ASE: Graphic and PC Enhancements
Post of helpful Optimizations and Client side bug fixes for our ARK Players:
Why is ASE(ARK) so poorly optimized?
Many users struggle with Ark’s performance stutters, low FPS (frames per second), and graphical glitches. Ark is a highly unoptimized game, as even high-end hardware often isn’t able to achieve a smooth 60 FPS or even a stable 30 FPS. So what gives? Ark’s poor performance stems from problems in its code, as it’s not optimized enough to run smoother. Unfortunately, there’s nothing you can do about it other than fine-tune the settings, which is what we’re here for!
ASE(ARK) Launch Options
ASE(ARK) SURVIVAL OPTIONS PANEL CONFIGURATIONS:
GAME ERRORS and FIXES
What to do if your Client cannot connect to our servers!
Client Connection Errors
Are you able to directly connect to all the servers in a cluster? Make sure you can directly connect to all the servers. It can take longer for some maps to load up than others. Make sure you are allowing 5-10 minutes for all the servers to fully load up.
To Use Direct connect... Go to your Steam page> view> servers> when the box pops up, along the top are tabs, select "History" and there will be all the servers you have joined in the last two months. To join a server from one of them: right click the servers line, in the box that opens select "add server IP" add the ip address (use just the number from the steam link) and hit the "join this server" button. It will take a few seconds to minutes to load up. Double Check the filter settings in the server browser of the obelisk Make sure your filters do not filter out the servers. For example, the option "Show Passworded Servers" will filter out all servers except Passworded servers. Are all the mods updated? Mods will take time to update. Not only do they need to download they also need to install. This can take several minutes for some mods. They will show white type in the bottom right hand corner of the lobby.
Snapshot_ # Fatal error Load.
Windows 11 doesn't handle Ark like other programs, by automatically increasing the swap file size so it can unload more stuff to let Ark load. That's why Ark can usually join a clean server, but not one with heavy mods. And if you fail to load Ark fast enough when trying to log in, you timeout your login and generate the Snapshot_# error.
One fix for this is, if possible, moving your ARK mods to a SSD. The SSD will then load the mods much faster and you should not time out. But as most SSD are small in size this is not always a possibility. Try following the steps outlined below, and if they do not work , Our next step would be to make a larger Virtual Memory Allotment.
Find the DefaultEngine.ini file,
\ARK\ShooterGame\Config on the client
Make a backup of these file(s).
Locate the lines
[/Script/OnlineSubsystemUtils.IpNetDriver]
InitialConnectTimeout=300.0
ConnectionTimeout=300.0
and change "300" to "600".
Consider using the launch options mentioned in the Launch Options section and try ARK again.
Launch ARK in Low Memory 4GB mode and try again.
Launch ARK in Extremely Low Memory mode
SETTING UP YOUR LOBBY WINDOW
Make sure all the boxes in the top row are on default settings. At the bottom left you need to check With Mods, and Survivors Also when you are Downloading a mod... WAIT till that box in the bottom right ... Marked with a RED BOX here. IS done doing the mod updates. YOU will be disconnected over and over till the mod is done Downloading and Installing.
How to Join from Steam History!
Go to your Steam page> view> servers> when the box pops up, along the top are tabs, select "History" and there will be all the servers you have joined in the last two months. To join a server from one of them: right click the servers line, in the box that opens select "Join this Server?" and there you have it.
Mod Installation Problems
When mod installation freezes or slows down or the mods do not install properly or are errored and a Verify does not fix the issue.
Close ARK Unsubscribe from all your ARK mods at http://steamcommunity.com/id/YOUR_ID/myworkshopfiles/?appid=346110&browsefilter=mysubscriptions (Feel free to favorite them to keep them in a list)
Delete your \steamapps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Content\Mods folder
Delete your \steamapps\workshop\content\346110 folder
Use the launch option "Launch ARK (Reset Total Conversion) "
Reconnect to your server (You will be timed out while the mods are re-subscribed and re-downloaded)
Return to the main menu
Wait until all messages on bottom right of your screen go away
Try playing again - otherwise Try Increasing Virtual Memory on your OS. Instructions follow in the next section.
