Machine seems slow.

  • Thread starter Thread starter howard
  • Start date Start date
H

howard

My main computer seems slower than it should be. This has been the case
for some time, but when I got the game Ubi for Christmas, I found it
unplayable. I turn everything off and run it when my son's family is by,
but I can't get responses that allow me to move smoothly at all nor do such
needed things as jump over a chasm.

My biggest suspect is my video card - quite often when I turn off my
computer, I get an "End Program" window after Windows cannot close my Nvida
Twin View window. I have a video card with two outputs going to two
monitors.


I need some advice about how to improve my performance.


Running Belarc Advisor, I see:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
933 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
256 Megabytes Installed Memory

Loads of hot fixes.

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 Korea Data Systems Visual Sensation VS-7
[Monitor](15.2" vis, June 1998_
Sony GDM-19PS [Monitor] (18.0"vis...
Aurilium Sound Agent 2 (WDM)
Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
Creative SBLive! Gamport
USB Audio device

I am attached to my DSL modem via a cable modem router.
I have a bunch of USB ports

I have the following software versions:
Abacast, Inc. - Abaclient v1.25f1 *
Address Book Palm Sync Install *
Adobe Reader Version 6.0.0.2003051900 *
AGENTIX Software - SystemReport Utility Version 0.93b *
Alex van Kaam - Motherboard Monitor 5 Version 5.0 *
Apple Computer, Inc. - QuickTime QuickTime 6.3 *
Arcsoft Inc. - PhotoFantasy 2000 Version 2.0a.0000.30 *
ArcSoft PhotoStudio Version 2, 0, 0, 1 *
AWS, Inc.WeatherBug Version 2, 7, 0, 1 *
AWS, Inc.WeatherBug Version 5, 0, 0, 5 *
Belarc, Inc. - BelManage Client Version 6.0m *
Celeris Inc. - Virtual Pool 2 Version 2.1.5.0 *
Cinematronics - 3D Pinball Version 5.1.2600.0 *
Creative Technology Ltd. - AudioHQ Version 1.14.0 *
Decoder Configuration *
DivX Player 2.1 *
Download Driver *
eCOSM - MailWasher Version 3.2 *
eSite Media, Inc. - yEnc32 Version 1.0.0.0 *
Fred's Software - PrintKey Version 5 *
Funduc Software Inc. Dirtkt Version 0, 4, 3, 0 *
GrabIt Version 1.0.0.0 *
Helix Producer Basic 9 from RealNetworks Version 9.0.1.250 *
Hyper Entertainment, Inc. - Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP Version 6.0.08031
*
IDM Computer Solutions, Inc. - UltraEdit-32 Version 9.20.0 *
Iomega Active Disk Version 3, 2, 1, 5 *
Iomega App Services Version 2, 0, 2, 5 *
Iomega imgicon Version 6, 3, 0, 56 *
Iomega refresh Version 4, 0, 1, 0 *
IomegaWare Version 4.0.0 *
Java Web Start *
javaw.exe *
Jordan Russell - If you want to undo changes made by Spybot-S&D, use the
Recovery instead! *
KsL Software - Registry Healer Version 4.2.0.212 *
Launch Dedicated Server on ubi.com *
Leader Technologies - PowerReg Version 1.01 *
Links LS 2000 *
Macromedia, Inc. - Director 8 Shockwave Studio Version 8.0 *
Macromedia, Inc. - Shockwave Flash Version 6,0,21,0 *
MasterSplitter by TomaSoft Corporation Version 4.1a *
Michael Lindell (e-mail address removed) - Screen Saver QuickStart Version
1.1 *
Microsoft (R) .NET Framework Version 1.1.4322.573 *
Microsoft (r) Windows Script Host Version 5.6.0.6626 *
Microsoft - Envelope Manager - Direct Mail Manager Version 2.02.0044 *
Microsoft Clip Gallery Version 5.2.01.0405 *
Microsoft Corp. - LS Tour Version 1.0.0.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 6.00.2800.1106 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Information Services Version 5.1.2600.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 4.7 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 6.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Installer - Unicode Version 2.0.2600.1106 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Journal Viewer Version 1.5.2315.3 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Movie Maker Version 2.0.3312.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows® NetMeeting® Version 3.01 *
Microsoft Corporation - Zone.com Version 1.2.626.1 *
Microsoft Message Queue Version 5.01.1020 *
Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business Edition Version 9.0.1423 *
Microsoft Office 2000 Version 9.0.7924 *
Microsoft Office XP Version 10.0.4622 *
Microsoft Open Database Connectivity Version 3.520.9030.0 *
Microsoft Outlook Version 9.0.6604 *
Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP Version 1.00.01.0732 *
Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows Version 9.0.6620 *
Microsoft Windows Media Player Version 6.4.09.1125 *
Microsoft(R) MSN (R) Communications System Version 7.02.0005.2202 *
Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player Version 9.00.00.2980 *
Microsoft® Access Version 9.0.6620 *
Microsoft® Business Planner Version 1, 0, 0, 1 *
Microsoft® Fax Server Version 5.2.1776.1024 *
Microsoft® Publisher 2000 Version 6.0 Version 6.0 * MindVision - Installer
VISE 2.8.3 Version 2.8.3 *
MindVision Software - Installer VISE Version 3.1.1 *
Mozilla Firebird Version 1.4b: 2003051616 *
Mozilla Version 1.4: 2003062408 *
MSBP_STB.EXE *
MUSICMATCH Jukebox Version 7.10.1070 *
Mystik Media - Blaze Media Pro Version 4.10.0018 *
Nonstop Entertainment - Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP Version 1, 51, 0, 1 *
NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version 45.23 Version 6.14.10.4523 *
NvSkins Application Version 1, 0, 0, 1 *
Opera Internet Browser Version 7.21 *
Optool *
PCCam *
PepiMK Software - Spybot - Search & Destroy Version 1.2.1.0 *
PepiMK Software - SpyBot-S&D Version 1.2 *
PhotoPrinter 2000 *
Play Ghost Recon *
PowerQuest Corporation - Allows you to display and print information about
the partitions on your hard disk. Version 8.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - DataKeeper Version 5,0,0,0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - DriveMapper 5.0 for Windows Version 5.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - Performs hard-disk partitioning on the fly. Version
8.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - PQBoot32 Version 8.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - PQBootWin Version 8.0 *
QBeo Inc. - Dazzle Photo Editor Application Version 2, 0, 0, 0 *
QSound Labs, Inc. - AudioPix Version 1.01.0016 *
QSound Labs, Inc. - Aurilium Sound Agent 2 Version 2.00.7.039 *
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealOne Player (32-bit) Version 0.1.0.1622 *
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealOne Player (32-bit) Version 6.0.11.853 *
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealOne Player (32-bit) Version 7.0.0.1177 *
Registration *
S&H Computer Systems, Inc. 1027-A 17th Ave. South Nashville, TN 37212 USA
615-327-3670 www.NewsRover.com - News Rover Usenet newsreader Version 9, 1,
2, 0 *
SCM Microsystems - Viewer Version 2, 2, 0, 7 *
SCM OnDVD Version 2, 2, 0, 14 *
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION - EPSON Net!2 Version 1.00 *
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION - EPSON Status Monitor 2 Version 2, 0, 0, 0 *
Shortcut to CIV *
Shortcut to CIV2 *
Shortcut to CIV2MAP *
Shortcut to CIV2SCEN *
Sonic Foundry ACID Pro Version 3.0g (Build 365) *
Sonic Solutions - CineTray 2.0 Version 2.0.00.0000 *
Stirling Technologies, Inc. - InstallShield Deinstaller Version 2.20.911.0 *
Sygate Personal Firewall Version 5.00.00.1112 *
Symantec Corporation - LiveUpdate Version 2.0.39.0 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton AntiVirus Version 8.07.17 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton CleanSweep Fast & Safe Cleanup Version 6.01 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton CleanSweep Version 6.01 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Ghost Boot Wizard Version 7.0.0.414 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Ghost Explorer Version 7.0.0.414 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Integrator Version 5.01.05 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Speed Disk Version 6.03.0.36 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Utilities for Windows Version 15.03.0.36 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Utilities Version 15.03.0.36 *
Symantec Corporation - Wipe Info Version 15.03.0.36 *
Symantec ScriptBlocking Version 1, 1, 0, 126 *
Symantec WinFax PRO Version 10.00 *
TechSono Engineering, Inc. - PixMachine2000 Version 1.00.0001 *
TechSono Engineering, Inc. - PixNewsPro Version 1.02.0002 *
Toy Soldiers *
Ubi Soft Entertainment - Game Service 4 Core Version 4, 3, 0, 6 *
USB DSC Version 1, 7, 2, 8 *
UUD32Win Version 2.16 *
WFXSwtch *
WinZip Version 8.1 (4319) *
WinZip Version 8.1 SR-1 (5266) *
Wizards to adjust .NET Framework security, assign trust to assemblies, and
fix broken .NET applications. Version 1.0.5000.0 *
Worlds Apart *
www.spampal.org - SpamPal for Windows Version 1.53 *
Zero G - LaunchAnywhere Version 4.5.2.0 *
 
