Grid 2019 Car Tuning Guide: Boosting Visuals and Performance

GRID 2019’s default TAA anti-aliasing setting can blur visuals, even on powerful PCs. This guide provides tweaks to enhance graphics and performance, making your racing experience truly shine. Unlock the full potential of your GRID 2019 experience with these optimized settings.

Optimizing GRID 2019 Graphics: Configuration File Edits

The first step towards crisper visuals involves modifying GRID 2019’s configuration file. Before making any changes, ensure TAA is enabled in the in-game video settings (Options > Video > Advanced > Antialiasing > TAA).

1. Navigate to DocumentsMy GamesGRID 2019hardwaresettingshardware_settings_config.xml.
2. Create a backup copy of this file to prevent irreversible errors.
3. Open the original hardware_settings_config.xml file with Notepad.
4. Locate and modify the following lines with the suggested settings (adjust to preference):

<resolution width="3840" height="2160" fullscreen="true" borderless="false" vsync="0" multisampling="16" /><!--MSAA-->
<postprocessing ssr="false" ssrStrength="0.0" crowd="true" crowdLodBias="0.0" particles="true" particleLodBias="0.0" particleLimiter="4" /><!--particle limiter-->

<camera fov="65.0" motionBlur="false" godRays="true" depthOfField="false" lensStreak="false" lensFlare="false" lensDust="false" bloom="false" /><!--DOF/bloom-->

<dynamicResolution enabled="true" minScale="0.5" maxScale="4.0" rate="1.0" high="true" /><!--dynamic resolution-->
<shadowResolution value="240.0" />
<lightingQuality value="2" />

5. Save the changes in Notepad (File > Save).
6. Right-click the hardware_settings_config.xml file, select Properties, and check the “Read-only” attribute. Apply this change to prevent the game from overwriting your modifications. Remember to uncheck “Read-only” before making future adjustments.

Enhancing Visuals: HDMI Cable and Color Settings

Using a high-quality HDMI cable is crucial for optimal visual output, especially with high-resolution displays.

1. For 4K or 8K TVs, use an Ultra HDMI 2.1 cable (48 Gbps) for 120 fps gameplay at maximum settings.
2. Open the NVIDIA Control Panel (or AMD Radeon Settings for AMD cards).
3. Navigate to Display > Change resolution. Apply the following color settings using NVIDIA color settings (AMD settings may vary):

• Desktop color depth: Highest (32-bit)
• Output color depth: 12 bpc
• Output color format: RGB
• Output dynamic range: Full

NVIDIA Control Panel Settings

HDR Considerations in GRID 2019

Enabling HDR in Windows will also activate it in GRID 2019. Experiment to see if HDR enhances your visual experience, as preferences vary.

Sharpening with ReShade: A Significant Visual Upgrade

ReShade can dramatically improve sharpness without introducing artifacts.

1. Download and install ReShade (https://reshade.me/). Choose the qUINT by Marty McFly effect package during installation.
2. Launch GRID 2019 and open ReShade by pressing the Home key.
3. Select the DELC_Sharpen filter.
4. Maximize the sharpening slider for DELC_Sharpen within the settings, leaving other values unchanged. This filter utilizes depth and color information for enhanced local contrast sharpening.

Final Tuning Tip: Utilizing the DX12 Executable

Always launch GRID 2019 using the DX12 executable for optimal performance. This can be done directly from the game files or by creating a shortcut.

By implementing these tuning adjustments, you can significantly enhance the visual fidelity and performance of GRID 2019, ensuring a more immersive and enjoyable racing experience.