Does CSS have different graphics than TF2?

[The Drogue]

On CSS, I can play w/o lag with all gfx settings to maximum, yet on TF2, I can only get no lag when I have everything on low/off.

Does CSS and TF2 run on different graphics or something?

 

[metro]

Yes, TF2 is much newer than CS:S and has more intense graphics.

 

[mad pistol]

While the engines each game runs on are virtually identical, the detail/shader content in TF2 is far higher than CS:S. All you need to do is turn on wireframe mode in each game, and you'll quickly see that TF2's levels and character models are about twice as complex as those found in CS:S.

 

[Reaper X]

indeed, TF2 requires more than what you would need for CS:S.

 

[shadows5631]

The havok physics in CSS just kills my fps, so 90% of the time I get better frames in TF2.