My main computer seems slower than it should be. This has been the case
for some time, but when I got the game Ubi for Christmas, I found it
unplayable. I turn everything off and run it when my son's family is by,
but I can't get responses that allow me to move smoothly at all nor do such
needed things as jump over a chasm.

My biggest suspect is my video card - quite often when I turn off my
computer, I get an "End Program" window after Windows cannot close my Nvida
Twin View window. I have a video card with two outputs going to two
monitors.


I need some advice about how to improve my performance.


Running Belarc Advisor, I see:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
933 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
256 Megabytes Installed Memory

Loads of hot fixes.

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 Korea Data Systems Visual Sensation VS-7
[Monitor](15.2" vis, June 1998_
Sony GDM-19PS [Monitor] (18.0"vis...
Aurilium Sound Agent 2 (WDM)
Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
Creative SBLive! Gamport
USB Audio device

I am attached to my DSL modem via a cable modem router.
I have a bunch of USB ports
Click to expand...

That's a lot of software, some of which may be running in the
background. Terminate unused OS services and anything unnecessary
running in the background.

I know nothing of "Ubi", but in general your system is now outdated,
slow by gaming standards. The CPU, video card, and amount of system
memory need upgraded.. or rather, there's not much point in adding the
memory since we're talking a complete system rebuild.

Avoid USB audio devices, they use more CPU time than decent
soundcard, especially if any type of special effects or multi-channel
sound is employed in games.

You system would be quite adequate for email/office/'surfing the 'net,
but for gaming it's time to retire it.
 
oh my lord.......these people who think you need the latest and
greatest. bigger better faster more......it's just sad. if my
girlfriend's p2 450 can run todays games without problems, i'm quite
sure yours can, too.

he was right about one thing though. look for startup items and
services that are running uneccesarily. you can do this by checking a
few places, but the easiest is by clicking 'run' and typing msconfig in
the box and looking through each of the services and startup tabs.

you can google for more information regarding msconfig and come up with
a million places to find help in deciding what services are essential
and which ones are junk. as for startup items, most of them are just
programs you've installed that think you need them. you rarely do. but
you can just check or uncheck programs as you go and when you
reboot......see if things go wonkey. if they do, just reverse it with
msconfig and you're good to go.
My main computer seems slower than it should be. This has been the case
for some time, but when I got the game Ubi for Christmas, I found it
unplayable. I turn everything off and run it when my son's family is by,
but I can't get responses that allow me to move smoothly at all nor do such
needed things as jump over a chasm.

My biggest suspect is my video card - quite often when I turn off my
computer, I get an "End Program" window after Windows cannot close my Nvida
Twin View window. I have a video card with two outputs going to two
monitors.


I need some advice about how to improve my performance.


Running Belarc Advisor, I see:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
933 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
256 Megabytes Installed Memory

Loads of hot fixes.

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 Korea Data Systems Visual Sensation VS-7
[Monitor](15.2" vis, June 1998_
Sony GDM-19PS [Monitor] (18.0"vis...
Aurilium Sound Agent 2 (WDM)
Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
Creative SBLive! Gamport
USB Audio device

I am attached to my DSL modem via a cable modem router.
I have a bunch of USB ports
Click to expand...


That's a lot of software, some of which may be running in the
background. Terminate unused OS services and anything unnecessary
running in the background.

