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Defrag TF2
posted in Q/A Help
1
#1
4 Frags +

Before steampipe, there was an option to defrag TF2 through steam, which had the possibility of increasing performance. During the steampipe update, the button was removed from the local files menu, but apparently, the function still exist and works. While looking up the syntax for the steam browser protocol, I found that the same kind of link can be used to defrag, as well as other interesting functions. And, while I'm not sure if it actually did something, using this to defrag my game did not result in an error and seemed to function normally. Copy and pasting steam://defrag/440 into your browser's address bar will attempt to defrag TF2.

This is the developer page about these links, some of which don't appear to be accessible in another way.

Before steampipe, there was an option to defrag TF2 through steam, which had the possibility of increasing performance. During the steampipe update, the button was removed from the local files menu, but apparently, the function still exist and works. While looking up the syntax for the steam browser protocol, I found that the same kind of link can be used to defrag, as well as other interesting functions. And, while I'm not sure if it actually did something, using this to defrag my game did not result in an error and seemed to function normally. Copy and pasting steam://defrag/440 into your browser's address bar will attempt to defrag TF2.

[url=https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Steam_browser_protocol]This[/url] is the developer page about these links, some of which don't appear to be accessible in another way.
2
#2
0 Frags +

The steam browser protocol is extremely useful but you can't launch games with parameters :/

The steam browser protocol is extremely useful but you can't launch games with parameters :/
3
#3
0 Frags +

This doesn't seem to work on chrome, but it works fine on firefox.

This doesn't seem to work on chrome, but it works fine on firefox.
4
#4
1 Frags +

That's because it will Google search anything that doesn't end in a .something suffix or isn't something like about:plugins or similar.

Also I haven't defragged TF2 in forever and this did it in less than a minute. Not sure if Steampipe2good or something's up. Gives me "File Fragmentation 0% - 0/11 clusters" but does nothing with them and just ends, saying it completed. So I'm guessing it just went through those 11 instantly.

That's because it will Google search anything that doesn't end in a .something suffix or isn't something like about:plugins or similar.

Also I haven't defragged TF2 in forever and this did it in less than a minute. Not sure if Steampipe2good or something's up. Gives me "File Fragmentation 0% - 0/11 clusters" but does nothing with them and just ends, saying it completed. So I'm guessing it just went through those 11 instantly.
5
#5
0 Frags +

Mine did it quickly, but still in steps. It would be nice if someone who hasn't done this yet did some benchmarks before and after to see if it actually helped.

Mine did it quickly, but still in steps. It would be nice if someone who hasn't done this yet did some benchmarks before and after to see if it actually helped.
6
#6
0 Frags +

I'm running the benchmarks with the dustbowl benchmark in the other thread. Before defrag ~210fps average.

I didn't actually bother to average it out properly, but I didnt get a bad result after the defrag. Usually when running timedemos the first run is meaningless due to it stuttering in the first second or so, dropping the average fps. With that said, I got around 200 fps in the first run before the defrag, and the 2nd and 3rd runs before the defrag ended up being around 213 fps. After the defrag I got a stable 212-213 fps in all 3 benchmarks, including the first one after launching tf2.

Based on that I would assume it in fact did defrag it, or the required files just remained cached.

I'm running the benchmarks with the dustbowl benchmark in the other thread. Before defrag ~210fps average.

I didn't actually bother to average it out properly, but I didnt get a bad result after the defrag. Usually when running timedemos the first run is meaningless due to it stuttering in the first second or so, dropping the average fps. With that said, I got around 200 fps in the first run before the defrag, and the 2nd and 3rd runs before the defrag ended up being around 213 fps. After the defrag I got a stable 212-213 fps in all 3 benchmarks, including the first one after launching tf2.

Based on that I would assume it in fact did defrag it, or the required files just remained cached.
7
#7
0 Frags +

Dustbowl benchmark thread? Provide pls

Dustbowl benchmark thread? Provide pls
8
#8
1 Frags +
kirbyDustbowl benchmark thread? Provide pls

http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/7598-tf2-benchmarks

There you go.

