Issues with my PC...

C

Chuck Norris

New member
Hey there!

I've got a few problems...

I'm currently playing STALKER: CoP and my rig's performance is really strange. I'm running the game on Static Lighting/medium settings @ 1024x768 and I'm sometimes getting quite a large fps fluctuation. Some times it can be playable quite nicely, but sometimes, it's just utter lag. I'm thinking my CPU is the thing that's making it quite laggy, but I've played the previous games(STALKER: ShoC and STALKER: CS) where game ran silky smooth on Static Lighting.

Well, but that's not the case I'm getting some abnormal performance on desktop as well. I'm playing some mp3 files and they sometimes stutter. 720p video is stuttering as well(this should be processed by GPU, not CPU, right?). Just plain crappy performance. Top of the crown was, when I alt+tab'ed out of the game and got a BSOD.

If you guys noticed, than I made a thread before, where I asked advice on how to clone an HDD. Well, with the old IDE drive it was better, but it was also kinda laggy. I'm thinkin' that's the issue, since I didn't do a full fresh install of Windows. I just cloned it.

Few other facts about my rig... I've actually oc'd my CPU a bit(around 240mhz) on stock volts and stock cooler. It's been running like this for like a 2.5 years or so, if I'm not mistaken. Maybe more, maybe less, not sure. Also, my PSU is around 2 years old, same as my graphics card.

So. Could it be that one or more of those components is failing? Any ideas guys? Any means to locate my problem? Would a fresh install of Windows make it work normally?

BTW, I'm using latest nVidia's drivers, my memory sticks aren't the same, one's a 2GB 533mhz, the other is 512MB 667mhz, if I'm not mistaken, though I didn't really have any issues like this, before the whole HDD swapping thing.

*wooh* This post has gotten a bit longer, than I expected:D So, any help would be appreciated:)
 
have u ran stress tests on your overclock? maybe it needs a bit more volts? there might be a problem with the memory tho if you can cope with takin the 512 stick out and seeing how it runs like that
 
name='thestepster' said:
have u ran stress tests on your overclock? maybe it needs a bit more volts? there might be a problem with the memory tho if you can cope with takin the 512 stick out and seeing how it runs like that
Click to expand...

I haven't run any stress test, but it really didn't have any problems. I'll try with one RAM stick.

Could you give me a link to any stress test?
 
name='thestepster' said:
usually about 8+ hours to tell u if its properly stable, whats the specs of your pc?
Click to expand...

umm... Well, it's an old pc.

AMD Sempron 3000+ 1.6ghz @ 1840mhz

Some ECS AM2 mobo

2.5GB DDR2 mixed RAM(one's a 2GB stick and another one is a 512MB)

GeForce 8600GTS 256MB @stock clocks

Chieftec 450W psu

I think I'm gonna clock the CPU back to it's stock clocks, swap the video card to 7300GS and use only 2GB stick. I'll see, if that does anything...

That'll do for now, since I'm only playing STALKER and will run with those specs as well.

BTW What driver should I use for 7300GS?
 
try and do a cmos reset mate take out the battery on the mobo then put it back in (when the pc's off) take out the one stick of ram and keep the 8600gts in there, run memtest to check ur ram is fine

i thot the 3000+ was 1.8ghz (as the old pc i have has one) so it looks like uve only got a 40mhz overclock

but with further nosing about if it is the 1.6ghz model its the one without the cool and quiet support, speed and throttling and power saving thing
 
name='thestepster' said:
try and do a cmos reset mate take out the battery on the mobo then put it back in (when the pc's off) take out the one stick of ram and keep the 8600gts in there, run memtest to check ur ram is fine

i thot the 3000+ was 1.8ghz (as the old pc i have has one) so it looks like uve only got a 40mhz overclock

but with further nosing about if it is the 1.6ghz model its the one without the cool and quiet support, speed and throttling and power saving thing
Click to expand...

Well, I can reset cmos, with the jumper as well.. Or is it better to do it with battery?

