"Your directX level is set to an unsupported value, 90" Common Solutions

[Isra_17]

Hello.
After the recent update:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/4000/eventcomments/3074244224808688985/

Many folk have had problems with directx levels, way more than before the update.
Now, this thread is WIP and more methods may be added in the future.

The common fixes may be #3, #2, #1, #6 and #9.

IMPORTANT: If you wish for another language, please right-click anywhere and click Copy Page URL and paste it in Google Chrome, there should be an option where all this text will be translated to your language.

Note that the majority of these fixes require the game to either be closed or the game restarted.
These fixes were only tested in the OS Windows, I have no idea if they work in others like Linux or Mac.

I currently have found 11 fixes for this problem:

• [1] Verify your game files
  
• [2] Disable all your Addons
  
• [3] Try different DirectXlevels
  
• [4] Video Settings Method
  
• [5] PC Specs
  
• [6] Re-Install Garry's Mod and Every Game Mounted
  
• [7] Re-Install Steam
  
• [8] Ignoring It
  
• [9] Switching Branches
  
• [10] Contacting Facepunch
  
• [11] Contacting Steam Support
  
  Please try the following fixes:
  
  

  1. Verify your game files

  Your game may be somewhat corrupted or broken, re-downloading broken files may fix it. Please also do this step for all mounted games.
  Do the following:
  
• Right-Click Garry's Mod in your library
  
• Head over to properties
  
• Go to Local Files
  
• Choose to verify your game files
  This may take some time if you haven't done this in a while or even never done it.
  
  

  2. Disable all your Addons

  While uncommon, addons may cause this problem. Please disable all your addons and close the game, a quick way would be to go to your main menu and then go your addons menu, in the addon list, bottom right is where you must click and disable all of them. Afterwards, add the commands -noaddons and -noworkshop to your launch options.
  These two commands are added in the launch options, do the following:
  
• Close the game
  
• Right-Click Garry's Mod in your library
  
• Navigate to properties
  
• At the bottom, you will see the launch option setting
  
• Add the command(s)
  
  

  3. Try different DirectXlevels

  
  Before trying anything, please try adding the following commands separately In your launch options, these commands are apparently a quick fix:
  
  

  -gl

  -mat_dxlevel 98

  
  If that didn't fix it, move on to the following fix..
  
  Please read carefully, only ONE dxlevel command can be used at a time, meaning you can't have your launch option like this:
  

  -mat_dxlevel 98 -mat_dxlevel 70

  If you add both at the same time, they will null each other and do nothing.
  There are also users who report these commands do not do anything in-game, you may try the following command instead:
  

  -dxlevel 98

  You can also use these commands in the console, just remove the - of -mat_dxlevel
  These commands are added in the launch options, do the following:
  
• Close the game
  
• Right-Click Garry's Mod in your library
  
• Navigate to properties
  
• At the bottom, you will see the launch option setting
  
• Add the command
  
  Please cycle between the following until one works:
  

  -mat_dxlevel 98 -mat_dxlevel 95 -mat_dxlevel 90 -mat_dxlevel 81 -mat_dxlevel 80 -mat_dxlevel 70 -mat_dxlevel 60

  
  Note: You can try individual numbers instead of these pre-set numbers, meaning: -mat_dxlevel 89 for instance, this may be time consuming but it can be worth it to try since other fixes have inconveniences. The limit goes from -mat_dxlevel 70 to -mat_dxlevel 98.
  
  If you do not see a difference, please try using the Material Tool and see if they work, lower dxlevels will completely break this tool. If you have correctly input the commands and still see no difference, try the following alternatives:
  As examples:
  
  

  cmd -mat_dxlevel 80

  
  

  +mat_dxlevel 80

  
  You can learn more about DirectX levels in:
  https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/DirectX_Versions
  
  If your computer is below the minimum and want to learn more about your PC, please visit:
  
  https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/which-version-of-directx-is-on-your-pc-3c688307-6c44-2ff5-9df7-d90d92bf5239
  
  

  4. Video Settings Method

  While un-tested by me, apparently switching between Windowed, Fullscreen and Borderless Windowed may fix the problem. Please do the following:
  
• In the main menu, open Options
  
• Head over to Video
  
• In display mode, cycle between each one and restart Gmod
  
• If it fixes, leave it
  
• If it persists, try another method
  
  

  5. PC Specs

  I do not like telling folk that they have an under-powered PC, unfortunately this may or may not be a reason for this problem. Please visit the Official Store page and scroll down until you see the minimum requirements, please also meet their required specs:
  
  https://store.steampowered.com/app/4000/Garrys_Mod/
  
  You can also visit the following site for a direct answer on whether you can run the game or not. I have used this sites countless times and have never had a problem.
  
  https://www.pcgamebenchmark.com/
  
  

  6. Re-Install Garry's Mod and Every Game Mounted

  There is a specific way to uninstall Garry's Mod with this problem, please read carefully.
  
