DiRT needs not introduction!
Racing outdoors is the game....



Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Dirt 3 Complete in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

Note: This guide applies to the Steam version of Dirt 3 Complete. Other versions may require additional steps.

Tips & Specs:

Try SteamPlay before using this guide as Valve now uses a fork of Wine called Proton and should run most Windows games.

To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained

Mint 17.3 64-bit
PlayOnLinux: 4.2.10
Wine: 1.8.4

Wine Installation

Note: Wine versions older than 2.0.2 and 2.12-staging no longer work with Steam.

Click Tools
Select "Manage Wine Versions"


Look for the Wine Version: 1.8.4
Select it
Click the arrow pointing to the right


Click Next

Downloading Wine


Extracting

Downloading Gecko


Installed


Wine 1.8.4 is installed and you can close this window

Downloading Steam

Go To: http://www.steampowered.com
Click Install Steam


Do not click "Install Steam Now"
It will automatically install Linux Steam
Select Windows Steam instead
click "Windows" under the green button


Navigate to your desktop
Click Save


PlayOnLinux Setup

Launch PlayOnLinux
Click Install


Click "install a non-listed program"


Click Next

Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
Click Next


Name your virtual drive: dirt
No spaces
Click Next


Select all three options:

• Use another version of Wine
• Configure Wine
• Install some libraries

Click Next


Select Wine 1.8.4
Click Next


Select "32 bits windows installation"
Click Next


Configure Wine

Applications Tab
Windows Version: Windows 7
Click Apply


Graphics Tab
Check: Automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows
Check: Emulate a virtual desktop
Desktop size: 1024x768
Click Ok


PlayOnLinux Packages (Libraries, Components, DLL's)

Check the following libraries:

• POL_Install_corefonts
• POL_Install_d3dx9
• POL_Install_tahoma
• POL_Install_vcrun2010

Click Next


Note: All packages will automatically download and install

Installing Steam

Click Browse


Navigate to your desktop
Select: SteamSetup.exe
Click Open


Click Next

Click Next

Check: I accept the license...
Click Next

Click Next

Click Next

Click Install

Click Finish

Updating Steam

Click the "X" to close Steam login


PlayOnLinux Shortcut

Select Steam.exe
Click Next


Name your shortcut: Dirt 3 Complete
Click Next


Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
Click Next


PlayOnLinux Configure

Back to PlayOnLinux
Click Configure


General Tab
Arguments: -no-dwrite


Note: Click the + to download other versions of Wine. Click the down-arrow to select other versions of wine

Display Tab
Video Memory Size: Select the size of Memory your video card/chip uses


Close Configure

Setting DirectX 9

Without forcing Dirt 3 to run in DirectX 9 it will crash because Wine does not support DirectX 10/11 yet.
Go to:

Code:

/home/username/Documents/My Games/DiRT3/hardwaresettings/

Note: Replace username with your login

Open
hardware_settings_config.xml


Look for these lines

Code:

<directx forcedx9="false" />

Change to

Code:

<directx forcedx9="true" />

Save it

Launching Steam

Select Dirt 3 Complete
Click Run


Note: Click debug to see errors and bugs.

Click "Login to existing account"


Login


Go to your Library
Select "DiRT 3 Complete"
Click Install


Uncheck "Create desktop shortcut"
Uncheck "Create start menu shortcut"
Click Next


Click Finish


Wait while Dirt 3 Complete downloads
Click Play


Optimization

Click Options


Click "Graphics Options"


Adjust:

• Resolution
• Refresh Rate
• Multisampling
• Vsync
• Aspect Ratio
• Gamma
• Detail
• Night Lighting
• Shadows
• Particles
• Mirrors
• Crowd
• Groundcover
• Distant Vehicles
• Objects
• Trees
• Vehicle Reflections
• Water
• Post Processing
• Skidmarks
• Ambient Occlusion
• Cloth

Rule of Thumb:
High settings = More detail, lower frame rates
Low settings = Less detail, higher frame rates

Conclusion:
Dirt 3 Complete ran really well on my Geforce GTX 950 in PlayOnLinux. I didn't change any of the default graphical settings and it still ran perfectly. Unfortunately it didn't recognize my Logitech Dual-Shock controller. So I had to play with the keyboard. I was also told that you can boost the frame rates by renaming the effects.xml in postprocess folder, but I didn't test this due to great frame rates.

Gameplay Video:


Screenshots: