Are you saying that HL2 requires DirectX 8.1 with an nVidia card and otherwise DirectX 9? It's that NVIDIA cards have severe trouble playing HL2 in DX9 mode, it's basically unplayable according to Valve. Hopefully they roll out with some drivers before it comes out because if I were an NVIDIA owner, I wouldn't want to be stuck with DX8.1 effects. Well, that sucks big things. I hope Valve can put the game out soon.