How to enable triple buffering in CS:S?

[Phew]

I am using a Dell 2001 FP with an x800XL, and I don't like tearing so vsync is on. However, the FPS is either 60 or 30, so triple buffering must not be enabled. What is the cfg or console command to enable triple-buffering? There is no setting for it in the ATI control panel for D3D.

 

[tbooth]

As far as I know triple buffering is available only under OpenGL, you click compatability with OpenGL checked to access it under the 3D tab.

 

[Phew]

I did some digging, and it seems the only way to enable triple buffering in CS:S and HL2 is to use a 3rd-party utility, called DirectX Tweaker, and setting Present Changer/Count to 2. This tweak is found at:

Nonatainment

 

[tbooth]

Cool, I'll have to give this a try.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

i thought one of these architectures jus couldnt do triple buffering? is it the R420 or the NV40?

 

[kylebisme]

Nah, all cards can do triple buffering, ATI just supports it better in their drivers.

 

[Jeff7181]

If nVidia doesn't support triple buffering, then I wonder why I see FPS numbers in the 60's and 70's sometimes... I ALWAYS have vsync on cause I can't stand tearing.

*EDIT* Ahhh... I figured it out. 😀 It's cause the frame rater counter is an average, not instantaneous.

 

[Phew]

I am still struggling with this problem. DirectX Tweaker seems to work occasionally in CS:S, but usually even with the Present Changer/Count set to 2, my FPS will still switch between 60 and 30. When the fps drops to 30 I usually get shot in the head because it is disorienting. Why isn't triple buffering just an option in the game config like for Far Cry!

 

[Phew]

OK, I figured out how to get DirectX Tweaker to always work. Make sure Steam doesn't load when you start windows, and load Steam for the first time through the Tweaker window (with Present Changer/Count set to 2). Triple buffering works every time!