Hello everyone, This is a collection of the current temporary fixes available to a user. Yes, I do know these are all floating around but to have a single post with a vast amount of information is easier than searching for that ping in a hay stack.
I will be keeping this list updated as all current temporary fixes and permanent fixes are released. Credit will also be given(when available) and input is also welcome.
NOTE: All console commands require a "/" in front of the command or it will display as text chat.
General Fixes:
source: http://gamers-underground.com/action-fps/34107-call-duty-black-ops-tweaks-fixes .html
Game won't launch. Steam repeats "Performing first time setup..." procedure.
Manually download and install the latest DirectX End-User Runtime.
How can I remove the cap/limit on my maximum FPS?
com_maxfps 120
When trying to install off disc it gets hung up on "steam setup" then says "failed to run install script"
If you are on Windows XP; Start > Run > "C:\Program Files\steam\steam.exe -install E"
On Windows 7; Windows key + R "C:\Program Files (x86)\steam\steam.exe -install E"
If "E" is not your CD-ROM drive, change it!
source: Call of duty forums
Credit - Zeronium
Zeronium Reported in another thread that running in windowed mode caused far many less problems for him. I have not fully tested this matter my self but it is a possibility for people to test.
source: steam forums(reworded for easier reading):
Credit - Desi
I found a more current post in regards to a few settings that would help PC gamers.
r_multiGpu
This should only be enabled if you have multiple graphics cards or a graphics card with multiple GPUs. If you don't have multiple GPUs, don't know what this means, or are having issues with your MultiGPU solution, please set this to "0".
r_multithreaded_device
This setting should be enabled for EVERYBODY as the minimum requirements for Black Ops clearly states that you need a multithreaded (multicore) CPU to run the game. However, some people have noticed that by setting this to "0" some of the skipping lag is relieved. Test this out only as a last resort.
r_vsync
VSync prevents screen tearing. If you don't know what that is, just set it to "0" because you probably don't care anyway. Otherwise, VSync usually doesn't have any negative performance issues with today's graphics cards. However, there may be a few performance issues linked to VSync with the current release of Black Ops. Try setting this to "0" for compatibility.
r_blur_allowed
This setting enables Blur shader effects. If you have a strong shader card, this setting may be negligible. Otherwise, just go ahead and set this to "0".
r_distortion
This setting enables Distortion shader effects. If you have a strong shader card, this setting may be negligible. Otherwise, just go ahead and set this to "0".
r_dof_enable
This setting enables Depth of Field shader effects. If you have a strong shader card, this setting may be negligible. Otherwise, just go ahead and set this to "0".
r_glow_allowed
This setting enables Glow (HDR?) shader effects. Normally, this should have a negligible performance impact. HOWEVER, this setting seems to be buggy! Performance improved DRAMATICALLY when I set this option to "0".
rate
Rate is the rate at which the client sends packets to the server. If you set this too low, below 10000 or so, you run the risk of sending insufficient data to the server and lagging out. Set this too high, above 50000 or so, and you run the risk of flooding your connection to the server. This setting should be adjusted according to your connection speed and may take some fine tuning.
cl_maxpackets
This setting controls how many packets the client will hold to ensure packet transmission. If you set this setting to low, below 20 or so, then you run the risk of being disconnected prematurely. If you set this setting too high, above 150 or so, then you run the risk of continually resending redundant data and lowering your ping (or worse, getting choked). This setting is very hard to tune because it depends on so many factors beyond your own connection. Most people have found setting this to 100 is a good compromise for most servers.]
Multiplayer Fixes:
"Input from Gundger"
seta sm_enable 0 - removes shadows (30 FPS boost)
seta r_drawDecals 0 - removes marks on the walls from gunfire, explosions and other related items (5 FPS boost)
seta r_specular 0
From the graphics Menu in-game -
Anti Aliasing = Off
Vertical Sync = Off
Change resolution to native resolution
Model detail - low/medium
Source: dvar research
Well After looking into the dvars I found some interesting ones. Most of them don't help my performance(game is still to broken) but they will be very good for the future or people who are able to play the game at the moment.