I know nothing of "Ubi", but in general your system is now outdated,
slow by gaming standards. The CPU, video card, and amount of system
memory need upgraded.. or rather, there's not much point in adding the
memory since we're talking a complete system rebuild.

Avoid USB audio devices, they use more CPU time than decent
soundcard, especially if any type of special effects or multi-channel
sound is employed in games.

You system would be quite adequate for email/office/'surfing the 'net,
but for gaming it's time to retire it.
Click to expand...
 
Stupid, but try to check a CPU fan for dust plug.

Boba, Vancouver.

My main computer seems slower than it should be. This has been the case
for some time, but when I got the game Ubi for Christmas, I found it
unplayable. I turn everything off and run it when my son's family is by,
but I can't get responses that allow me to move smoothly at all nor do such
needed things as jump over a chasm.

My biggest suspect is my video card - quite often when I turn off my
computer, I get an "End Program" window after Windows cannot close my Nvida
Twin View window. I have a video card with two outputs going to two
monitors.


I need some advice about how to improve my performance.


Running Belarc Advisor, I see:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
933 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
256 Megabytes Installed Memory

Loads of hot fixes.

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 Korea Data Systems Visual Sensation VS-7
[Monitor](15.2" vis, June 1998_
Sony GDM-19PS [Monitor] (18.0"vis...
Aurilium Sound Agent 2 (WDM)
Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
Creative SBLive! Gamport
USB Audio device

I am attached to my DSL modem via a cable modem router.
I have a bunch of USB ports

