Video Settings

Configure resolution, refresh rate, vsync, and graphics options

Overview

The [video_mode] section configures video mode settings including resolution, refresh rate, vsync, windowed mode, and anisotropic filtering.

Enable Video Mode Settings

enabled · boolean · default: "0"

Enable the [video_mode] settings. Must be set to 1 for other settings in this section to take effect.

[video_mode]
enabled=1

Resolution

width · string/number · default: "auto"

Resolution width in pixels. Use auto to use your primary monitor’s current width.

height · string/number · default: "auto"

Resolution height in pixels. Use auto to use your primary monitor’s current height.

Halo may fail to start properly if the width or height is not supported by your desktop.

Example: Custom Resolution

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=1920
height=1080

Example: Auto Resolution

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=auto
height=auto

Refresh Rate

refresh_rate · number · default: "0"

Refresh rate in Hz. Use 0 to use your system’s current refresh rate.

While the Halo menu does not list refresh rates above 120 Hz, this setting can be used to bypass this limitation.

Example: High Refresh Rate

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=2560
height=1440
refresh_rate=144

VSync

vsync · boolean · default: "0"

Enable double buffer VSync to prevent screen tearing. Adds several frames of input lag (often >100ms at 60 Hz).

If you have a monitor with variable refresh rate (FreeSync, G-Sync, etc.):

1. Enable vsync: vsync=1
2. Use chimera_throttle_fps to lock your frame rate to refresh rate minus 3
   • For 144 Hz display: lock to 141 FPS
3. Play in full screen or borderless fullscreen with an API wrapper (dxvk or dgVoodoo2)

Example: VSync for VRR Displays

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=auto
height=auto
refresh_rate=0
vsync=1
borderless=1

Then use the console command:

chimera_throttle_fps 141

Window Mode

windowed · boolean · default: "0"

Play in windowed mode instead of fullscreen.

On newer versions of Windows, windowed mode incurs input lag due to the Desktop Window Manager. On Linux, disable compositing if you choose to play in a window.

borderless · boolean · default: "0"

Play in borderless fullscreen mode. Requires windowed=1 to work.

Borderless fullscreen allows you to play without changing video modes, but may have higher input lag than exclusive fullscreen.

API wrappers like dxvk or dgVoodoo2 can enable flip model/fullscreen optimizations on Windows 10/11, eliminating additional input lag in borderless fullscreen.

Resolutions lower than your current resolution will be stretched in borderless mode.

Example: Borderless Fullscreen

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=1920
height=1080
refresh_rate=0
windowed=1
borderless=1

Example: Windowed Mode

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=1280
height=720
windowed=1
borderless=0

Anisotropic Filtering

af_level · number · default: "16"

Anisotropic filtering level. Chimera defaults to 16. The base game’s level is 8. Values above 16 have no effect.

[video_mode]
enabled=1
af_level=16

Complete Examples

High-End Gaming Setup (144Hz VRR)

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=2560
height=1440
refresh_rate=144
vsync=1
windowed=1
borderless=1
af_level=16

Standard 1080p Fullscreen

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=1920
height=1080
refresh_rate=60
vsync=0
windowed=0
borderless=0
af_level=16

Auto-Detect All Settings

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=auto
height=auto
refresh_rate=0
vsync=0
windowed=0
borderless=0
af_level=16

Competitive Low-Latency Setup

[video_mode]
enabled=1
width=1920
height=1080
refresh_rate=240
vsync=0
windowed=0
borderless=0
af_level=16

Use with chimera_throttle_fps 300 for capped frame rate.