I think i finally found what works for me.
Code:
con_restricted=0
r_displayinfo=1
//sys_enable_budgetmonitoring=1
sys_budget_sysmem=1024
sys_budget_videomem=256
//texture
r_width = 1024
r_height = 768
r_DynTexAtlasSpritesMaxSize=24 //32?
//objects
e_cbuffer_resolution=64 //resolution of software coverage buffer, default 128
e_terrain_lod_ratio=1.5 // fill rate performance, default 1
e_lod_min=2 //min Level of Detail for objects, 0 is max quality when up close
e_lod_max=6 //max level of detail for objects, default 6, smaller = more detail
e_lod_ratio=3 //default 3distance of LOD transitions on objects e_view_dist_ratio controls
e_view_dist_ratio=40 // view distance ratio for objects
e_view_dist_ratio_detail=19 //view distance for detail objects
e_view_dist_ratio_vegetation=21 //view distance for vegetation, default 15
e_vegetation_bending=0 // turns off moving vegetation
e_vegetation_min_size=1.75 //any vegetation below this size does not render
e_vegetation_sprites_distance_ratio=0.75 //distance stuff is turned into a sprite
e_detail_materials_view_dist_xy=1024 //background landscape
e_detail_materials_view_dist_z=64 //background landscape
e_terrain_occlusion_culling_max_dist=100 //low default 100
r_TexturesStreaming=0
i_rejecteffects=1
//physics
g_joint_breaking=1
e_cull_veg_activation=15
e_decals_allow_game_decals=1
p_max_MC_iters=2000 //test
//shaders
e_sky_type=1
e_sky_update_rate=0
//e_max_entity_lights=7
q_Renderer=1
q_ShaderGeneral=1
q_ShaderPostProcess=1
q_ShaderFX=1
q_ShaderMetal=1
q_ShaderGlass=1
q_ShaderIce=1
q_ShaderShadow=1
q_ShaderHDR=1
r_HDRRendering=1
//shadows
e_shadows=1
e_shadows_max_texture_size=256
r_ShadowJittering=1
r_ShadowBlur=2
r_ShadowsMaskResolution=2
//volumetric
e_Clouds=0
//game fx
r_CustomVisions=0
//post processing
r_DepthOfField=1
//particles
e_water_ocean_soft_particles=1
//water
q_ShaderWater=1
r_WaterCaustics=1
e_water_tesselation_amount=6
e_water_tesselation_swath_width=5
//sound - medium
s_FormatSampleRate=48000
s_CacheSize=60
s_MPEGDecoders=24
s_Obstruction=2
s_ObstructionAccuracy=1
s_ObstructionUpdate=0.5
s_VariationLimiter=0.6
Where as before i was getting around 12 FPS, now im getting around 15 to 20, and occasionally 25 and 30, depending on the area.
I suppose if im feeling rambunctious, i could turn on the vegetation and terrain shadder.
The above settings assume you ran the autodetect system settings, and it put EVERYTHING on low. Also, these drivers:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_169.09.html
Are also a big improvement for crysis.