How do you run a freakin' timedemo test in Half-Life 2?

imported_Daxx

Junior Member
Oct 17, 2004
11
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I'm running timedemos in Half-Life 2 from the console [timedemo demo name] and no matter what resolution I run, I get the same damn results. It's as if the timedemo is running regular speed instead of as fast as it possibly can. Am I missing some console parameter that needs to be activated before running the timedemo?
 

imported_Daxx

Junior Member
Oct 17, 2004
11
0
0
Good idea, but I doubt it. I'm running a P4 at 3.7G. I have made sure AA and Aniso is turned off (application controlled and off in game). I'm running a 6800 Ultra card and no matter what resolution I put it in from 640x480 up to 1280x1024, I always get 70 FPS on the timedemo. It runs at regularly recorded speed, not any faster or slower. I'm running Anandtech's "at_canals_08" timedemo.

Any thoughts on this? :confused:

Daxx
 

lithium726

Senior member
May 11, 2004
228
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well, it does indeed sound like you are CPU limited. try cranking hte AA and AF and see if your scores drop.
 

Appledrop

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2004
2,340
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if its constant 70 fps (69.9-70.1 :D)then your Vsync is enabled (check its not forced on in ur graphics card properties)
 

imported_Daxx

Junior Member
Oct 17, 2004
11
0
0
Okay:

640x480 0xAA,0xAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps
640x480 4xAA,8XAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps

1280x1024 0xAA,0xAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps
1280x1024 4xAA,8xAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps

Tried changing to low quality sound = 68-70 fps

Started multitasking with multiple explororer windows open, downloading huge files, etc, while running timedemo = 68-70 fps.

Somehow I'm freakin' frame locked at 70 and I triple checked Vsync and it is OFF. Grrrrrr!!!
 

Nebor

Lifer
Jun 24, 2003
29,582
12
76
Originally posted by: Daxx
Okay:

640x480 0xAA,0xAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps
640x480 4xAA,8XAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps

1280x1024 0xAA,0xAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps
1280x1024 4xAA,8xAF, Vsync forced off = 68-70 fps

Tried changing to low quality sound = 68-70 fps

Started multitasking with multiple explororer windows open, downloading huge files, etc, while running timedemo = 68-70 fps.

Somehow I'm freakin' frame locked at 70 and I triple checked Vsync and it is OFF. Grrrrrr!!!

You're sure vsync is off both in your drivers AND in the HL2 settings?
 

PCHPlayer

Golden Member
Oct 9, 2001
1,053
0
0
How do you open the console in HL2? I have tried ~, but that does not work. I would also like to check out the current FPS to see if I can crank up the res. a bit.
 

imported_Daxx

Junior Member
Oct 17, 2004
11
0
0
Yeah, "Wait for vertical sync" is set to "Disabled*" in the game options. I had Rivatuner installed and thought there might be a conflict between it and the Nvidia drivers so I uninstalled Rivatuner. Did not help. Where in the registry can I check to ensure Vsync is actually turned off?

Daxx
 

Adn4n

Golden Member
Aug 6, 2004
1,043
0
0
Originally posted by: PCHPlayer
How do you open the console in HL2? I have tried ~, but that does not work. I would also like to check out the current FPS to see if I can crank up the res. a bit.

Go to the tab where you adjust keyboard properties. Click the Advanced button...and voila.
 

PCHPlayer

Golden Member
Oct 9, 2001
1,053
0
0
Originally posted by: Adn4n
Originally posted by: PCHPlayer
How do you open the console in HL2? I have tried ~, but that does not work. I would also like to check out the current FPS to see if I can crank up the res. a bit.

Go to the tab where you adjust keyboard properties. Click the Advanced button...and voila.

Thanks :beer:
 

slag

Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
10,473
81
101
how do I start the timedemo? I read on the anandtech main site, but my copy starts from steam. If I click the executable file under steamapps/myname, i get a dll error. If i run it from within steam, i cant pull down the console (assuming you use the "~" to pull down the console.

How do I make this monkey run so I can pull down the console?

nm, got it.
 

imported_Daxx

Junior Member
Oct 17, 2004
11
0
0
Okay, I made some progress! I'm overclocking my CPU and my RAM speed was set to AUTO in the bios. So, after uping the FSB a certain amount, the RAM would clock down from 400 to 266. I forced the RAM to stay at 400 while overclocking and now I'm getting 93 fps, up from the previous 68-70. But, at 93 fps, I think I am still CPU limited. Overclocking my Ultra core doesn't do anything, but every little bit I can get out of my CPU helps the frame rate.

I turned on developer 1 and host_speeds 1 and monitored the frame rate during actual game play and I'm up in the 150-200 fps range until I get to an outside level, then never less than about 60 fps with 4xAA and 8xAF. Very playable, so I guess I'm happy now. :D

Thanks,
Daxx