Optimize FPS for Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare

If your game is constantly lagging because your computer cannot handle some of the more stressful aspects of Call of Duty 4, then there are some things that you can do that will almost always improve your FPS ( frames per second ) and reduce clientside lag. This will not improve your internet connection and can give a 10-50 fps increase. All these commands are to be entered in the developers console during a match. The best way to go about this is to boot up the game in multiplayer and create your own match. Once the game has fully loaded you can enter some of the following commands.


To open the console, press the [`] button in the top left of your keyboard just under [Esc] called a tilde.

*NOTE - If console will not open then you need to go into Options/Game Options/ and enable console


Firstly you want to make sure you are actually getting an FPS increase, so to show your FPS open the console and type in the command:

Draw your FPS on your screen:
/cg_drawfps 1

There will now be some number in the top left of your screen, the largest of which is your FPS ( frames per second ). If the number constantly turns red then you are getting a low FPS and your computer is stressed by the game. Don't worry this isn't a bad thing, it just means that it is harder to compensate for your clientside lag. To remove this, change the 1 to a 0 and retype that command.

If your fps is constantly stopping at a number and rapidly switching between the two last digits, then you need to increase your max fps to get an increase. To change your max FPS you need this command:

Change max FPS:
/com_maxfps

*NOTE - This command limits your maximum FPS so that it will help the server from having lag confusion when your frame rate
has a sudden rise or fall. Estimate your average FPS and use that as the limit for when you play on-line. Some servers have an FPS cap and you will be notified that you need to change your max FPS to within a certain number. The warning will look something like this:


The number will of course vary, but it is simple what you must do. Use the max FPS command to change your max FPS to a number between the two indicated by the warning.


Now for some actual commands to get an FPS increase. These have to be entered one at a time.

*NOTE - The commands are in blue and what they do is in white, the ones with no explanation don't need one.

/snaps 30
/cl_maxpackets 100
/cl_packetdup 2
/rate 25000
/sm_enable 0 "Shadow Mapping" disables or enables some shadows on the world environment
/r_drawdecals 0 disables or enables some world details and extra shadows
/cg_brass 0
/r_multigpu 1
/r_cachemodellighting 1
/r_cacheSmodellighting 1
/r_vsync 0
/r_smc_enable 0
/r_rendererPreference 0
/r_skincache 1
/cg_blood 0
/com_hunkmegs 512
/r_drawsun 0


*NOTE - /r_drawdecals :: Turns off details on walls and objects, however Punkbuster will kick you sometimes for this being turned off.


After you enter all of those commands, type this last one and you are set to go:

/vid_restart


Hopefully that helped you a bit, have fun owing!

JUST A NOTE: With some of these settings turned off, the game will look different from before, some things (bombed out holes in the ground, for instance) will look "squarer" and unrefined, because it takes less power for the game to draw squares than circles, and bla bla bla.... Just a heads up is all!