Optimized Rocket launcher w_model.
When discussing model optimization, LODs are often brought up. This article shows the effect of LOD on polygon count in models. The charts show which models have received optimization updates in the form of LODs, and which models are still unoptimized.
Background
LOD
To reduce the number of polygons that need to be rendered in a scene, the Source Engine will render alternate lower-quality models as the distance between the model and camera increase. LOD models are not created dynamically by the engine; instead all the levels of lower-quality models must be included in the game files for LOD to be enabled.
c_models
- Chart scale
- 0-7000
- Key
- Unoptimized
- Optimized
| Sydney Sleeper
|
6,623
|
|
0%
|
| Tomislav
|
6,486
|
|
0%
|
| Huntsman
|
6,300
|
1,478
|
76.56%
|
| Fists of Steel
|
5,880
|
|
0%
|
| Overdose
|
5,862
|
1,566
|
73.28%
|
| Black Box
|
5,694
|
790
|
86.13%
|
| Saxxy
|
5,614
|
759
|
86.48%
|
| Bazaar Bargain
|
5,582
|
2,720
|
51.27%
|
| Degreaser
|
5,485
|
998
|
81.8%
|
| Brass Beast
|
5,466
|
863
|
84.21%
|
| Detonator
|
5,422
|
|
0%
|
| Direct Hit
|
5,381
|
391
|
92.73%
|
| Liberty Launcher
|
5,352
|
|
0%
|
| Ambassador
|
5,331
|
205
|
96.15%
|
| Quick-Fix
|
5,328
|
1,509
|
71.68%
|
| Iron Curtain
|
5,149
|
763
|
85.18%
|
| L'Etranger
|
5,085
|
|
0%
|
| Powerjack
|
4,996
|
840
|
83.19%
|
| Crusader's Crossbow
|
4,986
|
|
0%
|
| Frontier Justice
|
4,961
|
263
|
94.70%
|
| Flamethrower
|
4,944
|
681
|
86.23%
|
| Claidheamh Mòr
|
4,896
|
|
0%
|
| Warrior's Spirit
|
4,893
|
|
0%
|
| Scottish Resistance
|
4,796
|
626
|
86.87%
|
| Scotsman's Skullcutter
|
4,378
|
|
0%
|
| Fan O'War
|
4,066
|
904
|
77.76%
|
| Eyelander
|
3,893
|
382
|
90.19%
|
| Equalizer
|
3,843
|
610
|
84.13%
|
| Flare Gun
|
3,774
|
430
|
88.60%
|
| Buff Banner (bugle)
|
3,760
|
843
|
77.58%
|
| Soda Popper
|
3,760
|
|
0%
|
| Big Kill
|
3,690
|
|
0%
|
| Big Earner
|
3,680
|
|
0%
|
| Enforcer
|
3,636
|
1,621
|
55,42%
|
| Reserve Shooter
|
3,589
|
|
0%
|
| Shortstop
|
3,528
|
|
0%
|
| Battalion's Backup (backpack)
|
3,510
|
|
0%
|
| Kritzkrieg (attachment & Medi Gun)
|
3,454
|
|
0%
|
(300 + 3154)
|
| Vita-Saw
|
3,346
|
|
0%
|
| Family Business
|
3,086
|
1,553
|
49.68%
|
| Quick-Fix (backpack)
|
3,047
|
|
0%
|
| Battalion's Backup (bugle)
|
3,040
|
|
0%
|
| Atomizer
|
3,040
|
|
0%
|
| Wrangler
|
3,030
|
|
0%
|
| Jag
|
3,012
|
|
0%
|
| Grenade Launcher
|
2,991
|
703
|
76.50%
|
| Half-Zatoichi
|
2,949
|
473
|
83.96%
|
| Axtinguisher
|
2,887
|
|
0%
|
| Maul
|
2,769
|
|
0%
|
| Battalion's Backup (flag)
|
2,753
|
|
0%
|
| Killing Gloves of Boxing
|
2,692
|
|
0%
|
| Chargin' Targe
|
2,678
|
|
0%
|
| Buff Banner (flag)
|
2,664
|
384
|
85.59%
|
| Splendid Screen
|
2,618
|
|
0%
|
| Blutsauger
|
2,606
|
784
|
69.92%
|
| Holy Mackerel
|
2,559
|
|
0%
|
| Eviction Notice
|
2,538
|
|
0%
|
| Amputator
|
2,500
|
|
0%
|
| Loch-n-Load
|
2,468
|
|
0%
|
| Persian Persuader
|
2,439
|
|
0%
|
| Winger
|
2,410
|
|
0%
|
| Ullapool Caber
|
2,342
|
|
0%
|
| Market Gardener
|
2,309
|
|
