Updates to Counter Strike Source effect on performance

Hi guys,

I just loaded Counter Strike Source on my Asus C90s after been out from pc/laptop gaming for a year or two and the performance is terrible.

Have there been any updates to CSS in the last year or so that have had a negative impact on performance? If so is there a script or something similar to counter these changes.

I remember playing it on a similar spec machine (see zepto review in sig) with all settings set to high, no AA, trilinear filtering, @ 1680x1050 and used to get around 90-100 fps. Now I average around 30-45 fps.

To average 50-60 fps I now have to turn down my resolution to 1280x768 which just looks like crap on a 1680x1050 native display.

My spec's are:

8600M GT 512 MB
Dual Core @ 2.4 Ghz
3GB Ram
1680x1050 Display

Thanks in advance.

 

I know they changed the smoke effects, not sure of others though.

 

Just read some more about it on the steam forums.
Apparently during the time they were porting steam to mac they also updated the engine to the orange box engine. This resulted in a major performance hit due to the new engine, motion blur, hdr and all that stuff.

Shame really, guess its back to good old 1.6

 

Well you shouldn't look at graphics enhancement as a bad thing. People would give an arm and a leg for any of a large selection of classic game titles to be revamped graphically (e.g. Black Mesa Source).

Most people welcomed the engine update for CS:S, it's not a huge graphics improvement but it's there. Also it still runs well for most graphics cards AFAIK. Even if it's performing less smoothly on your machine, I don't see why you can't just tune down your settings to get better fps.

 

Yup, I am averaging around 150-200FPS and alot of places @299.

 

True true. I'm not complaining, just wanted to check if my machine wasn't going fubar. I am disappointed in my judgement though, don't know why I ever picked the 8600M over 7900gs. Can't wait to start earning and replace my current laptop.

By the way, turning the settings down doesn't have much of an impact, its the resolution that effects fps the most.

 

looks like your specs are very similar to mine. I havent played css in a long time but was actually considering reinstalling it this week. hmm.

Do the graphics look any better to you?

Btw do you game on windows or linux?

 

I game on windows 7 x64.

To me the overall look of CSS seems the same but the effect of flash, smoke etc has been made more pronounced. It seems as if there is a bit too much HDR being used, creating a feeling similar to when you look at the sun and it hurts. That's the best way I can describe it.

You might as well install it and see how it runs for you, you should be fine as long as you lower the resolution. Also when you do, add me "originalfragsta", should be good fun.

Motion blur and multi core are two new options as well. On my dual core machine the multi core is set to the recommended option of disabled for some reason, although there seems to be no effect regardless of what it is set to. The motion blur options is also disabled and I think enabling it takes the preciseness away from CSS.

 

I have an 8600m gt and it runs css fine. If you want over 60 fps turn hdr off. Btw I played it at 1440x900 with 40-50 fps with everything on including 4xaa.

 

What drivers you using brah?

 

I am using driver 258.96 from nvidia. I booted up css just to make sure I wasn't forgetting how it ran and I was constantly getting over 60 fps with the below settings.

 

Swedish man, running at 55-65 fps with those settings. If your up for a couple games, add me. Name is "originalfragsta"

 

what different between source and source beta?

 

I remember turning HDR on and it lagged the game even though it ran @60FPS

 

Most of the lag and lower performance comes from the new server tic rates being capped at 66, instead of 100. This effects the engine in so many bad ways.

They need to change the tic rate back to 100 and the games recoil will go back to old CSS and the game will run smoother.

 

Speaking of Updates there is another one going on right now

 

Wow I just had the strongest trip. Your Avatar is the same as mine used to be, and for some reason I thought someone was posting under my account. Doesn't help that I have similar specs as well.