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Optimizing for Counter Strike

OrangeCuse44

OrangeCuse44

macrumors 65832
Original poster
Oct 25, 2006
1,504
2
I set up Windows XP Professional using Boot Camp yesterday. Everything works great (thanks to Mac driver installs) and CS runs okay. My frame rate is kind of slow though. I know Macbooks are not designed for gaming because of the integrated video card, but I am running a 4gig RAM machine. Does anyone have any setting tips I could use to better my framerate during game play?
 
I am using a macbook and it runs pretty fast
and frame rates are about 55 FPS
for counter-strike
 
italiano40 said:
I am using a macbook and it runs pretty fast
and frame rates are about 55 FPS
for counter-strike
Click to expand...

I'm hitting 9-10 FPS consistently which is unplayable in a FP shooter. I lowered graphics and everything. What did you do to help performance?

flopticalcube said:
-dxlevel 81 on the command line.
Click to expand...

Add to the command line in the CS shortcut or to launch options in Steam?
 
You said Counterstrike. Is this Counterstrike 1.6 or is it Counterstrike Source?

Counterstrike 1.6 should run without any problems on your Macbook. What OS are you you using? My dad has an IBM with a x3100 (same integrated graphics in the current Macbook) and has problems with the old Half-Life engine games (like CS 1.6).

Counterstrike Source. Well, you have integrated graphics.

And while -dxlevel 81 will help. You can even put in -dxlevel 70, which should help even more. But to put it simply, integrated graphics can't run games. It doesn't matter how much RAM you install on your laptop. You can't compensate for the x3100.

Turning down all the settings and running in DX7 (the command I gave you, which goes in the Launch options) will help. There should also be some custom config files you can find online that are optimized for performance. I don't use them, so I can't tell you where to look or where to find them, asides from doing a google search. But don't expect any miracles.
 
I just can' get above 9-11 FPS, I don't understand why. I installed a custom config file to drop graphics amongst other things. In the launch options, Steam doesn't allow me to dedicate more than half memory to CS.
 
OrangeCuse44 said:
I just can' get above 9-11 FPS, I don't understand why. I installed a custom config file to drop graphics amongst other things. In the launch options, Steam doesn't allow me to dedicate more than half memory to CS.
Click to expand...

You never specified with Counter Strike it is. If it's Source, then that's all you're going to get.

If it's Counter Strike 1.6, you could try changing from DirectX to OpenGL or software mode.

But once again, if you're Playing Counterstrike Source, then a Macbook isn't going to cut it. The x3100 is NOT meant for gaming (yes, you can play things like the Sims and really old games from the 90s and very early 2000s). If you wanted to game, you should have bought a Macbook Pro.
 
It's Source. I understand the video card isn't made for gaming and I did not purchase a computer with gaming in mind. This is more of a bonus thing for me than anything. If I could just get to 20 FPS consistently, that would be playable. People have said they reached more than 30 FPS with a Macbook so I know it can be done.
 
The Flashing Fi said:
You never specified with Counter Strike it is. If it's Source, then that's all you're going to get.

If it's Counter Strike 1.6, you could try changing from DirectX to OpenGL or software mode.

But once again, if you're Playing Counterstrike Source, then a Macbook isn't going to cut it. The x3100 is NOT meant for gaming (yes, you can play things like the Sims and really old games from the 90s and very early 2000s). If you wanted to game, you should have bought a Macbook Pro.
Click to expand...

Actually people have good luck plying TF2 which is newer than CS Source. However people with MacBook seems to experience better frame rate with TF2 under CrossOver than in Windows.
 
OrangeCuse44 said:
It's Source. I understand the video card isn't made for gaming and I did not purchase a computer with gaming in mind. This is more of a bonus thing for me than anything. If I could just get to 20 FPS consistently, that would be playable. People have said they reached more than 30 FPS with a Macbook so I know it can be done.
Click to expand...

Did you lower the settings down to DirectX 7? I told you the command in my first post.

I'm assuming you're using casey's cfg?

Actually people have good luck plying TF2 which is newer than CS Source. However people with MacBook seems to experience better frame rate with TF2 under CrossOver than in Windows.
Click to expand...

And they're probably getting a max of 20 FPS with everything turned down and running a custom cfg. TF2 may RUN on a Macbook, but it won't be fun.
 
OrangeCuse44 said:
Yes, Casey's config. Directx7 made no difference.
Click to expand...

Something's wrong.

I play on Directx 8.1, all setting on low, 1280x800, and get a playable 30 FPS. It drops lower in crazy firefights, but it's still not terrible.

I remember upgrading to a beta gaphics driver when I was running windows. That took me from unplayable to playable very quickly. Of course, that was November, so I would think they had a better driver out by now. Try that?

Good luck.
 
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