Lag and Sound Loop Crashes

Mytheral · December 1st, 2008, 06:06 PM

I'll update this thread when more fixes become avaliable

*Note: Lets Keep this thread Clean, and post errors in a new thread.

First off the most common fix is to make sure all of your drivers are up to date. This includes:
Your GFX driver (for Nvidia stick to a 178.XXX driver the 180.XXX drivers have a glitch in them).
Your Soundcard Driver.
Your Motherboard Drivers.
DirectX 9c or 10 installed

Nvidia 178.24 drivers
WinXP - GeForce Release 178
WinXP 64-Bit: GeForce Release 178
WinVista: GeForce Release 178
WinVista 64-Bit: GeForce Release 178

Next if that doesn't fix your problems try which ever seems to fit your problem.

Enable the Console:

Goto Options > KeyBoard > Advanced > Enable Developer Console

Verify Local Content:

In The Steam "My Games" (tab) > r. click on Left 4 Dead > properties > local files (tab) > Click "Verify integrity of game cache..."

Delete Local Content:

In The Steam "My Games" (tab) > r. click on Left 4 Dead > Click "Delete local content..."

Multi-Core Only: Crash Fixes.

Originally Posted by Target Practice

open the console and enter "mat_queue_mode 0" (minus the quotes)

There also is a more extreme version of this Fix.

Originally Posted by Frostedmouse

1) Start the game
2) Alt-Tab to the desktop. <Or press the windows key>
3) Bring up the task manager < Ctrl-Alt-Del>
4) Click the Processes Tab
5) Click Image Name at the top of the list of Processes to Order by name.
6) Find left4dead.exe and right click on it
7) Select 'Set Affinity'
8) Uncheck boxes Leaving only one box checked and click okay.
Congratulations Your game is now running on a single core and shouldn't crash..
Update: You will have to do this every time you run the game.

-Intel Only- Multicore Fix:

Originally Posted by Mutilated Messiah

Check your bios in the cpu settings Deactivate/ Disable "Spread Spectrum" and "Intel Speedstep Tech" these 2 was causing my game to crash to desktop within 15 mins of play.

Vista: Run as Administrator Fix for Random Crashes
Recommended if Both Steam and L4D is Crashing.

Originally Posted by Kertus

The following has solved this problem for some Vista users.
Exit Steam.
Click Start > All Programs > Accessories
Launch the Command Prompt by right clicking on it and choosing "Run As Administrator"
Type in the following command and press enter:
net localgroup Administrators /add Local Service
Close the Command Prompt window and restart your computer.
Then, launch the game again.

Lag:
*Note This can't always be fixed due to location, and ISP

At the main menu hit your console key (Defualt ~) Then in the console type in "openserverbrowser" (without the "s) and hit enter go to the custom tab and re-fresh all and join a server that pings less than 100 to you.

At the main menu hit your console key (Defualt ~) Then in the console type in sv_search_max_ping 100 (default is 250) Should make Launching games from the Lobby a bit less painful.

Connection Issues
Connection with Session has been Lost

Originally Posted by Ktype

There is a file "steam_appid.txt" in the main folder, just delete it, and you are good to go, no more "connection with session has been lost". But every time you start the game it creates another file, so every time you want to play u need to delete that file before starting the game.

Ports Used by Left 4 Dead:

Your network must be configured to allow Steam access to the following ports:
Steam Client

* UDP 27000 to 27020 inclusive
* TCP 27020 to 27050 inclusive

Dedicated or Listen Servers

* TCP 27015 (SRCDS Rcon port)

Graphics Issues: Black Screen or Missing Textures

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...2537-DLCV-6627

Hanging/Slow Performance for AMD Procssors with Via Chipsets

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_...4268-QWPH-1104

Sound loop: With and With Out Lockups

Try Setting shader detail to medium. (Graphics setting) ~ From DodgeRodge

Try Setting sound quality to medium.

Check to make sure you only have one sound device installed
start > run > dxdiag > If you have more then 1 Sound tab, uninstall the one that isn't your sound card.