I have the following software versions:
Abacast, Inc. - Abaclient v1.25f1 *
Address Book Palm Sync Install *
Adobe Reader Version 6.0.0.2003051900 *
AGENTIX Software - SystemReport Utility Version 0.93b *
Alex van Kaam - Motherboard Monitor 5 Version 5.0 *
Apple Computer, Inc. - QuickTime QuickTime 6.3 *
Arcsoft Inc. - PhotoFantasy 2000 Version 2.0a.0000.30 *
ArcSoft PhotoStudio Version 2, 0, 0, 1 *
AWS, Inc.WeatherBug Version 2, 7, 0, 1 *
AWS, Inc.WeatherBug Version 5, 0, 0, 5 *
Belarc, Inc. - BelManage Client Version 6.0m *
Celeris Inc. - Virtual Pool 2 Version 2.1.5.0 *
Cinematronics - 3D Pinball Version 5.1.2600.0 *
Creative Technology Ltd. - AudioHQ Version 1.14.0 *
Decoder Configuration *
DivX Player 2.1 *
Download Driver *
eCOSM - MailWasher Version 3.2 *
eSite Media, Inc. - yEnc32 Version 1.0.0.0 *
Fred's Software - PrintKey Version 5 *
Funduc Software Inc. Dirtkt Version 0, 4, 3, 0 *
GrabIt Version 1.0.0.0 *
Helix Producer Basic 9 from RealNetworks Version 9.0.1.250 *
Hyper Entertainment, Inc. - Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP Version 6.0.08031
*
IDM Computer Solutions, Inc. - UltraEdit-32 Version 9.20.0 *
Iomega Active Disk Version 3, 2, 1, 5 *
Iomega App Services Version 2, 0, 2, 5 *
Iomega imgicon Version 6, 3, 0, 56 *
Iomega refresh Version 4, 0, 1, 0 *
IomegaWare Version 4.0.0 *
Java Web Start *
javaw.exe *
Jordan Russell - If you want to undo changes made by Spybot-S&D, use the
Recovery instead! *
KsL Software - Registry Healer Version 4.2.0.212 *
Launch Dedicated Server on ubi.com *
Leader Technologies - PowerReg Version 1.01 *
Links LS 2000 *
Macromedia, Inc. - Director 8 Shockwave Studio Version 8.0 *
Macromedia, Inc. - Shockwave Flash Version 6,0,21,0 *
MasterSplitter by TomaSoft Corporation Version 4.1a *
Michael Lindell (e-mail address removed) - Screen Saver QuickStart Version
1.1 *
Microsoft (R) .NET Framework Version 1.1.4322.573 *
Microsoft (r) Windows Script Host Version 5.6.0.6626 *
Microsoft - Envelope Manager - Direct Mail Manager Version 2.02.0044 *
Microsoft Clip Gallery Version 5.2.01.0405 *
Microsoft Corp. - LS Tour Version 1.0.0.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 6.00.2800.1106 *
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Information Services Version 5.1.2600.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 4.7 *
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 6.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Installer - Unicode Version 2.0.2600.1106 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Journal Viewer Version 1.5.2315.3 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows Movie Maker Version 2.0.3312.0 *
Microsoft Corporation - Windows® NetMeeting® Version 3.01 *
Microsoft Corporation - Zone.com Version 1.2.626.1 *
Microsoft Message Queue Version 5.01.1020 *
Microsoft Office 2000 Small Business Edition Version 9.0.1423 *
Microsoft Office 2000 Version 9.0.7924 *
Microsoft Office XP Version 10.0.4622 *
Microsoft Open Database Connectivity Version 3.520.9030.0 *
Microsoft Outlook Version 9.0.6604 *
Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP Version 1.00.01.0732 *
Microsoft PowerPoint for Windows Version 9.0.6620 *
Microsoft Windows Media Player Version 6.4.09.1125 *
Microsoft(R) MSN (R) Communications System Version 7.02.0005.2202 *
Microsoft(R) Windows Media Player Version 9.00.00.2980 *
Microsoft® Access Version 9.0.6620 *
Microsoft® Business Planner Version 1, 0, 0, 1 *
Microsoft® Fax Server Version 5.2.1776.1024 *
Microsoft® Publisher 2000 Version 6.0 Version 6.0 * MindVision - Installer
VISE 2.8.3 Version 2.8.3 *
MindVision Software - Installer VISE Version 3.1.1 *
Mozilla Firebird Version 1.4b: 2003051616 *
Mozilla Version 1.4: 2003062408 *
MSBP_STB.EXE *
MUSICMATCH Jukebox Version 7.10.1070 *
Mystik Media - Blaze Media Pro Version 4.10.0018 *
Nonstop Entertainment - Microsoft Plus! for Windows XP Version 1, 51, 0, 1 *
NVIDIA Driver Helper Service, Version 45.23 Version 6.14.10.4523 *
NvSkins Application Version 1, 0, 0, 1 *
Opera Internet Browser Version 7.21 *
Optool *
PCCam *
PepiMK Software - Spybot - Search & Destroy Version 1.2.1.0 *
PepiMK Software - SpyBot-S&D Version 1.2 *
PhotoPrinter 2000 *
Play Ghost Recon *
PowerQuest Corporation - Allows you to display and print information about
the partitions on your hard disk. Version 8.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - DataKeeper Version 5,0,0,0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - DriveMapper 5.0 for Windows Version 5.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - Performs hard-disk partitioning on the fly. Version
8.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - PQBoot32 Version 8.0.0.0 *
PowerQuest Corporation - PQBootWin Version 8.0 *
QBeo Inc. - Dazzle Photo Editor Application Version 2, 0, 0, 0 *
QSound Labs, Inc. - AudioPix Version 1.01.0016 *
QSound Labs, Inc. - Aurilium Sound Agent 2 Version 2.00.7.039 *
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealOne Player (32-bit) Version 0.1.0.1622 *
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealOne Player (32-bit) Version 6.0.11.853 *
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealOne Player (32-bit) Version 7.0.0.1177 *
Registration *
S&H Computer Systems, Inc. 1027-A 17th Ave. South Nashville, TN 37212 USA
615-327-3670 www.NewsRover.com - News Rover Usenet newsreader Version 9, 1,
2, 0 *
SCM Microsystems - Viewer Version 2, 2, 0, 7 *
SCM OnDVD Version 2, 2, 0, 14 *
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION - EPSON Net!2 Version 1.00 *
SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION - EPSON Status Monitor 2 Version 2, 0, 0, 0 *
Shortcut to CIV *
Shortcut to CIV2 *
Shortcut to CIV2MAP *
Shortcut to CIV2SCEN *
Sonic Foundry ACID Pro Version 3.0g (Build 365) *
Sonic Solutions - CineTray 2.0 Version 2.0.00.0000 *
Stirling Technologies, Inc. - InstallShield Deinstaller Version 2.20.911.0 *
Sygate Personal Firewall Version 5.00.00.1112 *
Symantec Corporation - LiveUpdate Version 2.0.39.0 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton AntiVirus Version 8.07.17 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton CleanSweep Fast & Safe Cleanup Version 6.01 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton CleanSweep Version 6.01 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Ghost Boot Wizard Version 7.0.0.414 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Ghost Explorer Version 7.0.0.414 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Integrator Version 5.01.05 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Speed Disk Version 6.03.0.36 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Utilities for Windows Version 15.03.0.36 *
Symantec Corporation - Norton Utilities Version 15.03.0.36 *
Symantec Corporation - Wipe Info Version 15.03.0.36 *
Symantec ScriptBlocking Version 1, 1, 0, 126 *
Symantec WinFax PRO Version 10.00 *
TechSono Engineering, Inc. - PixMachine2000 Version 1.00.0001 *
TechSono Engineering, Inc. - PixNewsPro Version 1.02.0002 *
Toy Soldiers *
Ubi Soft Entertainment - Game Service 4 Core Version 4, 3, 0, 6 *
USB DSC Version 1, 7, 2, 8 *
UUD32Win Version 2.16 *
WFXSwtch *
WinZip Version 8.1 (4319) *
WinZip Version 8.1 SR-1 (5266) *
Wizards to adjust .NET Framework security, assign trust to assemblies, and
fix broken .NET applications. Version 1.0.5000.0 *
Worlds Apart *
www.spampal.org - SpamPal for Windows Version 1.53 *
Zero G - LaunchAnywhere Version 4.5.2.0 *
Click to expand...
 
