Counter-Strike Source Lag

Hey there, I bought Counter-Strike Source yesterday to play with a friend. I got everything loaded up fine and got into the game. I found myself lagging immensely at all times. I have been researching the problem and trying to find a solution. I have e-mailed a few friends/relatives (tech people) and posted on a few forums but with no success. I found this forum when researching and thought I'd post.

In another thread I found someone asked to see the specs of the computer (I believe Jephree) so I'll post those.

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OS Information:
Property Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
Property Value
Current Clock Speed 2793
Description x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz

Current Clock Speed 2793
Description x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz


Memory (RAM):
Property Value
Bank Label
Capacity 268435456

Bank Label
Capacity 268435456

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~512 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 502MB

Disk Drives:
Property Value
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model ST380013AS
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 79999073280 (~75 GB)
Number of Partitions 3


Installed Printers:
Property Value
Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Port Name Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Port:
Default False
Driver Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver

Name Fax
Port Name SHRFAX:
Default False
Driver Name Microsoft Shared Fax Driver

Name Dell Photo AIO Printer 922
Port Name USB001
Default True
Driver Name Dell Photo AIO Printer 922


Motherboard:
Property Value
Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product 0M3918
Serial Number ..CN708214AS05Z4.
Version


BIOS:
Property Value
Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Name Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
Release Date 20041123000000.000000+000
Version DELL - 7


Monitor:
Property Value
Description Default Monitor
Name Default Monitor
Screen Height 768
Screen Width 1024

Description Default Monitor
Name Default Monitor
Screen Height
Screen Width


Keyboard:
Property Value
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
Property Value
Manufacturer (Standard system devices)
Name USB Human Interface Device


Sound Card:
Property Value
Manufacturer Creative Technology, Ltd.
Description Creative Audigy Audio Processor (WDM)
Device ID PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20061102&REV_04\4&104 16D21&0&00F0

Manufacturer Microsoft
Description Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
Device ID MODEMWAVE\0\{0F745244-133B-49A7-AAD8-F5A4FE1B852B}


Video Card:
Property Value
Adapter Compatibility Intel Corporation
Adapter RAM 134217728
Description Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Installed Display Drivers ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.4410
Driver Date 10/14/2005 8:15:18 PM
Video Mode Description 1024 x 768 x 4294967296 colors

Adapter Compatibility Intel Corporation
Adapter RAM 134217728
Description Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
Installed Display Drivers ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.4410
Driver Date 10/14/2005 8:15:18 PM
Video Mode Description


DirectX Installation:
Property Value
Version 6.03.01.0148


Modem:
Property Value
Model Conexant D850 56K V.9x DFVc Modem
Name Conexant D850 56K V.9x DFVc Modem


Network Adapters:
Property Value
Description Intel(R) PRO/100 VE Network Connection - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description RAS Async Adapter
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Description Direct Parallel
Description WAN Miniport (IP)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description 1394 Net Adapter
Description WAN Miniport (ATW)

External Ports:
Property Value
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator

Expansion Slots:
Property Value
Slot Designation PCI_1
Slot Designation PCI_2
Slot Designation PCI_E_1
Slot Designation PEG


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Does anyone know what I would need to adjust to make me lag less often? Do I fit the minimum system requirements? Do you have any suggestions on what to buy/download to fix the problem? I have heard that updating drivers (??) can help solve the problem but I don't know how to do that or even what a driver is so any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Minimum Requirements – 1.2 GHz processor / 256MB RAM / DirectX 7level graphics card

Recommended – 2.4 GHz processor / 512MB RAM / DirectX 9 level graphics card


EDIT: OK So I have sort of fixed the problem. I messed around with some stuff (not really sure what LOL) and I have managed to NOT lag on certain maps. I lag mostly on office, dust2, and maps similar to that. I found I am fine on ak_colt and texture maps (the orange ones.) I don't know if there is a fix for this or not.

Your graphics are on-board and although they are fairly good might not be good enough.

In which case you would need to purchase a graphics card.