Microphone: Microphone works in steam but not in-game (May work in lobby though)

Originally Posted by Nykkie

Open steam, click on Left 4 Dead and hit properties. Then click "launch properties" and put in:

+voice_forcemicrecord 0

Shaderapidx9.dll Fix:
Error: Left4dead.exe has encountered a problem and needs to close.
Details:AppName: left4dead.exe AppVer: 0.0.0.0 ModName: shaderapidx9.dll
ModVer: 0.0.0.0 Offset: 0002df66

YouTube - How to Fix Shaderapidx9.dll Error

(the video doesn't support embeding so you'll have to click on the vid a few times to be redirected to youtube... and the forum software wont let me just post a link)

To View a Blue Screen of Death:

1) Start
2) Run
3) Enter sysdm.cpl in the text box
4) advanced
5) Under Start Up and Recovery click Settings
6) Un-Check Automatically Restart then the two OK buttons

After that Your Blue Screen of Death Messages should stay visible until you restart manually.
Pay attention to any DLL files that are listed as that is most likely the causing the Blue Screen.

Check FPS:

bring up the consul and type cl_showfps 1

Check FPS & Detailed Server

Latency(Ping):

Originally Posted by PsyK

Also during game, if you want to see if the lag is yours or the server.

Do
Console > "net_graph 3"

This will display a graph on screen that will be shown like Garry's Mode one.

It has detailed stats on AI usages and other things. Useful to tell what in the map is using the most resources.

Lan: With One Copy of the Game

Originally Posted by John_klampenborg

http://left4deadforums.com/1345-lan.html#post16833

List of Known Left 4 Dead Errors

L4D bugs and glitches summary thread - Read first posts before adding - Steam Users' Forums

If you're problem isn't fixed by any of these responses follow the directions in this thread for posting an error.
http://left4deadforums.com/1533-supp...-question.html

PsyK · December 3rd, 2008, 12:02 AM

Also during game, if you want to see if the lag is yours or the server.

Do
Console > "net_graph 3"

This will display a graph on screen that will be shown like Garry's Mode one.

It has detailed stats on AI usages and other things. Useful to tell what in the map is using the most resources.

Synh · December 3rd, 2008, 02:59 AM

Originally Posted by Mytheral

I'll update this thread when more fixes become avaliable

First off the most common fix is to make sure all of your drivers are up to date. This includes:
Your GFX driver (for Nvidia stick to a 178.XXX driver the 180.XXX drivers have a glitch in them).
Your Soundcard Driver.
Your Motherboard Drivers.
DirectX 9c or 10 installed

Nvidia 178.24 drivers
WinXP - GeForce Release 178
WinXP 64-Bit: GeForce Release 178
WinVista: GeForce Release 178
WinVista 64-Bit: GeForce Release 178

Thanks a TON for the info Mytheral, I reverted back to the 178 series drivers and the choppy sound/video problem was fixed. Your the BEST! Stay Alive!!!!

Reloading!

Mutilated Messiah · December 5th, 2008, 02:03 PM

Would you like to add my Intel Dual Core CPU Fixes to this thread?

http://left4deadforums.com/1897-game...s-desktop.html

post#9

gnotleo<3 · December 6th, 2008, 10:42 PM

wat about the rates? Mine are jumping all over the place, cuz my buddy f'd my rates up with his Know-it-all attitude when playing.

Mutilated Messiah · December 6th, 2008, 11:02 PM

Rates? As in Frame rate? Try disabling Multicore rendering.

gnotleo<3 · December 6th, 2008, 11:17 PM

no...rates as in cl_updrate 100, 66, 33 etc

Mutilated Messiah · December 7th, 2008, 08:33 AM

Ah kk Im more familiar with hardware issues and l4d then the internal then the HL2 engine commands

gnotleo<3 · December 7th, 2008, 09:36 AM

that's what I thought

Mutilated Messiah · December 7th, 2008, 11:44 AM

I Try to help anyways though

bradk_1749 · December 8th, 2008, 03:39 PM

Okay, I tried the Forceware 180.84's
Upgraded Sound drivers, Motherboard Drivers, and ran windows update, and a virus scan on top of all those "fixes"
I also re-installed DirectX

I also just bought Call of Duty5, and the same problem is occurring over on that game... (never happened before)

Let me describe the problem a little better if indeed it's not the "stutter"

I can play for about 4-8 minutes without any issues, flawless graphics, then I hit this "lag" which feels like CPU lag, as it freezes my graphics, and makes the sound loop over and over.. this "stutter" happens for about 20 seconds, every 40 seconds or so.

