How to Install Custom Shaders Patch (CSP) for Assetto Corsa

What is Custom Shaders Patch?

Custom Shaders Patch (CSP) is the most essential graphics enhancement mod for Assetto Corsa. Created by x4fab (Ilja), CSP completely transforms the visual quality of the game, adding features Kunos never implemented. It's become the standard in the AC community, with most modern mods requiring it.

What Does CSP Add to Assetto Corsa?

Real Night Lighting

Working headlights, street lamps, lit windows, and realistic night atmosphere instead of vanilla's washed-out daytime tint.

Advanced Weather

Rain with realistic wet surfaces, spray effects, raindrops on windshield, dynamic puddles, and adjustable weather conditions.

Emissive Materials

Glowing brake discs, illuminated gauges, LED strips, light bars, and self-illuminating textures that react to conditions.

Animated Parts

Working wipers, animated spoilers, brake calipers, digital dashboards, shift lights, and interactive car features.

Enhanced Visuals

Better shadows, ambient occlusion (SSAO), screen space reflections, dynamic track reflections, and improved anti-aliasing.

Physics Improvements

Improved colliders, better mesh collision detection, extended physics features, and support for new car simulation systems.

Particle Effects

Enhanced exhaust flames, better tire smoke, sparks from bottom-outs, dust particles, and improved environmental effects.

Extended Features

New track features, spectators, flags, smoke machines, pyrotechnics, animated crowds, and enhanced track-side objects.

Why You Need CSP

CSP has become the standard for Assetto Corsa modding. Here's why it's essential:

Required by most modern mods: Many high-quality car and track mods won't work correctly without CSP
Better visual experience: Transforms AC from a 2014 game into a modern simulator
Active development: Updated regularly with new features and improvements
Full compatibility: Works with Sol, Pure, and other popular visual mods
Free and safe: Officially recognized by the AC community and mod creators

Prerequisites

Before installing CSP, make sure you have:

Assetto Corsa installed (Steam version recommended)
Content Manager installed (Download here)
Decent PC hardware: CSP requires more GPU power than vanilla AC
Updated graphics drivers: Latest NVIDIA or AMD drivers
DirectX 11: Make sure your system supports DX11

System Requirements

Minimum (Basic CSP)

GPU: GTX 960 / RX 560
RAM: 8GB
CPU: i5-4460 / Ryzen 3 1200
Storage: 500MB free

Recommended (Full Features)

GPU: GTX 1070 / RX 5700
RAM: 16GB
CPU: i7-8700K / Ryzen 5 3600
Storage: 1GB free (with Sol)

Installation Methods

There are two ways to install CSP: through Content Manager (recommended) or manually. We'll cover both methods.

Method 1: Content Manager (Easiest)

Content Manager makes CSP installation incredibly simple with its built-in updater. This is the recommended method for all users.

Open Content Manager

Launch Content Manager and wait for it to fully load. Make sure you're running the latest version of CM.

Access Settings

Click the settings icon (gear) in the top-right corner, or press Ctrl+,

Navigate to Custom Shaders Patch

In the settings menu, go to: Custom Shaders Patch section (usually in the left sidebar under "Modules").

Choose a Version

You'll see different CSP versions available:

Recommended: Latest recommended version

Most stable build. Great for beginners. Updated monthly. Best for gameplay and compatibility.

Preview: Latest preview version

Cutting-edge features but may have bugs. Updated weekly. For advanced users and testers.

First-time users should choose "Recommended" for the best experience.

Install CSP

Click the "Install" or "Update" button. Content Manager will:

• Download the CSP files from the official server
• Extract and install them to the correct directories
• Configure Assetto Corsa to use CSP
• Enable default CSP settings

This takes 1-3 minutes depending on your internet speed.

Verify Installation

After installation completes, you'll see a green checkmark and the CSP version number. CSP is now active!

Success! Custom Shaders Patch is installed and ready to use.

Method 2: Manual Installation (Advanced)

For users who prefer manual control or don't use Content Manager, you can install CSP manually. This method requires more technical knowledge.

Advanced Users Only

Manual installation is more complex and error-prone. We strongly recommend using Content Manager instead. Only proceed if you're comfortable editing game files.

1. Download CSP

Get the latest CSP build from the official Patreon page: x4fab's Patreon (public builds are free).

Look for posts titled "Custom Shaders Patch" with a download link. Choose the recommended version.

2. Extract the Archive

Extract the downloaded ZIP file. You'll find these folders:

📁 release/
  📁 extension/
  📁 system/

3. Locate AC Installation

Navigate to your Assetto Corsa installation directory (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\assettocorsa\)

4. Copy Files

Copy the contents from the extracted folders into your AC directory:

• extension/ folder → AC root directory
• system/ folder → AC root directory

When prompted, choose to merge/replace existing files

5. Enable CSP

Launch Assetto Corsa, go to Options → Video, and look for a setting related to "Custom Shaders Patch" or "Post Processing Effects". Enable it if available.

