How to force use of pixel shader 2.0b

[memev]

So here I am again, because I have found out, why hair in my Oblivion are so strange - my game is using pixel shader 2.0. But I cant see why, because my card supports 3.0. Can somebody tell me how to force Oblivion to use at least ps 2.0b. And yes, I have already read the guide here http://www.tweakguides.com/Oblivion_8.html and it doesnt help, my game is still using 2.0 shaders. Fallout new vegas hadnt any problems with using 3.0 shaders. So where is the problem, if both games are running on the same engine? Here is the pic of RendererInfo.ini of Oblivion and Fallout NV http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3733/beznzvutd.jpg

[Lexx666]

I recenlty read a thread that the use of pixel shaders 3.0 has its limitations for oblivion because they are broken in some way

and arent implemented very well into the engine itself, its like a version between 2.0 and 3.0!

I was searching a bit more but cant really recall the thread where i found that information, it contained a huge mass of input specifically pointed how it is

possible to correctly edit the settings inside the ini file without breaking the graphics and make a use of pixel shader 3.0.

Anyway i believe that there arent any major changes in between the single shader versions, the only difference is the speed of execution inside the code.

Pixel shader 2.0 can have 512 pixel shader instructions per render pass and i believe i can recall that they said that Oblivion uses only 480 per frame.

So even with ps 3.0 oblivion could not render the amout of shader instructions per pass because its a limitation of the engine itself.

There could be a few minor changes that could affect some surfaces, but im not really sure if those changes would be noticeable.

Edited January 5, 2011 by Lexx666

[memev]

I want to use ps2.0b because when I have got 2.0 turned on, hair ingame is strange - http://www.thenexusforums.com/index.php?showtopic=283677 I have read that they are like that if ps2.0 is used. Thats why I want to use 2.0b.

[Lexx666]

I wish i could help you more, but i have no clue how your gonna change the settings further to make use of the 2.0b shaders.

I hope there is somebody who knows more about it and can solve your issue.

[Smooth613]

You need to run the Oblivion Launcher.exe again and manually select the High or Ultra High (Very High, cannot remember) to force Oblivion to use a proper shader package for your card. If you remember when you first ran Oblivion it defaulted to Very Low. This is because Oblivion mistakenly thinks your ATI HD 5xxx is a nVidia GeForce FX 5xxx series, which is a very old and ancient card. Thus, it assigns the most basic and horrid of shader packages to use. As mentioned you can force Oblivion to use a proper package by manually selecting a higher quality setting.

 

If you notice your game is currently using Shader Package 02, which is terrible. Shader package 17 is what it should be using, like in your Fallout NV settings. 17 is what the game selects for my HD 5770 also. However I force it to use 19 for shader model 3.0. This is easy to do. AFTER you have done the previous steps, of re-detecting your hardware, find out what package your card has been assigned. For now let's assume 17 was assigned. Make a backup of this shader package and then rename shader package 19 to 17 and viola! 3.0 shaders are in that package. Next you need to enable them in the Oblivion.ini, located in your My Documents\My Games\Oblivion folder. Just change the following line from 0 to 1, as shown...

bAllow30Shaders=1

Below is my RendererInfo.txt after swapping around shader packages, you can clearly see it now recognizes 3.0 shaders.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

 

Renderer Device Information:

ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series

ati2dvag.dll

RenderPath : BSSM_SV_2_B

PSversion : 300

VSversion : 300

VStarget : vs_2_0

PStarget : ps_2_b

PS2xtarget : ps_2_b

maxPS20inst : 512

3.0 Shaders : yes

Image space effects : yes

Nonpowerof2textures : yes

FP16ARGB blending : yes

FP16ARGB filtering : yes

High dynamic range : yes

Bloom lighting : no

Refraction : yes

2.0 hair : yes

SLI mode : no

Water shader : yes

Water reflections : yes

Water displacement : yes

Water high res : yes

Multisample Type : 0

Shader Package : 17

 

 

[memev]

I have deleted Oblivion.ini and RendererInfo.ini and started game launcher. I got this message - Video hardware unrecognized, video settings set to medium quality. Then I have manualy set it to Ultra high quality. Then I have replaced shaderpackage017 with 019, and then opened up Oblivion.ini, and set bAllow30Shaders=1, but the game wont start now. It doesnt even put up an error screen. It just shut itself off if I hit continue or load.

[Smooth613]

There is no reason that should happen after doing the above mentioned process. To be sure do the process again, this time don't swap the shader packages and let it use the one the game selects for you. Make sure you restore the original packages and don't use the ones you've renamed. Also be sure to allow Oblivion to generate a fresh Oblivion.ini. However if you had mods that counted on your previous INI that could very well be the reason for the crash. Reinstalling any mod that relies on INI edits would resolve this. If you didn't back up your shader packages, shame on you I warned you, then download them HERE.

[memev]

I have deactivated all mods, and done what you have said, the game runs now, but it is still using 2.0 shaders, and I am unable to turn on HDR, if I do so, the textures wont show up ingame. But anyway, with bloom, it uses 2.0 shaders anyway. The worst thing is, that I know, it is not caused by game, but by my computer. I havent got any problems with any game so far, only with Oblivion. Compatibility mode didnt help, running the game in DirectX9 didnt help. So if you have got any more ideas, please help.

[memev]

So, thank for the help guys, but I have uninstalled Oblivion. I will just wait for Skyrim.