I have now seen this error a few times in the console for custom maps that used to work, including my own.

Host_Error: PF_precache_model_I: Model 'models/mapmodels/dinner_table2.mdl' failed to precache because the item count is over the 512 limit.
Reduce the number of brush models and/or regular models in the map to correct this.
couldn't exec dod_zeulo.cfg

When I go through the compile, I see nothing wrong or nothing full to its limits. So whats going on? I also get it with other maps that I played before such as dod_normandy

Im just guessing here but maybe there is more than 512 models in the map and It dont like it.

http://www.slackiller.com/tommy14/errors.htm#precache

ok that helped. I put all of my used textures into one wad but I still got the error so Im guessing its an over use of models, even though it says in the compile that I could still use more (i forget the % of it). Anyways, each model I have is important so what can I do. Is there a way I can keep my precious models in and escape this error? or maybe its not the models?

On my map i have everything safely lower the limits (shown in -chart option), but map crashes some servers (they had to unload som plugins). Overall there is not much entities sprites, etc, so I'm not sure what can be source of this error.

Originally posted by Craftos
On my map i have everything safely lower the limits (shown in -chart option), but map crashes some servers (they had to unload som plugins). Overall there is not much entities sprites, etc, so I'm not sure what can be source of this error.

Linux servers? Seemingly, linux is case-sensitive, whereas windows servers are not, so if in your map, for example, an env_model is told to use REALLY_nice_tree.mdl , then you need to rename this model to really_nice_tree.mdl, so that only lowercase is used. I think this was the cause of some problems with rr2.

Not in this case. Server admin removed one plugin and server started map properly.
Thing I don't understand that server crashed while loading map giving name of somemetalgibs.mdl. What the hell for dedicated server needs such model :-\ when it shows nothing and this is pure visual thing.

Also annoying is that I can't be sure if map is ok or not in current state, as it can crash server with some combination of plugins. I can't check it on my computer cause it works ok (I dont have any plugins of course).

Well, this is more question to DoD team if there are any plans for increasing this 512 level or at least way of checking if maps will work ok or not. It seems that some of official maps are generationg this error too.

The model limit is about 192. Lay out 300 model barrels, load it up in dod, start counting. You will notice they stop appearing around this #.

And I thought that 400 entities limit is low :-\. -chart says that I have 271 models.
Don't know what it really precaches but 512 unique models and sprites seems quite a lot. My map uses about 20, so it isn't too much. But if HL precaches every copy as uniqie model then it is dumber than I thought :-\.

You can have 400 models, however they stop rendering around 192.

400 limit is about point based entities I think, so I can't have so many models since I have to have some other obligatory PBEs (dod_control_points, etc.).

But problem with "Precache ..." isn't connected with this limit. In case you are talking about engine would not draw more things but run fine. Problem here is that server crashes with this msg and it started since DoD moved to Steam. It seems that Valve added this precache procedure to Steamed version of HL at some update of engine.