Increasing Virtual Memory on your OS.
Method #1 You can compress the installation folder.
Go to the ark directory, find "content" and "seekfreecontent", and enable NTFS file compression from the "properties" menu. It can take an hour or two to complete depending on your CPU speed. Most games come pre-compressed. ARK does not, because the devs are inept.
Method #2 Unsubscribe and clean Mod Files out.
Unsubscribe from all your mods, (while doing this "favorite" any of the mods you do want to keep or you are intrested in, so you do not loose them.) delete all workshop folders in this location: ARK>ShooterGame>Content>Mods Then resubscribe to the mods that you actually use now, and then exit steam and restart it. This should trigger the steam download to start.
Method #3 Using a third party application to compress files.
Use this Third party app if you are on win10: Visual Interface for the Windows 10 Compact Function https://github.com/ImminentFate/CompactGUI You can cut a brand new install by 60GB with zero perceptible change by compressing the filesystem (e.g. removing duplication)
Black Screens -Dual Monitors
Sometimes your graphic card will overheat when running two monitors, while in ARK Survivor. This applies where one monitor is 144mhz and the other is 59-60mhz. Set the newer monitor to 60mhz to stop the black screen issues. Then in ARK Survivor, open your tab bar and type t.maxfps 60
. This command limits the FPS to 60FPS which in turn keeps the graphic much more stable and much cooler. And the plus, NO MORE BLACK SCREENS.
Too Bright Screens - Map Specific in ARK: Survivor
You can also fix the weird shininess/everything is too bright bug by going into settings while in game and going to options.
Next turn reflections to low, hit apply, then turn them off and hit apply again.
Use of the Launch Parameter -sm4 will reduce brightness on some Video Cards.
Various Graphic Resets with EACH Patch.
1. Using -SM4 into set launch options
2. Tab to open up console ingame and type R.Shadowquality
0. This one will turn off shadows completly and give you a huge FPS boost.
3. Change some INI Files in your CLIENT SIDE settings.
You will find the files here: \SteamApps\common\ARK\ShooterGame\Config
LOOK FOR DefaultEngine.ini
file "make a copy of this one So you always have it somewhere."
Find this section below:
[/Script/Engine.RendererSettings] r.MobileHDR=True r.AllowOcclusionQueries=True r.MinScreenRadiusForLights=0.030000 r.MinScreenRadiusForDepthPrepass=0.030000 r.PrecomputedVisibilityWarning=False r.TextureStreaming=True Compat.UseDXT5NormalMaps=True r.AllowStaticLighting=False r.NormalMapsForStaticLighting=False r.GBuffer=True r.GenerateMeshDistanceFields=True r.Shadow.DistanceFieldPenumbraSize=0.050000 r.TessellationAdaptivePixelsPerTriangle=8.000000 r.SeparateTranslucency=True r.CustomDepth=0 r.DefaultFeature.Bloom=False r.DefaultFeature.AmbientOcclusion=True r.DefaultFeature.AutoExposure=True r.DefaultFeature.MotionBlur=False r.DefaultFeature.LensFlare=False r.DefaultFeature.AntiAliasing=1 r.EarlyZPass=2 r.EarlyZPassMovable=True r.ClearSceneMethod=1 r.MSAA.CompositingSampleCount=0 r.WireframeCullThreshold=5.000000 ;PRIMAL - DS r.SSAOSmartBlur=0
Second option:
You can change the majority in the game settings menu but we offer you a whole settings list of edited values. You can change GameUserSettings.ini file this way:
Go to the Steam client.
Open Library and right-click Ark: Survival Evolved.
In the Local Files tab open Browse Local Files.
Open Shooter game folder.
Click Saved, then Config and finally open WindowsNoEditor.
Find GameUserSettings.ini file
.
Open with Notepad and delete all.
