Half-Life 2 Episode Two runs slow...

S.T.A.R.S. · May 6th, 2008

I am using my laptop already for more then 3 years and Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2 Episode One worked great!!! Half-Life 2 Episode Two also works VERY GOOD.Almost 50 fps all the time.BUT on one part where those vorts starting to heal Alyx and G-man starts to talk,the game falls down from 50 fps to 7 fps.LoL!!! Does anyone knows why this is happening? ALL my configurations are on lowest graphic quality.I installed the newest version of DirectX 9.0c,but the problem on that part of the game still occurs...
These are my laptop specifications:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
512 MB of RAM DDR2
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700 with 64 MB and it has 400 mhz
Intel Pentium M processor with 1.6 GHZ
2 MB L2 cache I think...
Hard Disk Drive 37 GB (not so important if there is enough free space for the game)
Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
DirectX 9.0c version 2008
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Will maybe installing DirectX 8 help? Some graphic options are then disabled and it may work faster...
I am also afraid to update the drivers for my graphic card since my OS was destroyed MANY times when I did it...

I mean...the entire game REALLY works fine,but that part so damn slow...Just don't tell me that I need to buy a new graphic card because I am on laptop and it's integated.
I am sure that there is a way to fix this...Any ideas?????????

Mad · May 7th, 2008

You can run the game in Dx8 mode, or even Dx7.

S.T.A.R.S. · May 7th, 2008

Yea I know...But will that increase the speed?
If yes,how to make that ONLY that game is using DX8 and everything else uses DX9???

**refraction** · May 7th, 2008

lower directx versions require lower pixel shaders, so forcing the game (via the configs id presume) to use an earlier directx, will bring you speed. Graphics cards tend to struggle more the higher the pixel shader version, DX8 was only shader 1.1

Mad · May 7th, 2008

Put this on the command line: -dxlevel 81

S.T.A.R.S. · May 7th, 2008

There are many command lines lol...on which one you exactly mean?
Maybe shortcut target?
--->"E:\Half-Life 4\Half-Life 4\Half-Life 4.bat" -dxlevel 81
If yes then it doesn't work.I tryed that already...

HAHA all I needed to do was to create the simple BAT file and then write that command line inside of it.

It works now

Thanks for your help anyway.I always appreciate that

Mad · May 7th, 2008

You are using a .bat to start episode 2...
Exactly what i suspected... not so legal version, since youre not using steam...
Problem solved, please someone lock this.

S.T.A.R.S. · May 9th, 2008

LoL dude I am using steam of course.I created BAT just to try and it worked,but now there is a second problem.When I configure the game options and then turn off the game and then again turn it on then ALL the options in game are back to the default values

This is NOT happening if "-dxlevel 81" is not written.Yea...the game works faster with it,but every time when I turn ON the game,ALL the changes are back to the default.Any ideas why is this happening??????????

**jonc2006** · May 9th, 2008

try naming the .bat file "autoexec.bat". i have several games where i have had to do this in order for my custom settings to override the defaults.

edit- you could also try adding that same command switch to the config file for dx or the config file for the game itself. another method might be creating a config file called "autoexec" in the same directory that has the game config file and put the switch into there.

Mad · May 10th, 2008

Ok try this them, go to My games, right click on hl2ep2, go to properties, then "set launch options".
Add the -dxlevel 81, run the game, config the way you like it.
Exit the game, erase that command, and run the game again, and if needed reconfigure it.
It will stay that until you change it via the -dxlevel command again.

Also you dont need .bat files, you can add those command line parameters on shortcuts.

SCHUMI-4-EVA · May 10th, 2008

0_o...Mad...you can delete posts yourself just by the way...always have been able to delete your own posts

runawayprisoner · May 11th, 2008

I thought double posts would be automerged? They don't anymore? Anyway, to delete your post, just edit it.

SCHUMI-4-EVA · May 11th, 2008

They don't when the server gets screwy..

May 6th, 2008	#1 (permalink)
S.T.A.R.S. UAC Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Planet Earth... Posts: 362	Half-Life 2 Episode Two runs slow... I am using my laptop already for more then 3 years and Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2 Episode One worked great!!! Half-Life 2 Episode Two also works VERY GOOD.Almost 50 fps all the time.BUT on one part where those vorts starting to heal Alyx and G-man starts to talk,the game falls down from 50 fps to 7 fps.LoL!!! Does anyone knows why this is happening? ALL my configurations are on lowest graphic quality.I installed the newest version of DirectX 9.0c,but the problem on that part of the game still occurs... These are my laptop specifications: ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 512 MB of RAM DDR2 ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9700 with 64 MB and it has 400 mhz Intel Pentium M processor with 1.6 GHZ 2 MB L2 cache I think... Hard Disk Drive 37 GB (not so important if there is enough free space for the game) Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2 DirectX 9.0c version 2008 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Will maybe installing DirectX 8 help? Some graphic options are then disabled and it may work faster... I am also afraid to update the drivers for my graphic card since my OS was destroyed MANY times when I did it... I mean...the entire game REALLY works fine,but that part so damn slow...Just don't tell me that I need to buy a new graphic card because I am on laptop and it's integated. I am sure that there is a way to fix this...Any ideas????????? __________________ Standard programmer in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 C# Express Edition... (GO PCSX2 TEAM!!!GO AND MAKE THE BEST PLAYSTATION 2 EMULATOR!!!YOU CAN DO IT!!!)

