Half life 2 looks ugly on my Intel HD

[Derek12]

My GT 520 recently died so I am using the Intel HD (latest drivers) until I buy a card, and Half Life 2 looks ugly on it. The rest of games aren't affected.

Some distant objects are too washed out, in contrast to the GT 520 and even my netbook which the fog effect is more subtle. What can I do?

Both with same settings except resolution, filtering and water reflection which won't affect fog when changed. Notice the background hill, the wooden wall and the rocks
Intel HD:

My netbook

 

[RCoon]

I dont remember if this is relevant in the slightest, but something about changing the video to OpenGL might resolve an issue or two. I read it somewhere, about something, and I cant remember what the hell it was for.

 

[ne6togadno]

I dont remember if this is relevant in the slightest, but something about changing the video to OpenGL might resolve an issue or two. I read it somewhere, about something, and I cant remember what the hell it was for.

HL use openGL not directx. back in cs1.5 days when you change game ot use directx instead of opengl from ingame options was possible to "see" throught walls.
so derek check opengl settings of game if they are ok then problem is with opengl support of intel hd (if it has any)

 

[Derek12]

Many thanks, where is the OpenGL option in HL2? I cannot find it on Video advanced settings. Besides None option there seem to work here. And Intel control Panel has nothing to configure in 3D beyond anisotropic filtering and Vsync. Seems I am stuck until I get a dedicated video card. It's almost unplayable as this makes the drawing distance too short.
Another example with HL2 Lost Coast

Somewhere found on Internet:

Mine:

 

[R00kie]

i think i remember I've been playing around with half life 2 settings, and i surely know you can change the direct x version the game is running on, so go on and check it on your netbook and on your gma gpu to see if there's a difference.

 

[ne6togadno]

Many thanks, where is the OpenGL option in HL2? I cannot find it on Video advanced settings. None option there seem to work here. And Intel control Panel has nothing to configure in 3D beyond anisotropic filtering and Vsync.
Another example with HL2 Lost Coast

Somewhere found on Internet:
http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100328132210/half-life/en/images/9/9b/LostCoast.jpg

Mine:
http://img.techpowerup.org/130725/M.png

this option was available in hl. i think it was removed from hl2 because it is explot but i am not 100% sure. i dont own hl and last time i played cs 1.6 was before more then 5-6 years so i cant realy remember.
when i go home i will try dig for menu screenshots or game read me.
you can try play with video options (v-sync, drwa distance etc.)

 

[Derek12]

i think i remember I've been playing around with half life 2 settings, and i surely know you can change the direct x version the game is running on, so go on and check it on your netbook and on your gma gpu to see if there's a difference.

Aha!, HL2 on the netbook says DX8.1 hardware and DX9.0 in Software whereas my computer says both DX9+ however the option o change it is disabled is there a hack or some file or something to change that?

this option was available in hl. i think it was removed from hl2 because it is explot but i am not 100% sure. i dont own hl and last time i played cs 1.6 was before more then 5-6 years so i cant realy remember.
when i go home i will try dig for menu screenshots or game read me.
you can try play with video options (v-sync, drwa distance etc.)

Many thanks I will hear you

 

[BiggieShady]

To change what DX version shaders are used, you have to use in-game console and mat_dxlevel or dxlevel commands, or simply command line switch:

-dxlevel [version]: Using this command allows you to force the game into only using the specified DirectX version for shaders.

http://www.tweakguides.com/HL2_7.html

 

[xBruce88x]

increase the AF setting. not sure if it'll affect the fog setting much but should help with textures

 

[Agility]

Right-click Half Life 2 in game -> Properties -> Set launch options -> -gl

 

[micropage7]

umm have you tried lowering your resolution, since intel hd has limited power.
lowering resolution may help you in game. but yeah dont expect too much

 

[Mussels]

half life 2 has some options to set its directX level, i beleive it has DX7 and DX9.0c as the two options.

try changing those.


basically you've ran into the famous 'intel graphics drivers suck' problem.

 

[Derek12]

I've tried everything the -gl option and every dxlevel and messing this the video settings without avail
The issue is substancially worse under water or in some foggy areas in that case every object is virtually textureless and looks horrible.

It's fine with Swiftshader except it runs at 0.0001 FPS and has a annoying watermark

@micropage7 The game runs fine in the highest settings

PD: BTW this happens either on XP or Windows 7.

 

[kn00tcn]

there's a chance that an older intel driver doesnt have this bug, so start testing or find user reports about how they dealt with this since plenty of people have hl2+intel

also, if intel has a driver issue reporting form, fill that in