I initially thought it was because my card was overheating however I checked the temp, and at full load it was around 79.C so it's not that.

It feels like it's a graphic card problem, and it's taxing my CPU..

Anyone have more ideas?! (remember I have tried all the previously posted fixes)

Mytheral · December 8th, 2008, 05:02 PM

Originally Posted by gnotleo<3

no...rates as in cl_updrate 100, 66, 33 etc

defualt cl_updaterate is 20

Create a new thread for anything more then that, this is supposed to be a fixes thread not a help me thread. I'd also suggest reading through the thread as you've named off 3-4 different things it could be right in the main post.

=XE=Jack · December 8th, 2008, 10:42 PM

Reverting back to the Nvidia drivers 178.24 worked perfect for me, no more problems at all ! Thanks for the info.

Mutilated Messiah · December 9th, 2008, 09:27 AM

Why hasnt this been Pinned by a Mod, it covers most fixes xD

Must Be Flyy · December 9th, 2008, 11:53 AM

Wow you guys all talk about stuff I've never even heard about.. =[

bradk_1749 · December 9th, 2008, 04:11 PM

Update:
I beefed up my CPU fan and now I am not getting the lag issue at all.. it must be because my CPU is a chokepoint..

Flickr Photo Download: tempss

My temps look really hot for the CPU, I am running an E660 Core 2 Duo 2.4ghz in a Socket 775
What Heat Sink/fan should I upgrade to? The zalman 9500 a good one? It appears my current stock one isn't cutting it anymore!

amonn · December 12th, 2008, 05:15 AM

I still have problem with the sound. It works when im logged on but soon as I go into the game it goes off or as soon as i go into sound option.. I messed around with the speaker setting in there changed from 5.1 sound to 2 speaker and the sound comes back until I hit done. I updated my sound driver and downgraded it.. I changed the sound to medium and even low. I only have 1 device running.. So, I am stumped.. I even uninstalled and reinstalled the game and still doesn't work. Kind of dissapointed how quickly the game has a problem.

cope · December 13th, 2008, 09:42 PM

Originally Posted by PsyK

Also during game, if you want to see if the lag is yours or the server.

Do
Console > "net_graph 3"

This will display a graph on screen that will be shown like Garry's Mode one.

It has detailed stats on AI usages and other things. Useful to tell what in the map is using the most resources.

i prefer netgraph 1, i dont like all the colored vertical lines that can take up the entire left side of my screen
--

Originally Posted by bradk_1749

...I initially thought it was because my card was overheating however I checked the temp, and at full load it was around 79.C so it's not that....

um 79.C is very hot..

GoreZiad · December 15th, 2008, 02:09 PM

After a reformat of my PC the game lagged alot. Putting mat_queue_mode 0 in the console fixed it 100%. Strange.

Thanks alot.

Przybocki · December 15th, 2008, 07:23 PM

Originally Posted by bradk_1749

Okay, I tried the Forceware 180.84's
Upgraded Sound drivers, Motherboard Drivers, and ran windows update, and a virus scan on top of all those "fixes"
I also re-installed DirectX

I also just bought Call of Duty5, and the same problem is occurring over on that game... (never happened before)

Let me describe the problem a little better if indeed it's not the "stutter"

I can play for about 4-8 minutes without any issues, flawless graphics, then I hit this "lag" which feels like CPU lag, as it freezes my graphics, and makes the sound loop over and over.. this "stutter" happens for about 20 seconds, every 40 seconds or so.

I initially thought it was because my card was overheating however I checked the temp, and at full load it was around 79.C so it's not that.

It feels like it's a graphic card problem, and it's taxing my CPU..

Anyone have more ideas?! (remember I have tried all the previously posted fixes)

I had the EXACT same issue. My main computer that has the wired connection was fine, but my son's that had the wireless connection had the same issues you have. I spun myself crazy thinking it was something with his network connection, even though it's 300 MB/Sec.

It was not the network. I went into setting (advanced video). I disabled the multicore setting, dropped the AA to nothing, switched to bilinear filtering, and turned down the shader details. Went back in the game, and not one freeze, no looping sound, no zombies that look like they are teleporting...all smooth. It did not hurt the look of the game either.

Lag and Sound Loop Crashes

Problems and Errors: Technical issues or difficulties running Left4Dead or Left4Dead2 on your computer or XBox.