This config is by default for modern PCs and aims to disable heavily unoptimized features and adjust other settings where it does not affect behavior or visuals noticeably. However, the config is documented extensively and also has presets so that you may adjust settings to your needs/preferences.
You may find that this config makes TF2 a lot smoother, eliminates stuttering, reduces load times and increases FPS. This is because this config is heavily tuned and the commands and values are based on TF2's source code, rather than just experiments, guesswork and trying to understand the vague/non-existent documentation.
The config is constantly updated with tweaks, new features and documentation improvements — iterated upon based on user feedback and benchmarks. So if you think there's an unoptimal value, or if it's just as simple as a comment being confusing to you, report the problem and you'll most likely see a fix in a future update.
To make sure there are no user settings that conflict with the config, you will have to clean up your TF2 install.
First, you'll have to figure out what preset and addons you want to use for your computer. A preset is a certain quality level and addons further adapt the config to your specific hardware. You can find infomation about all presets and addons here.
Download the VPK files of your choice from the
latest release,
and then drag them directly to your tf/custom folder. Do not put the VPKs
in a folder inside your custom folder, put them in the custom folder itself.
You don't have to rename anything either, just drag the files as is into custom.
Do not download the source code, and do not download from the Clone or Download
button. Only download the VPK files from the
latest release.
To get to tf/custom, right click Team Fortress 2 in your Steam library, click
Properties, go to the Local Files tab, and then click the
Browse Local Files... button. Then in the files app that appears, open the
tf folder and then open the custom folder.
Right click Team Fortress 2 in your Steam library, click Properties and
click the Set Launch Options... button. In the window that appears, remove
anything that's in there and paste
-novid -nojoy -nosteamcontroller -noff -softparticlesdefaultoff -reuse into
the box and click ok.
More information on launch options and choosing a DirectX version can be found here.
If you have your own autoexec.cfg already, rename it to custom.cfg, but make sure you don't have any
conflicting configs in there.
You can also create a custom.cfg in your tf/cfg folder to override any settings in the config.
If you have any class configs, you will have to rename them to add a _c. For example, scout_c.cfg.
If there's something you'd like to run for all of your class configs, you can add it to game_overrides_c.cfg.
If you have a listenserver.cfg, you will have to rename it to listenserver_c.cfg.
For your custom.cfg, class configs and listen server config, you can use modules to easily customize settings. To do finer customization through individual
console variables and commands, you can look through the config file on GitHub and add your preferences to your custom.cfg.
It is also recommended to determine your optimal upload rate settings with this tool.
To get an idea of how to use custom configs, see what other people in the community have done.
Want to get competitive but encounter crashes due to the config reset feature of
in-game competitive matchmaking? Run exec mm/override in console on the main menu
to make the config compatible with competitive.
Having issues (like crashes or local servers not working where you can't move or shoot)? Check out some troubleshooting instructions.
Although not strictly TF2 related, you can improve your performance at the OS level: Windows, Linux
When a new release comes out, check out the
latest release and
then download the latest files and drag them into your tf/custom folder,
replacing the old files.
This config gets updates frequently, so to get the latest improvements, make sure you check here for new releases frequently, or you can get notifications about updates on the Discord, Steam Group or teamfortress.tv thread.
NOTE: This will reset ALL settings. Make sure you back up your binds and other custom settings before you do this.
If you have already have a config, or want to remove mastercomfig, delete any
configs you may have in tf/custom and delete the tf/cfg folder.
Then verify your game files
using Steam.
Next, if you have Steam Cloud Synchronization enabled, make all the files in
STEAM_FOLDER/userdata/USER_ID/440/remote/cfg blank. Do not delete them, or
else Steam Cloud will redownload them. Alternatively, you can
disable Steam Cloud.
Finally, launch TF2 with only the
-novid -default -autoconfig +host_writeconfig +mat_savechanges +quit launch
options. The game will launch and exit. Afterwards, remove these launch options.
- Customization
- Extensive commenting for different options
- Presets to easily fit your use case
- Extra optional customization settings
- Modular config system to allow for easy updating
- Rendering
- Threaded graphics
- Optimizations for modern systems
- Optimized LOD
- Optimized lighting
- Optimized shadows
- Optimized particles
- Optimized water
- Optimized post processing effects
- Optimized anti-aliasing and texture filtering
- Optimized characters
- Optimized decals
- Optimized gibs
- Optimized props
- Optimized ropes
- Optimized OpenGL
- Optimized item panel loading
- Removed extra cosmetic map models (UFOs, invasion posters, rockets)
- Start up
- Cleaned up texture preload list
- Cleaned up client precache
- Increased memory for OpenGL shader cache
- Memory/IO
- Persistent LZMA buffer
- File system optimizations
- Fully async IO
- Optimized memory usage
- Networking
- Increased data rate and split rate
- Reduced choke
- Reuses sockets if available
- Optimizes prediction and interp systems for better hitreg
- Client view smoothing
- Increased client timeout
- Matchmaking improvements and fixes
- Increased max file size for extra content
- Sound
- Asynchronous sound and mixing
- Adjusted lip sync
- Minimized sound delay
- Improved sound performance
- Enhanced sound quality and spatialization
- Input
- Optional same sensitivity for scope and other mouse enhancements
Wondering what a certain preset looks like on different maps and viewmodels? You can look at the screenshots on cfg.tf.
Having issues (like crashes or local servers not working where you can't move or shoot)? Check out some troubleshooting instructions.
Here are a few awesome TF2 modifications:
- No Hats Mod — Remove cosmetics from players
- No explosion smoke script — Get cleaner particles for explosions
- Model Remover Mod — Remove extra models
- Particle Limitation Pack — Reduce certain particles
- Clean TF2 — Make textures simple colors
- VTF Crosshair Pack — New custom crosshairs
- yttrium's viewmodels — Customize hiding individual viewmodels
- Transparent Viewmodels — Make viewmodels translucent
- Common scripts/binds — Some common and useful scripts/binds, like the null-cancelling movement script
- Chris for starting it all
- Comanglia for continuing what Chris started and helping a bit with my config
- Rhapsody for updating Chris' config
- Felik for providing an alternative to Chris-based configs
- Michael Moss for the Android Insomnia font used in the logo
- The community for their continued support, advice and benchmarks. (Special Mentions to: amazoc, JackStanley, Setsul, Hopps, fagoatse, ZeRo5, stabby, Whisker, Vantavimeow, osvaldo, DarkNecrid, steph, Thole, gemm, sage, Malkraz, JarateKing, maximsmol, Fraklin and perhaps many others)
- The Valve Developer community for their documentation of Source Engine console variables and mechanics
- and to Valve, for making and updating the best class-based FPS to date with so much customizability on top
Valve, the Valve logo, Steam, the Steam logo, Team Fortress, the Team Fortress logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Valve Corporation. mastercomfig is not associated with nor endorsed by Valve Corporation.