I'm quite sure that it is 1.6ghz model. It's an old pc, I think I got in 2007 and it was the cheapest one in the shop, so they put the worst parts in there. Over the years I upgraded a bit. Got more RAM, new PSU and the 8600GTS.

Also, tomorrow I'm gonna install Windows XP Pro. I'm gonna use Win7, when I'm gonna get an upgrade, or a new rig...
 
you just got xp home? you could find out the clock speed by right clickin my computer and going to properties and a box will pop up with the info in there, all pre-built pc's are made cheap parts to drive down costs and make ppl think they are gettin more computer for the money

as with the cmos u can do it either way its just usually easier to do it with the batteries as the jumpers can be quite tricky to find

u might be able to get a new rig mate cause its mad how cheap intel cpu's can be had second hand these days i only paid £17 for an E2160 and it was a great wee clocker 2.5ghz on stock volts :)
 
name='thestepster' said:
you just got xp home? you could find out the clock speed by right clickin my computer and going to properties and a box will pop up with the info in there, all pre-built pc's are made cheap parts to drive down costs and make ppl think they are gettin more computer for the money

as with the cmos u can do it either way its just usually easier to do it with the batteries as the jumpers can be quite tricky to find

u might be able to get a new rig mate cause its mad how cheap intel cpu's can be had second hand these days i only paid £17 for an E2160 and it was a great wee clocker 2.5ghz on stock volts :)
Click to expand...

I have Win 7 RC at the moment. I downloaded CPU-Z and it's saying 1840mhz as I said. I'm 100% sure that my CPU is 1.6Ghz model. Older Athlon's that were rated 3000+ ran @ 1.8Ghz stock.

I'm gonna clear cmos now, and try things with one RAM stick, later I'll memtest it.

That's the problem dude, I ain't got NO money at all, to do even a simple upgrade. I did see a C2D E6420 CPU and ASUS P5K SE mobo for around 50£+postage in my local currency. If I had the money, I'd buy it. The only thing is that it's an ATX mobo and my case is mATX. So that means, that I'd have to get a new case as well:S
 
yeah thats the thing mate u could get a lower end cpu and a mATX mobo for maybe about the same price or less, i know how it is having no money i dont have a job and all my spare cash goes on gettin pc bits for the second rig every couple of weeks or selling old stuff i dont use anymore to pay for it got my projector and some watercooling bits to shift to get the cash so i can get it up and running

let me know how it goes mate
 
Quick update:

1. Cleared cmos and removed the 512mb stick. CPU is on it's stock 1.6Ghz frequency. Result: PC didn't boot and I had this long beeping. Tried again. nothing.

2. Put the 512mb stick in again. Result: PC booted normally.

3. Removed the 512mb stick AND installed 2GB stick into the second RAM slot. Result: Success! PC booted and working fine.

Seems that the 2GB stick doesn't wanna work in the first memory slot. Gonna run memtest now and I'll report back a bit later. I'm gonna copy all my needed files and install Windows XP tomorrow. I'll leave Prime95 to run all night.
 
sounds like u might have a slightly faulty ram slot :( but let me know how memtest goes and since ur cpu is at stock you wont need to run prime 95, just make sure ya let memtest run for over an hour
 
name='thestepster' said:
sounds like u might have a slightly faulty ram slot :( but let me know how memtest goes and since ur cpu is at stock you wont need to run prime 95, just make sure ya let memtest run for over an hour
Click to expand...

Dunno about it being faulty, I think it's the ram messing about. The 512mb stick doesn't have an issue in that slot, but I'll test the 512mb stick tomorrow, with win xp, since things would be very slow, with 512mb of RAM.

I'll post about the memtest today.
 
name='thestepster' said:
so have you tried to play any games? see if your still gettin any problems?
Click to expand...

Tried STALKER: CoP and it still lags on almost minimum settings, going over to minimum doesn't seem to have any affect...

Well, tomorrow I'll install win xp and see how it goes then...
 
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