3D Graphic Card Support
Supported Graphic Cards
We have tested Deus Ex and are satisfied with the game's performance on the following 3D chipsets:
| 3Dfx |
Voodoo |
Voodoo 2 |
Voodoo 3 |
Voodoo 4/5 |
| ATI |
Rage 128 |
Rage Fury |
Rage Fury Maxx |
|
| Intel |
810 |
|
|
|
| Matrox |
G200 |
G400 |
|
|
| NVidia |
TNT |
TNT2 |
GeForce |
GeForce2 |
| S3 |
Savage 4 |
Savage 2000 |
|
|
Matrox G200
Running the game in 32-bit color mode is not recommended with this chipset.
3Dfx Voodoo 1
This chip only supports 640x480 in 16-bit color. We recommend that you set all detail settings to low.
3Dfx Voodoo 2
The Voodoo 2 only supports 640x480 and 800x600 resolutions, in 16-bit color. You will be able to run Deus Ex at 1024x768 with 2 Voodoo 2 cards in SLI mode.
Intel 810
Running the game in 32-bit color is not recommended.
Savage 4, Diamond S540
Setting the UI/Menu Background to Snapshot will result in some graphic corruption, we recommend that you use the Render 3D or Black setting.
Direct3D cards
On some of the cards that support Direct3D, there are minor sorting issues on signs, computer terminals and objects seen at long range. If you switch the Texture Color Depth setting (found under Display, in Game Options) to 32-bit color, the sorting issues will disappear. As an alternative, some cards can be forced to use a 24-bit or 32-bit z-buffer from the Windows control panel display settings. Consult your video card documentation for details on this alternate procedure.
Display Settings
Deus Ex allows you to change a large number of graphic options in order to achieve the best performance while running on your hardware. If the game is running slowly on your system, there are a number of Game and Display options you can change to help optimize the performance of the game. The Display settings can be found by selecting Game Options, and clicking on Display.
The settings listed below will make the biggest difference in performance, especially World Texture Detail, Screen Resolution and Texture Color Depth. For a list of all of the Game Options and Display Settings available, please consult the game manual.
Adjust Brightness – If you find the game to be a little too dark or too bright, you can change the overall brightness by selecting this option and moving the slider.
Toggle Full-Screen Mode – You can toggle between a window and full screen with this setting. We recommend that you run Deus Ex in full screen mode at all times. (It looks a lot better that way.)
Rendering Device – You can change the 3D graphics mode by selecting this option. The game will exit and restart, bringing up the Video Configuration screen (see the Video Configuration section in this document). Make sure you save your game before changing your rendering device, or you will lose your current progress. The only modes that are officially supported are 3Dfx Glide for Windows, and Direct3D Support. If you are running in any other mode, we highly recommend that you switch to one of the supported modes.
Screen Resolution – If you lower the screen resolution within the game, you will probably get a better frame rate. If the game is running slowly on your system, try lowering the screen resolution for better results.
Texture Color Depth – The game will run fastest in 16-bit color mode. Not all 3D cards support 32-bit color. In order for a Texture Color Depth change to take effect, quit out of the game to the desktop and restart the game.
NOTE: You can't change Texture Color Depth and screen resolution at the same time. Set screen resolution first, click Okay and then return to the Display Settings screen to change texture color depth.
World Texture Detail/Object Texture Detail – Setting the Detail Levels to LOW will help increase performance on some cards. However, textures will appear blurry.
Sound Settings
Effects Channels – If you reduce the number of effects channels, you may get an increase in performance.
Deus Ex offers some advanced options that are supported by the latest and greatest sound cards:
Dolby Surround Sound – To turn on the Dolby Surround Sound setting, you must have a stereo sound card and your computer must be hooked up to a Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound-capable receiver.
Hardware 3D Support - If your sound card supports 3D and environmental sound (such as EAX and A3D compatible sound cards), you can enable Hardware 3D Support for a highly immersive experience. However, if your card does not support hardware acceleration, 3D and environmental sound, you may not get any sound at all with Hardware 3D Support turned on. If this happens, just go back to the Audio Options and turn Hardware 3D Support off.
NOTE: If you change this option, you will need to exit the game back to the desktop and restart for these changes to take effect.
