You need at least 512Mb RAM, a decent graphics card (important) and a decent CPU (minimum of 2.0GHz). It can be run on a P4 1.3GHz, 256Mb RAM and a 32Mb GeForce but it's crap and jerky!
If you are using Integrated graphics cards, then you will have issues because the CPU is also running the graphics too. Better getting a card that can be installed. Check your machine and see if it can take AGP, PCI or PCI-Express graphics cards.
My FPS are really low
Often people never tweak Source to get the best settings.
In the console, type net_graph 3 and see what FPS you are getting. Less than 15 is unbearable! 20 - 30 is playable. 50 - 70fps is perfect.
Go to Options>Video and lower resolution if it helps. It may not. Some cards are actually faster running higher resolutions....go figure...!
Go to Options>Video>Advanced and you will see a bunch of settings that Source recommends for your card (highlighted with a star).
However, you can increase FPS by playing with the settings:
1. Set everything to low (Model detail, Texture detail, Shading detail)
2. Set water to Simple reflections
3. Set Shadow to low
4. Antialiasing: None
5. Filter: Bilinear
6. Wait: disabled
7: HDR: None
Also, in the launch options of Source: Steam>Games>DoD:S>[right click]>Properties>Launch Options,
put in -dxlevel 81 to lower DirextX. You can even try -dxlevel 70.
You can also play with heapsize if you have a lot of RAM (>1Gb): Steam>Games>DoD:S>[right click]>Properties>Launch Options, put in -heapsize 512000
There are also a bunch of other settings that some people use that you edit in the config.cfg (located in C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\YOURNAME\day of defeat source\dod\cfg). But this makes the game just plain ugly! Also, they may be regarded them as hacks/exploits...
I'll post them, but use them at your own risk! If you want to get back to the way it was, then delete the config.cfg file and Source will create a new one for you.
My machine crashes with looping sounds...//Graphic Settings
budget_show_history 0
cl_ejectbrass 0
cl_forcepreload "1"
cl_phys_props_enable 0
cl_phys_props_max 0
cl_radartype 1
cl_ragdoll_physics_enable 1
cl_show_bloodspray 1
cl_show_splashes 00
fog_enable 0
fog_enable_water_fog 0
fps_max 100
mat_bloom 1
mat_bumpmap 1
mat_clipz 1
mat_fastnobump 1
mat_fastspecular 0
mat_mipmaptextures 1
mat_picmip 1 //This is the command that the in game "Texture Quality" setting changes: 0 = High 1 = Medium 2 = Low
mat_specular 0
mat_trilinear 0
mp_decals 50
muzzleflash_light 0
r_avglight 0
r_decal_cullsize 1
r_decals 50
r_dispfullradius "2"
r_drawdetailprops 0
r_drawropes 0
r_dynamic 0
r_eyeglintlodpixels 0
r_eyegloss 0
r_eyemove 0
r_eyes 0
r_eyeshift_x 0
r_eyeshift_y 0
r_eyeshift_z 0
r_eyesize 0
r_lightaverage "0"
r_lightinterp "0"
r_lod -4 //Player models look bad but saves CPU power. A setting of -5 will make the game render perfect quality models from any distance
r_mmx 1
r_propsmaxdist 100
r_rainalpha 0
r_rainalphapow 0
r_raindensity 0
r_rainlength 0
r_RainProfile 0
r_rainradius 0
r_RainRadius 0
r_RainSideVel 0
r_RainSimulate 0
r_rainspeed 0
r_rainwidth 0
r_RainSplashPercentage 0
r_renderoverlayfragment "0"
r_rootlod "2"
r_shadowmaxrendered "-1"
r_shadowrendertotexture "0"
r_shadows 0
r_sse "1"
r_sse2 "1"
r_teeth 0
r_worldlightmin "1"
r_worldlights "1"
Update graphics card drivers, update DirectX and you may need to update sound card drivers especially if it's a Soundblaster.
Check this http://support.steampowered.com/cgi-bin ... _topview=1
Other tweaks
Fed up with the dude with Valve video? Turn him off by adding -novid to launch options (see above). means you don't have to wait for the game to load!