The Tool Desk
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Enable the developer console
Steam’s general instructions for most Valve games use this menu path: Options → Keyboard → Advanced. Check Enable developer console (~), then apply the change. These are general Valve-game steps, not a Half-Life-specific walkthrough. Steam Support explains the developer console as a text-based interface for entering commands or changing game settings.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Half-Life - PC | $32.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Half Life 2 - Xbox | $105.24 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Half-Life 2: Episode Pack - PC | $14.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Half-Life 2 - PC | $18.99 | Buy on Amazon |
With the console enabled, press ~ to open it on an English/US keyboard configuration. The key can be changed, and keyboard layouts or custom settings may mean another key works on your system.
Show the FPS counter
- Start or resume your single-player game.
- Open the developer console.
- Enter
cl_showfps 1and press Enter. This command is listed in a Steam Community guide. - Close the console and return to play; the counter should remain visible.
To hide it, try cl_showfps 0. The cited guide documents the 1 setting but does not explicitly document the off setting, so this toggle is expected rather than separately confirmed there.
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#1 Best Overall
- New weapons; new levels; solve a variety of puzzles; first-person shooter
Choose between the simple counter and broader stats
| Display | What it shows | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
cl_showfps 1 |
A simple FPS counter. Valve employee alfred-valve described it as showing integer values with some smoothing. | Use it when you want a readable FPS number without extra information. |
cl_netgraph 3 |
A Steam Community guide lists this for an FPS readout alongside network statistics. Valve employee alfred-valve described the net graph as showing decimal values. | Use it if you want FPS together with network information; the displayed number may differ from the smoothed integer counter. |
The explanation of integer versus decimal readings comes from an older Steam for Linux issue discussion, not a current test across every platform or build. The discussion also notes that sampling can cause occasional small fluctuations. Steam’s hardware troubleshooting documentation refers to cl_showfps and net_graph displays as performance-monitoring information, but does not specify the numbered cl_netgraph 3 variant.
Start the counter automatically
Steam says many console commands can be run through launch options by prefixing them with +. You can try +cl_showfps 1 in Half-Life’s Steam launch options to start with the counter enabled. Steam cautions that not every command works this way, and its general launch-options guidance does not confirm this command for every Half-Life build: Steam launch options instructions.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Sequel to the hit first-person shooter
- Scientist-with-a-crowbar Gordon Freeman joins a ragtag human resistance fighting extradimensional invaders for the survival of a conquered Earth
- Unnervingly realistic graphics the likes of which have not been witnessed outside of a motion picture or pre-rendered cut scene
- Realistic physics: objects have varied and appropriate mass, density, physical properties
- For 1 player
Rank #3
- Battle new alien foes.
- Drive new vehicles through new locations beyond City 17.
- Discover more about the award-winning story of Half-Life.
- Over 15 hours of award-winning single player gaming.
- Battle online with Half-Life 2: Deathmatch – included for no additional charge.
Rank #2
- Amazing new graphics with pre-rendered cutscenes that look like they came from the movies
- More realistic physics - Objects have varied and appropriate mass, density and physical properties
- Incredibly advanced AI as enemies adapt, plan, improvise, and respond
- Hordes of new aliens and other enemies, plus a plethora of new guns and weapons
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
