Powerstrip, RTCW:ET, Punkbuster

[Gurm]

So I got an official response from the PowerStrip people on my lockup problems.

Seems that it only happens in PunkBuster enabled games such as RTCW, Quake3, etc.

Turns out that it's related to PowerStrip's programming of the refresh rates, which is "forbidden" by PunkBuster. PB tries to "probe" a little too hard and the two do an evil dance to the death, crashing the system.

I haven't tried the new Cat3.8's with this yet to see if their crash prevention thinger works, but either way the game would get killed.

Apparently entering this command in the console:

/pb_system 1

Forces PunkBuster to "be nicer" to your machine.

I haven't tested it extensively yet. I'll let y'all know how it works out.

- Gurm

[KeiFront]

Also try to set pb_security to zero (it's a workaround for all kinds of pb problems).

/pb_security 0

[Gurm]

Turns out if I just kill PowerStrip before firing up Wolf:ET, it's no problem.

Damn PunkBuster.

- Gurm

[UtwigMU]

I'd say damn Powerstrip.

[dZeus]

Punkbuster is just as bad. It adds lag on a Q3A server when enabled. I assume it does the same for every Q3A-engine based game.

For 'fast' games like Quake3 lag is baaaaaad, i.e. punkbuster = bad.

[bsdgeek]

It's worth it though, I'm damn sick of playing on servers without it where cheating is rampant.

[Gurm]

Yep. Playing Wolf:ET is refreshing - people actually have to learn how to PLAY, and PLAY as a TEAM, in order to do well. No cheaters. Not that people don't try - every match I'm in I see at least 2 or 3 people kicked for hacks.

- Gurm

[Gurm]

And actually, I've discovered that you can just turn off PowerStrip to avoid these problems altogether. Just right-click, close.

- Gurm