Steam not properly detecting graphics card characterisitics and auto-detection issues for graphics settings in games

[G1lg4m1nd]

I am not sure that this is the correct fourm to post this, but I decided to post it anyway. I recently built my first PC from scratch and have reentered PC Gaming after a long departure from the platform. So far so good. I am dealing however with a few minor issues. The first is with regards to Steam's system information feature not properly detecting the correct amount of video memory and "primary bus type" on my graphics card. According to system information, "primary bus type" is "not detected." In addition, instead of detecting the 3GB of Vram on my graphics card, steam detects -1024 MB. I am curious on why this is happening. I am also wondering why a number a games such all the source engine based games I have and others not based on the source engine use reccommended graphics settings below the capabilities of my system. None of the titles I have bought on Steam and elsewhere at this time are demanding and all have low system requirements. For example, recommended settings for Half-Life 2 were not max for texture detail. Lower settings were also sugessted for Anti-Ailising and Anisotropic Filterting. Nor do many of these titles upon first startup auto-detect my native resolution of 1920x1200. I am able to max out my games and not encounter any major performance issues despite this with the exception of slowdown In a few old titles. One specific instance is a big, noticeable framerate drop in the Ravenholm section of Half-Life 2 when the player first meets Father Gregori. Newer titles such as Portal 2 provided solid auto-detection of graphics settings for my hardware with the exception of one setting. The more demanding Sleeping Dogs demo, correctly auto-detected my resolution, but recommended medium graphics settings. I manually maxed out graphics settings with the exception of anti-ailising and have been acheiving good performance. I am curious why my games (especially the older ones) do not seem to properly auto-detect the best settings for my top of the line hardware.

Relevant system specifications.

Intel Core i7 3770k
Asus P8Z77-V Pro
Corsair Vengence LP 16GB RAM
Sapphire Radeon HD 7970 OC 3GB
Dell Ultrasharp U2410 24in 1920x1200 60hz
Seasonic Platinum 860

[Tusken GA]

Most of that is nothing to worry about. Steam's detection of your computer hardware doesn't affect the games you play; each game detects it individually.

In regards to Half LIfe 2 not detecting your hardware that's basically because it's an old game and it's a source game. The first part boils down to what the game itself is built to recognize. What it's built to recognize is a list of graphics hardware from around it's release date. From there on it's all drivers handling everything.

The second part is just a quirk I've encountered in every source game I own. Even Vampire The Masquerade starts at a much lower resolution than it needs to be and in all cases it's never completely maxed out. However these functions still work, you just need to do them yourself.

In terms of Ravenholm not working properly I'm not sure what to say about that at this point. I'd need more information and that's really the sort of question you'd address the game's forum (preferably on forums.steampowered.com rather than here; that site has more traffic but takes a separate login).

Sleeping Dogs is a console port (a great one by today's standards but some of the nuances of PC gaming don't quite make it into the game). It doesn't surprise me that it failed to properly detect your settings but then it's not really a problem because you can set them manually.

Again, I wouldn't worry about many of these things at all. I don't know what PC gaming was like back before you left but today it consists mainly of tweaking in game and out of game settings for best performance and appearance, troubleshooting driver, game, and OS issues, and griping about how consoles are holding back technology while simultaneously touting PC superiority.

It's all part of the experience.

Cheers!