How do I improve my fps in Counterstrike?

[karmasalad]

I just setup a new P4 2.6C system paired with a Radeon 9600NP. I was trying to play some CS on it over the weekend, and for some reason, I'm experiencing a major drop in fps during intense action sequences. Basically, it drops to 10 ~ 20 fps and becomes unplayable. By the time the fps recover, I'm usually dead. :frown: It's not my net connection as my pings are consistently below 60.

I imagine a drop in fps during high action is normal, but this bad on this kind of hardware? I don't remember having this kind of severe slowdown on my old P3 1GHz w/ original Radeon (though I admit I haven't played in months). I'm thinking it's probably something software-related, but as I'm not well-versed on graphic cards, I'm not sure what to do.

I'm using the latest Catalyst 3.5 drivers, and I'm running everything at default settings. I'm using the retail version of CS, updated to 1.5, and am using 800x600 resolution.

Anybody have any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Le Québécois]

I remember reading about problem with radeon and CS. I dont know if it has been solve....You should go on the forum of Rage3D you will surely find some help there. Btw, two years ago I was playing CS on my Gforce2 PRO and a P3 750....my setting were all to the max with 1024 and AA4X. Never got slow down...so its SURE you have a problem there....

 

[Pete]

Truform may be on. I expect your FPS drops when you see people, like during round starts and in firefights. I believe "~ati_npatch 0" should turn it off. "~ati_subdiv 0" also helped my Xpert 128, but I'm not sure if it's related to Truform, or if it's just an ATi-specific setting regarding curves in general (of doors, etc.).

I'd enable AF if I were you, as it makes the game look much better for a small performance hit. Try 16xQuality first, but if that knocks your fps down too much, just use Performance. As Le Quebecois said, CS is old enough that you should also be able to use 4xAA along with 16xQ AF and still max your refresh rate, but try it yourself to see which gives you the best IQ without sacrificing performance.

 

[karmasalad]

Thanks for the replies. I solved my problems by switching my video to OpenGL from the default, as well as implementing your suggestions. Now my fps max out 99 and only dip to ~70 during high action. I still suck at CS though.

 

[Regs]

Counter strike likes Open GL other then Direct 3D? hm. I'm sure if True Form was enabled that would of been the more decisive slow down.

 

[Pete]

Heh, I just assumed you used OpenGL, karma. Reg, D3D was added later as an option for CS1.3, but I think OGL is still the fastest way to play the game (as it was developed on/from the Quake engine).

 

[eno]

No way possible you have all your detail levels maxed and no FPS droppage, I have spent oodles of time tested different cards for CS and even Geforce2 Ti500 insane overclock with 4xAA @ 1024x768 will drop from 100fps down. What is your constant FPS in CS? 60? Full FPS is not hard to reach but you have to turn down some of your detail settings to acquire that. With my new 9700Pro, will drop in FPS with full detail running like 1152 running 6x AA 16x AF full detail,mipmap, VSYNC ON. It runs 100fps most of the time and alot of players or big areas it drops to 80fps. CS is weak graphical game but will all detail levels on there is no way a Gf2 card can stay at full 100fps all the time.

 

[stardust]

opengl? haha thats the cheater's setting huh? iono about anyone else but for my gf4, ogl dun work and i get blue lines everywhere even with new drivers so im sticking with direct3d @ ~89fps

 

[Le Québécois]

Who said i was running at full 100 fps? anyway...60-80 or 100 your eyes wont even see the difference. Karmasalad saud he was getting 10-20 fps....no way did i ever got that wiht my gf2.
Btw...never run this game in d3d....it runs choppy even on the best hardware...

 

[stardust]

Originally posted by: Le Québécois
Who said i was running at full 100 fps? anyway...60-80 or 100 your eyes wont even see the difference. Karmasalad saud he was getting 10-20 fps....no way did i ever got that wiht my gf2.
Btw...never run this game in d3d....it runs choppy even on the best hardware...

mais bonjour mon ami, u can read wut i sed and alot of my friends have the same problem with OGL, so they choose the "slower" (above) d3d setting.

 

[eno]

actually I can see the difference between 60 and 85hz , 85- 100hz, 60-100fps. Yes I can tell, all I was saying is no way can a gf2 handle full AA and AF levels. Both my comps run 100hz so its at 100fps. Super smooth. Even my 9700 drops at 6x aa and 16x af.

 

[Le Québécois]

I've never talked about AF...no we a gforce2 can do amisotropy...well it can..but it would simply kill the frame rate. I know some ppl can see difference between 60-100 fps....but most of the time you see it when the game slow down below that 60 fps..its sure if your game normaly run at 100 you wont see any slow down since when it does you dont go below..let say..70fps....so that how you can tell diffence....and i ain't talking about refresh rate..belive me that a nother story

 

[rommelrommel]

My 9500np never dropped below 100 FPS, even at 1600x1200 6XAA 16XAF

 

[FearoftheNight]

Originally posted by: rommelrommel
My 9500np never dropped below 100 FPS, even at 1600x1200 6XAA 16XAF

i feel u...9700 here

 

[HiTek21]

I get a constant 99/100fps with my Radeon 9700np, I use OpenGL 1024x768 but sometimes it will drop when there is a lot of detail

 

[Schadenfroh]

you ought to play it with the 3dfx mini GL driver. talk about suckage