A troubling conundrum [EVGA GTX 260]

shmef · 11-03-2009, 10:29 PM

Today's video games are fantastic, nay? We can do everything with such startling realism, I'm almost afraid to move in a game because it feels like the pretty graphics will all go away!

But all besides the point. My system is running a GTX 260, which though not the best card on the market, it certainly isn't underpowered, and have up until this point preformed beautifully. I can run most games on max settings (Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2, Far Cry 2, Borderlands, etc.) with almost 0 hangup, except for some situations in Far Cry.

But, upon my booting up of the Left 4 Dead 2 demo, I noticed something odd. After the first map loaded, and it did that swoop into the back of characters head thing, I noticed it had a significant lag. An almost slo-motion feel too it, like my movements were all delayed. I thought "hm... must just be because it's all brand-spanking new", but then realized this was the Source engine we're talking about. It's hardly new tech (2004 right?), even with the HDR addons and the like, so it seemed strange that it would suddenly make my system beg for Crysis-like mercy.

To make sure, I booted up the old Left 4 Dead, and alas! It was the same thing, lagging like a buggar. I tried TF2, and obtained the same effect. Now, I'm not sure if my drivers are outdated, maybe it's overheating (doesn't seem like the way it would react though), or maybe I'm having power issues, but the sudden frame-rate fail is kind of disheartening for a graphics card that's supposed to be marginally better than average and roughly the size of a shoe-box. Anyone else have slow-downs occur where they used to ought not to?

AsRock PTwin mobo
Intel Quad Core 2.44 @ ghz
4gb G. Skill Ram
Corsair 750watt PSU
Tuniq Tower 120 CPU cooler
nVidia (EVGA) GTX 260
500gb WD 7200rpm HD

**emosun** · 11-03-2009, 10:36 PM

Since it's lagging in simple or older games and not others , it probably just a software issue. Check your temps for the card , cpu , ect... Also make sure windows is updated and that you are not running any other tasks , this means virus scanners , firewalls , messengers , ect.. Also wouldn't hurt trying various driver versions.

shmef · 11-04-2009, 12:32 AM

Not sure what it ended up being in the end, just did a few restarts and it's good as new! Even runs L4D2 as it should... thanks for the advice though, I'll be sure to try that if it crops up again!

11-03-2009, 10:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
shmef Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 90 OS: Vista SP2 My System	A troubling conundrum [EVGA GTX 260] Today's video games are fantastic, nay? We can do everything with such startling realism, I'm almost afraid to move in a game because it feels like the pretty graphics will all go away! But all besides the point. My system is running a GTX 260, which though not the best card on the market, it certainly isn't underpowered, and have up until this point preformed beautifully. I can run most games on max settings (Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2, Far Cry 2, Borderlands, etc.) with almost 0 hangup, except for some situations in Far Cry. But, upon my booting up of the Left 4 Dead 2 demo, I noticed something odd. After the first map loaded, and it did that swoop into the back of characters head thing, I noticed it had a significant lag. An almost slo-motion feel too it, like my movements were all delayed. I thought "hm... must just be because it's all brand-spanking new", but then realized this was the Source engine we're talking about. It's hardly new tech (2004 right?), even with the HDR addons and the like, so it seemed strange that it would suddenly make my system beg for Crysis-like mercy. To make sure, I booted up the old Left 4 Dead, and alas! It was the same thing, lagging like a buggar. I tried TF2, and obtained the same effect. Now, I'm not sure if my drivers are outdated, maybe it's overheating (doesn't seem like the way it would react though), or maybe I'm having power issues, but the sudden frame-rate fail is kind of disheartening for a graphics card that's supposed to be marginally better than average and roughly the size of a shoe-box. Anyone else have slow-downs occur where they used to ought not to? AsRock PTwin mobo Intel Quad Core 2.44 @ ghz 4gb G. Skill Ram Corsair 750watt PSU Tuniq Tower 120 CPU cooler nVidia (EVGA) GTX 260 500gb WD 7200rpm HD

11-03-2009, 10:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,034 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: A troubling conundrum [EVGA GTX 260] Since it's lagging in simple or older games and not others , it probably just a software issue. Check your temps for the card , cpu , ect... Also make sure windows is updated and that you are not running any other tasks , this means virus scanners , firewalls , messengers , ect.. Also wouldn't hurt trying various driver versions. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

11-04-2009, 12:32 AM	#3 (permalink)
shmef Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 90 OS: Vista SP2 My System	Re: A troubling conundrum [EVGA GTX 260] Not sure what it ended up being in the end, just did a few restarts and it's good as new! Even runs L4D2 as it should... thanks for the advice though, I'll be sure to try that if it crops up again!