Note: I do not know how how much of a effect they have on performance and/or look with the game broken at the moment.
Note: all provided dvars are the default values in a newly installed game unless other wise stated.
What is a dvar? A dvar is a setting within a file that a cod game makes. It is normally saved within the player profile for that cod game and called config.cfg. The name may be slightly different fromt one version of cod to the next but they always have the cfg extension. example: In black ops the name config_mp.cfg is for multiplayer while config.cfg is for single player.
a dvar setting can be something as simple as enable or disable blood or something as complex as game specific settings we all should not mess with. through out cod games (mw2 aside) the console has been used to edit these dvars. Players didn't require editing dars to play the game but they made use of it to provide them selfs with a cleaner performing game. Using the console has always been the easiest way to edit a cfg file
All of these dvars are like other cod counterparts and be inputed and changed using the console in game(main menu or in a server).
seta cg_blood "1`" -- enable/disabled blood in older cod games(from my knowledge)
seta cg_brass "1" -- was used in many older performance cfg's(I never found out what it did)
These are dvars I found within the cfg file. I put the dvars into my console in my game(without pressing enter) and got the descriptions to be certain of what they were. I did not see a option to disable any of these settings within graphics.
Note: all of the dvars that are including in this section use 1 or 0 as their value. 1 for enabled 0 for disabled.
seta r_motionblur_enable "0" -- enable/disable motionblur(I am not certain if the default value is 0 or 1)
I found a few other dvars when poking around in the config:
Misc dvars
seta r_specular "1" -- I believe it has to do with specular maps(I could not find a description)
seta sys_sysMB "1024" -- I could not find a decription for this dvar but it made me think it sets the max system memory allowed for black ops.
Source: General knowledge
Black ops multiplayer like all previous cod games(not mw2) has a fps monitor built right into the game. I have had both is monitor and xfire or this monitor and fraps. The in game monitor is the most accurate.
console command:
cg_drawfps 1 --- to enable
cg_drawfps 0 -- to disable
source: http://gamers-underground.com/action-fps/34107-call-duty-black-ops-tweaks-fixes .html
I have my clan tag set on Steam, but the brackets are removed in game.
Remove your clan tag from your Steam name. Then in config_mp.cfg (Steam\steamapps\common\call of duty black ops\players) alter seta clanName "clantag" to match your clan tag - it will put it in square brackets.
How can I improve my hit registration and general network performance?
cl_maxpackets 100
snaps 30
Singleplayer Fixes:
credit: n/a
quote from another post:
A lot of people have been having some bad performance issues with the game (lag spikes, slow fps, screen tears, etc.). It appears that this is related to Steam.exe. Unfortunately this means that multiplayer will have to wait until they get a hotfix out for this. In the meantime, try this workaround:
In Steam click Steam on the menu bar and select "Go Offline"
Run Black Ops
Bring up the Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc for Win7 (or Ctrl + Alt + Del Vista)
Under the Processes tab select 'Steam.exe' and click 'End Process'
This will hopefully help increase performance in your single player experience if you're having problems.
-Best of luck!
Testing:
Just a few minutes ago I went into multiplayer black ops. I was going looking in the menus for any idea of what might be able to help performance and decided to input the console commands in game. The commands in the configs them selfs(refering to the general fix top of post) I inputed directly into the console rather than config.
flags:
seta r_multiGpu "1"
seta r_multithreaded_device "0"
end flags.
both of those flags i directly inputed within the console. I have to test and see if the settings i changed within the cfg stuck in single player.(UI only changed the values in single player in the cfg file) On another note there was a settting within the cfg for single player that revered to memory. I changed the value to 4000mb from its 1024 mb value. I didn't notice any difference but I will report back with any more information I find.
On another note: I have started a to gather input from all sectors of "The Call of Duty Community". That input is for developers and will be integrated into the current post.
link:
http://www.callofduty.com/board/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=312412&p=3769401#p3769401