0%
|
| Shotgun
|
2,252
|
|
0%
|
Used as viewmodel only
|
| Postal Pummeler
|
2,204
|
|
0%
|
| Southern Hospitality
|
2,190
|
|
0%
|
| Pain Train
|
2,145
|
|
0%
|
| Conniver's Kunai
|
2,092
|
400
|
80.88%
|
| Shovel
|
2,085
|
|
0%
|
| Force-A-Nature
|
2,004
|
|
0%
|
| Mad Milk
|
1,890
|
|
0%
|
| Gunboats
|
1,822
|
|
0%
|
| Three-Rune Blade
|
1,784
|
|
0%
|
| Lugermorph
|
1,754
|
|
0%
|
| Destroy Tool
|
1,746
|
|
0%
|
Used as viewmodel only
|
| Back Scratcher
|
1,714
|
|
0%
|
| Concheror (flag)
|
1,665
|
294
|
82.34%
|
| Jarate
|
1,641
|
258
|
84.25%
|
| Pistol
|
1,619
|
|
0%
|
Used as viewmodel only
|
| Sandvich
|
1,584
|
360
|
77.27%
|
| Buff Banner (backpack)
|
1,564
|
|
0%
|
| Your Eternal Reward
|
1,505
|
|
0%
|
| Mantreads
|
1,464
|
|
0%
|
| Sandman
|
1,430
|
|
0%
|
| Bushwacka
|
1,412
|
|
0%
|
| Concheror (bugle)
|
1,339
|
496
|
62.95%
|
| Shahanshah
|
1,324
|
|
0%
|
| Fishcake
|
1,240
|
|
0%
|
| Boston Basher
|
1,217
|
|
0%
|
| Buffalo Steak Sandvich
|
1,176
|
|
0%
|
| Concheror (backpack)
|
1,164
|
570
|
51.03%
|
| Build Tool
|
1,146
|
|
0%
|
Used as viewmodel only
|
| Kukri
|
1,135
|
519
|
54.27%
|
| Solemn Vow
|
1,118
|
474
|
57,60%
|
| Frying Pan
|
1,088
|
|
0%
|
| Nessie's Nine Iron
|
1,084
|
|
0%
|
| Disciplinary Action
|
1,048
|
|
0%
|
| Natascha (attachment)
|
956
|
|
0%
|
| Homewrecker
|
940
|
|
0%
|
| Übersaw
|
920
|
424
|
53.91%
|
| Backburner (attachment)
|
918
|
|
0%
|
| Tribalman's Shiv
|
907
|
|
0%
|
| Sharpened Volcano Fragment
|
864
|
98
|
88.66%
|
| Bonk! Atomic Punch
|
854
|
|
0%
|
| Horseless Headless Horsemann's Headtaker
|
800
|
|
0%
|
| Candy Cane
|
680
|
|
0%
|
| Sun-on-a-Stick
|
638
|
145
|
77.27%
|
| Dalokohs Bar
|
557
|
|
0%
|
| Ali Baba's Wee Booties
|
458
|
|
0%
|
Notes
- Medi Gun and c_models
- The Medi Gun equipped on its own uses w_models and v_models. But when the Kritzkrieg attachment model is applied, a c_model variation of the Medi Gun is used.
- Unused c_model content
- Fire Axe, Revolver, Scattergun, Syringe Gun, Wrench, Stickybomb Launcher, Bat and Bonesaw.
w_models
- Chart scale
- 0-7000
- Key
- Unoptimized
- Optimized
| Minigun
|
4,811
|
494
|
89.73%
|
| Syringe Gun
|
3,513
|
492
|
85.99%
|
| Medi Gun
|
3,040
|
468
|
84.61%
|
| Rocket Launcher
|
2,808
|
420
|
85.04%
|
| Sniper Rifle
|
2,279
|
738
|
67.62%
|
| Revolver
|
2,231
|
429
|
80.77%
|
| Scattergun
|
1,711
|
258
|
64.92%
|
| Shotgun
|
1,681
|
401
|
76.15%
|
| Shovel
|
1,570
|
512
|
67.39%
|
| Stickybomb Launcher
|
1,449
|
565
|
61.00%
|
| SMG
|
1,438
|
498
|
65.37%
|
| Fire Axe
|
1,184
|
282
|
76.18%
|
| Bottle
|
1,000
|
260
|
74.00%
|
| Electro Sapper
|
874
|
544
|
37.76%
|
| Wrench
|
800
|
360
|
55.00%
|
| Build Tool
|
748
|
290
|
61.23%
|
| Bat
|
692
|
94
|
86.41%
|
| Pistol
|
665
|
272
|
59.10%
|
| Toolbox
|
637
|
331
|
48.04%
|
| Disguise Kit
|
590
|
224
|
62.03%
|
| Bonesaw
|
562
|
260
|
51.74%
|
| Knife
|
416
|
198
|
52.40%
|
Notes
- Unused w_model content
- Grenade Launcher, Destroy Tool and Scottish Resistance. These items are currently being phased out.
