Ways to tweak my performance

[aabatteries]

I was wondering guys...How can I tweak my cpu performance to make my video games run better. Here's my computer.

700 PIII
128 SDRAM PC133
Maxtor 20 GB 7200 RPM HD
Turtle Beach Montego 2 Sound card
Nvidia TNT2 M64 4xAGP
52xCD
Just put Direct X 8.0

To me it sounds like this system should be able to run a game decently but it's really choppy with video and sometimes stalls during gameplay. Example, I'm a hockey nut, long live the New York Rangers who do bad every season. NHL 2001 runs like poo on it. The video is cruddy and very choppy with more than 3 characters on the screen. I freeze all the time and then the opposing team scores to beat me in overtime. :( I can't win a game because of it! (imagine tears flowing) Anyway....If anyone has a similar system, plays a similar game and can help me get the max out of my computer help would be appreciated!!! Thanks to all!

-aa

[MacGyver]

A computer like that should be able to run NHL 2001 just fine. Are there any other games that you play that exhibit the same symptoms? Have you checked EA's site for any patches for the game? I imagine you've already updated the video drivers multiple times....

BTW, the Rangers don't do bad every season. They did win the Cup in 94. At least -you- have a real excuse for not winning games. :D ;)

[Sowulo]

On some occasions video cards capable of 4xAGP still work better at 2x.

[CobraTekMax]

Originally posted by Sowulo:
On some occasions video cards capable of 4xAGP still work better at 2x.

Agreed. Especially most Nvidia-based cards on a Via chipset on Win2K.

[Darren Wilson]

Originally posted by Cobra MacLeod:
Agreed. Especially most Nvidia-based cards on a Via chipset on Win2K.

Especially as AGP4X is disabled in the drivers on VIA chipsets in Win9x/ME as well.

[CobraTekMax]

Originally posted by Darren Wilson:
Especially as AGP4X is disabled in the drivers on VIA chipsets in Win9x/ME as well.

Yeah, but there are hacks to restore 4X support, and it actually works quite nicely on 9X once enabled, IF you have everything else tweaked just right.

Personally, I think AGP 4X is useless. Even on non-Via based systems, I haven't seen enough of a boost in performance (a couple of FPS) to justify all the hype and hooplah.

[Silverman]

aabatteries, what is the agp aperture set at in bios?

[Larommi]

Originally posted by aabatteries:
I was wondering guys...How can I tweak my cpu performance to make my video games run better. Here's my computer.

700 PIII
128 SDRAM PC133
Maxtor 20 GB 7200 RPM HD
Turtle Beach Montego 2 Sound card
Nvidia TNT2 M64 4xAGP
52xCD
Just put Direct X 8.0

To me it sounds like this system should be able to run a game decently but it's really choppy with video and sometimes stalls during gameplay. Example, I'm a hockey nut, long live the New York Rangers who do bad every season. NHL 2001 runs like poo on it. The video is cruddy and very choppy with more than 3 characters on the screen. I freeze all the time and then the opposing team scores to beat me in overtime. :( I can't win a game because of it! (imagine tears flowing) Anyway....If anyone has a similar system, plays a similar game and can help me get the max out of my computer help would be appreciated!!! Thanks to all!

-aa


What is the screen res set for in the game? Have you tried backing the screen size off? I have some games that are choppy in my machine till I realized that they took my screen size of 11xx by 8xx. When I backed them down to 1024x768 they ran better and I have to run one of my games at 800x600. You can also see what the color setting is and drop that from 32bit to 24 or 16 bit.

[mrdennison]

I recommend upgrading your video card if possible. You might be able to o/c the video and squeeze a little more performance. The problems you described sound video card related and would be cured with a modern video card. A friend upgraded his p3 450 from tnt m64 to geforce2mx and can tell a major difference at all resolutions, particularly 1024*768.

[Kymera]

With a TNT type card, definitely lower res and turn off some of the eye candy. Your video card is choking at that resolution and can't pump out the polygons to keep a smooth framerate. You might also try killing all other memory resident programs before you start your game.