ET map loading extreme slow

(Wezzze) #1

First off all, I searched the forum (splasdamage and punksbusted) and internet for any help and some stuff but nothing seems to help :frowning:

Well, point is maps load extremely slow… 2-3 minutes for a map is not exceptional… the annoying thing is that I usually get kicked for no packet flow or pb init failure (i link that to the slow loading…)

my specs:
asus motherboard
winXP PRO
P4 2,4 GHz
256 RAM
gForce 4
creative labs soundblaster live 5.1

what i tried:
latest drivers (gfx, sound, bios)
com_hunkmegs combined with r_picmip
net_ip combined with net_port
freeing ram with cyberlat
fastest config in ET
re-install
pb-updates
using end-it-all
max processes at the time I play is 26 (windows taskmanager)
no fire-wall and no antivirus atm
router, but shouldnt be any problem since all other things go perfect and i can actually play after loading

some extra comments: the game itself runs perfect (only laggy at the start)! I know you’ll be pointing at my RAM… But i find it strange that any other game (up to the most recent) goes perfect, even RTCW itself… This is the only game with issues…

I consider you guys my last hope since no-one else could help me…

Greetz

(SCDS_reyalP) #2

256 RAM

ET is a pig, and so is XP.

2-3 minutes sounds a bit slow, so perhaps there is still some room for improvement. I wouldn’t expect too much though.

  • free up more memory. 26 processes sounds like lot for an idle system. Look for ones using a lot of memory, and see if you can disable them.
  • optimize your HD. Make sure it is running in the fastest avialable mode, and is not horribly fragmented.
  • make sure your windows swap file settings are optimal. Have a fixed sized, non-fragmented swap file at least 2x your physical RAM. If you have more than one disk, split your swap across both, or put your swap on the on the one ET is not on.
  • make sure ET is set to use minimum memory. This means high picmip and low hunkmegs and other *megs.
  • Searching google for generic windows optimization techniques may also give some good results.

Or shell out for another 256MB of RAM and get sub 30 second load times.

(senator) #3

I would start with defragmenting your HD

(Ifurita) #4

What are your com_hunkmegs set to?

(Vaibhav) #5

i suggest using diskpeer for diefragmenting on windows xp.

(p0ny*) #6

26 processes could be too much, as pointed out by reyalP, I get along with half of this, but it depends on the overall use of your computer, obviously.
find an excellent guide on winxp services and their recommended state (manual, disabled, automatic) for different environments here:

(next_ghost) #7

I’d suggest a bit more RAM for XP. I’m pretty content with 256MB but running on Winblows 98SE.

(Lekdevil.NL) #8

256 MB simply isn’t enough to ensure fast loading times when running ET under XP. Shell out the 50 euro/40 quid and get 256 MB extra, I’d suggest. BTW, with your current configuration, your hunkmegs shouldn’t be much higher than 96 or so.

(Wezzze) #9

OK, first off all thanks everyone for the fast replies…

i’ve checked out the services link you gave me Pony and that seems to have done the tirck! I disabled a lot of uneeded services and since then I load smoothly and get to play warmup :smiley: and dont get kicked anymore :banana:

thnx again everybody! :clap:

(SCDS_reyalP) #10

Based on experience, I would say it should be the default (56 AFAIK) or slightly higher.

Downgrading to win2k, win9x or switching to linux could also give you more available memory. Thats a lot of work just to make your game load faster though.