1. High Detail Settings
Open UT2003.ini and search for the [WinDrv.WindowsClient] line and change the settings below it to these :

ScreenFlashes=False 

TextureDetailInterface=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailTerrain=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailWeaponSkin=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailPlayerSkin=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailWorld=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailRenderMap=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailLightmap=UltraHigh 

Under the [D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice] line: 

UseVSync=True 

 

These are the only options you should have to tweak. Your computer will detect the rest of the settings and set them accordingly if you have a machine fast enough to run with high detail. But here is a list of features that you could theoretically bump up to the max for highest quality image detail (screw framerates, you want to see this game at this best) 

[WinDrv.WindowsClient] 
MinDesiredFrameRate=0.000000 

[D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice] 
DetailTextures=True 
HighDetailActors=True 
SuperHighDetailActors=True 
UsePrecaching=True 
UseTrilinear=True 
DesiredRefreshRate=0

PS : Remember that the High Detail Textures aren't available in the demo...


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2. Boosting FPS

a. Set your audio setting to Software 3d. Hardware 3d and EAX seems to cause some performance hit. This can help you gain around 10 fps.

b. Disable DetailTextures. This also gives a good fps boost.

c. Turn triple Buffering in UT2003.INI to true. You can gain 10 - 15 frames. It's under the [D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice] line.


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3. Changing HUD-size

Open the user.ini file. 

Scroll down until you see: 

[Engine.HUD] 
bHideHUD=false 
HudScale=1.000000 
HudCanvasScale=1.000000 
bMessageBeep=true 
bShowWeaponInfo=True 
bShowPersonalInfo=True 
bShowPoints=True 
bCrosshairShow=True 
CrosshairScale=1.000000 
CrosshairOpacity=1.000000 
CrosshairStyle=1 
bShowWeaponBar=True 

Change "HudScale=1.000000" to whatever you want. But leave the "HudCanvasScale=1.000000" alone unless you want the HUD to move to the center of the screen more.


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4. Nvidia Detonator problems

Running the latest 40.41 drivers can cause problems. For example, your screen may flicker continiously. It seems to show bits of screen that should have been covered, like seeing the main menu from a sub menu, or things behind walls etc, in a constant strobe effect.

Also the textures (when using Det40.41 with UT2K3) were not the way they were meant to look.

If you have these problems, I recommend that you use the supported 30.82's until the final detonator 4's come out.

 

Update :

Not all players who use the Det40.41 seem to have these problems. Looks like it depends a bit on your system-configuration.

Those who use the Det40.41 also have a nice reflection on the spiked balls in Citadel (only when running in D3D).


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5. Running UT2003 in OpenGL

Direct3d is the officially supported game mode but some people might find that Opengl runs fine for them. Here is how to do it. 

Open UT2003.ini and change these lines : 

RenderDevice=D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice 
;RenderDevice=Engine.NullRenderDevice 
;RenderDevice=OpenGLDrv.OpenGLRenderDevice 

to this :

;RenderDevice=D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice 
;RenderDevice=Engine.NullRenderDevice 
RenderDevice=OpenGLDrv.OpenGLRenderDevice 

Additionally you can change the options under the [OpenGLDrv.OpenGLRenderDevice] line andmake the changes you think you need.

 

Update :

For some players DirectX gives better performance than OpenGL. For others, it's reverse. It's upo to you to find out which mode runs best on your system.


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6. Enabling/Disabling the Grass Effect

Open UT2003.ini and change "DecoLayers=False" to "DecoLayers=True" (or reverse).

(You find this line under [WinDrv.WindowsClient])


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7. Disabling the sports announcer

As a result of the feedback players gave to Epic, there will be 3 options in the final game: 

-No announcer voices 
-Only "reward" voices (i.e. headshot, double kill, etc...) 
-Full announcer (headshot, flag taken, etc...) 

Open the user.ini file and change "bPlayAnnouncer=True" to "bPlayAnnouncer=False" to disable the voice. 


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8. ATI Truform Performance

All people with ATI cards should enable Truform. It makes everything in the game look much more rounded, and much more detailed. 

Here's what to do... 

Go into your UT2003.ini file, and go to the [D3DDrv.D3DRenderDevice] section.
You should see near the bottom "UseNpatches=False" Change this to "UseNpatches=True".

It offers no loss in preformance at all and makes all the player and weapon models look much better. 

PS : Note that this will only work for ATI cards.


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9. Manually adding Favorites

Open UT2003.ini.

Search for the [XInterface.Browser_ServerListPageFavorites] line. Then add the following:

Favorites=(ServerID=0,IP="xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx",Port=xxxx,QueryPort=xxxx,ServerName="Anything") 

This will add a server to your Favorites with the specified IP, Port, Queryport (This is the normal Port + 1). The Servername will be updated automaticly when you connect to the Master Browser.

PS : If you can't find the [XInterface.Browser_ServerListPageFavorites] line, then add it yourself at the bottom of the UT2003.ini file.


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10. DirectX/D3D Error

If you get the error below, try (re)installing the DirectX8.1b drivers. These are needed for the UT2003 Demo.

UT2003 Build UT2003_Build_[2002-09-13_17.31] 

OS: Windows 98 4.10 (Build: 67766222) 
CPU: AuthenticAMD PentiumPro-class processor @ 952 MHz with 255MB RAM 
Video: No Video 

Direct3DCreate8 failed. 

History: CreateDirect3D <- UD3DRenderDevice::Init <- UGameEngine::Init <- InitEngine

 

In most cases the problem disappears when installing the DirectX 8.1b drivers.


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Complete Tweaking Guide

Here's a link to a very good Guide I found on the net. It explains everything you can find in the ini-files.

TechSpot UT2003 Tweaking Guide

It would be a shame and downright wrong to just copy the entire guide...

[WinDrv.WindowsClient] 
WindowedViewportX=800 
WindowedViewportY=600 
FullscreenViewportX=1024 
FullscreenViewportY=768 
MenuViewportX=640 
MenuViewportY=480 
Brightness=0.800000 
Contrast=1.000000 
Gamma=0.800000 
UseJoystick=False 
CaptureMouse=True 
StartupFullscreen=True 
ScreenFlashes=True 
NoLighting=False 
MinDesiredFrameRate=0.000000 
Decals=True 
Coronas=True 
DecoLayers=True 
Projectors=True 
NoDynamicLights=False 
ReportDynamicUploads=False 
TextureDetailInterface=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailTerrain=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailWeaponSkin=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailPlayerSkin=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailWorld=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailRenderMap=UltraHigh 
TextureDetailLightmap=UltraHigh 
TextureMaxLOD=0 
TextureMinLOD=0 
NoFractalAnim=False 
ScaleHUDX=0.000000 
