Changing your 3D video device

In this tutorial I will explain how to change your 3D renderer to one that may enchance the performance of Deus Ex on your computer. A renderer is "a carefully engineered program, based on a selective mixture of disciplines related to: light physics, visual perception, mathematics, and software development" (taken from Wikipedia). In other words, it's a program that helps the game output 3D graphics.

Firstly, I am going to suggest downloading an extra renderer that isn't supplied with Deus Ex. New enhanced OpenGL can be downloaded from here. Now, once you have downloaded the .zip folder, extract the contents and you should be left with a file similar to the looks of this:

(Windows XP) 

A renderer included with Deus Ex is Direct 3D (Not advised to use with older graphics cards!). An update for that is avaliable here. Download the .zip folder and extract it to Deus Ex/System. This looks like:

 (Windows Vista)

Choose one of those you feel would be more appropiate. You can try both if you are not satisfied with the result. Simply place that file in your Deus Ex/System folder.

Now we want to switch to OpenGL/Direct 3D in Deus Ex: Go to Start > Deus Ex (unless you moved it) and click on "Run Deus Ex in SafeMode". You will be displayed with a screen identical to this:

Now, click on Change your 3D video device. You will be displayed with 2 options, Direct 3D support and Software Rendering. If Direct 3D isn't highlighted, click it and continue though the Wizard. 

For OpenGl Users: 

(Read on if you are planning to use OpenGl) Now you'll notice that OpenGL isn't displayed, so we want to click the tab "Show all devices". You'll notice some new devices are displayed including OpenGl if you added it right. Click on OpenGL and finish the installation process. Now your Deus Ex will run with the new renderer!

If your newly installed OpenGL driver lags, set NumAASamples to 4 or UseAA to False in DeusEx.ini.

Finally, start Deus Ex and on the main screen (Before the menu appears, if the menu is there, press escape) Press your assigned talk button (T by default) and type :

 Before typing this, make sure you press Alt + Enter first! If you hae not, your Deus Ex will crash! 

 You will be displayed with a screen similar to this, there may be alterations because of mods that I am running:

 You can see that I have expanded Rendering and then OpenGl Support. If you have placed the file in your /System folder, you should see the OpenGl Support bracket there.

Expand this bracket and you will be displayed with a lot of options, which don't really need to be altered. One option, however, does need to be!

About half-way down the list you'll see an option called SceneNodeHack. You'll notice in your preferences it is set to False. Instead, we want to set this to True, so click on the word False and change the option to True! Here's what it should look like:

This needs to be done so that the whole display can be shown (Such as the Spy Drone window).

Once this is done, close the Preferences box and hit Alt + Enter again to resume your full-screen. Enjoy your new device!

© dxalpha.com, 2003—2007.