• In-game, use menu_cleanupgmas in your console
  
• Exit the game then go into your PC files and search for Steam (may be in Program Files depending on your OS)
  
• Go to steamapps
  
• Go to common
  
• All installed games will be here, you must delete the Garry's Mod folder and every mounted game's files
  
• After deleting them, uninstall Garry's Mod and every game mounted from Steam
  
• Re-install the games
  
• When installed, run Garry's Mod with the mentioned dxlevel commands with said steps
  
• You may also run the game with -noaddons and -noworkshop
  
• If the games were dismounted automatically, re-mount them
  
  

  7. Re-Install Steam

  Users have reported that re-installing everything, from games to Steam itself, fixed their problem. Make sure Garry's Mod and every game mounted is already uninstalled before uninstalling Steam.
  Do the following:
  
• Go to Program Files(x86) (may be different depending in your OS)
  
• Go to Steam
  
• Scroll down and select uninstall
  
• Follow the instructions given
  
• Re-Install Steam and every game mounted
  
  

  8. Ignoring it

  While uncommon, some users have reported not having any graphical issues even though this message is in their game. Do keep in mind this is rare and will probably not be your fix.
  
  

  9. Switching Branches

  You may try switching your game version:
  
• Exit the game
  
• Right click on Garry's Mod in Steam and select Properties
  
• Go to the Betas tab and select your desired branch
  Note that the branch "Chromium x86-64" is probably the one you are looking for, this branch contains a new browsing system and you can choose to launch the game as the regular version, 32 bit or 64 bit. You can choose between the three to your PC's liking.
  
  

  10. Contacting Facepunch

  Facepunch actively updates the game regularly, send a ticket so that they can help you even further:
  https://support.facepunchstudios.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
  
  An alternative contact could be their Discord, being:
  https://discord.gg/gmod
  
  If you choose to contact Facepunch, please explain your problem very thoroughly and comprehensively, avoiding misinformation, send your PC specs, etc.
  
  

  11. Contacting Steam Support

  If nothing else works, you could potentially send Steam Support a ticket:
  https://help.steampowered.com/
  Once again, be very descriptive and provide as much information as possible (your specs, screenshots, etc).
  
  
  Do keep in mind that this discussion may be deleted if the problem is fixed or reports start to reduce in numbers.

[Ivirny]

Originally posted by LIMBO (LUNACY!):

DirectX problems seem to have dwindled down, if this persists for 3 days I will delete this thread.

Direct X problems persist even after applying your advice

[Mita]

I have fixed it by typing on console mat_dxlevel 98...

[Isra_17]

Originally posted by Yuri:

I have fixed it by typing on console mat_dxlevel 98...

Yeah I know, it's just that it didn't work for me the first time so I didn't include it, since it worked for you however it might work for someone else so let me add up to 98 aswell.

[Ivirny]

Originally posted by Yuri:

I have fixed it by typing on console mat_dxlevel 98...

That work for me ! Thank you !

[Isra_17]

Originally posted by Ivirny:

Originally posted by Yuri:

I have fixed it by typing on console mat_dxlevel 98...

That work for me ! Thank you !

Nice! Guess their fix did work.
EDIT: I completely re-made the DirectX portion just in case of mis-information.

[catehahaha]

THANKS !

[꧁Jay꧂]

If problems persist, can use -gl to avoid DirectX problems all together. Good guide

[Isra_17]

Originally posted by Piddledip:

If problems persist, can use -gl to avoid DirectX problems all together. Good guide

Added!

[Tranquility]

It doesn't seem to be much of a problem to me, game still as smooth as butter, not seeing really alot of graphical glitches, honestly i probably could just ignore it,

[说拉丁语的沙丁鱼]

Originally posted by Yuri:

I have fixed it by typing on console mat_dxlevel 98...

thanks it works for me

[Isra_17]

Since -mat_dxlevel 98 works so well (Thanks Yuri), I've decided to set it as a priority over some other fixes. The directx portion is now the first fix in the common fixes and also highlighted.

[ImAOhioian]

Would Gmod work with DirectX 12?

[꧁Jay꧂]

Originally posted by Mitchell ✪:

Would Gmod work with DirectX 12?

Nope, but S&Box will.

[ImAOhioian]

Originally posted by PiddleBit:

Originally posted by Mitchell ✪:

Would Gmod work with DirectX 12?

Nope, but S&Box will. :k8happy:

ok