Custom Shader Patch settings guide
CSP has dozens of settings split across several categories. This guide explains what each major category does, which options to enable for the best visual result, and which to skip to protect framerate.
How to access CSP settings in Content Manager
Custom Shader Patch settings live inside Content Manager rather than in a separate application. Open Content Manager, go to Settings in the top navigation, and select Custom Shader Patch. A panel opens with tabs covering every CSP feature — from graphics adjustments to weather, car lights and physics extensions.
Settings are applied immediately when you close the panel and start a session. There is no separate activation step. Changes are saved automatically between sessions, so the configuration you set now remains active on every future launch.
This guide does not cover every CSP option — CSP has hundreds of individual toggles, many targeting specific mod compatibility edge cases. It covers the five categories that have the most visible impact on a typical session.
Graphics Adjustments
Core visual changes — shadow resolution, ambient occlusion and reflections.
| Setting | What it does and recommended action |
|---|---|
| Custom shadow resolution | Increases shadow map size beyond the game default. Set to 2048 or 4096 on modern hardware for sharp shadows. Higher values cost GPU performance. |
| Ambient shadows | Adds subtle contact shadows under cars and objects. Low performance cost; visible improvement at close range and in the showroom. |
| New KN5 rendering (mesh rendering) | Improves how car and track geometry is rendered. Required by many modern CSP-dependent mods. Leave enabled. |
| Fake shadows from light sources consider skipping | Adds shadow casting from headlights and artificial lights. Can cause artefacts with some track mods. Disable if you see flickering shadows. |
Weather FX
Dynamic weather, sky and lighting — the core of why most players install CSP.
| Setting | What it does and recommended action |
|---|---|
| Weather FX | The master switch for dynamic weather. Required by Sol, Pure and any weather preset. Enable this first. |
| New sky rendering | Replaces the static sky with a physically-based model. Works in tandem with Sol or Pure. Enable alongside Weather FX. |
| Rain FX | Adds wet road surfaces, spray and windscreen water on supported tracks. Performance-intensive; reduce if framerates drop in wet conditions. |
| Cloud shadows consider skipping | Casts moving cloud shadows across the track surface. Realistic but adds shader overhead. Skip on mid-range hardware. |
Car Lights FX
Headlight, taillight and brake light rendering improvements.
| Setting | What it does and recommended action |
|---|---|
| Car lights FX | Replaces the flat, static car light textures with physically-rendered light sources. Significant visual improvement at night and in tunnels. |
| Light glare | Adds lens flare and glow to headlights. Subtle but adds realism. Low cost. |
Extra FX
Post-processing effects layered over the rendered frame.
| Setting | What it does and recommended action |
|---|---|
| FXAA (if not using TAA) | A lightweight anti-aliasing pass. Use FXAA if you are not running MSAA or TAA. Running multiple AA methods simultaneously wastes resources. |
| HDR support | Enables wide colour range output for HDR monitors. Only useful if your display supports HDR. |
| Motion blur consider skipping | Blurs the image based on camera and object movement. Many sim racers find this distracting; disable unless you specifically want it. |
| Depth of field consider skipping | Blurs objects outside a focal plane — a photographic effect. Unsuitable for driving as it obscures the track. |
Content Manager Integration
Settings that improve the connection between CSP and Content Manager.
| Setting | What it does and recommended action |
|---|---|
| Custom tyres rendering | Improves tyre sidewall and contact patch rendering. Requires CSP-compatible tyre data; safe to enable globally. |
| Extended track physics | Adds CSP-specific physics features to tracks that support them — surface grip variations, temperature effects and tyre heating. |
CSP settings — common questions
What are the best CSP settings for performance?
For the best frame-rate to quality balance: enable Weather FX, New Sky Rendering, Car Lights FX and New KN5 Rendering. Reduce shadow resolution to 2048 rather than 4096. Disable Rain FX, Cloud Shadows, Motion Blur and Depth of Field. These changes give you the core CSP visual improvements with minimal performance overhead.
What CSP settings should I enable first?
Start with the three most impactful: Weather FX (enables dynamic weather and Sol or Pure), Car Lights FX (improves headlight rendering at night), and New KN5 Rendering (required by most modern mods). Those three settings cover the most visible improvements and are safe to enable on any hardware.
Why is there no single recommended CSP preset?
CSP settings interact with the track, car and weather mod you are using. A setting that improves visuals on one track can cause artefacts on another. The community recommends learning what each major category does rather than importing a blanket preset, so you can adjust based on what you actually see in-game.
Does enabling more CSP settings improve performance?
No — each CSP effect is an additional render pass or shader on top of the base game. Enabling more settings costs more GPU resources. Some effects, such as Rain FX and 4096-resolution shadows, are significantly expensive. Start with the essentials and add effects based on how much headroom your hardware has.
What version of CSP should I install?
For most players, the latest stable release available through Content Manager is the correct choice. CSP is actively developed and stable releases are tested against common car and track mods. Preview and cutting-edge builds include experimental features and may cause compatibility issues.
Do I need CSP to race online?
Not always — some servers run with the base game and no CSP. However, many popular servers require a specific minimum CSP version, and some track mods used in online racing depend on CSP features. Content Manager shows the required CSP version in the server details before you join.
How do I update Custom Shader Patch in Content Manager?
Open Content Manager, go to Settings then Custom Shader Patch. The installed version appears at the top. If a newer build is listed in the version selector, choose it and click Install. Content Manager downloads and applies the update without any manual file placement.
Need to install CSP first?
Custom Shader Patch is installed through Content Manager in a few clicks. Our full CSP guide covers the install process and what the patch adds.
Custom Shader Patch guide