Why do some games hiccup/freeze-up?

When playing CS:S, there are certain times when the game will just freeze-up for about a few seconds and then continue as normal. However, when I was playing the Left 4 Dead demo, I had everything on max except for the resolution which was at 1280x800 if I remember correctly. During the demo, when the huge burst of zombies come running into the room the game would just freeze-up like in CS:S but this time it wouldn't unfreeze. I would have to force quit the game. When I reduced the graphic settings, the problem went away with no hiccups or freeze-ups. What does this mean? Am I maxing out my GPU or do I need more RAM?

 

update your GPU driver.

 

Okay, I did update the driver to the latest version from HP and the same thing still happens. Are you use it isn't a RAM issue? I have a feeling I need more RAM.

 

BTW, the same thing happens while playing the F.E.A.R. 2 demo at max settings at 1280x800 without FSAA and with trilinear filtering. The game constantly pauses at times and the cure is to lower the graphics settings.

 

I found that stuttering almost completely dissapeared when I updated my Asus G1SN GPU drivers to Dox optimised 185.20 and even less after I overclocked my GPU slightly.

 

One more thing. When I am playing CS:S offline with 2 bots, there is absolutely no freeze-ups or stuttering. But when I'm playing online in a large Zombie mod map, there is stuttering.

 

maybe it is an internet issue?

 

No, because when I play one-on-one on CS:S online there is no stuttering. Only when I play on large maps with many people. It really does sound like a RAM issue.

 

it cant be a RAM issue because ive played large 32vs32 maps on Battlefield 2 , around a couple months back on 2GB RAM at 333mhz...


no stuttering at all.

 

Hi.
It is a RAM issue,
It was happening to me too,
When I was playing with the bots in CS it didn't freeze but when I join any server having 32 players it got frozen,
So I changed my RAM and then the problem was solved.