hope these help synapz (although im suprised you can play Half-Life at all with a 4mb card)
---Inside HL---
1) Lower the resolution (settings ->Graphics -> Video mode). This is the biggest FPS helper
2) mp_decals 1 (in console), this effectively gets rid of splash damage (battle scars etc...) (NB the '1' setting means 'show 1 decal' not 'activate decals' (decals is defaulted to 300))
3) (i havent played the beta yet so im assuming this is right), in multiplay -> customise -> advanced options u should find some setting to lower the pretty settings (AKA laggy settings)
4) cl_fxquality 0 (this gets rid of the niceties in game)
---Outside HL---
1) Update GFX drivers (go to gfx card's manufacturers website)
2) If you are running an ancient voodoo card (like me) install WickedGL (
www.wicked3d.com). expect FPS to double with this life-saving file
3) Get an overclocker for your video card (search on the internet) (you can increase the speed (in MhZ) of your gfx card, but there is a chance you could blow it up (similar to overclocking a processor). Needless to say, i wont be held responsible for anything that happens to your computer if you try to run a 4mb card at 200Mhz
4) Misc - defrag your computer, run scan-disk, delete unwanted files, and get a RAM cleaner (try the CyberLat RAM cleaner)
Ive done all of the above because im a poor student (i cant upgrade from my p450 16mb voodoo setup), but i can run mods like Counter-Strike at a respectable 40-50fps, and the newer mods (Natural Selection) at barely acceptable 15-30fps
Good luck, hope u can enjoy the beta! ive only got another 10mins to go before the download finishes (my pc has been at the download for 7 hrs)