i need computer help

[BlackVolgan]

i'm a gamer, but i'm not a computer person. I dont know what parts do what, i just play the fucking game. But that being said, i have a problem that maybe you guys could help with?

Only sort of recently i have been getting really pathetic frames per second on tf2 and cs. They are the only games ive been playing lately so the issue could also be with games outside of steam.

I never had this problem before. I could run it easily with the graphics on high and smooth fps. Dunno why its just decided to shit on me now. Ive done virus checks and my pc is clean.

here are my specs from dxdiag...

Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.071023-1545)

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU @ 2.40GHz (4 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 2046MB RAM
DirectX Version: DirectX 10
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GTS
Display Memory: 1375 MB
Dedicated Memory: 608 MB
Shared Memory: 767 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)

if anyone could help, much credit to you. thanks

[Corpse]

What name do you use on TF2?,
I want to stab you in the back multiple times with a spy.

[Eldaran]

Your specs could run 4 instances of TF2 all at the same time. All I know is after the last update TF2 has been running a bit sluggish for me. Have you been crashing at all or having the game freeze on you, or is it just laggy?

Most of the time these are driver issues. Make sure to visit the manufacturer website for all your components to see if there are updated drivers. Hope you get it solved soon. :)


EDIT: also Vista will hog up atleast one gig of ram just idling. I use Vista as well and found a huge jump in performance when I went up to 4 gigs. Just a thought.

[BlackVolgan]

Volgan

but back to the point, my friend thinks my computer might be abit dusty and i'll need to clean it out. But the beast has 5 fucking fans on it and ive only had it for about a year. Is a year too much?

[BlackVolgan]

Your specs could run 4 instances of TF2 all at the same time. All I know is after the last update TF2 has been running a bit sluggish for me. Have you been crashing at all or having the game freeze on you, or is it just laggy?

Most of the time these are driver issues. Make sure to visit the manufacturer website for all your components to see if there are updated drivers. Hope you get it solved soon. :)

thanks mate. Nah it doesn't lag.. just some serious bullshit fps when the fighting gets thick.

[Corpse]

ON TOPIC-

Seriously your computer is 100x better then mine, and i run TF2 fairly smoothly even with big battles. maybe you have some weird programs running secretly in your processes.

[Eldaran]

We have the same video card and mine handles the game just fine. You could be overheating due to dust though. When your video card or processor gets real hot everything starts to run like crap. I'm not an IT guy, but i've offered what I can. Good luck

After the "Heavy" update the other day my game was crashing out on me and running really slow. It's gotten better now though for some reason.


EDIT: Remember when using Vista, to right click every program and choose "Run as Administrator" instead of just double clicking it. This will solve most weird issues.

[Daccus]

I'm thinking it's a heat issue, I'm curious, what motherboard do you have? Any idea?

I just fixed a similar issue with my brother's computer. When playing BF2 his FPS would take a dive for like 10-20 seconds, usually when he was around a shit load of people or explosions. I finally figure out that the heatsink on his northbridge chip on his mother board was barely holding on. I popped the thing off and replaced the springs that hold it down. Cleaned it and reapplied some thermal grease and now it runs perfectly.

[Jackhowitzer]

Uninstall your video card drivers, redownload them/reinstall them. Do a virus/spyware/adware scan etc...

If that doesn't work, Microsoft must of gave your computer aids.

[Level9-Fiss]

dual core is better for gaming atm and get 4gigs of ram if you want to run vista

[Wickfield]

dual core is better for gaming atm and get 4gigs of ram if you want to run vista

processors don't do much for performance in 3d games. most games out right now you could run with a single core and it wouldn't have much of an effect.

[Eldaran]

processors don't do much for performance in 3d games. most games out right now you could run with a single core and it wouldn't have much of an effect.

Agreed. GPU and RAM are much more important than the CPU at the moment in the 3D gaming world.

[BlackVolgan]

reinstalled drivers. still getting piss poor fps. When playing tf2 it runs at about 20 fps, then when fighting starts it drops to 5-10.. what the fuck?!

[Voodoo Hoodoo]

It's heat related Black.. Just take the side of the case off and clean every fan you can. GPU fan would be my first choice.

[Salaman]

Yeah, I'd dust out your computer. I've had my PC for like 7 months and have already dusted it out twice and need to do it a third time pretty soon here (though AZ is a pretty dusty place I will admit).

[BlackVolgan]

yea i might just clean it. i dont know how im going to go about doing this, but i'll try. Also i turned my graphics down to the max and still got the same fps. But thanks guys

[Voodoo Hoodoo]

PM me if you want more specific details help Black. Us Aussies have to stick together.

[Retaliation]

Do you have Vertical Sync turned off? For me atleast it makes every HL2 engine game cry rivers of lag when I have it on.

You can find it in the 3D settings on your Nvidia control panel

[BlackVolgan]

well i just cleaned out my computer. I found buttloads of dust in my cpu fan. Now i'm getting around 100 or so fps constantly on tf2! Its amazing how much dust can fuck around with your pc. If you havn't cleaned it in awhile, go ahead and do it.

thanks a million guys :)