May 7th, 2008	#2 (permalink)
Mad AKA snkmad Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Brazil, Fortaleza-Ceará Posts: 2,955	You can run the game in Dx8 mode, or even Dx7. __________________ [WinXP SP3] [Gigabyte GA-M61PM-S2] [Athlon64 X2 3800+ @2.00Ghz] [XFX Geforce 8600GT XxX 256MB DDR3] [17" SyncMaster 753v] [Samsung SATA II HD250HJ 250GB] [Kingston 2x1GB DDR2 6400@800MHz CL6] [Samsung CDDVDW SH-S203B] [NVIDIA nForce Networking] [Realtek HD Audio ALC883] Baldurs Gate Dumps

May 7th, 2008	#3 (permalink)
S.T.A.R.S. UAC Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Planet Earth... Posts: 362	Yea I know...But will that increase the speed? If yes,how to make that ONLY that game is using DX8 and everything else uses DX9??? __________________ Standard programmer in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 C# Express Edition... (GO PCSX2 TEAM!!!GO AND MAKE THE BEST PLAYSTATION 2 EMULATOR!!!YOU CAN DO IT!!!)

May 7th, 2008	#4 (permalink)
refraction PCSX2 Coder $refraction's Avatar$ Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Plymouth, UK Posts: 9,819	lower directx versions require lower pixel shaders, so forcing the game (via the configs id presume) to use an earlier directx, will bring you speed. Graphics cards tend to struggle more the higher the pixel shader version, DX8 was only shader 1.1 __________________ http://www.generalemu.net/ Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.4Ghz (425x8), Leadtek GTX 280 1Gb, 1.8Tb HDs, 2Gb Corsair DDR2-800 @ DDR2-1020 5-5-5-18 Dual Channel Dont PM me for help, use the forums, thats what its for!
$refraction is offline$

May 7th, 2008	#5 (permalink)
Mad AKA snkmad Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Brazil, Fortaleza-Ceará Posts: 2,955	Put this on the command line: -dxlevel 81 __________________ [WinXP SP3] [Gigabyte GA-M61PM-S2] [Athlon64 X2 3800+ @2.00Ghz] [XFX Geforce 8600GT XxX 256MB DDR3] [17" SyncMaster 753v] [Samsung SATA II HD250HJ 250GB] [Kingston 2x1GB DDR2 6400@800MHz CL6] [Samsung CDDVDW SH-S203B] [NVIDIA nForce Networking] [Realtek HD Audio ALC883] Baldurs Gate Dumps

May 7th, 2008	#6 (permalink)
S.T.A.R.S. UAC Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Planet Earth... Posts: 362	There are many command lines lol...on which one you exactly mean? Maybe shortcut target? --->"E:\Half-Life 4\Half-Life 4\Half-Life 4.bat" -dxlevel 81 If yes then it doesn't work.I tryed that already... HAHA all I needed to do was to create the simple BAT file and then write that command line inside of it.It works now Thanks for your help anyway.I always appreciate that __________________ Standard programmer in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 C# Express Edition... (GO PCSX2 TEAM!!!GO AND MAKE THE BEST PLAYSTATION 2 EMULATOR!!!YOU CAN DO IT!!!) Last edited by S.T.A.R.S.; May 7th, 2008 at 23:14. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

May 7th, 2008	#7 (permalink)
Mad AKA snkmad Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Brazil, Fortaleza-Ceará Posts: 2,955	You are using a .bat to start episode 2... Exactly what i suspected... not so legal version, since youre not using steam... Problem solved, please someone lock this. __________________ [WinXP SP3] [Gigabyte GA-M61PM-S2] [Athlon64 X2 3800+ @2.00Ghz] [XFX Geforce 8600GT XxX 256MB DDR3] [17" SyncMaster 753v] [Samsung SATA II HD250HJ 250GB] [Kingston 2x1GB DDR2 6400@800MHz CL6] [Samsung CDDVDW SH-S203B] [NVIDIA nForce Networking] [Realtek HD Audio ALC883] Baldurs Gate Dumps

May 9th, 2008	#8 (permalink)
S.T.A.R.S. UAC Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Planet Earth... Posts: 362	LoL dude I am using steam of course.I created BAT just to try and it worked,but now there is a second problem.When I configure the game options and then turn off the game and then again turn it on then ALL the options in game are back to the default valuesThis is NOT happening if "-dxlevel 81" is not written.Yea...the game works faster with it,but every time when I turn ON the game,ALL the changes are back to the default.Any ideas why is this happening?????????? __________________ Standard programmer in Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 C# Express Edition... (GO PCSX2 TEAM!!!GO AND MAKE THE BEST PLAYSTATION 2 EMULATOR!!!YOU CAN DO IT!!!)

