Steam is slowing HL2 ! Benchmarks here

[ZoFreX]

To sum up: Steam slows down loading times (well duh) depending on your system and internet connection but cannot alter performance while you are playing. Stuttering is not a problem with Steam.

I count loading and saving times as altering in game performance meself. I'm gonna give the emulator a try this weekend, if it gets me better loading times then I'll stick with it. If Valve want to sue me (a paying customer), so be it.

 

[ZoFreX]

Update: I no-steamed half-life 2 on my dad's rig, and half-life 2 loaded way faster. I was going to do the same thing on my gaming rig (which can actually play half-life 2) and then post the benhmarks, but doing exactly the same thing on that pc didn't work, so I don't have any numbers for you yet. But it was faster, no doubt.