Counter Strike Source Loading Times

AP0ll0UK · 18 Jan 2006 at 02:01

Hi.

I have recently purchased a Western Digital Raptor 36GB and rebuilt my system. Unfortunately I've misplaced my Half Life 2 DVD so I let Steam download Counter Strike Source and install that.

However, I have noticed both with this install and the last install I did on my old HD from Steam that after CSS loads, then connects to a server, the time it takes to connect and the time it takes to change maps seems to be a lot higher than when CSS is installed off of the official DVD.

Has anyone else noticed this?

I have also noticed that installing from Steam, everything goes under C:\Program Files\Steam but when done from the disc everything goes under C:\Program Files\Valve.

I tried to install the Nextwish buy script and it couldn't find a file called Platform.gcf so I created an empty file and gave it the right name and it installed fine. That also struck me as odd as I never had that problem when I installed CSS from the disc.

I've done the Steam file verification thing which reports no errors.

My system details are in my signiture and my PC is hard wired into a Netgear WGT624 and then to a Telewest Motorola Surfboard on the end of a 4MB cable line.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks.

delta555 · 18 Jan 2006 at 02:13

i get a little bit annoyed by the loading times, but i find they change for the different servers, but hey, it doesnt matter when you are in the game soed it?

Psypher5 · 18 Jan 2006 at 02:26

*Parsing game info*

God I hate that one. Always takes about 5 mins on its own

dbmzk1 · 18 Jan 2006 at 03:08

CSS is only of the fastest loading modern games I know...

Spunj99 · 18 Jan 2006 at 10:03

Does seem to take longer connecting/loading since the last few updates.

Used to be well quick. :confused:

Logsi · 18 Jan 2006 at 10:50

Did you post on steam forum aswell, i saw a post like this on there.

I updated my hard drive and i dont notice anything wrong. Maybe you were expecting too much of the raptor.

AP0ll0UK · 19 Jan 2006 at 12:02

I've read threads on various forums and people who use Raptor's generally say they are always first on a server. Since download CSS from Steam, the loading times have definately increased. I've no idea why, maybe it's something to do with the installation path which is unlikely but the installs are obviously different due to the lack of the Platform.gcf file I mentioned.

I'm going to borrow the Half Life 2 disc off of a m8 and I'll install it with my product key and see what the difference is. Definately a strange one though.

Devious · 19 Jan 2006 at 12:29

Not quite the same thing, but with my new opteron rig when I quit CSS or any source mod it takes about 2 minutes to get back to my desktop ?? :confused:

Anybody else have that ?

james.miller · 30 Mar 2006 at 16:40

AP0ll0UK said:
I've read threads on various forums and people who use Raptor's generally say they are always first on a server. Since download CSS from Steam, the loading times have definately increased. I've no idea why, maybe it's something to do with the installation path which is unlikely but the installs are obviously different due to the lack of the Platform.gcf file I mentioned.

I'm going to borrow the Half Life 2 disc off of a m8 and I'll install it with my product key and see what the difference is. Definately a strange one though.

your not the only one actually. I'f noticed a perculiar problem with mine as well. it will tell me its downloading the custom maps from a server that i already have. That can increase loading times no end. That's with a dvd install aswell, mine werent downloaded.

Devious said:
Not quite the same thing, but with my new opteron rig when I quit CSS or any source mod it takes about 2 minutes to get back to my desktop ??

Anybody else have that ?

Yup get that too. Get's worse the long i've been playing css. Seem's like css is using a crap load of memory. If i alt tab and bring the task manager up quick enough, memopry usage is well over 500mb before it quickly halfs. Must a memory leakage in the code or something.

smids · 30 Mar 2006 at 21:40

Hmmm, I get this too. Even with my RAID I've noticed it's becoming increasingly slower. I know for a fact it's not my HDU because COD2 loads just fine - first on map however, despite being one of the first on CSS or DOD:S, it's never the same and hasn't been for a while now. I even tried using a specified heapsize of a whole 1GB of my 2GB but still it's slow. Apparently though there are some switches you can use to reduce this, I just don't happen to know them

. It also varies drastically server to server. Retrieving server info of whatever and parsing game info - the worst things ever hving to sit through those.

Stellios · 30 Mar 2006 at 21:55

takes about double what it used to for me, i get annoyed with it ocassionally but then i remember how long BF2 takes

smids · 30 Mar 2006 at 21:58

Stellios said:
takes about double what it used to for me, i get annoyed with it ocassionally but then i remember how long BF2 takes

Where do you lot play? I want to get back playing CSS after my year long stint in DOD, DOD:S and CoD2 (sorry for going off topic). I am in (or should I say was) a clan called [AG]. Then the summer came and it kinda all went to pot and I just gave up and played DOD. Might give them a contact after my exams to get playng again and I need some praccy.