Counter-Strike source lag/choke

Specs:
AMD x64 processor
MSI 761GM2-V mobo
ATI HD4830 graphics
2GB DDR memory
500GB Maxtor

I've installed all the latest drivers for my computer, as well as installed all the updates, and then double-checked it. I also realize it's possible this is simply a compatibility issue. I have not re-installed CSS as of writing this.

There appears to be some sort of lag issue. I have tried testing the game in a local server and there are no problems. When playing on a live server I get an animation glitch when trying to quick switch (Q) between a primary and secondary gun, but not between the knife and a gun. I also get around 50 choke when in a firefight, and my ping appears unusually high (150) while my latency stays normal (30-60 depending on the server). The biggest issue however is the skippy lag which is constant. For anyone who plays CSS, it's like playing on a really bad 33 tick server, no matter where I play. People jump around a lot and nades and weapons seem to move in a slide show.

I've read through all those topics and more, but there have been no working solutions offered to me or to the people in those threads.

Here's what I've figured out in my tests with it:

It is clearly a lag issue and not a graphical issue, though drivers may still be the problem. Though latency appears fine in game, ping is abnormally high, and latency is high when displaying servers in the steam server list. It is definitely windows 7 related as I was just playing CSS on both vista and xp in the past week. My best guess is there must be something monitoring the connection inside windows 7.

I don't have any spyware/malware/virus or other harmful programs, it's a brand new clean install. There have been no other problems, only lag for counter-strike: source. I have not tested other online games, though I will tonight.

Tiki said:

My best guess is there must be something monitoring the connection inside windows 7.

I don't have any spyware/malware/virus or other harmful programs, it's a brand new clean install.

My first thought was : check to see if you have the latest drivers for your nic/modem/rourer, and check to see whether Windows Firewall is not blocking CSS (HL2.exe).

When i installed CSS, and started the game for the first time, a pop-up appeared, asking me whether i want to allow HL2.exe through the firewall, and if i wanted to allow all of its functions through, as i am connected to the net through ethernet which is defined as public network ( in public networks certain functions like file sharing etc. are restricted/turned off by default).

My drivers are all up to date, I've double and triple checked that. I also get the problem when windows firewall is disabled, and when adding an exception for both steam and the css hl.exe.

Well i know how you feel Tiki, i myself experienced all sorts of weird behavior with CSS in Win 7, but i like to think its because the game is 5 years old now and it has a lot of bugs in it still, and we are trying to run it in an not-final-yet OS, and the drivers are still not rock solid yet...etc

I agree coola, I haven't ruled out graphics drivers as the problem. I'll trying setting a manual page file. I know it's not a lack of ram as I've readyboosted with a 2gig stick as well, and vista takes up more memory anyway (at least for me O.o).

On the topic of drivers, I had an issue getting connected to the internet as RC1 doesn't have SiS 900 based ethernet drivers in the base install. However I usb'd a working driver for windows 7 onto it and that seemed to work perfectly. It could be the problem, but I've tried several different versions of the SiS 900 drivers for xp, vista and 7, and none yield results in this case.

I'll update you guys later tonight after trying some other online games and setting a manual page file. I'm also updating my specs slightly.

How many fps should be expected of his system? I have an msi 4830 oc edition and haven't installed any drivers and I'm not sure if I should be getting more out of mine.

msi 4830 oc Huh? HD4830 is an ATI brand graphics card, MSI is a manufacturer.

Anyway, I get around 60 fps on CSS in windows 7, and around 80 in windows xp.