[quote=kirby]Dustbowl benchmark thread? Provide pls[/quote]


http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/7598-tf2-benchmarks

There you go.
9
#9
1 Frags +

Before defrag:
2639 frames 15.416 seconds 171.18 fps ( 5.84 ms/f) 6.266 fps variability

After defrag:
2639 frames 15.405 seconds 171.31 fps ( 5.84 ms/f) 6.723 fps variability

[b]Before defrag:[/b]
2639 frames 15.416 seconds 171.18 fps ( 5.84 ms/f) 6.266 fps variability

[b]After defrag:[/b]
2639 frames 15.405 seconds 171.31 fps ( 5.84 ms/f) 6.723 fps variability
10
#10
0 Frags +

Something, I think, is wrong with my TF2 when I do it.

2639 frames 52.096 seconds 50.66 fps (19.74 ms/f) 2.821 fps variability

I only ever get 50 FPS when I experience my annoyingly stupid random FPS drop problem. Otherwise I usually get around 200 FPS. Is this benchmark supposed to make the demo playback really quickly then really slowly?

edit: I noticed it speeds up and slows down only sometimes. Dunno if it's supposed to do that though.

edit #2: okay so apparently benchmarking is very inconsistent for me, same as my fps when playing myself. i'm not sure if they're connected, but i would assume so. oh well.

Something, I think, is wrong with my TF2 when I do it.

2639 frames 52.096 seconds 50.66 fps (19.74 ms/f) 2.821 fps variability

I only ever get 50 FPS when I experience my annoyingly stupid random FPS drop problem. Otherwise I usually get around 200 FPS. Is this benchmark supposed to make the demo playback really quickly then really slowly?

edit: I noticed it speeds up and slows down only sometimes. Dunno if it's supposed to do that though.

edit #2: okay so apparently benchmarking is very inconsistent for me, same as my fps when playing myself. i'm not sure if they're connected, but i would assume so. oh well.
11
#11
0 Frags +

The way timedemo works is it sets host_framerate to 66 and then times how long it takes to generate (and playback) all of the frames from the demo. So that means that you are always seeing 66 frames per second regardless of how fast the demo is progressing, making it slow down or speed up based on performance. If it's changing speeds severely, it's probably due to an unrelated issue.

The way timedemo works is it sets host_framerate to 66 and then times how long it takes to generate (and playback) all of the frames from the demo. So that means that you are always seeing 66 frames per second regardless of how fast the demo is progressing, making it slow down or speed up based on performance. If it's changing speeds severely, it's probably due to an unrelated issue.
12
#12
0 Frags +

Timedemos run as fast as the hardware can run them. Essentially they run at 66 frames per ingame second, so if you get 132 average fps in the timedemo it goes twice normal speed. 66fps however would run at regular speed.

That information doesn't really help you though.

Timedemos run as fast as the hardware can run them. Essentially they run at 66 frames per ingame second, so if you get 132 average fps in the timedemo it goes twice normal speed. 66fps however would run at regular speed.

That information doesn't really help you though.
13
#13
0 Frags +

My hardware has been able to run TF2 in practically any environment with at least 250-300 FPS up until a month or two ago. Now I'm lucky to get 200 when I'm not too busy trying to aim with 40.

I think whatever's causing that is causing timedemo to be affected too, which I would assume makes sense.

my god this entire thing is incredibly frustrating.

My hardware has been able to run TF2 in practically any environment with at least 250-300 FPS up until a month or two ago. Now I'm lucky to get 200 when I'm not too busy trying to aim with 40.

I think whatever's causing that is causing timedemo to be affected too, which I would assume makes sense.

my god this entire thing is incredibly frustrating.
14
#14
0 Frags +

LOL I almost just typed that in when I have a ssd. GG life. Was close

LOL I almost just typed that in when I have a ssd. GG life. Was close
15
#15
7 Frags +

Oh man. I thought you were talking about a Q3 Defrag type mod for TF2.

rip

Oh man. I thought you were talking about a Q3 Defrag type mod for TF2.

rip
16
#16
0 Frags +

Does this still work? I tried entering the link into both Firefox and start->Run and neither produced any results.

Does this still work? I tried entering the link into both Firefox and start->Run and neither produced any results.
17
#17
13 Frags +

1. If you have an SSD do not defragment (it doesn't help performance at all and unnecessarily increases the write count)
2. You can still defragment your hard drive normally by going to the properties of your hard drive » Tools » Optimize (this will include the tf2 folder)

Defragging will only help load times, it should not have any effect on FPS (the game should have everything loaded into memory at that point so the hard drive doesn't matter).

