Low FPS

Dkemble · 12-29-2007, 10:59 PM

So in several games (WoW, BF2142, Orange Box, World in Conflict) I'm having trouble maintaining my FPS. Ex:

WoW. FPS starts out 100+, then goes down to 30-40 FPS then bounces between 40-60 FPS in non populated areas (beginning areas)
BF: Just is slow period.
Orange Box: In TF2, runs at normal speed, then all of a sudden FPS takes a crash in non-graphic intensive situations
WiC: runs slow.

My specs are as followed

Mobo: Asus P5L MX
CPU: Intel Pentium D 820 @ 2.8GHz
GPU: GeForce 7600 GT 256mb
Ram: 2GB
Running XP w/ sp2

Have the current GPU driver.

Any suggestions?

If it makes any difference my HDD is in two partitions, one 20gb one 300 gb...

**emosun** · 12-30-2007, 04:29 AM

Welcome to TSf. What is your system voltages and temperatures? If you need a program to view them download speedfan in my sig and post back.

supermep · 12-30-2007, 10:17 AM

What kind of ram is that and speed?

Are you willing at all to upgrade your video card?

Dkemble · 12-30-2007, 12:12 PM

Thank you.

According to speedfan:
Vcore: 1.27V
+12v: 12.51V
AVcc: 3.39V

System running @ 52C, cpu running @ 45C

For the person asking about the ram (Taken off Everest)
DIMM1: Kingston 1 GB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (5.0-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)

DIMM3: PNY Tech. 1 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5.0-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz)

I don't know if that is what you wanted..

If it's the videocard, then so be it, but I thought it wouldn't have problems running the games I listed.

**pharoah** · 12-30-2007, 12:16 PM

try memtest sometimes ram of different brands dont play well together.

supermep · 12-30-2007, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pharoah

try memtest sometimes ram of different brands dont play well together.

I agree. RAM never tends to like being mixed. Unlike the warning about mixing batteries this one is true.

It is in my experience that BF 2142 is a big resource hog. The jumps in WoW are surprising however.

How are your settings in the NVIDIA control panel?

Under "Adjust image settings with preview" How is it set?

Dkemble · 12-30-2007, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supermep

I agree. RAM never tends to like being mixed. Unlike the warning about mixing batteries this one is true.

It is in my experience that BF 2142 is a big resource hog. The jumps in WoW are surprising however.

How are your settings in the NVIDIA control panel?

Under "Adjust image settings with preview" How is it set?

So should I take out one of the sticks and see if it helps? To me it seems counter-intuitive that taking away ram would boost performance.

Under the image setting it says "use my preference emphasizing performance".

supermep · 12-30-2007, 04:53 PM

In most cases you would never take out ram to improve performance but when you mix ram's that can cause some instability.

Another idea for you:

Check your paging file size. Is it at a decent size?

It should be about the size of 1.5x your current ram.

512 megs of ram 820ish paging file. etc.

Control Panel>System>Advanced Tab>Performance Settings>Advanced Tab>Change

From there you can modify as needed.

Dkemble · 12-30-2007, 05:20 PM

I'll check that in a few minutes

So like I mentioned before my hdd is in two partitions (one 20gb one 300...xp didn't recognize the whole hdd so I had to make a 20gb partition and install it on that and format the other partition). I install my game files and stuff on the big partition. It has a size for the c: (20 gb partition) but not one for the E:. Would that be a problem?

By the way, thanks for the help so far everyone.

supermep · 12-30-2007, 05:28 PM

I've never heard of a problem based on the windows setup. Mine is like this:

Maxstor 40 gig drive 15 gigs for my C: partition (windows, programs like word etc)
then 25 gigs G: partition (games etc)
V: 120 gigs seperate drive (more games/movies/music)

No problems here.

Let us know about the paging file.

**emosun** · 12-30-2007, 05:39 PM

If all else fails check the video card temperature to see if it is overheating which would explain slowly looseing graphics power.

supermep · 12-30-2007, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emosun

If all else fails check the video card temperature to see if it is overheating which would explain slowly looseing graphics power.

On that note also check to see if your motherboard/cpu aren't overheating as well. Check airflow and ventilation.

Dkemble · 12-30-2007, 05:56 PM

What would be a normal temp for the computer?

supermep · 12-30-2007, 06:02 PM

Do you have your motherboard's manual? The manual would also be online at the ASUS website. It would state the acceptable temperatures.

**emosun** · 12-30-2007, 06:35 PM

130 f would be the maximum for that cpu before it starts to loose speed. I have the same one.

Dkemble · 12-30-2007, 07:39 PM

After looking through the mobo manual I couldn't find the appropriate temps for it..but everything (sys, cpu and core) is running between 55-60C.

I did remove one of the sticks of ram and it *might* be a bit more stable. WoW maintained a constant range of fps, and TF2 seemed to run stable...but it was only a quick 5 min run through for both.

