BleepingComputer.com: Slow Graphics

I have a brand new GeForce 7300 GT, 512 MB graphics card.
My processor is a 1.8 GHz.
I have 768 MB RAM.
When I play BF2 (Multi-player) it is very choppy and slow.
When I play BF2 single player it gets so bad I can't even play. Its like 2 FPS.
Is this a RAM problem or maybe a processor problem?
I use that computer almost exclusivley for games. I have only downloaded updated drivers and a couple patches for games.
Any Ideas what could be slowing things down?

You may not have a powerful enough PC to play BF2. I would upgrade the RAM and, if possible, the CPU.

IS upgrading a processor similar to upgrading RAM?
I mean, I know what the processor is and how to remove it, I am just not sure how the computer deals with it.
The OS is on the hard drive right?
Upgrading a processor will just make the computer think much faster right?
and how do you know what processors will fit in your motherboard?

Ya your processor is lacking, unless its a core 2 duo. If it's a celeron or sempron, that is the reason why you lag. Can you give us the model of your computer or motherboard if its a custom built. We can then look up the information needed.

EDIT: Oh, and if you put in a new processor, theres no installation needed or anything. Your computer should detect it and then your set.

This post has been edited by Sterling14: 07 August 2007 - 11:19 AM

Quote

You absolutely DO NOT need a C2D for BF2!!!!!!! Pentium D's, and even high end P4's work!

http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html
I STRONGLY suggest that you look at that. You CPU isnt even on the charts!

....but yes, 1.8GHz intel(i assume) is definitely killing it.
RAM, yes, upgrade to about 1-1.5 gig, dual channelled




Ok, what you want to do is get a widget or something that displays how much CPU and RAM BF2 is eating. just alt+tab out, monitor the CPU and RAM for about 3 minutes. Post the results and we can analyze it further

This post has been edited by XilStorm: 07 August 2007 - 01:05 PM

Okay here goes.
I have an Asus P4S800D-X motherboard.
The processor no longer has any markings because of the [gue] that attactches the heat sink.
It shows up as 1.8 GHz in the "easy info" that BF2 analyzes for you.
I know it is old. So upgrade is probably mandatory. I just need to figure out how to tell what kind of processor will fit into my board.
Almost certain its an Intell and not an AMD. (although I have no idea what the difference is)
Its a custom built rig that was bare bones 2 years ago and I have upgraded the power suply, the RAM, and the graphics card. (Geforce 7300).
XilStorm.., I tried that link "http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu.html" but nothing happened.
I will try to get some results with the CPU and RAM consumption next.

I don't know how to record the cpu usage history while the game is going on.(BF2) but the cpu usage started at 79% and then pegged at 100% with very little change (1-2%) for the duration of the time I was running the game.
"PF usage" stayed at 706MB without changing.
I imagine that means my cpu is a 4th grader taking an Advanced Engineering Mathematics exam.
It just can't keep up.
Now I just need to figure out what type of processor fits in my motherboard.

uhhhh ok

the like was tomshardware.com CPU comparison charts.


anyway, according to your motherboard manual, you have:

Intel socket 478. This means you are limited to basically only Pentium 4 chips.
DDR SDRAM - NOT ddr2, so dont even bother trying to get DDR2 ram

OK. I have a bunch of things to consider:

1. Your motherboard socket type is wayyyyyy outdated, not even to mention the fact that it still uses DDR ram.
2. That's ok though.
3. Newegg.com only has 6 processors that are socket 478.
4. The best processor they have is the Pentium 4 prescott. Prescott cores heat up....fast
5. Heating up is bad. In a cost considerative model, it is not worth buying a whole new mobo for your upgrade.
6. Therefore, we will get a cheap Northwood, nonheating core and overclock like hell is set loose.
7. OK. This means 1) to get a fairly cheap northwood that still has speed
2) to get a really nice fan
8. So, here is my processor reccomendation.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16819116215
That is a Northwood 2.8 GHz, 1 whole GHz more than your older one.

As for the fan, I highly reccomend Zalman fans. It's not gonna be cheap, but......
There is no Zalman Fans.

SCythe MINE, second only to the ninja in overclocking and silence:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx...N82E16835185023

...and the manufacturer product page:
http://www.scytheusa.com/product/cpu/023/s...000_detail.html

...just make sure it fints in your case/mobo.


remember, this is all of my reccomendations. Feel free to question and criticize.

I don't know if jumping to overclocking is such a great solution. Unless you want to get on the phone with him and guide him through everything, it's going to be a major pain for him to reboot and go into the bios every time. . .I really think a 2.8 will be fine for his purposes. I have a 2.8 northwood on my rig upstairs. . .Runs halo fine (integrated graphics though, so it looks like crap). I think having the 2.8 will be enough to make the graphics card the limited factor, not the processor.

I appriciate that.
I am not famillliar with how to "overclock" a processor.
When I play BF2 now, if I am off in the corner of the map somewhere and No one else is in visual range the graphics look great!
They are sharp and pretty. And the game runs very smooth.
They stay just as clear when I get into a battle its just that the frame rate drops to unplayable levels.

Question:
How do you get a reading on the temperature of your processr as its running?

Check out speedfan, it'll probably be able to give you readings off of your motherboard and processor.

Ok, maybe OC'ing isnt the solution.....sry, im a fanatic for OC'ing.
I still think that it would help, and most people don't OC through the BIOS, just telling.
Also, I would be happy to assist you in overclocking if you do so choose.

At any rate though, drops in performance when players are on the screen is understandable. The fact that your computer has to render moving figures at real-time (no lag) proves this.

There is still no definite source to the problem. Find an old computer, or a friend's computer that has DDR-400 RAM (it usually says the speed on the side of the stick). DDR-400 will usually work. anyway, see if there is any performance increase.


Alternatively, get Si-soft Sandra, shareware version:
http://www.sisoftware.co.uk/index.html?dir...langx=en&a=

test and post the following, this will give us a better idea where your computer is being bottlenecked:
CPU/FPU (Arithmetic/Floating Point), CPU/XMM (Multi-Media), Video (2D/3D), and Memory (Bandwidth).
Please note that these bechmarks test the system to its maximum range, so your system must be stable.
That said, if you bought it from dell or something like that, you're fine. Heck, you're probably fine if there isnt any physical damage to the parts. Also, make sure to not do anything when the system is benchmarking. This alters the results slightly.



Once we have these benchmarks, we can compare them to see if one part is completely holding back the rest.


Good luck

This post has been edited by XilStorm: 08 August 2007 - 08:38 AM

Well my problems are solved.
I got the cpu that was recomended by you guys.
I also got another 512 of RAM, all for $104.
Now it runs great.
Today I was playing BF2 with the graphics turned all the way up and at the same time my computer ran an anti-virus scan...,
I never even noticed.
It runs great and it looks great.
thanks for all your help.