Copy and paste these values:
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings] MasterAudioVolume=0.75 MusicAudioVolume=0.25 SFXAudioVolume=0.25 CameraShakeScale=0.000000 bFirstPersonRiding=False bThirdPersonPlayer=True bShowStatusNotificationMessages=True TrueSkyQuality=0.000000 FOVMultiplier=1.250000 GroundClutterDensity=0.000000 bFilmGrain=False bMotionBlur=False bUseDFAO=False bUseSSAO=True bShowChatBox=False bCameraViewBob=False bInvertLookY=False bFloatingNames=True bChatBubbles=true bJoinNotifications=True bCraftablesShowAllItems=True LookLeftRightSensitivity=1.000000 LookUpDownSensitivity=1.000000 GraphicsQuality=3 ActiveLingeringWorldTiles=12 bUseVSync=False ResolutionSizeX=1768 ResolutionSizeY=992 LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeX=1920 LastUserConfirmedResolutionSizeY=1080 WindowPosX=-1 WindowPosY=-1 bUseDesktopResolutionForFullscreen=False FullscreenMode=1 LastConfirmedFullscreenMode=1 Version=5 bHideServerInfo=False LastServerSearchType=2 LastServerSearchHideFull=False LastServerSearchProtected=False HideItemTextOverlay=True bDistanceFieldShadowing=True LODScalar=1.000000 HighQualityMaterials=False HighQualitySurfaces=False bTemperatureF=False bDisableTorporEffect=True VoiceAudioVolume=1.277778 bLocalInventoryShowAllItems=False bRemoteInventoryShowAllItems=False ClientNetQuality=3 bToggleToTalk=False bChatShowSteamName=True bChatShowTribeName=True EmoteKeyBind1=0 EmoteKeyBind2=0 bNoBloodEffects=False bLowQualityVFX=True MacroCtrl0= MacroCtrl1= MacroCtrl2= MacroCtrl3= MacroCtrl4= MacroCtrl5= MacroCtrl6= MacroCtrl7= MacroCtrl8= MacroCtrl9= bSpectatorManualFloatingNames=False
[ScalabilityGroups] sg.ResolutionQuality=100 sg.ViewDistanceQuality=3 sg.AntiAliasingQuality=0 sg.ShadowQuality=2 sg.PostProcessQuality=0 sg.TextureQuality=2 sg.EffectsQuality=0 sg.TrueSkyQuality=0 sg.GroundClutterQuality=0 sg.IBLQuality=0 sg.HeightFieldShadowQuality=2
When you need to reset your Last played Maps
When you need to reset your Last played Maps for THE PACK CLUSTER
Go to the Steam client.
Open Library and right-click Ark: Survival Evolved.
In the Local Files tab open Browse Local Files.
Open Shooter game folder.
Click Saved,
then Config and finally open
WindowsNoEditor.
Find GameUserSettings.ini file
.
Open with Notepad
Search for (Ctrl +F) - [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings]
and Copy and paste these values at the end of the [/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings] section.
[/Script/ShooterGame.ShooterGameUserSettings] LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Island PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Center PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Scorched Earth PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Aberration PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Ragnarok PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Extinction PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Valguero PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Genesis PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK CrystalIsles PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Genesis2 PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Amissa PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK EbenusAstrum PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Fjordur PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Hope PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Olympus PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)" LastJoinedSessionPerCategory="The PACK Event Map PvE Cluster(3xH, 4xXP, 8xT)"
NOW search for [Player.Info] And copy and paste the following at the bottom of that section.
[Player.Info] LastMapPlayed=CrystalIsles PlayedMaps=Genesis PlayedMaps=Ragnarok PlayedMaps=TheCenter PlayedMaps=Amissa PlayedMaps=TheIsland PlayedMaps=ScorchedEarth_P PlayedMaps=Extinction PlayedMaps=EbenusAstrum PlayedMaps=Valguero_P PlayedMaps=Olympus PlayedMaps=Hope PlayedMaps=Aberration_P PlayedMaps=Arkforum_Eventmap PlayedMaps=CrystalIsles PlayedMaps=Viking_P PlayedMaps=Gen2 Now SAVE and close the Wordpad File.
YOU have just added THE PACK to your Current played maps history and this will show up in the steam window on your next restart of Steam.
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