May 9th, 2008	#9 (permalink)
jonc2006 Mod of Douchebagness™ Join Date: May 2006 Location: USA MD. Posts: 6,317	try naming the .bat file "autoexec.bat". i have several games where i have had to do this in order for my custom settings to override the defaults. edit- you could also try adding that same command switch to the config file for dx or the config file for the game itself. another method might be creating a config file called "autoexec" in the same directory that has the game config file and put the switch into there. __________________ Antec 900/Antec Truepower Quattro 1000W/eVGA 780i SLI/Windows XP Media SP2 & Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit SP1/Intel Core 2 Duo E8400@3.0Ghz/eVGA GeForce 8800 Ultra 768MB/Creative SB X-Fi XtremeGamer/Corsiar XMS2 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400 DDR2/Dual WD Caviar SE16 500GB 7200RPM HDDs The Official jonc2006™ Emotion Chart. Courtesy of PCXL-Fan after he tried to steal my identity on Steam because I am so awesome. Official jonc2006™ Fan Club Official jonc2006™ Trophy Collection Last edited by jonc2006; May 9th, 2008 at 22:59.

May 10th, 2008	#10 (permalink)
Mad AKA snkmad Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Brazil, Fortaleza-Ceará Posts: 2,955	Ok try this them, go to My games, right click on hl2ep2, go to properties, then "set launch options". Add the -dxlevel 81, run the game, config the way you like it. Exit the game, erase that command, and run the game again, and if needed reconfigure it. It will stay that until you change it via the -dxlevel command again. Also you dont need .bat files, you can add those command line parameters on shortcuts. __________________ [WinXP SP3] [Gigabyte GA-M61PM-S2] [Athlon64 X2 3800+ @2.00Ghz] [XFX Geforce 8600GT XxX 256MB DDR3] [17" SyncMaster 753v] [Samsung SATA II HD250HJ 250GB] [Kingston 2x1GB DDR2 6400@800MHz CL6] [Samsung CDDVDW SH-S203B] [NVIDIA nForce Networking] [Realtek HD Audio ALC883] Baldurs Gate Dumps

May 10th, 2008	#11 (permalink)
SCHUMI-4-EVA Devastating Force Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Governmentless South Africa Posts: 5,823	0_o...Mad...you can delete posts yourself just by the way...always have been able to delete your own posts __________________ AMD Athlon64 3700+ (2.2Ghz rated as 3.7Ghz Pentium), ASUS A8NE-FM, 4x512MB DDR400 RAM, ATI Radeon X850XT, 320GB HDD, Windows XPSP2 Home, Leadtek Winfast TV2000 XP Expert, Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Value Get it right fools! The glass is HALF-EMPTY, not half-full!!! !!! WARNING: Emulation requires a brain !!! WARNING: Emulation =/= Piracy !!! No$GBA DS FAQ 2.0 The Champ has retired, but may his Legacy live on FOREVER !!!!

May 11th, 2008	#12 (permalink)
runawayprisoner Mobile Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 4,413	I thought double posts would be automerged? They don't anymore? Anyway, to delete your post, just edit it. __________________ Computer specs: CPU: Intel Celeron M 450MHz RAM: 1GB DDR2 100MHz Storage: 4GB SSD + 8GB SDHC Monitor: 7" LCD WVGA 800x480 OS: Windows XP Professional w/ SP3 Road warrior operation duration: 4h30m! (extendable to 6h30m!)

May 11th, 2008	#13 (permalink)
SCHUMI-4-EVA Devastating Force Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Governmentless South Africa Posts: 5,823	They don't when the server gets screwy.. __________________ AMD Athlon64 3700+ (2.2Ghz rated as 3.7Ghz Pentium), ASUS A8NE-FM, 4x512MB DDR400 RAM, ATI Radeon X850XT, 320GB HDD, Windows XPSP2 Home, Leadtek Winfast TV2000 XP Expert, Creative Sound Blaster Audigy Value Get it right fools! The glass is HALF-EMPTY, not half-full!!! !!! WARNING: Emulation requires a brain !!! WARNING: Emulation =/= Piracy !!! No$GBA DS FAQ 2.0 The Champ has retired, but may his Legacy live on FOREVER !!!!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode