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R lod: Difference between revisions

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(Portal (since May 2025) and HL:S also received HL2 20th Anniversary engine.)
 
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{{this is a|console variable|name=r_lod}} It allows overriding distance used in LOD. Higher distance, for example, makes models have less polygons, and textures appear smudged (i.e. less detailed).
{{this is a|console variable|name=r_lod}} It forces a specific LOD model globally. A higher value makes models have fewer polygons (i.e. less detailed).


== Usage ==
== Usage ==
{{syntax|r_lod <integer>}}.
{{syntax|r_lod <integer>}}.


The default value is "-1" which makes lod compute normally. Setting this to 0 will effectively make every render as if you are close to them while a large value will make everything render as if you are far from them.
The default value is "-1" which allows the engine to compute a models level of detail (LOD) normally, typically based on distance.


{{Note|Although turning {{code|r_lod}} off gives better visual quality, it also negatively affects your framerate (FPS), unless you have a more powerful graphics card.}}
Setting a number from 0 and above forces all rendered models to use that specific LOD, and disables all automatic level of detail computations. Level 0 will render the base model (which is highest quality), and a higher number like 4 will reduce the level of detail.


Model rendering will be clamped to their maximum level of detail level, some models may have only 2 levels, some may have no LODs, but most have 4. Example: {{code|r_lod 20}} will attempt to set all models to use a very low LOD: 20. Most models do not have 20 level of detail swaps, so most models will clamp to the closest available number, typically 4.
{{Note|While forcing {{code|r_lod}} to 0 gives better visual quality, it also negatively affects your framerate (FPS), especially on newer titles running on lower end hardware, as it completely disables the engine LOD calculation system (including distance based systems).}}
{{Note|Level of detail distance computation is disabled in {{Hl2|2}} {{strong|20th Anniversary Update}} (aswell as {{portal|1}} (since May 2025 update) and {{hls|1}}), both by setting {{code|r_lod}} to 0 when Model Quality is set to "High". LODs are also disabled by default when running DirectX 9 level ({{code|dxlevel 90}}) or higher.}}
{{Important|{{csgo|1}} does not support LODs at all, as they are intentionally disabled.}}
== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[LOD|Level of detail]]
* [[LOD|Level of detail]]
* [[r_rootlod]]

Latest revision as of 05:11, 12 October 2025

r_lod is a console variable available in all Source Source games. It forces a specific LOD model globally. A higher value makes models have fewer polygons (i.e. less detailed).

Usage

Syntax: r_lod <integer>.

The default value is "-1" which allows the engine to compute a models level of detail (LOD) normally, typically based on distance.

Setting a number from 0 and above forces all rendered models to use that specific LOD, and disables all automatic level of detail computations. Level 0 will render the base model (which is highest quality), and a higher number like 4 will reduce the level of detail.

Model rendering will be clamped to their maximum level of detail level, some models may have only 2 levels, some may have no LODs, but most have 4. Example: r_lod 20 will attempt to set all models to use a very low LOD: 20. Most models do not have 20 level of detail swaps, so most models will clamp to the closest available number, typically 4.

Note.pngNote:While forcing r_lod to 0 gives better visual quality, it also negatively affects your framerate (FPS), especially on newer titles running on lower end hardware, as it completely disables the engine LOD calculation system (including distance based systems).
Note.pngNote:Level of detail distance computation is disabled in Half-Life 2 Half-Life 2 20th Anniversary Update (aswell as Portal (since May 2025 update) and Half-Life: Source), both by setting r_lod to 0 when Model Quality is set to "High". LODs are also disabled by default when running DirectX 9 level (dxlevel 90) or higher.
Icon-Important.pngImportant:Counter-Strike: Global Offensive does not support LODs at all, as they are intentionally disabled.

See also