Note: Some CSP versions auto-enable themselves. Check by launching a race.

Testing Your Installation

After installing CSP, let's verify it's working correctly:

Test 1: Version Check

Launch Assetto Corsa through Content Manager. In the bottom-right corner of the CM main screen, you should see "CSP: v0.2.XX" (version number).

If you see the version number, CSP is installed correctly.

Test 2: Night Drive

Start a race on any track (like Imola) at 22:00 (10 PM). With CSP, you should see:

• Darkness: Actual night-time darkness (not blue tint)
• Headlights: Working car headlights illuminating the track
• Track lights: Street lamps and facility lighting
• Stars: Visible stars in the sky

Test 3: CSP Features

Look for these CSP-specific visual improvements:

• Brake glow: Brake discs glow red when braking hard
• Better shadows: Softer, more realistic shadows
• Track reflections: Cars reflect on wet track surfaces
• Improved lighting: Better ambient occlusion and light bounce

Configuring CSP Settings

CSP offers hundreds of configuration options. Here's how to access and optimize them:

Accessing CSP Settings

In Content Manager, go to Settings → Custom Shaders Patch → Settings tab

You'll find categories like:

Video Settings

Graphics quality, shadows, reflections, effects

Lighting

Headlights, night brightness, track lights

Weather FX

Rain effects, wet surface behavior, puddles

Gameplay

Physics improvements, collision, features

Recommended Settings by PC Performance

High-End PC (GTX 1070 / RX 5700 or better)

Graphics Quality: Maximum or Custom (enable all features)
Shadows: High quality, 4096-8192 resolution
Reflections: High quality with SSR enabled
Weather FX: Enabled with all effects
Extra FX: Enable SSAO, fog, god rays, everything
FPS Target: 60+ FPS in most conditions

Mid-Range PC (GTX 960 / RX 560 to GTX 1060)

Graphics Quality: High or Medium presets
Shadows: Medium quality, 2048-4096 resolution
Reflections: Medium, limit mirror resolution
Weather FX: Enabled but reduce rain effects quality
Extra FX: Enable SSAO, disable expensive effects
FPS Target: 45-60 FPS

Low-End PC / Laptop

Graphics Quality: Minimum or Low presets
Shadows: Low quality, 1024-2048 resolution
Reflections: Low or off, disable real mirrors
Weather FX: Disabled or minimal
Extra FX: Disable SSAO, god rays, extra particles
FPS Target: 30-45 FPS (still playable with CSP)

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Game Won't Launch or Crashes Immediately

Possible causes:

• Corrupted CSP installation
• Outdated graphics drivers
• DirectX issues
• Conflicting mods or apps

Solutions:

• Update graphics drivers to latest version
• Reinstall CSP through Content Manager
• Try an older CSP version (recommended vs preview)
• Verify game files through Steam
• Disable other apps like RivaTuner, MSI Afterburner overlays

Low FPS / Performance Issues

Solutions:

• Lower CSP graphics preset (Settings → CSP → Video Settings)
• Reduce shadow quality and resolution
• Disable Weather FX if not needed
• Lower in-game world detail and mirror settings
• Reduce number of AI opponents
• Close background applications
• Consider switching from preview to recommended version

Visual Glitches or Artifacts

Possible causes:

• Shader compilation issues
• Conflicting graphics settings
• Mod compatibility problems

Solutions:

• Delete shader cache: AC/extension/textures/
• Reset CSP settings to default
• Update CSP to latest version
• Check mod requirements (some need specific CSP versions)

Headlights Don't Work at Night

Solutions:

• Make sure you turned on car lights (default key: L)
• Check Settings → CSP → Lighting → Enable headlight features
• Some older car mods don't have CSP light support
• Try with a known-working modern car mod

Updating CSP

CSP is actively developed with frequent updates. Here's how to keep it current:

Automatic Updates (Content Manager)

Content Manager will notify you when new CSP versions are available:

1. When CM shows an update notification, click it
2. Review the changelog to see what's new
3. Click "Update" to install automatically
4. Restart AC/CM if prompted

Tip: You can also manually check for updates in Settings → CSP → Check for updates

Next Steps & Recommended Enhancements

With CSP installed, you've unlocked the foundation for advanced AC modding. Consider these enhancements:

Install Sol Weather Mod

Sol completely overhauls AC's weather and lighting system. Works perfectly with CSP for photorealistic skies and dynamic weather.

Download Sol →

Install Pure Graphics

Pure is a filter/preset that enhances colors and post-processing. Optimized to work with CSP for the best visual quality.

Download Pure →

Download CSP-Enhanced Mods

Browse our collection of car mods that fully utilize CSP features like animated parts, emissive materials, and advanced physics.

Optimize Content Manager

Learn advanced Content Manager features and optimization techniques to get the most out of your modded AC experience.

Support CSP Development

Custom Shaders Patch is a massive project maintained by x4fab (Ilja). While public builds are free, consider supporting development on Patreon to access early preview builds and help fund continued development.

Support on Patreon

Need Help with CSP?

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