If possible, reduce the sound quality. The SigmaTel sound card isn't worth the PCB it is printed on and requires a lot of CPU cycles for sound processing. Just for kicks: disable sound all together and see if the problem persists. If so, well, we can move on to other things.
The 9100 should have USB 2.0 ports on the back. An external sound card should help if you are having sound-related slow downs, as it has a lot more "hardware" accelerated features.
I have wondered about several issues around the sound cards in Dell laptops. Would using a Soundblaster Audigy2 ZS Notebook http://www.soundblaster.com/products/Audigy2ZS_notebook/ or Soundblaster Audigy2 NX http://www.soundblaster.com/products/audigy2NX/ offload all the sound CPU overhead?
I've always assumed there would be some issues using the Audigy2 NX on a laptop that only supports USB1.1 .
Thanks for the replies thus far; unfortunately, the problem is still persisting to ruin my gaming experience. I have disabled my sound driver via Device Manager, and the problem is still there.
So, maybe it is not a sound related issue...I feel like it is some kind of data-accessing issue. I feel like maybe my computer is accessing my harddrive in a bad way. Does NTFS affect gaming performance perhaps? Or maybe my power supply settings (which are set at HomePC/Desktop or whatever) are inconsistently being utilized.
Yeah, I have the same problem with CS:Source. I've finally gotten my graphics to work, but it's totally the sound card that makes it stutter. I've also disabled and am currently waiting for more options.
You said you disabled the sound in the device manager... and that
should prevent the game from trying to play sounds... but who knows. try disabling sounds in the game just in case.
everything <550 free memory will stutter
if you have 768 MB and you run hl2 in offline modus without other programs(antivirus firewall etc )windows (SP2) use 140 MB you have over 550 free an the game run smooth
without stutter
I disagree with the assumption that any computer with <550 MB will stutter with HL2. The "Preferred System Configuration" is :
2.4 GHz Processor
512MB RAM
DirectX 9 capable graphics card
Windows 2000/XP/ME/98
Mouse
Keyboard
Internet Connection
my specs: 2.4 Ghz w/ 512MB, ATi9700 (128MB)
It is illogical to think that they marketed their product completely aware of the fact that "stuttering" will occur to the majority of their market-- considering the majority's specs would be slightly less than the "Preferred Configuration." So, there is a way to get by these stutters... its out there, somewhere.
its a widespread problem, i suffer the same too. Ive looked over the planet halflife and steam forums and its the same on there, its a game issue by the looks of it and hopefully a patch will be out soon!
I've been having the same stuttering issues. The game didn't work at all until I deleted the worthless Dell video driver and install the latest Omega driver for the Radeon 9000. Whether I use default settings (ranging from high to low), or complete low resolution and minimum shadows, sound, etc, it still stutters. And it usually goes along with sounds in the game. Gunshots, explosions, people talking. I've also lowered the sound with no appreciable difference. If anyone has a good idea, let us know.
cademetz
2 Intern
•
1.3K Posts
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November 17th, 2004 19:00
cademetz
2 Intern
•
1.3K Posts
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November 17th, 2004 19:00
Newsy
6 Posts
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November 17th, 2004 19:00
I've always assumed there would be some issues using the Audigy2 NX on a laptop that only supports USB1.1 .
docleephd
8 Posts
0
November 18th, 2004 13:00
cd_goldberg
6 Posts
0
November 18th, 2004 16:00
cademetz
2 Intern
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1.3K Posts
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November 18th, 2004 17:00
linuxer
244 Posts
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November 18th, 2004 18:00
"name" "memory [256-512)"
"min megabytes" "270"
"max megabytes" "550"
"ConVar.mat_picmip" "1"
"ConVar.r_rootlod" "1"
everything <550 free memory will stutter
if you have 768 MB and you run hl2 in offline modus without other programs(antivirus firewall etc )windows (SP2) use 140 MB you have over 550 free an the game run smooth
without stutter
docleephd
8 Posts
0
November 19th, 2004 20:00
my specs: 2.4 Ghz w/ 512MB, ATi9700 (128MB)
It is illogical to think that they marketed their product completely aware of the fact that "stuttering" will occur to the majority of their market-- considering the majority's specs would be slightly less than the "Preferred Configuration." So, there is a way to get by these stutters... its out there, somewhere.
fozzy2005
4 Posts
0
November 20th, 2004 20:00
its a widespread problem, i suffer the same too. Ive looked over the planet halflife and steam forums and its the same on there, its a game issue by the looks of it and hopefully a patch will be out soon!
Eric_Bolden
10 Posts
0
November 30th, 2004 20:00
I've been having the same stuttering issues. The game didn't work at all until I deleted the worthless Dell video driver and install the latest Omega driver for the Radeon 9000. Whether I use default settings (ranging from high to low), or complete low resolution and minimum shadows, sound, etc, it still stutters. And it usually goes along with sounds in the game. Gunshots, explosions, people talking. I've also lowered the sound with no appreciable difference. If anyone has a good idea, let us know.
Inspiron 8200 P4 2ghz
512mb RAM
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000 64mb gfx card
Crystal WDM audio