HL1 runs slower than HL2!

[hehku]

Can someone explain this:

I have a AMD 2400+, 512mb RAM and a radeon 9800 Pro.

HL2 runs fine with medium settings, but when I try to play HL1 through Steam, it stops for a brief moment (little less than a second) before playing a sound clip (for example, pressing use-key on npc). The game cannot be played, it is that disturbing.

Problem solved when I installed HL1 from the original CD's and played it without Steam.

So what does Steam do to my precious HL? Has this happened to anyone else?

Question 2:
Would doubling my RAM (512 -> 1024) make HL2 run much smoother? In your opinion, which part of my PC should be upgraded first?

 

[jondy]

Question 2:
Would doubling my RAM (512 -> 1024) make HL2 run much smoother? In your opinion, which part of my PC should be upgraded first?

Yes. Do it. Then I'd probably go for a processor upgrade, and after that the GFX card.

 

[Ti133700N]

It did that to me the first time I tried HL with steam. Maybe I was still downloading stuff. It doesn't do it anymore.

 

[hehku]

Ok then.. looks like it could be because I'm badly behind with all the updates.. I moved after installation of HL2 and since have been half a year without net.

Let's see what happens when I get connection after a couple of weeks.

Back to Question 2: Is there a lot of differences between RAM brands?

Thank you for the answers!

 

[sinkoman]

Ok then.. looks like it could be because I'm badly behind with all the updates.. I moved after installation of HL2 and since have been half a year without net.

Let's see what happens when I get connection after a couple of weeks.

Back to Question 2: Is there a lot of differences between RAM brands?

Thank you for the answers!

Yeah, it takes a good half hour or so to get hl1 up to date. You can't just jump in and play

And yes, there can be a bit of difference between ram brands. Not in performance, but in quality.

Personally, i'm VERY happy with my ram. The only problem i've run into so far is that spd detects it as 2.5-4-4-8 when it's really 2.5-3-3-7. Easy to fix though.

I've got the unbinned OCZ VX 5 chips, sold as OCZ Value Ram.

Here is an EXCELLENT look at some value ram. Tis how I got to picking the sticks I got.

But generally, OCZ tends to have some awesome overclockers, but they require awesome (as in large) volts. I know Mushkin has the highly coveted Winbond BH5 chips (I myself am still trying to figure out what makes them great, besides being 2-2-2-5 and no longer manufactured. Oddly, my mobo has some sorta special option for it) and Corsair I hear is some pretty fast out of the box ram.

EDIT: Oh and btw, i'm not saying that Mushkin is the only brand with the BH5 chips, but they seem to have more of it than others. So far, i've only seen them and OCZ carrying it, and OCZ just in once.

 

[hehku]

Ok, thanks. I'll check that site!

About the constant Steam-updates: has HL2 been updated greatly after the launch? I mean, I installed it in october, got all the stuff Steam downloaded, moved, and have been playing with those files ever since.

Is the HL2 with the most recent updates different to that what I have? No, I don't certainly have any complaints about the game, but is it, for example, faster?

 

[Ti133700N]

It might be a little faster, or less choppy I should say with all the sound sluttering patches they made. There have been alot of patches for Steam, alot for CSS and some for HL2.

 

[NeptuneUK]

Would doubling my RAM (512 -> 1024) make HL2 run much smoother?

yeah i did that, i upgraded from 512 to 1024 and HL2 ran suprisingly faster. i didnt actually expect it to do much either

 

[gweedodogg69]

every game I have runs great on my system including HL1, OP Force, CS 1.6, etc...

 

[sinkoman]

every game I have runs great on my system including HL1, OP Force, CS 1.6, etc...

Stop showing off already. We understood your pc was awesome when you put it in your sig, you don't need to show it off.

... .... ...

Ok I give in, can you email me a few pics of your pc? I want to see a 7800gtx in action

 

[gweedodogg69]

pm me your e-mail and ill send you some pics of it tonight since im at work right now. Bear with me on the water cooling, I'm still trying to find a solution for that cause it looks ugly sitting on my beautiful case.

yeah i did that, i upgraded from 512 to 1024 and HL2 ran suprisingly faster. i didnt actually expect it to do much either

Try allowing HL2 to use a lil more memory in that advanced properties of the Games window in Steam. Right click on HL2 and in that advanced thing put this command

"heapsize- 256000" or more. I have 2GB so I have mine set at 512000