Assetto Corsa: Best video.ini Settings for VR Performance

The original engine of Assetto Corsa was not built with modern VR headsets in mind. The video.ini file acts as the primary bridge between the game’s rendering pipeline and your headset’s optics. Many of the in-game settings—like high-quality mirrors and smoke effects—are processed in a way that causes severe CPU bottlenecks in VR. By manually tuning the config, we can strip away the invisible “overhead” of flat-screen rendering and focus all GPU power on stereo-projection and pixel density.

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• Meta Quest 2/3 Users: Focus on balancing the WIDTH and HEIGHT in the config with the Oculus Link/AirLink bitrates.
• Low-End GPUs (GTX 1660 / RTX 3050): Disabling shadows and post-processing via the .ini is the only way to achieve a stable VR experience.
• High-End Enthusiasts: Use the config to force “Super-Sampling” (Pixel Per Display) higher than the in-game UI allows for maximum clarity.

Backup and Preparation

Assetto Corsa’s settings are easily corrupted if modified incorrectly.

1. Close Assetto Corsa and Content Manager.
2. Navigate to your Documents folder.
3. Right-click video.ini, select Copy, and save it as a backup on your desktop.
4. Use Notepad or Notepad++ to perform the edits.

File Location

The configuration file is located in your local Windows user documents: C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Documents\Assetto Corsa\cfg\video.ini

Best Config Settings

Open the file and find the [VIDEO] and [POST_PROCESS] sections. Update the values to match this VR-optimized template:

[VIDEO]
FULLSCREEN=0
WIDTH=1920
HEIGHT=1080
REFRESH=90
RENDER_EXE_X=1 // 1 for VR
MIRROR_QUALITY=0 // Mirrors are massive performance killers in VR
SHADOW_MAP_SIZE=512 // Lowers shadow resolution for massive FPS gain
FPS_CAP=90 // Match your VR headset's refresh rate (90, 72, or 120)

[CAMERA]
MODE=VR

[ASSETTO_CORSA]
PIXEL_PER_DISPLAY=1.2 // 1.0 is native. 1.2-1.5 increases clarity significantly.

[POST_PROCESS]
ENABLED=0 // Set to 0 for maximum performance; 1 for visuals
TYPE=None
G_LUM_THRESHOLD_DIFF=0

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
PIXEL_PER_DISPLAY	1.2 – 1.5	The most important setting for VR clarity. Higher values reduce the “screen door effect.”
SHADOW_MAP_SIZE	512	Lowers the detail of shadows. In VR, high-res shadows often “flicker,” causing eye strain.
MIRROR_QUALITY	0	Disables high-res reflections in mirrors, which are rendered as a separate pass (huge FPS gain).
FULLSCREEN	0	VR should always run in Windowed mode on your monitor to prevent focus errors.
FPS_CAP	90 / 120	Locking FPS to your headset’s native Hz prevents “Asynchronous SpaceWarp” (ASW) stutter.

Content Manager & CSP Integration

If you are using Custom Shaders Patch (CSP), ensure these extra settings are configured to support your video.ini tweaks:

• FSR / NIS Scaling: In the “Graphics Adjustments” section of CSP, enable AMD FSR to upscale your VR image for better performance.
• Single Pass Stereo: Ensure this is Enabled. It allows the GPU to render both eyes in a single pass, nearly doubling performance in some cases.
• Smart Mirror: If you set MIRROR_QUALITY=0 in the config, use CSP’s “Smart Mirror” to regain some visibility with much lower cost.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Image Looks Blurry: Increase the PIXEL_PER_DISPLAY value in the config. Even a jump from 1.0 to 1.2 makes a world of difference.
• Game Crashes on Launch: Ensure RENDER_EXE_X is set to 1 and MODE=VR is correctly assigned under the Camera section.
• Stuttering in Traffic: Lower the “Smoke Generation” in the in-game menu. Smoke is rendered as thousands of particles that VR struggles to process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By manually forcing these values in video.ini, you strip the engine down to its most efficient state. You can expect a smoother, more responsive steering feel and the removal of the “micro-stuttering” that often ruins the immersion of a hot lap. For VR racers, consistency is faster than quality.