5400 HDD, nVidia Ge Force Go 7700 with Tweaked MobileForce M4 Enhanced Video Drivers 9.4.2.0).

Render: Objects Dynamic Lighting
Quality Settings: Maximun
Resolution: 1024x640 Full Screen
Vision Distance: four notches below 100%
Objects Detail: two notches below 100%
Grass Density: 100%
Textures Detail: 100%
Antialiasing: 2X
Sun Shadow: No (becuase of my Render Settings)
Grass Shadow: No (same as above)
Lighting distance: Three notches up
NPC Flashlights: YES
Shadow Quality: 100%

I like the game so far... Very recommended.

Regards,
RayanMX

 

Anyone playing with ATI X1700 card?

It plays well for at times but i keep getting these crashes freeze where i cant exit the game and have to shut down.

It’s talked about a lot in the forums but there doesn’t appear to be any real answer to this problem. It looks like it could be an ATI issue.

 

I have absolutely no problems running it at full detail settings (lighting, shadows, full AA and all) at 1680x1050. But then, I'm running it on our eval unit of the Sager 9260 with SLI GeForce 7950's (I like to play on my Samsung 226bw because its so bright, and 22 inches of screen rocks hardcore. Thats why it's not 1920x1200)

I usually get between 40 and 60 fps, occasionally dropping down into the 30's, but not often, and it is silky smooth all the time. I can probably post some screenshots later if anyone is interested.

 

stalker and fear are my 2 fav fps's on the comp

 

I dont like the game stalker, but i think it's because i play it at too hard level

 

I cant get into stalker eather, but I only have given it like 3 or 4 hours. I cant really like how its setup and trying to find what mission to work on where to go, who to talk too ect.

Heck where im supposed to go right now isnt anywhere on my map as far as I can see, and the one place it shows to me with an icon just says come back to me later after you complete X objective.

Plus it seems pretty hard I died in the first gun fight several times over.

 

I have an older AMD 3700+, 1 GB of RAM, 60GB 7200RPM drive and a Radeon Mobility 9700 Pro. I run it with everything almost high, static lighting and draw distances pulled a bit back. over 40FPS.

 

I got an X1600 and I played at 800x600 with dynamic lighting on...The graphics aren't that spectacular but it's the lighting that makes the difference. I get about 20-30 fps depending on the weather. I take the biggest hit fighting during sunset because that's when everything starts dropping shadows...and the X1600 does not like shadows.

I found that the beginning of the game is the hardest because the guns you have are crap. Distance is such a large factor you just can't pick guys off with a pistol or those crap autos.

 

Same here buddy. I have the same setup on my Toshiba and in XP I always get 30+ FPS with everything maxed out (Yes, I have Dynamic lighting on). Though when I set lighting to static (cheap-o lighting) my fps go through the roof.

 

did anyone notice that most of the mods available for the game are pure crap? i mean the changes are minor, and some of them even affect performance, very strange indeed!!
having tried a huge number of them, i can honestly say, don't bother. the ultra graphics for instance does absolutely nothing, and so does the other texture mod, actually the only mods worth downloading are the weapon textures one and trader mod which adds a huge number of weapons and armor suits, the rest of them are broken. and btw have anyone tried the faiaka mods? it made everything worse

 

1440x900 resolution with dynamic lighting, user.ltx tweaks as shown earlier in this thread and float32 mod engaged. The game plays fine on my comp. I even finished it the first time with 6.7 catalyst drivers and no patch!

I think this was one of the immersive computer games I have ever played. Yes, it took some time getting used to the FPS/RPG blend of playing, but the atmosphere is spooky, expansive and believable. It really stoked my curiousity to learn more about the real "exclusion zone" and the people that have toured the area recently. The game has its bugs and much of the pre-advertised content was cut, but this is still a very good game with much replay value. The final "good" ending sequence at the Chernobyl NPP was a wild ride that had my jaw dropping with some of the effects. I was lucky and only had a few crashes during the whole game. Some have said that the graphics look dated but they remind me alot of Half-Life 2 and that still looks great to me.

Just my $.02

 

the only useful and good mod is the vehicle mod, seriously why did they drop the vehicles in the final version, I'm so sickn' tired of walking back and forth just to get my rewards on time.

 

Is anybody getting a yellow sky and extremly choppy gameplay. I am and it sucks. I have a 7400 in a dell m1210. 2g of ram and a 2.16 core duo.

 

It runs just "ok" on my desktop.. I use intel quad core with dual 786mb 8800 ultra with 4 gigs of ram.

On my laptop, it runs pretty well. I use the 8600m GT

 

It runs great on my setup 7800GTX 2gb ram 2.8ghz opteron 148.

everything max, no mods. Only change that was needed was to take 1920x1080 my native res and scale it down to 1200x700ish. It looks exactly the same as full 1080, but runs perfect. 1080 ran pretty bad with noticible lag.

 

Well... It's running
Core Duo 1,73MHz, 2 GB RAM, ATI MX1400
Dynamic Lightning off unfortunately...
But it's running nicely in 1200 x 800.
I don't remember other settings but they are rather low than high
And it uses one core 90% and other 20% only.

 

lmao, bastard ! =P

will it run silky smooth at G2S too?
(all on High but resolution -> 8600m GT 256mb)

 

runs amazingly on my friends G2S on mostly high settings

 

runs amazing on my desktop.. all max, 1024 by 768

fx-60
3 gigs of ram
7950gt

im about to get a clevo m570u with a 7800gtx and i am exited to find out how it will play.

 

when it runs it runs fine for me, just crashes all the damn time, why I havent played it much at all.

 

My system runs at 25-30 fps with Maximum quality, full dynamic range, full AA, half vision distance, and half grass density. I'm running the Float32 mod. Does anyone know if you can use the user.ltx fix with Float32? I took off sun shadow and got around a 20 fps increase(for me, anyways), and 3-5 fps by taking off grass shadow.

Like someone else said, it's a pain in the ass walking back and forth. Like when you need to go back to Cordon to further the Strelok mission but you're by the bar or military barracks! At that point, I didn't even care about finding out who your character is.

 

I can run it at maximum possible settings, 1680x1050 (my native res), including HDR, 8x AA, and 16x AF, and have nothing but a few minor lag issues (FPS in the mid 20s) when changing between indoors and out. But the AA doesn't seem to do much (if anything) when HDR is enabled, a problem not unique to this game - and it's a problem that shouldn't exist on an 8800 (or any 8-series, for that matter).