What is your DirectX version? This can be found at: start/Run/ dxdiag

If it is not 9.0c you can download that here:



http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en


What is the exact Dell model and # that you have?

your ram isnt alot either althou it states on the box 256mb ram you really need 1gb for no lag my freind has p4 3.06ghz and 512mb pc 3200 ram and he does lag sometimes but not immensely such as you a good defrag and some more ram and graphics card will allow you to benifit now and some added future proofing hope this helps

I have version 9.0 of DirectX. As for the exact dell model I have I'm not really sure. I didn't buy this computer and so I'm not for sure what make everything is. If there is some process I can go through to check up on that then I'd be more than happy to find out for you. I'm actually kind of glad I've been having issues because it's helped me find out a great deal about my computer.

I'll give you all the information you want/I can give and then if you think a graphics card upgrade or a RAM upgrade would be best, we can decide on something from there.

EDIT: I don't know if this is what you want but I was looking at the dxdiag thing and this may or may not be what you want as for the model and number -

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/6/2006, 23:55:23
Machine name: D5S03D61
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: Dimension 4700
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 502MB RAM
Page File: 711MB used, 783MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode


-----------

The model is atleast there, I don't see anything that would be the number except maybe the machine name so if it isn't there, tell me where to look. Thanks for the help.

hi again just trying to help some more but is this your pc?

http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Dimensi...-30981395.html

if so it says there that there is a pci x16 slot so you can simply buy a new pci express graphics card hope this helps and let me know if this is your computer

That's almost my computer yes. Mine has built in speakers on the monitor and I don't have that thing on the far right but that's my tower. Well it atleast LOOKS like that, I can't say that it has the exact same stuff on the inside. Is a PCI Express Graphics Card good? Will I be able to run Source no problem? How much does it cost?

Umm well I come back with one last question (actually hoping for me above questions answered =) .

One of the things mentioned that I might need is more RAM. Well my uncle told me to find out if I have two slots or four slots and how many are filled. He told me he could spare a 512 mb RAM if it's PC2100 or PC2700. I have no idea how to find out what these are and I'm waiting for his reply as well. Does anyone know where I could look to find out how many slots of RAM I have available, which are filled, and if they are PC2100/2700?

Everest will tell you all the details:

http://www.oldversion.com/program.php?n=everesthome

Look under Motherboard > Memory and also > SPD

This is under Memory -



Field Value
Physical Memory
Total 502 MB
Used 391 MB
Free 110 MB
Utilization 78 %

Swap Space
Total 1494 MB
Used 536 MB
Free 958 MB
Utilization 36 %

Virtual Memory
Total 1996 MB
Used 927 MB
Free 1069 MB
Utilization 46 %

Physical Address Extension (PAE)
Supported by Operating System Yes
Supported by CPU Yes
Active No


Then there are two things under SPD. They are DIMM1: Samsung M3 78T3354BG0-CCC and DIMM3: Samsung M3 78T3354BG0-CCC. They are identical exact serial number.

Field Value
Memory Module Properties
Module Name Samsung M3 78T3354BG0-CCC
Serial Number 5002DFA2h
Module Size 256 MB (1 rank, 4 banks)
Module Type Unbuffered
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed DDR2-400 (200 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 1.8
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us)

Memory Timings
@ 200 MHz 5.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 200 MHz 4.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)
@ 200 MHz 3.0-3-3-8 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS)

Memory Module Features
Early RAS# Precharge Supported
Auto-Precharge Not Supported
Precharge All Not Supported
Write1/Read Burst Not Supported
Buffered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
Registered Address/Control Inputs Not Supported
On-Card PLL (Clock) Not Supported
Buffered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Registered DQMB Inputs Not Supported
Differential Clock Input Not Supported
Redundant Row Address Not Supported

Memory Module Manufacturer
Company Name Samsung
Product Information http://www.samsung.com/Products/Semi...DRAM/index.htm

I really couldn't tell anything. The fact that they were DIMM1 and DIMM3 makes it sound like there is a DIMM2 open and maybe a 4 open? As for the PC2100 or 2700 I had no idea, can any tell?

You have 2 open slots but the RAM is PC2-3200

http://www.samsung.com/Products/Semi...=ccc&x=10&y=10

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1043338

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc....htm#wp1055048