Character models
- Chart scale
- 0-10,000
- Note: The lengths of the bars themselves are not to scale with the weapons chart. While the numbers at the end of the bars are comparable, the sizes are not.
- Key
- Unoptimized
- Optimized
| Demoman
|
8,442
|
562
|
93.34%
|
| Soldier
|
8,310
|
799
|
90.38%
|
| Medic
|
8,288
|
774
|
90.66%
|
| Scout
|
7,814
|
1,603
|
79.49%
|
| Engineer
|
7,438
|
1,251
|
83.18%
|
| Heavy
|
7,188
|
579
|
91.94%
|
| Sniper
|
6,634
|
1,011
|
84.76%
|
| Spy
|
5,360
|
565
|
89.46%
|
| Pyro
|
4,197
|
544
|
87.04%
|
Hats and Miscellaneous items
- Chart scale
- 0-5,000
- Note: the chart scale is not the same as the previous lists! You can not compare the lengths of the bars in this table with bars in the other tables. You CAN compare the numbers though.
- Key
- Unoptimized
- Optimized
| Lumbricus Lid (includes grenades)
|
4,885
|
|
0%
|
| Voodoo Juju
|
2,658
|
|
0%
|
| Horseless Headless Horsemann's Head
|
2,478
|
|
0%
|
| Towering Pillar of Hats
|
2,334
|
|
0%
|
| Madame Dixie
|
2,163
|
|
0%
|
| Spine-Chilling Skull
|
2,088
|
|
0%
|
| Prancer's Pride
|
2,070
|
|
0%
|
| Hat of Undeniable Wealth And Respect
|
2,031
|
|
0%
|
| Camera Beard
|
1,952
|
|
0%
|
| Buckaroos Hat
|
1,950
|
|
0%
|
| Max's Severed Head
|
1,934
|
|
0%
|
| Texas Ten Gallon
|
1,930
|
|
0%
|
| Glengarry Bonnet
|
1,902
|
|
0%
|
| Frenchman's Beret
|
1,892
|
|
0%
|
| Vintage Tyrolean
|
1,885
|
|
0%
|
| Treasure Hat
|
1,832
|
|
0%
|
| Noh Mercy
|
1,804
|
|
0%
|
| Stout Shako
|
1,678
|
|
0%
|
| Engineer's Cap
|
1,672
|
|
0%
|
| Bounty Hat
|
1,636
|
|
0%
|
| Geisha Boy
|
1,636
|
|
0%
|
| German Gonzila
|
1,570
|
132
|
91.59%
|
| Détective Noir
|
1,550
|
|
0%
|
| Ghastlier Gibus
|
1,548
|
203
|
86.89%
|
| Killer's Kabuto
|
1,520
|
|
0%
|
| Rimmed Raincatcher
|
1,512
|
|
0%
|
| Samur-Eye
|
1,510
|
|
0%
|
| Sober Stuntman
|
1,492
|
|
0%
|
| Tyrant's Helm
|
1,486
|
287
|
80.69%
|
| Noble Amassment of Hats
|
1,484
|
|
0%
|
| Defiant Spartan
|
1,482
|
|
0%
|
| Sergeant's Drill Hat
|
1,472
|
|
0%
|
| Bombing Run
|
1,469
|
|
0%
|
| Essential Accessories
|
1,468
|
|
0%
|
| Prince Tavish's Crown
|
1,464
|
|
0%
|
| Tough Guy's Toque
|
1,451
|
|
0%
|
| Alien Swarm Parasite
|
1,406
|
|
0%
|
| A Rather Festive Tree
|
1,396
|
|
0%
|
| Ghastly Gibus
|
1,387
|
|
0%
|
| Whoopee Cap
|
1,386
|
|
0%
|
| Coupe D'isaster
|
1,330
|
|
0%
|
| Chieftain's Challenge
|
1,293
|
|
0%
|
| Blighted Beak
|
1,283
|
|
0%
|
| Bloke's Bucket Hat
|
1,244
|
|
0%
|
| Respectless Rubber Glove
|
1,230
|
|
0%
|
| Exquisite Rack
|
1,216
|
|
0%
|
| World Traveler's Hat
|
1,188
|
|
0%
|
| Bonk Helm
|
1,166
|
|
0%
|
| Heavy Duty Rag
|
1,152
|
|
0%
|
| Stainless Pot
|
1,116
|
|
0%
|
| Foster's Facade
|
1,068
|
|
0%
|
| Pyromancer's Mask
|
1,063
|
|
0%
|
| Safe'n'Sound
|
1,060
|
|
0%
|
| Flipped Trilby
|
1,056
|
|
0%
|
| Handyman's Handle
|
1,014
|
|
0%
|
| Football Helmet
|
974
|
|
0%
|
| Berliner's Bucket Helm
|
974
|
|
0%
|
| Carouser's Capotain
|
960
|
|
0%
|
| Whiskered Gentleman
|
959
|
|
0%
|
| Dread Knot
|
954
|
|
0%
|