oh my lord.......these people who think you need the latest and
greatest. bigger better faster more......it's just sad. if my
girlfriend's p2 450 can run todays games without problems, i'm quite
sure yours can, too.
Click to expand...

LOL

Keep dreaming.
 
Xanophile said:
oh my lord.......these people who think you need the latest and
greatest. bigger better faster more......it's just sad. if my
girlfriend's p2 450 can run todays games without problems, i'm quite
sure yours can, too.

he was right about one thing though. look for startup items and
services that are running uneccesarily. you can do this by checking a
few places, but the easiest is by clicking 'run' and typing msconfig in
the box and looking through each of the services and startup tabs.

you can google for more information regarding msconfig and come up with
a million places to find help in deciding what services are essential
and which ones are junk. as for startup items, most of them are just
programs you've installed that think you need them. you rarely do. but
you can just check or uncheck programs as you go and when you
reboot......see if things go wonkey. if they do, just reverse it with
msconfig and you're good to go.
My main computer seems slower than it should be. This has been the case
for some time, but when I got the game Ubi for Christmas, I found it
unplayable. I turn everything off and run it when my son's family is by,
but I can't get responses that allow me to move smoothly at all nor do such
needed things as jump over a chasm.

My biggest suspect is my video card - quite often when I turn off my
computer, I get an "End Program" window after Windows cannot close my Nvida
Twin View window. I have a video card with two outputs going to two
monitors.


I need some advice about how to improve my performance.


Running Belarc Advisor, I see:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
933 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
256 Megabytes Installed Memory

Loads of hot fixes.

NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 440 Korea Data Systems Visual Sensation VS-7
[Monitor](15.2" vis, June 1998_
Sony GDM-19PS [Monitor] (18.0"vis...
Aurilium Sound Agent 2 (WDM)
Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
Creative SBLive! Gamport
USB Audio device

I am attached to my DSL modem via a cable modem router.
I have a bunch of USB ports
Click to expand...


That's a lot of software, some of which may be running in the
background. Terminate unused OS services and anything unnecessary
running in the background.

I know nothing of "Ubi", but in general your system is now outdated,
slow by gaming standards. The CPU, video card, and amount of system
memory need upgraded.. or rather, there's not much point in adding the
memory since we're talking a complete system rebuild.

Avoid USB audio devices, they use more CPU time than decent
soundcard, especially if any type of special effects or multi-channel
sound is employed in games.

