Reflect all w/ GF4 Ti4200?

[bowzer]

So I have HL2 starting with -dxlevel 81 to get bump map effects etc... but everytime I go into the settings to change the reflections to 'reflect all' or 'reflect world', it doesnt apply, and sets my direct x to 7... is there any way I can force the setting, either in the registry or config file? And same question for texture quality? I cant use anything above medium :S
Thanks in advance...

 

[wonkers]

I have the same graphics card and I tried to do the same thing and I don't think it makes it better either. It's odd. I also wonder if the grapics settings for HL2 are messed. I have a lot of the things cranked and yet it still runs fine for the most part? The game doesn't look a lot better though!

The detailed textures don't look detailed. There is supposed to be a shine on the antlions and large antlion that I can't seem to get working. Like slime or a really smooth look to them. Is it the old graphics card that doesn't support it or is there something wrong with how hl2 talks to the video card ?

In short I have had trouble making tweaks to the game to give optimal visual and performance quality.

 

[bowzer]

yea... seems like it isnt allowing you to force the high settings... maybe due to the fact it will give bad fps, but thats my decision...

 

[Pippinator]

i've got a gf3 ti500

in setting -dxlevel 8 would i then be able to access the other two water options + would the game look better?

my card is dx8 compatible..