Counter-Strike source lag/choke

[Tiki]

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.

 

[DarkXeno]

Welcome Tiki to SF.
Instead of me rewriting all the info on this issue which has been discussed a few times I'll say read these other post and see if any of them help you first

http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/13249-ping-issues-dod-cs-etc.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/14263-problem-css.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/gaming/14536-low-fps-cs-s.html

Try those and then let us know what happens.

 

[Tiki]

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.

 

[icoola77]

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).

 

[Tiki]

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.

 

[DarkXeno]

Ok Im going to have you try an experiment and see what happens cause Im now stabbing in the dark here. Reading your system specs you have 2 gigs of ram, and I'm going to guess you have your page file set to auto. How about you try to set it to a manual amount. I would say about 4gig. My reasons to try this is the small possiblity of windows trying to write back and forth to ram and continuely resizing the page file causing a lag spike trying to run threw everything at once. looking at your specs they are not much differnent than mine you have a faster Video than I do but have a smaller amount of ram. I have a manual set pagefile so I am trying to elimate other items to see if I can match your settings.

 

[icoola77]

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

 

[Tiki]

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 ).

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.

 

[roflpwnt]

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.

 

[Tiki]

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.

 

[DarkXeno]

Every system is different on FPS. I have a HP DV7z laptop with a ATI 3450HD w 512meg of ram and I get 80-100 fps on a server with 32 people map dust my ping sits around 40 and choke is at zero, guess I'm close to the servers source. Its all different on each machine, since this game is a lot older we should be seeing fps above 60 but again there are other factors to include so its very hard to say what we should see.

The other items to look at is in your cfg file set the tick update to 100, and also the rates I will have to look this command up when I get home and edit this post. Damn work for blocking all my good sites.

 

[Tiki]

Very true, my processor/cpu is what's holding up my FPS, maybe my RAM, but it's not FPS problems that I'm having. Can we stay on topic please? I'll update as soon as I can, things got busy.

 

[DarkXeno]

Ok Tiki head to this site and setup your rates and updates in cs
Fish Tank Clan: Content / CSS / Fix CSS Lag: Choke Loss and Ping

Im hoping this will help fix the lag/choke.

 

[fabote]

I have the same problem with (Q) glich, my guns bugged i posted a threat but nothing help me xD

 

[DarkXeno]

Hey Fabote, sorry I have been looking threw guess I missed updating that one for you try the link I posted above.

 

[Tiki]

It's not my rates, I'm an old CS vet I know my rates

 

[DarkXeno]

After going threw all of this the only thing I can think would be video drivers due to the fact we have rules out all the other things I can think of

 

[Tiki]

It certainly wouldn't surprise me if it is drivers, I just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything I was missing that someone else could chime in with. Thanks so far guys .

 

[waymon]

I have this problem and its really annoying me since I use my PC for mainly CSS.

If Tiki or anyone has ANY suggestion for me to fix this that would be amazing. Id rather not install XP ever again.

 

[DarkXeno]

bump!

Any help would be appreciated! +rep!

Hi Waymon, Im going to need more information. About your system please fill out your system specs. and give me a full description of what your problem is.