for Fara or anyone who wants HL2 tweaks

[Synthohol]

Most of you have probably run across this guide in your online travels however for those whom are using the game at face value may be missing some performance tweaks.
I just recently came across THIS (http://www.tweakguides.com/HL2_1.html) guide and found it quite informative.

Fara, I know you just got the game so you may not have had the time to find this so give a read and lemme know if it helps ;)

[thefoobagger]

i was scimming it and did not seem to see a way to make a nvidia card run better. cuz dont the nvidia card only use directx8 instead of 9 for some reason or was that just the fx series.

[Farabomb]

I'll take a peek at it when I get time. Right now with the new job, still having the old job, and having the shop I have 0 time to play games right now.

[Nut]

i was scimming it and did not seem to see a way to make a nvidia card run better. cuz dont the nvidia card only use directx8 instead of 9 for some reason or was that just the fx series.
Not true. My 6800GT runs it in DX9. The FX Series cards default to 8.1 but can be forced to run in 9. I don't remember the hack off hand but if you google it I'm sure you'll find it.
I experianced some fps drops and some sound stuttering. I fixed it by turning my sound from HIGH setting to MED. No more sound stuttering for me or bad drops in FPS for no apparent reason.

[Nut]

How to force DX9 HERE (http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=233)

Seems like a little trouble but people have had success.

[thefoobagger]

thank you for the link man. also is that a problem with the 6series cards or just the fx line

[cubedgame]

I think it's a problem for all of them. The nVidia cards default to 8.1 because the frames per second aren't as good in Direct X 9. With 8.1 you do lose some quality in the water and textures but not much. Ati Cards may be a bit better at DX9 games but nVidia do a bit better in Open GL. That's why Doom3 runs a bit better on nvidia's and why HL2 runs better on Ati's.

[Nut]

Mine defaulted to DX9 as do all the 6XXX series. My card is a BFG 6800GT OC. Water looks absolutely gorgeous, like nothing I've seen before in a video game. Valve purposely coded the game to run on ATI better (they were a launch sponser) but if you know how to force different code paths, nVidia owners can enjoy the same performance as ATI owners and yes with all the eye candy turned up. Read the link I put up or do a google search. I run the game in 1600x1200 with ALL the eye candy ON. Runs smoothe as silk. Run my GT @ Ultra Specs and CPU @ 3.4GHz

[thefoobagger]

sweeter man because i just ordered my 6600gt and i just wanted a few questions about hl2 run on a nvidia card answered. thanks that really helped alot. and thanks for the links to.