Half-Life 2 Episode Two runs slow...

[S.T.A.R.S.]

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:
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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
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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]

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

[S.T.A.R.S.]

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]

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]

Put this on the command line: -dxlevel 81

[S.T.A.R.S.]

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]

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.]

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??????????

[jonc2006]

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]

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]

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

[runawayprisoner]

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

[SCHUMI-4-EVA]

They don't when the server gets screwy..