Description

This guide is designed to achieve the highest possible performance in s&box by disabling as many graphical effects and rendering options as possible.

To automate the process and avoid entering commands manually every time you launch the game, we will create a configuration file that will automatically apply all selected settings.

You don't have to use all the commands. Choose only the ones you need and experiment with them.

All commands are divided into two categories:

Un-cheated configuration that do not require sv_cheats 1
Cheated configuration that require sv_cheats 1

Commands without sv_cheats will work in any game, both in singleplayer and multiplayer.
Commands that require will only work singleplayer or on servers where cheats are enabled.

Creating the Configuration

Make a new text file with the .cfg extension in the sbox/core/cfg directory

Use only Latin characters in the file name. Use underscores (_) instead of spaces.
Example: low_graphics.cfg, low.cfg

Important: Make sure file name extensions are visible
In Windows 11 File Explorer: View tab → Show → check File name extensions

After creating the file, open it with any text editor and paste the desired commands.

Un-cheated convars

r_3d_skybox 0
r_ao_quality 0
r_bloom 0
r_render_decals 0
r_shadows 0
r_ssr_downsample_ratio 0
r_render_refraction 0
r_dof_quality 0
r_draw_overlays 0
r_enable_cubemap_fog 0
r_enable_gradient_fog 0
r_enable_lights 0
r_enable_volume_fog 0
r_max_anisotropy 1
r_motionblur_scale 0
fps_max 75
fps_max_inactive 10

Cheated convars

sv_cheats 1
r_terrain_displacement 0
r_size_cull_threshold 2f
r_drawskybox 0
r_render_world_node_bounds 0
r_draw_animatables 0
r_morphing_enabled 0
cl_skel_constraints_enable 0
volume_fog_disable 1

Launching the Config

To automatically apply these settings every time you start the game, you need to add a launch parameter.

Steam version

Right-click on s&box in your Steam Library → Properties → General → Launch Options
Add the following line: +exec low_graphics

Non-Steam version

Go to the game folder and find sbox.exe
Right-click → Create shortcut
Right-click on the new shortcut file sbox.exe - Shortcut → Properties
In the Target field, add the launch parameter after the path to the executable:
C:\Games\sbox\sbox.exe"+exec low_graphics

You do not need to write the .cfg extension in the parameters, only the file name.

Explanation of some Convars

To help you clearly see the effect of these convars, here are short videos showing the visual differences side by side.

This will make it easier to understand which commands affect different parts of the graphics.

📄Low Graphics Config