Upgrade Starsector for Next-Gen Hardware | Starsector Java 8, vmparams, and settings guide

In this video, we go over several extremely important tools to increase your performance in Starsector! This information has been hidden across the internet, with only the most dedicated players managing to implement the full upgrades. Today, we change that.

Included, is a guide on how to upgrade to Java 8, increase ram allocation, and increase Battlesize for a bigger and smoother Starsector experience!

#starsector #starsectorgame #IroncladLion

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Starsector Upgrade Guide Sections:

Intro: (0:00)
Background: (0:23)
Java JRE 8: (1:07)
vmparams: (5:25)
Max Battle Size: (8:35)
Fast Engine Rendering: (9:32)
A Deal's A Deal Starfarer: (10:09)
Credits: (11:14)

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IroncladLion Channel Links:

Other platforms:

Help me stay independent:

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Java 8 Download Links:

Oracle (Official Website of Java, need account):

Windows 64bit downloads:
Windows .zip (from Wisp's Starsector forum guide, cozy & secure)

Filehorse (Website used in video):

Linux downloads:
Github .gz (from Wisp's forum guide)

MacOS downloads:
Github .zip (from Wisp's forum guide)

!!! Make sure you download the correct Java for YOUR operating system !!!

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There has been a recent breakthrough! Starsector user "Mikohime" has managed to convert Java 23 into a playable version for Starsector, resulting in a MASSIVE increase in FPS and general performance. It's some tech wizardry that I lack the credentials to explain properly but I'll post the links with instructions.

Requires : Starsector 0.97a-RC11

First link is to the required Java 23. The second link is to Miko's wizardry, which includes the instructions needed to get it all working. I have tested this myself, and can confirm it works, at least with vanilla. I'll be testing with additional mods in time once I get some more time.

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vmparams - Smooth brain copy & paste edition:

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Fast Engine Rendering mod by tomatopaste:

Seriously, this mod is great. I don't know why it doesn't get more attention, so here I am... Giving it attention.

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Thumbnail artwork by CY / Milkydromeda, featuring the Exoscar from the United Aurora Federation (UAF) mod.

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Video made using Sony Vegas Pro 14
Music by Dark Fantasy Studio and from Music Mania Bundle
Emotes from Omega Strikers (amazing game by the way)

[IroncladLion]

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ (updated 7/30/2024):
-After switching to java 8, if you are having issues with the launcher / resolution / screen fuckery: Right-click Starsector.exe -> properties -> compatibility -> change high DPI settings -> tick checkbox for "Override...Scaling performed by Application". -Thanks Wisp!

-You can change a LOT in the config settings file, including max player level (40 is absolute max, as there are 40 skills total), max ships allowed in fleet (30 is default), and even the fps limit (default 60). Tinker with these at your own discretion.

-You may have to reset your game settings and re-enter your Starsector license upon Java 8 upgrade.

-There has been a recent breakthrough! Starsector user "Mikohime" has managed to convert Java 23 into a playable version for Starsector, resulting in a MASSIVE increase in FPS and general performance. It's some tech wizardry that I lack the credentials to explain properly so I'll post the links with instructions.
Require : Starsector 0.97a-RC11
First link is to the required Java 23. The second link is to Miko's wizardry, which includes the instructions needed to get it all working. I have tested this myself, and can confirm it works, at least with vanilla. I'll be testing with additional mods in time once I get some more time.

[cyrilleyukimaru]

Its almost as if I can feel a thousand Semibreves blowing up at the same time... without losing a frame across the Sector.

Excellent.

[XanderWang]

7:48 The xms and xmx are your lower and upper limit of what you told to your computer to allocate RAM for. Ex
-xms2048m -xmx8192m is for allocating AT LEAST 2GB of ram and AT MOST 8GB of RAM for whatever java runtime you running, either it be starsector or something else.

PS. If you want to shorten 8192m, try using 8G (case sensitive. Do not change 8G into 8g)

[Tazato]

Confirmed on twitter that the next update or so will be on Java 17 LTS, which will be a huge increase in perf

[Deva]

Love the Omega Strikers emotes, and the tutorials are wonderful and clear, appreciate the work put into the video!

[xxCrimsonSpiritxx]

My guy, your videos are

1: Fun to watch
2: VERY well made in terms of Audio and Video quality
3: Informative and concise

Thank you! And I hope you keep it up

[fonesrphunny]

One big problem with newer versions of Notepad:
If ''word wrap'' is enabled and a line wraps around, Notepad will save the file exactly like this, creating a 'new line' symbol wherever necessary. This WILL mess up your VMparams and any other file that requires very specific formatting.
The fix is pretty simple: disable word wrap, put everything back onto one line and save again.
I'm using Notepad++ as a replacement, which doesn't have this issue, but there are more options available.

[kadu]

This saved me, my battles with capital ships would go down to 10-15 fps, when facing [REDACTED] ships it would be so bad it would go to 5 fps and a single skirmish with an Ordo would take 10-20 minutes. Now I went against a [REDACTED] Nexus and it was smooth as butter maintaining 50-60 fps only dipping on large explosions. Thank you so much!

[Brokenstep]

My game was down to like 13fps on battle size of 400. I have a Ryzen 5 5600x, 32gb ram, and an RTX 3080. I couldn't believe this game was straining that. Anyway this video saved me.


Thanks!

[foof]

I never even thought to upgrade the java version like this. I can't wait to REALLY throw my starsector into overdrive. Thanks for this guide! (:

[mythicallegendary]

I recommend tons of people this video! It's so important I feel they should put it on the website

[BlackTempleGaurdian]

I genuinely laughed at "if you're on Mac, get a better OS"

[yaoquansong]

Switching to JRE8 definitely improves performance and the Vmparams changes help when using lots of mods. The before and after for me using these changes is like a caveman discovering fire.

[vladizarth]

You're a Godsend for the Starsector Community

[daisukeakihito]

I think anyone who's been around starsector for... uhh... couple... dozen... hundred... hours does this automatically almost. Still, props to you Lion for making a compact easy guide for people who may not know about the kinks of this little game. I know I didn't know about JRE8 for literal years until stumbling upon a forum post completely at random.

It should be also mentioned, larger battles kind of devolve the battlefield into a big blob of ships without much sense of command anywhere on the battlefield, for some that's okay, for those that enjoy giving out orders, it might be reasonable to say, do not go overboard with the battle size. Oh yeah and just in case you do... I'm just going to... hold on...

"maxShipsInFleet":30,
"maxShipsInAIFleet":30,

You might want to "adjust" these settings a bit higher, my settings are 40/60, 40 for me, 60 for the AI.

Now excuse me, I've a lots of big explosions to enjoy.

[gothicsandiemacht]

hi there sir,

you got yourself a subscription thx for keeping the links updated

[SCUBAelement-Intl]

Man, this is good! Full rundown, now I have it all in one place!

[GuTTs]

Just starting to dive in starsector, I need someone to hold my hand while going on this journey. I choose your channel :D

[agidyne]

Hey man, thanks for upgrading my Starsector experience. I can tell this works when I've launched a couple semibreves against a battlestation and see no FPS drops. I can play with more ships on screen. I haven't had this much fun in ages!

I can finally make use of a majority of that mods you had showcased in that other video. I used to not use it cuz of the slowdowns it'd cause, but not anymore! I'mma go crazy with the amount of mods I can use safely now that my FPS can take it.

[luckyrowmax]

It's hilarious that you kept the thumbnail CY made in his stream, deffinetly needed this video to stop the vram alert and memory leaks :D