You system would be quite adequate for email/office/'surfing the 'net,
but for gaming it's time to retire it.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
I would suggest a few easy things more:
- Clean up your Internet Temp files and cookies (Internet
Explorer>Tools>Internet Options>Delete Cookies, Delet files (including
offline content).
- Defrag your hard disk.
- Upgrade your memory to 512 MB (256 MB is practically not enough to run XP
plus your apps smoothly).
 
Xanophile said:
oh my lord.......these people who think you need the latest and
greatest. bigger better faster more......it's just sad. if my
girlfriend's p2 450 can run todays games without problems, i'm quite
sure yours can, too.
Click to expand...

LOL. Exactly what do you call "today's games" ?
 
Graeme said:
LOL. Exactly what do you call "today's games" ?
Click to expand...

I have six games and the ~minimum~ CPU requirements don't go below 600MHz!

Tony.

--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz
 
and that means......well......it pretty much means nothing.

minimum system requirements are pretty much the lowest spec'd system
they tried it on. or had handy. your choice. that don't mean it won't
run if you don't use what they tell you to.

you'd be amazed at the tricks you can pull from an old hat. or go waste
your money on things you don't need. again......your choice.
 
Noozer said:
Doom, Commander Keen, Castle Wolfenstien 3D... You know. All the GOOD
games!
Click to expand...

Ah, some good memories there. I think I'll actually get my old Keen out and
see if it still runs.
 
Xanophile said:
and that means......well......it pretty much means nothing.

minimum system requirements are pretty much the lowest spec'd system
they tried it on. or had handy. your choice. that don't mean it won't
run if you don't use what they tell you to.

you'd be amazed at the tricks you can pull from an old hat. or go waste
your money on things you don't need. again......your choice.
Click to expand...

Do you think the attitude of game software developers would be so casual with the minimum requirements given
that the lower the advertised minimum requirements, the bigger the potential market?

Tony.

--
3GHz P4 (HT enabled)
Asus P4C800-E Deluxe
PDC20378 IDE/SATA controller
ADI AD1985 audio
MSI FX5900U-VTD256 (BIOS 4.35.20.22.0)
2x 512MB Kingston PC3500
2x 36.7 SATA WD Raptors
52/32/52 LiteOn CD-Writer
16x Pioneer DVD-120S
Enermax 550W PSU
Windows XP Pro & Linux Fedora
PC-70 Lian Li case w/ side window
Hitachi 174SXW B 17" LCD

To email me, replace org.nz with net.nz
 
My main computer seems slower than it should be. This has been the case
for some time, but when I got the game Ubi for Christmas, I found it
unplayable. I turn everything off and run it when my son's family is by,
but I can't get responses that allow me to move smoothly at all nor do such
needed things as jump over a chasm.

My biggest suspect is my video card - quite often when I turn off my
computer, I get an "End Program" window after Windows cannot close my Nvida
Twin View window. I have a video card with two outputs going to two
monitors.


I need some advice about how to improve my performance.


Running Belarc Advisor, I see:

Windows XP Professional Service Pack 1 (build 2600)
933 megahertz Intel Pentium III
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
256 Megabytes Installed Memory
Click to expand...

As Primary and Secondary cache are built into the CPU, they're not
really worth mentioning, but system memory is another matter.

My first suggestion would be to up the installed memory from 256Megs
to at LEAST 512megs. Some games list a *minimum* of 256megs, but
there will be a lot of swapping, which will slow down performance
rediculously. Considering some of the software you're running,
running 1Gigabyte isn't unheard of as I notice there are a couple of
photo/graphics editing programs in there. Those are notorious for
heavy memory usage.

The GeForce4 MX440 video card may not be the most favored video card,
but its performance is actually pretty decent. It may not be shader
capable, but it certainly has enough punch for any game where you can
turn off shaders.

I also notice that you've got a fairly long laundry list of programs.
Some of which, seem to duplicate functionality, and even a couple of
instances where you've installed different versions of the same
program. Firebird, for example, is the pre-release test version for
the browser component of the Mozilla suite.

If you don't need them, you might want to consider paring it down to
necessities. Certainly, you should disable any unnecessary features
that involve having something in the system tray. If you need it
fine, but really, those quickstart loaders that have become popular?
They eat up resources even when you're not running the program, and
they'll save you maybe 1 or 2 seconds on load times. Hardly worth it
IMO.

<SNIP - really long list of installed software>
 
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