Half-life 2 slowdown

[Death Spike]

I got a new computer, and I installed Half-life 2. However, when I play it (and SMOD) it is very slow and laggy.It also tends to crash and gives me a message about DX8 mesh or something. I don't understand since this computer is much better then my old one. Any ideas on what is causing it?
New Computer:
Intel Core 2 duo processor-E6400
2 gb ram
Geforce 7300

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Do you have the latest directx version installed? Directx9c I believe.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

Try downloading the latest version of Direct X from Microsoft and drivers for your graphics Card cause i don't see why you should get a DX8 error cause your card supports DX9.

 

[Operational]

Try going here
steam://support/?Issues=Crash*
see what you get
If not
http://support.steampowered.com/
Valve has pretty good help pages.

 

[Death Spike]

Thanks, it seems that my drivers were outdated. Half-life 2 works fine now. However, when I play SMOD it crashes, and I get an error message-Failed to lock vertex buffer in CMesh DX8::LockVertexBuffer. Anyone know what that means?

 

[PimpinPenguin]

Well Steam Support says it happens when you Alt-Tab out of the game but try right clicking on the game in steam then properties then on set launch options then put this in -dxlevel 90. Make sure you have Downloaded the latest version of Direct X