If you are experiencing sound problems such as sound skipping or stuttering, please update your sound card drivers. Also, if you are running the game with a small install, reinstall the game with all of the game components selected.
For information about all of the Audio Settings, refer to your game manual.
Additional Performance Tips
While Deus Ex will run fine with 64 MB of RAM, your playing experience will be smoother if you have at least 128 MB of RAM. Regardless of how much memory you have, you can maximize your available memory and increase the overall performance of the game engine by doing the following:
- Closing any open windows
- Shutting down all other programs, including menu-bar programs like ICQ
- Defragmenting your hard drive
- Making sure you have additional free space on your hard drive.
The game will run more smoothly if you do the full install by installing all of the available game components when you install the game. If you wish to change the install type after you have already installed, just uninstall Deus Ex and install the game again (make sure you have enough room on your hard drive). Your saved games will not be deleted.
Gameplay Features and Tips
Save/Load Game
During the game, you will move through map transitions, leaving one map and entering another. At these map transitions the screen displays the word SAVING followed by the word LOADING before the game continues to the next map. The game automatically saves the state of the previous map, but it DOES NOT automatically save your game. You will need to manually save your game through the game menu or by using the Quick Save hot key.
Climbing Ladders
When mounting a ladder from the top, or climbing off a ladder onto a ledge, it helps if you hold the crouch button. Having your character crouch while attempting to mount a ladder from the top (going down) also decreases the chances of "falling" off the top of the ladder. Holding the crouch button down while moving up and off a ladder onto a ledge makes it easier to move onto the ledge.
When climbing up and down a ladder, you are allowed some forward and sideways movement but be careful not to fall off the side or front of the ladder. You can prevent yourself from falling off by always looking towards the ladder and keeping yourself centered on it. This is especially true while moving down a ladder – if you look away from the ladder while moving down you may move forward and fall off if you aren't careful.
Crosshairs
As you move through the world, the crosshairs at the center of the screen will change color depending on the nature of the person or thing you position it over:
If the crosshairs are green, you have a friendly or neutral person or animal targeted.
If the crosshairs are red, you are targeting an enemy.
If the crosshairs are white, you have an object targeted.
Pay close attention to the crosshairs color, some characters who look like enemies may actually be friendly.
Turrets and Security Systems
If you successfully log into or hack a security system, a security system screen is displayed. This screen allows you to change the state of cameras, doors, locks and, at higher skill levels, turrets:
If the turret is set to allies, the turret will attack you and your allies.
If the turret is set to enemies, the turret will only attack your enemies.
If the turret is set to everything, the turret will attack everyone and everything in the area.
Set the turret to disabled, to completely disable the turret.
Enemy Arm Injuries
Arm injuries can make the enemy drop their weapons. To do this, shoot the enemy in the arm repeatedly until their weapon falls to the ground.
Skill Levels
Do not take your skill levels lightly, they make a huge difference in the way your Deus Ex game plays out.
Remember to upgrade your skill levels throughout the game as you obtain skill points.
The non-weapon based skills are just as powerful or even more powerful compared to your weapon skills.
If you frequently run out of lockpicks or multitools, you may want to consider upgrading your lockpicking and electronics skill levels to "Trained" or higher.
If you want to hack computers, ATM's and security systems, your computer skill will need to be set at "Trained" or higher.
NOTE: You won't be able to train up to master level in every skill so be careful how you allocate your skill points. Once they're spent, you can't get them back.
Augmentations
Augmentations are special abilities that you can turn on and off at will. The augmentation canisters needed to install augmentations and the upgrade canisters to increase their effectiveness are usually well-hidden. These canisters are very valuable so you may want to take the extra time to search for them or spend the resources required to reach them.
Combat vs. Stealth
Using combat to complete mission objectives is often an option but it isn't always the best option. You should also attempt to use stealth and cunning to outsmart your opponents. Try to keep silent and stay out of sight of enemies and cameras, and use your surroundings to your advantage.
Stuck?
Explore the entire area, talk to the people in the area, look around for ventilation shafts in the floors and walls, hidden ladders, doorways and keypads. There is almost always another route to get to where you want to go.