my computer stutters while playing tf2... and i have tried just about everything to fix it, and im looking for some advice.

cpu: intel e7200 stock speed of 2.53, i usually have it at 3.2 Ghz.
videocard: ATI HD4870
ram: corsair 2x2gigs ddr2 800mhz
hd: 7200rpm 500 gb
mobo: gigabyte ga-ep35-ds3l

First of all, my computer always runs TF2 the same FPS whether i am running tf2 on max graphics with max AA and max resolution with my cpu clocked at 2.2 Ghz; or i have the game on the lowest settings, with things turned off that are not in options to turn off, and on the lowest resolution supported with my cpu clocked at 3.2 Ghz and everything scenario in between.

i reformatted my computer a month ago to try to fix the problem, and it hasnt helped. i have up to date drivers for all my hardware too. and i have run memtest overnight with 0 errors to test the ram. i have also dusted the inside to make sure it wasnt inhibiting performance, and my cpu and videocard temperatures are both very reasonable...

my FPS in game goes from about 70-120 with me doing nothing in the game, and when im actively playing will dive to 35-70fps. i also experience choke in game. with it reaching 10 choke probably 1 time every minute, and occasionally reaching 30-40 choke, in the middle of rounds, no matter the server i play on.

"First of all, my computer always runs TF2 the same FPS whether i am running tf2 on max graphics with max AA and max resolution with my cpu clocked at 2.2 Ghz; or i have the game on the lowest settings"

Exact same thing happens to me.

Radeon ATI 4890
Phenom II X4 quad core 3.0ghz
4gb ram.

It's insane. I should be getting 150 FPS, but my game goes at 40 FPS. Not only that but no matter what graphics I have, it's like that.

ridiculous. thanks valve :P

That's not good, something is holding your TF2 down. Also TF2 and source games in general are almost 60% CPU, 40%GFX(estimate). Point being if your CPU and RAM aren't kicking ass, a good GFX card won't yield amazing FPS 100%.

I'd recommend a 3ghz for TF2. I run 9800GTX+, 4GB OCZ SLI RAM, high-end mobo and PSU. I use a Q6600 and tested at these frequencies to see what I would get. Highest settings, 1680x1050, max_fps 60.

stock (2.4ghz) - framerate loss in 6vs6, usually around 40 min fps in firefights
2.6ghz - 55 fps min in 6vs6 firefights
2.8ghz - in full 24-player servers framerate sometimes dips to 40 or even 35. 32-man servers still unplayable.
3.0Ghz - pretty much stable, here and there some drops around middle points on 24-man servers. 32-player servers framerate can drop down to 35.
3.2ghz - stable, some drops on 24-player servers, 35 player servers lots of drops still.

I haven't tested it farther than that, I leave mine at 3.0ghz. 32-player servers leave me remembering how smooth 35 fps in Crysis was. On maps with weather effects like indulge or sawmill, if they are turned on it's impossible to snipe, it seems like the scope overlay drops my framerate all the way to 20fps. Still some frame loss even if they are turned off, but not as much. I remember before the medic update I was able to run it above 200fps all the time at stock core and my old 8600GT. The optimization is getting to be just that bad. I'll probably have to get a corei7 when the engineer update comes out.

That's not good, something is holding your TF2 down. Also TF2 and source games in general are almost 60% CPU, 40%GFX(estimate). Point being if your CPU and RAM aren't kicking ass, a good GFX card won't yield amazing FPS 100%.

its pretty safe to assume its not my CPU holding it back, right? whether my cpu is at 2.2 Ghz or 3.2 Ghz, i see the same performance...

I have teh same problem.. altho my comp isnt as good as you guys, im having teh same issues. This is my getting old rig...

-AMD athlon 64 x2 4200 + 2.2ghz (AM2)
-2 gigs of gskill ram
-gigabyte MB
-550w PSU
-ATI 4850 512mb

no matter what my res is or how low/high my video settings are my FPS doesn't change. during huge fights in servers with lots of people my fps drop to about 15-20 fps which makes it hard to play. In a 6 vs 6 situation it not as bad but still a challenge, and it all depends on teh map. I would say i average about 40 fps or less... If i look at a wall it might hit 70-110 depending on what it is and what map. It sucks but it seems to be very CPU relaible... i've had fps problems since day one and i pretty much had teh game about 6 months after it came out. I used to have a 8600gt and when it died i got teh ATI an it was only a 'graphics' improvement.. my fps were teh same... bummer

amd athlon 1.85 ghz
1.5 gb ram
250w psu
nvidia 6200

...and yet i am really good at this game. imagine if i had a computer as good as yours!

amd athlon 1.85 ghz
1.5 gb ram
250w psu
nvidia 6200

...and yet i am really good at this game. imagine if i had a computer as good as yours!

im not saying im not good at this game because of my computer. im just saying my computer should be performing better at least at the lower settings for the game, and if anyone has any idea why it isnt... because frankly, the stuttering is annoying.