Upgrading RAM fixed stutter

[wick]

I just upgraded my ram to 768MB from 256MB and it got rid of the stutter. I can now play with the high setting smoothly. My other specs are P4 1.7GHz, ATI Radeon 9550 256MB.

Upgrading might work for some with minimal ram, but I know some high end systems have the stutter too.

 

[Nemesis6]

Damn you, now I'm jealous... I still have 256 Ram, but I got a 6800-Ultra OC for Christmas. I've been having the stuttering problems, too, and still having them! :-/

Anyway, I knew I needed more RAM, but the card just came in and... well, now I need some RAM. Hey, I gotta ask - is the stuttering completely fixed or, well, "relatively" fixed?

 

[PersianImmortal]

The stuttering is not caused by a lack of RAM. I personally have 1GB of RAM, with a totally optimized memory subset on my Windows XP.

The whole point of this post is to make it clear that you should firstly follow the known advice for changing your settings and optimizing your system.

Then after all the optimization available, and with decent machines if you still experience stuttering - as I and many others do - it is clear that the problem is based in the Source engine.

I am again confused as to why so many of the forum regulars have to enter each 'Stuttering' thread and tell us the problem is with our machines. No offence, but I think I know more about PC optimization and game engines than some of the posters here, and I can assure you the issue is with the game engine.

Solutions like "get more RAM" are nonsense. I repeat - I have 1024MB of CorsairTwinMX matched RAM running in perfect stability on a Windows XP system which is optimized to the hilt.

Anyway optimize your system and the stuttering is minimal. I wish I could write a piece of software which automatically did it for people, but much more talented people than me haven't been able to yet, so I doubt it's possible.

 

[^Ben]

Nemesis im going to take a guess with that 6800OC you have wacked the settings up to maximum and with 256mb of ram that's a no no.

Persian if it wasa problem with the source engine it'self everybody would have the problem, everybody dosent maybe it's a certain combination of things that set it off just like every other piece of software ever made in existence.

If you want a completly bug free non stutter experience get a console and even then your not safe.

 

[PersianImmortal]

Hence why they are downplaying the issue.

The Unreal engine is still used in a large number of games despite the infamous General Protection Faults (due to UE's memory management). Morrowind as I mentioned is based on the Dark Ages of Camelot engine which is total crap, and dragged down Morrowind with it.

Basically by making the stuttering bug seem like a small problem, they will sell the engine in advance to a range of buyers who can't back out when the final product is delivered.

By the way, I'm not saying this issue will never ever be resolved. Just not in the foreseeable future, and definitely not without a massive effort from Valve in re-writing large portions of the engine code.

Ever wondered why the game needs to load for over a minute every two steps of the way? It has major issues with efficient texture and data loading and management.

 

[^Ben]

Well unless you actually have the code infront of you, you can't make massive assumptions like that.

And it dosent load like that for me, but then again im not saying that the way valve has got the engine hooked up it's not playing nice with your configuration. Or maybe something in your configuration is making the issue worse.

I belive they are working on it like you said they are and it seems that they are fixing the bug for sections of people at a time just gotta wait untill they come round to your section.

 

[wick]

Nemisis: I have no stuttering at all with the upgraded ram. This isn't the solution for everyone though as some high end systems have the stutter too. Thankfully it fixed me and I can now enjoy the game.

Persian: If my stuttering was not caused by lack of ram then explain why adding 512MB of additional ram fixed the stutter for me? It seemed to be the fix for me. Im not using any of the optimizations through he console either.

 

[Sid Burn]

Goddamn... I just wish I can play HL2 in high settings too. I can only play it in semi-high. damn.

 

[~Speed_Demon~]

Nemisis: I have no stuttering at all with the upgraded ram. This isn't the solution for everyone though as some high end systems have the stutter too. Thankfully it fixed me and I can now enjoy the game.

Persian: If my stuttering was not caused by lack of ram then explain why adding 512MB of additional ram fixed the stutter for me? It seemed to be the fix for me. Im not using any of the optimizations through he console either.

Firstly, just because something fixes a problem for you doesn't mean it's a universal fix.

Secondly, I believe some people reach a point where the stuttering is minimal (like I have) and then consider it "gone", when in reality it is still there. Can you honestly tell me that you don't get small loading pauses every time a new creature or new area comes into view? Your audio doesn't stutter even slightly when loading or saving points occur?

The point of this thread is precisely to help people do everything they can to reduce or eliminate the stuttering - but let's not confuse minimal stuttering with no stuttering.

Most games either have long level loading times but smooth gameplay in between loading points, or short loading times and some slight pauses as info is loaded 'on the fly'. Half Life 2 has the worst of all worlds - it has ridiculously long loading times, which occur quite often, and it also has loading pauses whenever new information is required in between long loads. That's the "stuttering bug" I'm referring to.

 

[HalfLife2Addict]

Like I've been saying, the people with stuttering problems have laughably low RAM. These people should learn to blame themselves rather than screaming at Valve.

 

[Kyorisu]

Solutions like "get more RAM" are nonsense. I repeat - I have 1024MB of CorsairTwinMX matched RAM running in perfect stability on a Windows XP system which is optimized to the hilt.

For many people it has been a lack of ram. I had no stuttering with 384mb pc 133 sd. I recently upgraded my cpu/mobo (Athlon 3000 xp barton 166fsb on a Via KT6V) and needed to go up a step to ddr. Due to lack of funds I could only get 1 256mb stick of pc 2700 ddr.

The game pauses more often and sound stutters like mad. For other people it could simply be corrupt memory. Have you tried running Memtest

 

[HalfLife2Addict]

Some people can't seem to understand what the meaning of "bad RAM" is.