CS2 Hammer Raytracing

[nimrod]

Does anyone with the CS2 beta know if the workshop tools require a GPU that supports raytracing? The release notes seem ambiguous... does "fully functional" mean that hammer can't compile a map without GPU raytracing support?

6/6/2023 release notes: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/730/view/3702568031467145905

Quote

[ WORKSHOP TOOLS ]

 

• Introducing Counter-Strike 2 Workshop Tools which can be enabled and downloaded from in-game settings menu--these tools will allow community contributors to create weapon finishes, stickers, and maps. 
  • Note: the Steam Community Workshop does not yet support uploading CS2 maps.
•  
• The level editor (Hammer) now leverages GPU accelerated raytracing to both preview and bake lighting for CS2 maps. This significantly speeds up compile times, but as a result a GPU capable of raytracing is required for Hammer to be fully functional. 
•  
• Hammer GPU Minimum Specs:
  • Nvidia 2060Ti 6gb (2080Ti+ recommended)
  • AMD 6600XT (6800XT+ recommended)

 

Edited June 20, 2023 by nimrod
spelling

[leplubodeslapin]

(correct me if i'm wrong !!)

Technically there are commands to compile using your CPU instead of GPU, at the cost of extra compilation times. But this can become deprecated and removed/not supported in the future.

There are also some updates on the light entities (light and light_spot are obsolete, replaced by light_omni2 and light_barn with the addition of an area light called light_rect). I've heard that these are fine and can be built with CPU as of today.
However, materials that are selfilum can now be emissive and actually emit light over the environment, and i've heard that this is not something doable with a CPU compile.

The RayTrace preview also requires a GPU that supports RT, and it's one of the best thing that came with CS2 tools, so you'd miss that too!

 

In my opinion, it's worth getting a new GPU if yours doesn't fit this requirement, it's a good time. As you said, it needs to be a GPU that supports raytracing, so it doesn't have to be a RTX (from Nvidia), it can also be an AMD card.
Depending on where you are, the used market can have some good cards at decent prices (~ 200-300 €).

I have a RTX 2070 (which was the first gen of RTX cards) and all the features are working very well (including the low compilation times), it doesn't have to be the latest GPU on the market. The tools are very well optimized, it really just is a tech requirement and it's worth it (in my opinion).

[Vaya]

Quote

 this can become deprecated 

valve have said 'will be' so assume its happening

[leplubodeslapin]

1 hour ago, Vaya said:

valve have said 'will be' so assume its happening

ok I wasn't sure so thanks for the confirmation ^^

[Serialmapper]

I have some questions about ray tracing and CS2.

CS2 will use ray tracing in game directly? or the ray tracing lightning Information will be precalculated in Hammer during compile, and "embedded" in the final map so that a ray tracing capable graphics card will not be needed to benefit from those lightning enhancements? What role will play ray tracing in CS2?

[leplubodeslapin]

5 hours ago, Serialmapper said:

I have some questions about ray tracing and CS2.

CS2 will use ray tracing in game directly? or the ray tracing lightning Information will be precalculated in Hammer during compile, and "embedded" in the final map so that a ray tracing capable graphics card will not be needed to benefit from those lightning enhancements? What role will play ray tracing in CS2?

As of today, Ray tracing tech is only used for Hammer (to preview your lighting in the 3D view rather quickly, and to simply build the lighting with VRAD, similar to how it's been done for Source 1 but better)

I don't think there is anything yet regarding ray tracing in game (AO/GI is baked on lightmap and probes, shadows use Cascaded Shadows like in CSGO but with more sources, reflections are cubemaps/ScreenSpaceReflection ...)

[thegregster101]

is there a way to get non rtx cards to work even if it takes long to compile?

[Serialmapper]

It´s alive!!!

[bruja]

On 6/29/2023 at 12:33 AM, leplubodeslapin said:

(correct me if i'm wrong !!)

Technically there are commands to compile using your CPU instead of GPU, at the cost of extra compilation times. But this can become deprecated and removed/not supported in the future.

There are also some updates on the light entities (light and light_spot are obsolete, replaced by light_omni2 and light_barn with the addition of an area light called light_rect). I've heard that these are fine and can be built with CPU as of today.
However, materials that are selfilum can now be emissive and actually emit light over the environment, and i've heard that this is not something doable with a CPU compile.

The RayTrace preview also requires a GPU that supports RT, and it's one of the best thing that came with CS2 tools, so you'd miss that too!

 

In my opinion, it's worth getting a new GPU if yours doesn't fit this requirement, it's a good time. As you said, it needs to be a GPU that supports raytracing, so it doesn't have to be a RTX (from Nvidia), it can also be an AMD card.
Depending on where you are, the used market can have some good cards at decent prices (~ 200-300 €).

I have a RTX 2070 (which was the first gen of RTX cards) and all the features are working very well (including the low compilation times), it doesn't have to be the latest GPU on the market. The tools are very well optimized, it really just is a tech requirement and it's worth it (in my opinion).

Please, tell me what those commands are

[leplubodeslapin]

On 10/1/2023 at 12:10 PM, bruja said:

Please, tell me what those commands are

I haven't tried any of these and I recommend to get the minimum specs required for CS2 tools, which include a RT-capable GPU.

Hosomi made this video that should be helpful, if you want to give it a try :

 

[Serialmapper]

Some questions: how can i make that a custom material made for one addon /map, to be available for other addons? For now the asset browser does not find my custom assets if i search them from a diferent addon than the addon for which i originally made the assets. 

Second question: in the 2way blender shader, there is a way to assign two properties corresponding to each surface? (ex. snow and mud). For now i only can assign one property, and the blendmaterial will sound the same when interacting în game.