Orange Box Choppiness

Etzell · 10-15-2007, 02:53 PM

What's up, kids? I'm having some Orange Box issues, and I was wondering if any of yous guys might know what's up.
Anyway, the issue is as follows: I start playing Portal or TF2, can play for about 5 minutes, then I get 10-15 seconds of sound/video stuttering. When that clears up, I get about 2 more minutes before it happens again, and eventually it gets so bad that I get 10-15 seconds of stuttering followed by 10-15 seconds of gameplay.
I've updated my graphics/sound drivers.
I've tried reinstalling The Orange Box.
I've tried running Portal with -nosound in my launch options.
Steam says I should be fine to run the games.
I've lowered settings, all of that fun stuff.

Any idears?

System Specs:
AMD Athlon 64 (4200+)
2 GB Ram
GeForce 7800 GT
Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Audio [8000]
XP, Service Pack 2.

Interesting fact: With HL2 and HL2 Ep1, I don't have this problem, along with FF and various other source mods.

Thanks for your help.

~kev~ · 10-15-2007, 03:05 PM

1. Have you ran a full system scan for viruses
2. Is your anti virus up to date?
3. Have you scanned for spyware or adware?
4. How many processes are running on your system? CTRL-ALT-DEL, task manger, bottom left hand corner - processes: then a number.

Sounds like something is going on in the background. Episode 2 is a system intense game and might require more resources then HL2 and EP1. So if you have something going on in the background, you might notice it more in EP2.

Etzell · 10-15-2007, 03:15 PM

I've got an up-to-date version of Kaspersky, with no viruses detected. Did a spyware scan the other day, and I've played Portal and such with nothing running in the background.
None of those made a dent.

TheWetMule · 10-15-2007, 03:32 PM

Arr, I had this problem back in TFC a while back.. Didn't happen in ANY other hl games, nor any other game, it actually cured itself once, I'm not sure exactly what it was but my brother suggested several time it was sound driver problems.(He seems to usually know what he's on about so I trust him :P)

SoBe Green · 10-15-2007, 04:12 PM

Some Source games have been having problems with Kaspersky running in the background. Try disabling it/uninstalling it to see if the problem is still there. I'd go for the uninstall since most of the time "disabling" the antivirus leaves the antivirus service running in the background and it may be the problem in itself.

Etzell · 10-15-2007, 08:52 PM

Didn't help, Sobe.

Riff Zifnab · 10-15-2007, 09:03 PM

Did you try signing out of Steam Friends? On my old computer I would notice ocational chop when signed into that and TF2 (yes I dare spake its name d: ).

TurboWolf · 10-15-2007, 09:19 PM

mat_specular 0
mat_bumpmap 0
mat_fastnobump 1
I guess that should help a bit :0

SoBe Green · 10-15-2007, 11:35 PM

The next thing I'd try is physically taking the sound card out. If it still does it then at least you know it isn't a sound card hardware issue.

10-15-2007, 02:53 PM	#1
Etzell D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Orange Box Choppiness What's up, kids? I'm having some Orange Box issues, and I was wondering if any of yous guys might know what's up. Anyway, the issue is as follows: I start playing Portal or TF2, can play for about 5 minutes, then I get 10-15 seconds of sound/video stuttering. When that clears up, I get about 2 more minutes before it happens again, and eventually it gets so bad that I get 10-15 seconds of stuttering followed by 10-15 seconds of gameplay. I've updated my graphics/sound drivers. I've tried reinstalling The Orange Box. I've tried running Portal with -nosound in my launch options. Steam says I should be fine to run the games. I've lowered settings, all of that fun stuff. Any idears? System Specs: AMD Athlon 64 (4200+) 2 GB Ram GeForce 7800 GT Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS Audio [8000] XP, Service Pack 2. Interesting fact: With HL2 and HL2 Ep1, I don't have this problem, along with FF and various other source mods. Thanks for your help.

10-15-2007, 03:05 PM	#2
~kev~ pmagnvs Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: East Texas Class/Position: Engineer - D Gametype: Free for all CTF - no stupid clan rules Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	1. Have you ran a full system scan for viruses 2. Is your anti virus up to date? 3. Have you scanned for spyware or adware? 4. How many processes are running on your system? CTRL-ALT-DEL, task manger, bottom left hand corner - processes: then a number. Sounds like something is going on in the background. Episode 2 is a system intense game and might require more resources then HL2 and EP1. So if you have something going on in the background, you might notice it more in EP2.

10-15-2007, 03:15 PM	#3
Etzell D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I've got an up-to-date version of Kaspersky, with no viruses detected. Did a spyware scan the other day, and I've played Portal and such with nothing running in the background. None of those made a dent.

10-15-2007, 03:32 PM	#4
TheWetMule Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: England, Midlands Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Arr, I had this problem back in TFC a while back.. Didn't happen in ANY other hl games, nor any other game, it actually cured itself once, I'm not sure exactly what it was but my brother suggested several time it was sound driver problems.(He seems to usually know what he's on about so I trust him :P)

10-15-2007, 04:12 PM	#5
SoBe Green SoBe Yourself Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Russellville, AR Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Some Source games have been having problems with Kaspersky running in the background. Try disabling it/uninstalling it to see if the problem is still there. I'd go for the uninstall since most of the time "disabling" the antivirus leaves the antivirus service running in the background and it may be the problem in itself.

10-15-2007, 08:52 PM	#6
Etzell D&A Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Didn't help, Sobe.

10-15-2007, 09:03 PM	#7
Riff Zifnab -TPF- Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Did you try signing out of Steam Friends? On my old computer I would notice ocational chop when signed into that and TF2 (yes I dare spake its name d: ).

10-15-2007, 09:19 PM	#8
TurboWolf Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spain Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	mat_specular 0 mat_bumpmap 0 mat_fastnobump 1 I guess that should help a bit :0

10-15-2007, 11:35 PM	#9
SoBe Green SoBe Yourself Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Russellville, AR Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	The next thing I'd try is physically taking the sound card out. If it still does it then at least you know it isn't a sound card hardware issue.

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