GeForce2 MX AGP Tweaking














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This tweaking guide will give you a detailed information on how to use "Rivatuner" to further enhance ur GF2 MX's performance.

*Why Rivatuner? B'coz I have already tried using other tweaking progs but I found Rivatuner to be the most stable and hassle free.



Updated Note: If ur looking for a more "general" approach in tweaking ur NVIDIA videocard ... try and visit my NVIDIA Videocards section.
















=Rivatuner ver.2 RC10.2=

Main:
=Low Level System Settings=

=Low-Level Hardware Overclocking=

How far u can overclock ur card depends on many things. The card brand, amount of cooling ur computer have etc.

A typical 'fairly' branded GF2 MX card can handle 190core/190mem w/o probs. Combine that with a well ventilated/cooled casing, then 200core/200mem won't give you any probs.

Some 'cheap' cards can only reach a max of 190core/190mem or even lower!

-Apply overclocking at start-up: I recommend enabling this option. But if u prefer to only enable o/c'ing b4 playing games, then disable the said option.

***The trick is that u increase the core/mem slider 5 increments at a time and play for at least an hour, and if graphics corruption or falling white dots (looks like snow) etc arise, set it back to ur usual setting. If no graphics corruption or instability occurs then juz repeat the process up to the time that u reached the max setting that ur card can handle.

**If u have a 'cheap' vidcard w/c can't handle high clock and core settings at the same time. Just leave the core clock setting at default and increase the memory clock to its max (and stable) setting. Afterwards, u can raise the core clock setting 5 increments at a time (if ur card still can handle it).

*Be reminded that increasing the core clock gives u minimal increase in fps, and almost no increase at all in 32bit.


=More=
Clock Frequency Generation Accuracy: Select "Low (Safest)"
Fake DDR Workaround: Select "Force On"

 

=Direct3D=

=Mipmapping=
Mipmap LOD Bias Adjustment:
-Default Value is zero (balance between speed and graphics quality)

-Move the slider to the left for sharper images. I recommend setting this to -1.0, lower values are said to cause the textures to flicker. If ur not experiencing any probs setting this at a lower value and ur system can handle the performance drop, then set it at a lower value for better graphics quality.

-Set to a number higher than 0 (zero) for better performance at the expense of graphics quality.

Enable user mipmaps:
-Enables programs/games to produce mipmaps. I recommend leaving this setting at its default value (enabled)


=Depth Buffering=
Enable 24-bit Z-buffer: I recommend that u leave this setting enabled.

Z-buffer Validation Method: Set this to "always"

Enable W-buffer: Leave this setting enabled.


=Blitting=
-I recommend that u do not put a check mark on any of the boxes cause they will slow down ur d3d games/apps. But if u experience some difficulty running d3d games, enabling them 'might' fix ur probs.


=Vsync=
Syncronization with vertical retrace:
-Set to "always off" for better performance (recommended)

-Set to either "auto" or "always on" if ur experiencing tearing with ur d3d apps/games.

Pre-render limit: Set to "5" (or higher) for better performance. If u experience lags with a high value, then give it a setting that is lower than 5.


=Textures=
Texture Memory Settings: Set to the lowest possible number.

Texture Format Settings: Enable both options for better performance and compatibility with games.

Texture Filtering Settings:
-Set to "Force Level 2" for better graphics quality. (recommended)

-Set to "Force Level 1" for faster performance. I don't recommend this setting or any other setting except the "Force Level 2" since the loss in graphics quality isn't worth the increase in fps.


=Compatibility=
Texel Origin Alignment: Leave this at its default setting. If ur experiencing blurry text's on games, moving the slider to other settings will fix the problem (often times to the left).

Enable Fog Togle Emulation: Leave this setting enabled.


=Antialiasing=
-I recommend that u do not use this feature b'coz GF2 MX is not powerful enough to fully utilize this feature. I recommend that u set ur resolution at a higher setting than enabling AA.


=OpenGL=

Syncronization with vertical retrace:
-Set to "always off" for better performance (recommended)

-Set to either "auto" or "always on" if ur experiencing tearing with ur OGL apps/games.

Pre-render limit: Set to "5" (or higher) for better performance. If u experience lags then give it a value lower than 5.

Buffer Flipping Mode: Set this to "page-flipping" for better performance. Set to "Auto" if ur having troubles playing OGL based games.


=Rendering Quality=
Default Bit-depth for Textures: Set to "as desktop" for better compatibility with apps/games.

Enable S3TC Quality Trick:
-Enable for better graphics quality for games that support S3-texture compression. (recommended)

-Disable for better performance.

Default Degree of Anisotropy:
-Set to "Force Level 2" for better graphics quality. (recommended)

-Set to "Force Level 1" for faster performance. I don't recommend this setting or any other setting except the "Force Level 2" since the loss in graphics quality isn't worth the increase in fps.


=Compatibility=
Hardware Acceleration Mode: Set to "max acceleration mode" for better performance.

Disable support for CPU enhanced instruction sets: disable!

Amount of memory for PCI textures: set to the lowest setting possible.


=Professional=
Hardware Accelerated Lines Support: Set to "Force On" for better performance.


=Antialiasing=
-I recommend that u do not use this feature b'coz GF2 MX is not powerful enough to fully utilize this feature. I recommend that u set ur resolution at a higher setting than enabling AA.


=Misc. Tips=

If u have a dim monitor and having problems with some of ur games b'coz det's brightness control doesn't affect the game (specially 2d games), then I recommend that u use "Powerstrip's" color correction b'coz it applies with ALL apps/games, it even works with 2D games!
 
=Omega Drivers=
This driver is said to increase NVIDIA cards performance and/or graphics quality. I tried it with my GF4 Ti 4200 128mb card and I got a pretty impressive performance boost with it. Now I am not sure whether or not older cards can achieve the same result, but IMO its worth the try. So if ur interested, check out my GF4 Ti tweaking section for more info.

Last Updated: 061902
=Closed to future updates=
Minor Update on: 011304
















IMPORTANT:

***I will not be held responsible to any damage this tweaking guide might cause your graphics card.

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**Any errors/corrections, comments, and/or additions to my Geforce2 MX AGP tweaking guide are welcome and will be greatly appreciated

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