Slow Computer Problems

by DEAD_BEEF Apr 16, 2007 8:58PM PDT

Greetings. I'm having a slow computer issue that I'm unsure of how to fix.

I bought a new computer game the other day (Heroes of Might & Magic V). I figured my new computer shouldn't have any issues running it. I received a game for Christmas (Neverwinter Nights 2) and thought the same thing about that game. But it turned out I had and am still having serious issues with the computer. Anmd am finding I am having these issues with it in general.

My computer is running extremely slow all of a sudden. Moreso now than it has in the past. The specs on my computer (emachine W3503) are as follows: 3.3Ghz Processor, 512MB of ram, 80GB HD, and I'm running my internet on DSL (came with an ATI Radeon Express 200 integrated chip. Most of the specs for my computer greatly outdo the recommended specs for the game:

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Supported OS: Windows 2000/XP (only) (XP Recommended) I have XP Pro
Processor: 1.5 GHz P iV or AMD Athlon (2.4GHz recommended) I have a Celeron D 3.3GHz proc.
RAM: 512 MB I have 512 MB
Sound Card: DirectX9.0c or higher Have
DirectX Version: DX 9.0c or higher Have
CD-ROM: 12x CD-ROM No problemo there
Hard Drive Space: 2GB free Np there
blah blah blah...
*********************************************************************

I tried running the game. It's playable, but the frame rate is very low, and annoying. I tried lowering the video options, and it helped...a bit. I didn't know what kind of deal the Radeon Xpress 200 video chip was, so I looked it up and found out it's 64MB. I said ewww and took the card out of my other comp and plugged IT in:

(computer specs show it twice, listed as these. Not sure why it's listed twice, but I disabled the Xpress 200 chip

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Name RADEON 9200 PRO Family (Microsoft Corporation)

Name RADEON 9200 PRO SEC Family (Microsoft Corporation)
*********************************************************************

Under Memory it shows:

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Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 51.27 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
*********************************************************************

Not sure if the amount of "available memory" being a low number of the overall memory has to do with anything, since I'm not very computer savvy. maybe it's normal...?

Anyway, since around the time I added the new card my computer's run extra slow. Especially the framerate.

My question(s) is(are) thus: Is there something I need to do/adjust to get my computer up to the speed it should be running? Is there not enough ram? Is the video card not good enough/right type? I bought this nice computer to be able to play the better games on, but it doesn't seem to be doing its job. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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by DEAD_BEEF May 13, 2007 8:50AM PDT

Well so much for help with this problem here...

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It's the 9200 PRO

by r. proffitt Former Forum moderator May 13, 2007 10:13AM PDT

That's an entry level card. Sorry for the delay but all this is volunteer efforts.

Bob

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bottleneck

by drudgetoiler May 13, 2007 1:20PM PDT

you got the right comp looks like ur only bottleneck is tha graphics card memory or the RAM
since most games use ram off graphics first get a better graphics card..

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thx

by DEAD_BEEF May 14, 2007 5:18AM PDT

Thanks

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well...

by marcelomdsc May 14, 2007 6:44AM PDT

first of all, with 512mb of ram, you wont be able to play any good game well, note that what all software apps, games or operating system or programs...whatever...when they say minimun requirement 512mb of ram, that means the game should run with 512 but it wont run very well, is just marketing.
Besides if you have integrated graphics, you are sharing your ram with the integrated graphics.

If you want to be able to play in your pc, you should add at least 512 of ram, to have a full gig in total, and probably get a better graphics card.
I'm asumnig you have a desktop pc.

Besides, I used to play in my laptop that had pretty much the same stuff as yours, and it started slowing down more and more, and it eventually stoped working, luckily as it was stil in warranty, i got it repaired and i bought a ps2, for 130 bucks, instead of buying a new computer, as laptops cant be upgraded, at least most of them.

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blah

by DEAD_BEEF May 14, 2007 10:06AM PDT

Ok all this explains the choppy game, but not why my computer was running extremely slow in general. ie. simply surfing the net. Web pages were loading very slowly, and the framerate was horrible. This was while I had the 256MB card in. When I took it out and reverted back to the 64MB integrated chip, it was alright. I just wanted to at least have a better vid card.

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Review and verify

by Willy May 29, 2007 10:56PM PDT

When you had the 9200 installed, did you check to see if the video was running from it? Further, checking it *maybe* actually dual video installed and thus the slow system, you may not see dual display because you have only 1 display to view from. Under most video setting via the vendor in control panel, it can switch from one to the other, regardless i suggest you truly disable the one you don't want active if so found, verify that. To disable review the bios(check manual), then disable or set ram to 0(zero).

tada -----Willy

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Also...

by Willy May 29, 2007 11:02PM PDT

Disable under the system control panel un the device manager as well, if its listed. -----Willy

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Thats a nice computer

by william551 May 30, 2007 1:47AM PDT

But you should see if you can upgrade some of the components. Go to tigerdirect.com or newegg and see if you can get a half decent video card and sound card and more ram (preferably a gig). Make sure you know which kind of equipment to get. Maybe go to the emachine web support site and ask their technical support. For video cards there are AGP cards, PCIexpress cards, and PCI cards. Make sure you price the right kind. A sound card is just like a graphics card. Games nowadays use "direct sound" and its better if they have their own cards with their own processors. The ram is good to have for any game.

Also, if you notice that your computer is all of a sudden slow even not playing the game, there are routine maintenance things you can do to improve the performance. There's a program on this website called ccleaner.exe thats free and will clean up all the junk from your hard drive. It'll also fix up the registry for you. You should also defrag your hard drive. If you have DSL and any of these games are online games, you might want to check for spyware and viruses at ewido.com. Its free there too. I generally don't play online games because there are a bunch of ways for people to get into your system and mess things up. I'll play the single user games.

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