Lag in games using Valve's Source engine

[fever 9,884]

I've been getting a 2 or 3 second lag spike every 5 minutes in games using Valve's Source engine.  Has anyone else had this problem before?  I imagine it is a driver issue and I'm trying to fix it, its driving me crazy.  I just wondered if anyone else had this problem.  So far it's only affecting TF2 and Bad Haircut Simulator (Dota2).

It only really started after I upgraded to fibre.  It lasted a few weeks then seemed to randomly fix itself for a few weeks and has now come back.  I haven't installed anything new or any Windows updates in that time (I do them manually).

[luop90 4,400]

I've always had this problem, but my laptop is a toaster, so one would expect that.

[LjubicaZubica 5,610]

I've been getting a 2 or 3 second lag spike every 5 minutes in games using Valve's Source engine.  Has anyone else had this problem before?  I imagine it is a driver issue and I'm trying to fix it, its driving me crazy.  I just wondered if anyone else had this problem.  So far it's only affecting TF2 and Bad Haircut Simulator (Dota2).

It only really started after I upgraded to fibre.  It lasted a few weeks then seemed to randomly fix itself for a few weeks and has now come back.  I haven't installed anything new or any Windows updates in that time (I do them manually).

 

I´m getting this after TF2 update. Short 2-3 seconds lag spike. Sometimes is often, sometimes only 1-2 times in whole hour.

In all other games is fine, just in tf2 it´s "lagging" like that. Short, but enough to mess up your aim.

[Banana Fanatics 26]

Happened to me once, 2-3s of freezing every minute. Guess it was after in update. Try to go for a defragmentation of the TF2 folder if you're using an HDD.

[fever 9,884]

Well, I tried checking the files were correct in steam and there was a file missing for each game but it made no difference.  I'll try the defrag option.  Reassuring to know it is not just me or my new supposedly faster internet

[SinisterPixel 143]

Same with me. I can't tell you how many times it's cost me as a spy (this is my excuse now)

[Banana Fanatics 26]

Also, if you're using WiFi, mind to test with an Ethernet cable if you got this kind of problem but permanent. I do remind of some chipsets cutting down traffic during arp requests (fixed by driver update).

[SinisterPixel 143]

Also, if you're using WiFi, mind to test with an Ethernet cable if you got this kind of problem but permanent. I do remind of some chipsets cutting down traffic during arp requests (fixed by driver update).

 

I'm wired in with an Ethernet cable. When I say lag spikes I've personally been experiencing FPS freezes, not server lag. I think most of Team Eek had the same deal as well (we talked about it in one of our streams)

[Canti 386]

I get this in TF2 a lot, have done for as long as I can remember. I defrag the disk with my games on at least once a week. Might try moving the installation to SSD and see if that makes a difference.

[LjubicaZubica 5,610]

I must be blind, where can I defrag just for tf? 

Or I understood it wrong and you mean defragin whole hdd?

[Banana Fanatics 26]

I must be blind, where can I defrag just for tf? 

Or I understood it wrong and you mean defragin whole hdd?

 

Nope, only defrag the tf folder (program files/steam/steamApps/tf)

Some software let you choose which folder you want to defrag without doing the whole hdd.

 

Mind that fragmentation can be an issue but It doesn't mean that it is the only cause for this issue.

 

Edit: Auslogics does it for sure, I guess Defraggler is also able to propose this.

[fever 9,884]

Also, if you're using WiFi, mind to test with an Ethernet cable if you got this kind of problem but permanent. I do remind of some chipsets cutting down traffic during arp requests (fixed by driver update).

 

Yeah I switched to a hard wired connection a while ago.  My place is pretty old so the walls are stupidly thick.  Not good for transmitting wifi.

I get this in TF2 a lot, have done for as long as I can remember. I defrag the disk with my games on at least once a week. Might try moving the installation to SSD and see if that makes a difference.

 

Yeah its already on an SSD...TF2, srs bsns