FINALLY fixed stuttering problem

[loosenut]

Well, after bad-mouthing Valve for while, I realized that my st-st-stuttering problem isn't their fault. Back in January, I got a speedy new computer, Core 2 duo, 2 GB RAM, SATA drive, etc. My video card is an Nvidia GeForce 7600 GT... not super fast, but it should do the job.

The Half-Life 2 stuttering problem popped up in Episode 1 and Lost Coast, and I tried all the fixes (I worked on this for months). Nothing worked. Finally I gave up and tried playing another game. Enemy Territory also locked up (worse than HL2). Finally I tried "playing" Second Life, and it locked up, too. Okay, something is wrong with my system, not with the Source engine.

So, I got the crazy idea to underclock my video card. I got PowerStrip, and lowered the core and memory clock settings from 600/780 to 510/660 MHz (a 15% decrease in speed). It worked!! HL2 no longer stutters, and ET doesn't crash (haven't tested SecondLife yet). I know it sucks to not be able to use your video card to its full potential, but as a last resort, this is a workable solution.

I hope this helps someone!

 

[MorganFreeman911]

Funny... Because my graphics card is the same one and I don't have any problems...

 

[Laivasse]

I think overheating is definitely a big factor. If you can increase the fan speed to cool your card or make sure there's better airflow in your case generally, then that should have the same effect.

 

[loosenut]

It's been running pretty cool... under 60 deg C.

 

[Laivasse]

My current card runs at OK temps too, but kept crashing with the stutter thing in Ep1 until I bumped up my fan speed to about double the default (or as loud as I could handle). Since you've solved the problem by powering down your card a bit, it would suggest that yours is also a temperature problem.

 

[tibetanpunk]

I am getting a the graphical/sound stutter using a 7600gs 256mb...I don't really want to underclock it because it is slow enough as it is
It is a really odd problem, definately not a temp problem here...This card runs pretty hot, but it doesn't seem bothered by it on any other game...about 66c under load.
Hopefully the source engine update will make use of both my cpu cores for the Orange box...Interesting to see if and how it will improve performance...

 

[MJ12]

wait, explain to me exactly how you got rid of this stuttering problem?

 

[CyberPitz]

wait, explain to me exactly how you got rid of this stuttering problem?

Lowering his GPU clock and memory. Ultimately, what others believe is that he lowered the temperature of the card, thus solving the stutter...might check on those.

 

[Xendance]

I was told by Gabe Newell that stuttering has been fixed for Episode Two.

 

[MJ12]

it better be, I'll kill myself if it is as bad as ep.1 stuttering, it was almost unplayable for me it was so annoying.

Lowering his GPU clock and memory. Ultimately, what others believe is that he lowered the temperature of the card, thus solving the stutter...might check on those.

Hm, is there a way i can lower my GPU clock and memory/ lowering temperature?

 

[Apocalypse89]

I solved Ep. 1 stuttering/crashing by reducing the graphics to DirectX 8.1 (putting "-dxlevel 81" into Launch Options). Hopefully this problem doesn't pop up in Ep. 2, since I want to experience it in full graphicy goodness(well, as much as my card can handle anyways).