| Vintage Merryweather
|
932
|
|
0%
|
| License to Maim
|
922
|
|
0%
|
| Scotch Bonnet
|
904
|
|
0%
|
| Industrial Festivizer
|
898
|
|
0%
|
| Magistrate's Mullet
|
880
|
|
0%
|
| Larrikin Robin
|
864
|
|
0%
|
| Pugilist's Protector
|
860
|
|
0%
|
| Ze Goggles
|
840
|
|
0%
|
| Ol' Snaggletooth
|
836
|
|
0%
|
| Wiki Cap
|
824
|
|
0%
|
| Physician's Procedure Mask
|
822
|
|
0%
|
| Modest Pile of Hat
|
816
|
|
0%
|
| Familiar Fez
|
808
|
|
0%
|
| Milkman
|
800
|
|
0%
|
| Big Chief
|
794
|
|
0%
|
| Hard Counter
|
784
|
|
0%
|
| Prussian Pickelhaube
|
782
|
|
0%
|
| Triboniophorus Tyrannus
|
770
|
|
0%
|
| Brigade Helm
|
768
|
|
0%
|
| Attendant
|
756
|
|
0%
|
| Professional's Panama
|
756
|
|
0%
|
| Cadaver's Cranium
|
723
|
|
0%
|
| Scotsman's Stove Pipe
|
716
|
|
0%
|
| Shooter's Sola Topi
|
699
|
|
0%
|
| Companion Cube Pin
|
692
|
|
0%
|
| Hotrod
|
690
|
|
0%
|
| Mann Co. Cap
|
680
|
|
0%
|
| Old Guadalajara
|
674
|
|
0%
|
| Ellis' Cap
|
672
|
|
0%
|
| Athletic Supporter
|
672
|
|
0%
|
| Bill's Hat
|
668
|
|
0%
|
| Grenadier's Softcap
|
668
|
|
0%
|
| Mining Light
|
658
|
|
0%
|
| Magnificent Mongolian
|
654
|
|
0%
|
| Backbiter's Billycock
|
624
|
|
0%
|
| Polycount Pin
|
616
|
|
0%
|
| Troublemaker's Tossle Cap
|
582
|
|
0%
|
| Le Party Phantom
|
564
|
|
0%
|
| Master's Yellow Belt
|
538
|
|
0%
|
| Ye Olde Baker Boy
|
536
|
|
0%
|
| Superfan
|
532
|
|
0%
|
| Napper's Respite
|
530
|
|
0%
|
| Earbuds
|
512
|
|
0%
|
| Dangeresque, Too?
|
512
|
|
0%
|
| Trophy Belt
|
480
|
|
0%
|
| Officer's Ushanka
|
467
|
|
0%
|
| Hound Dog
|
447
|
|
0%
|
| Horrific Headsplitter
|
435
|
93
|
78.62%
|
| Batter's Helmet
|
416
|
|
0%
|
| Soldier's Stash
|
416
|
|
0%
|
| Tippler's Tricorne
|
408
|
|
0%
|
| Halloween Masks
|
399
|
|
0%
|
| Hustler's Hallmark
|
394
|
|
0%
|
| Dealer's Visor
|
376
|
|
0%
|
| Dueling badge/ID badge
|
366
|
|
0%
|
| Dr's Dapper Topper
|
364
|
|
0%
|
| Cheater's Lament
|
357
|
48
|
86.55%
|
| Demoman's Fro
|
308
|
|
0%
|
| Gentleman's Gatsby
|
296
|
|
0%
|
| Pyro's Beanie
|
260
|
|
0%
|
| Stockbroker's Scarf
|
218
|
|
0%
|
| Otolaryngologist's Mirror
|
211
|
|
0%
|
| Fancy Fedora
|
178
|
|
0%
|
| Gentle Manne's Service Medal
|
94
|
|
0%
|
Update history
January 7, 2008 Patch
- Graphics optimizations for mid and low end hardware
January 25, 2008 Patch
- Added more particle optimizations for mid range and low end hardware
February 14, 2008 Patch
- Optimized some particle systems to improve performance on some hardware configurations
- Made some small changes to the Demoman viewmodel that were causing performance problems
April 29, 2008 Patch (Gold Rush Update)
- Improved particle performance on multi-core machines
January 19, 2011 Patch
February 3, 2011 Patch
- Updated several more models with optimizations and new LODs.
- [Undocumented] v_ and w_ model versions of the Flamethrower was removed from the game files and replaced with a newer c_model variant
March 10, 2011 Patch
- Updated several more models with optimizations and new LODs.
See also
External links