1. If you have an SSD do not defragment (it doesn't help performance at all and unnecessarily increases the write count)
2. You can still defragment your hard drive normally by going to the properties of your hard drive » Tools » Optimize (this will include the tf2 folder)

Defragging will only help load times, it should not have any effect on FPS (the game should have everything loaded into memory at that point so the hard drive doesn't matter).
18
#18
0 Frags +
TechDude1. If you have an SSD do not defragment (it doesn't help performance at all and unnecessarily increases the write count)
2. You can still defragment your hard drive normally by going to the properties of your hard drive » Tools » Optimize (this will include the tf2 folder)

Defragging will only help load times, it should not have any effect on FPS (the game should have everything loaded into memory at that point so the hard drive doesn't matter).

Praise TechDude.

[quote=TechDude]1. If you have an SSD do not defragment (it doesn't help performance at all and unnecessarily increases the write count)
2. You can still defragment your hard drive normally by going to the properties of your hard drive » Tools » Optimize (this will include the tf2 folder)

Defragging will only help load times, it should not have any effect on FPS (the game should have everything loaded into memory at that point so the hard drive doesn't matter).[/quote]
Praise TechDude.
19
#19
4 Frags +

A hard drive defrag and a GCF defrag are very different things. The VPK file format does not have internal fragmentation (GCF did), which is why defrag was removed for Steampipe games - it doesn't do anything.

Defragging your spinning disk may give you performance benefits, but it's entirely unrelated to game data fragmentation in the way it used to be with GCF files: with them, you'd have to defrag the hard drive AND the game, because GCF has internal fragmentation.

A hard drive defrag and a GCF defrag are very different things. The VPK file format does not have internal fragmentation (GCF did), which is why defrag was removed for Steampipe games - it doesn't do anything.

Defragging your spinning disk may give you performance benefits, but it's entirely unrelated to game data fragmentation in the way it used to be with GCF files: with them, you'd have to defrag the hard drive AND the game, because GCF has internal fragmentation.
20
#20
1 Frags +

Load time for cp_badlands pre defrag was 8.2 seconds
Load time for cp_badlands post defrag was 8 seconds with some error because i'm bad at fingers.
Marginal at best for that. Perhaps loading demos is faster?
I'm just not seeing a lot of reason to bother.

Load time for cp_badlands pre defrag was 8.2 seconds
Load time for cp_badlands post defrag was 8 seconds with some error because i'm bad at fingers.
Marginal at best for that. Perhaps loading demos is faster?
I'm just not seeing a lot of reason to bother.
21
#21
0 Frags +
yukiOh man. I thought you were talking about a Q3 Defrag type mod for TF2.

rip

sorry to not talk about the thread but if ur lookin 4 defrag theres like 2 maps that are pretty fun

http://www.mediafire.com/download/2ttq237yddbhheb/defrag_xelerate.bsp

http://www.mediafire.com/download/ujiczdjdsa8h2jy/defrag_pizzanbeer.bsp

the latter map is pretty dumb. xelerate is one worth trying though.
again sorry for derailing just wanted to let people know in case they didnt know these maps existed because they aren't all too popular. not too similar to quake haha but still fun maps

[quote=yuki]Oh man. I thought you were talking about a Q3 Defrag type mod for TF2.

rip[/quote]

sorry to not talk about the thread but if ur lookin 4 defrag theres like 2 maps that are pretty fun

http://www.mediafire.com/download/2ttq237yddbhheb/defrag_xelerate.bsp



http://www.mediafire.com/download/ujiczdjdsa8h2jy/defrag_pizzanbeer.bsp

the latter map is pretty dumb. xelerate is one worth trying though.
again sorry for derailing just wanted to let people know in case they didnt know these maps existed because they aren't all too popular. not too similar to quake haha but still fun maps
22
#22
1 Frags +

and now my steam and tf2 don't work after trying this :(

and now my steam and tf2 don't work after trying this :(
23
#23
3 Frags +

there is an actual TF2 defrag mod by CrancK just fyi guys..
year old thread, 3+ year old mod, not even original topic. fuck yeah

there is an actual TF2 defrag mod by CrancK just fyi guys..
year old thread, 3+ year old mod, not even original topic. fuck yeah
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