**emosun** · 12-30-2007, 07:48 PM

What are the temp after you play the game?

supermep · 12-30-2007, 08:29 PM

If you do a more extensive test to find they are indeed more stable then it was definitely the stick of ram! If you want to replace it make sure the new one is a kingston as well.

12-29-2007, 10:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Dkemble Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Low FPS So in several games (WoW, BF2142, Orange Box, World in Conflict) I'm having trouble maintaining my FPS. Ex: WoW. FPS starts out 100+, then goes down to 30-40 FPS then bounces between 40-60 FPS in non populated areas (beginning areas) BF: Just is slow period. Orange Box: In TF2, runs at normal speed, then all of a sudden FPS takes a crash in non-graphic intensive situations WiC: runs slow. My specs are as followed Mobo: Asus P5L MX CPU: Intel Pentium D 820 @ 2.8GHz GPU: GeForce 7600 GT 256mb Ram: 2GB Running XP w/ sp2 Have the current GPU driver. Any suggestions? If it makes any difference my HDD is in two partitions, one 20gb one 300 gb...

12-30-2007, 04:29 AM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,973 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Low FPS Welcome to TSf. What is your system voltages and temperatures? If you need a program to view them download speedfan in my sig and post back. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

12-30-2007, 10:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
supermep Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 254 OS: winxp	Re: Low FPS What kind of ram is that and speed? Are you willing at all to upgrade your video card?

12-30-2007, 12:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
Dkemble Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Low FPS Thank you. According to speedfan: Vcore: 1.27V +12v: 12.51V AVcc: 3.39V System running @ 52C, cpu running @ 45C For the person asking about the ram (Taken off Everest) DIMM1: Kingston 1 GB DDR2-533 DDR2 SDRAM (5.0-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz) DIMM3: PNY Tech. 1 GB DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM (5.0-5-5-15 @ 333 MHz) (4.0-4-4-12 @ 266 MHz) (3.0-3-3-9 @ 200 MHz) I don't know if that is what you wanted.. If it's the videocard, then so be it, but I thought it wouldn't have problems running the games I listed.

12-30-2007, 12:16 PM	#5 (permalink)
pharoah TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 5,188 OS: vista business edition My System	Re: Low FPS try memtest sometimes ram of different brands dont play well together. __________________ Follow These Steps First Power Supply Selection Posting System Specs Oblivion Tweak Guide Video Drivers& Information TSF folding at home team 85015

12-30-2007, 04:53 PM	#8 (permalink)
supermep Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 254 OS: winxp	Re: Low FPS In most cases you would never take out ram to improve performance but when you mix ram's that can cause some instability. Another idea for you: Check your paging file size. Is it at a decent size? It should be about the size of 1.5x your current ram. 512 megs of ram 820ish paging file. etc. Control Panel>System>Advanced Tab>Performance Settings>Advanced Tab>Change From there you can modify as needed.

12-30-2007, 05:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
Dkemble Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Low FPS I'll check that in a few minutes So like I mentioned before my hdd is in two partitions (one 20gb one 300...xp didn't recognize the whole hdd so I had to make a 20gb partition and install it on that and format the other partition). I install my game files and stuff on the big partition. It has a size for the c: (20 gb partition) but not one for the E:. Would that be a problem? By the way, thanks for the help so far everyone.

12-30-2007, 05:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
supermep Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 254 OS: winxp	Re: Low FPS I've never heard of a problem based on the windows setup. Mine is like this: Maxstor 40 gig drive 15 gigs for my C: partition (windows, programs like word etc) then 25 gigs G: partition (games etc) V: 120 gigs seperate drive (more games/movies/music) No problems here. Let us know about the paging file.

12-30-2007, 05:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,973 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Low FPS If all else fails check the video card temperature to see if it is overheating which would explain slowly looseing graphics power. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

12-30-2007, 05:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
Dkemble Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Low FPS What would be a normal temp for the computer?

12-30-2007, 06:02 PM	#14 (permalink)
supermep Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 254 OS: winxp	Re: Low FPS Do you have your motherboard's manual? The manual would also be online at the ASUS website. It would state the acceptable temperatures.

12-30-2007, 06:35 PM	#15 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,973 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Low FPS 130 f would be the maximum for that cpu before it starts to loose speed. I have the same one. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

12-30-2007, 07:39 PM	#16 (permalink)
Dkemble Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 6 OS: XP	Re: Low FPS After looking through the mobo manual I couldn't find the appropriate temps for it..but everything (sys, cpu and core) is running between 55-60C. I did remove one of the sticks of ram and it might be a bit more stable. WoW maintained a constant range of fps, and TF2 seemed to run stable...but it was only a quick 5 min run through for both.

12-30-2007, 07:48 PM	#17 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 6,973 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Low FPS What are the temp after you play the game? __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

12-30-2007, 08:29 PM	#18 (permalink)
supermep Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Phoenix Posts: 254 OS: winxp	Re: Low FPS If you do a more extensive test to find they are indeed more stable then it was definitely the stick of ram! If you want to replace it make sure the new one is a kingston as well.