Let me share my 5 cents about laggin' too:
First time I've played at los Bandidos my "default" ping was about 250ms (and that is good value.. almost the best).
So, I decided to reduce it. To me the really important value is the "rate". The default value is 25k. Mine is 7500. And it saves just about 50ms of ping!
Yes, the cl_timeNudge -10 has helped too. But this is not really "fair" help. I mean when I'm shootin' from far-far-away there is no much of prediction to be taken into account. Therefore I'm shootin' fine. But when it comes about close combat it became really odd. I'm not much of a good shooter, but I can see when I hit and when not. So it's up to you to decide. I'll use the trick.
And the last one is about cl_maxPackets. I've noticied that sometimes my FPS fall to 90. And these times I became really laggy. Solution is to sacrafice graphics to make FPS be always 125. But.. I like the game's graphic. To me it's about fun and not proficiency. So I decided to sacrafice ping for cool picture.
One "bonus" solution (in case if one decided to use simple graphics) is to set com_maxFPS to 150-200 and cl_maxPackets to the same value. But.. there comes other troubles (with internet traffic and server's loading). So, I decided not to use it.
And one more thing. I thought my ping is so bad because of some backgroud internet-programms, low bandwidth, 128kbps and etc.. But it's not. It's just about distance to server (and routing of course). We often play together with my little bro through the same modem. The ping stays the same like as I'm playing alone. Just for a test case I've luanched three SG one three different PCs through one modem and it still the same. So my ping problem is only about distance.
I've also tried snaps. The default "40" is fine for me.
And I suppouse cl_packetup is useless for me. Default drop of one packet is fine.
cl_predictItems is not the one vital for me.
I've noticed after these months of gaming that the ping is essential value. When I'm playing with someone who has ping of 250 with me having 110 - it is just like me cheating on him. I feel so guilty. Just because I know how it feels when you playing with ping more than 100. Somehow when my ping is about 200-300 I fell guilty too.. Because some players just don't want to play with such pingy guy.
My old Q (quake player) friend says that any ping higher than 100 is unplayable. His advice is to quit freaking and go to any LAN Q game. But I like this game. And I like the idea that I'm playing with some foreign players.
So, if anyone knows any other possible solution to reduce ping - I'm really need you. Please let me know.
May be some of these advises should be in the "Beginners Guide" theme (
Beginners Guide). I think everyone who has ping more than 100 has to try to reduce it.
Sorry for disturbin' in case if it's really newbie questions/advices.. To me it's really important. During my LAN games I've never even thought of things like ping. I knew what they meant but they weren't so vital.
"You should know that the lies won't hide your flaws/No sense in hiding all of yours/You gave up on your dreams along the way" (c) "Fake it" by Seether
P.S. English isn't my native language.