Halo 1 & 2 for PC
This topic has moved here: Subject: Halo settings/Graphics question
  • Subject: Halo settings/Graphics question
Subject: Halo settings/Graphics question
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Recently, I've been having framerate issues with Halo Pc.

I am currently running the game in

640x480 resolution
60 hz
No Vsync
Decals: On
Specular: On
Shadows: On
Texture quality: High
and forgot the other one, thats on high as well.

With these settings, I get around 30-40 framerates per second. If there are tank shots going on, and one hits right in front of me, my framerates suddenly drop to 10 and stay for about 2 seconds. I was wondering If there was something I could do about this. If i try running anything higher than 640x480, my framerates will drop. When i shoot the a.r, the bullets go slowly and it fires really slow.

I'm running halo on a laptop with an Amd Turion64 x2 processor.. Dual core running at 1.60ghz each. So any help would be appreciated.

For my second question, my graphics card is built in so it takes part of the ram that the pc uses. If i boot the pc, I have an option to have it at 32mb, 64mb, or 128mb. Tell me which one I should choose. I chose 32mb and the graphics seemed the same as a 128mb.. Golden visor, decals everything. This is strange because Halo can't even run with a 32mb card. I was wondering which I should pick so that the gameplay would be better, if at all. The higher i put it, the more ram I lose. I currently have 1gig of ram. I was wondering if anyone had any ideas to help me out. All help would be appreciated.

  • 04.07.2007 8:34 PM PDT
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In your case I'd try turning particles to low, it should help some with explosions. However, turning off specular will also boost your framerate considerably. Specular drops your framerate 10-20 frames for a little shinyness that you can barely notice; It's not really worth it.

  • 04.07.2007 8:53 PM PDT
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Alright, so specular off and particles to low. Thank-You..

Anyone else have anything to say?

  • 04.07.2007 8:54 PM PDT

Remember "The Maw"

Texture Quality: low. Although it's not much, it does help a little.

  • 04.07.2007 10:39 PM PDT

you may know me as X[IGN]

Posted by: Iggwilv

*hands Kim a crowbar*
Here you will need this to help you get your foot out of the back of your throat, looks llike its in there pretty deep. And what is that on your face? Egg?! *hands Kim a washcloth*

PIck 128 megs of ram for the integrated video processor to run with, why you would pick 32 is beyond me. Then turn the textures down to med or low, turn specularity to low and shadows to off.

  • 04.07.2007 11:15 PM PDT

Posted by: Nessy

The bungie.net community is the halo PC community that is renowned for being unbelieveably sucky.

I think he is talking about his agp aperture size. The less video ram you have, the higher the aperture value you should choose. Assuming his integrated is 64mb or less, I would go with the highest aperture size you can select in your bios.

On second thought, if he is using integrated then he isn't using agp, duh.

[Edited on 04.07.2007 11:30 PM PDT]

  • 04.07.2007 11:29 PM PDT

you may know me as X[IGN]

Posted by: Iggwilv

*hands Kim a crowbar*
Here you will need this to help you get your foot out of the back of your throat, looks llike its in there pretty deep. And what is that on your face? Egg?! *hands Kim a washcloth*

Could be running on an AGP bus.

  • 04.07.2007 11:32 PM PDT
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I have no clue at what that is lol.. yeah, it is integrated and i can take 128mb max integrated video ram from the bios. So i'll stick with 128megs then.

  • 04.08.2007 12:23 AM PDT
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decals in particals are teh mosts ram intensive parts of the game so turning them down wil help prsever ram. as for resalotion that is more about your graphicas card what i would sugjest is try turing down your modle detail and your prticals

(BTW FPS past 30 dont make a difernce the game maxes out at 30)

try adjusting your fps so it has no cap this might resalt in over all betere playing

  • 04.08.2007 1:33 AM PDT
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So should I leave it at 30fps or No vsync?

  • 04.08.2007 10:18 AM PDT
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be careful: turning off spectacular will make things look less.... spectacular.

sorry, i had to.

  • 04.08.2007 11:09 AM PDT

you may know me as X[IGN]

Posted by: Iggwilv

*hands Kim a crowbar*
Here you will need this to help you get your foot out of the back of your throat, looks llike its in there pretty deep. And what is that on your face? Egg?! *hands Kim a washcloth*

Posted by: ImSpartacus
no, u can get above 30 fps if u set it to. it doesnt matter anyway, the human eye can only differentiate between fps's under about 20-25.

turn off shadows and spectacular and u will be fine, 128 mb of ram is enough to keep decals on. the biggest things that u would probably miss are high textures and decals, i would leave textures at med or high and decals on.

particles should also go to low.


The human eye can see more than 20 fps... Not that it sees in FPS anyways.

  • 04.08.2007 12:42 PM PDT
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Posted by: okay player
be careful: turning off spectacular will make things look less.... spectacular.

sorry, i had to.


Actually, I don't get it why so many people say Specular only makes things a "little" more shiny. For me I couldn't ever stand for it to be off. Halo specular looked very nice in my opinion. It gave it that extra "pizaaz" that it really needed.

On such a system however, I'd say spec-on is a big no-no. And am I correct in remembering that Particles on low caused many game elements to be absurdly lacking or missing altogether? Didn't it make P-Pistol go bonkers? Gotta do what you gotta iguess...

  • 04.08.2007 2:28 PM PDT
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yeah particles on high makes my frames go from 40 to 15 with a charged PP shot

here are my specs/what i run at

evga nvidia geforce 6200 overclocked from 350 to 400 mhz core clock
amd sempron 3200+ 1.8 ghz
512 mb ram

and i run halo at

1280X1024
no vysnc (get lots of tearing though :( )
spec, on
shadows off
decals off
particles off
texture quality: high

with about 40 FPS on BG 30 on chillout

  • 04.08.2007 2:41 PM PDT