Some Gaming Problems

Aikanaro · Tue, 4th Mar '03, 11:41am

Alright, this has gone on for a while but I've ignored it for quite a while as well. When I play some newer games (IWD2, Worms World Party) it works well for a while but then it goes realy choppy. Even in some older games (Dungeon Keeper, Baldur's Gate) I experience the same dificulties. On completely retro games (Sim Tower) it workds as it should.
I have a decent graphics card that should work well on all of these and 1.3 ghz, the only thing that is realy crap is my sound card and I don't see how that could effect anything. So what do we think is the problem?

idoru · Tue, 4th Mar '03, 1:22pm

Are you running a lot of programs in the background?

Istari of Thay · Tue, 4th Mar '03, 1:39pm

Could be you'r DirectX Drivers...

But the newest games has the best version with them, so I really don't see how that could be the problem...

Anyway, it's worth a try...

(Try Defragmenting you'r PC, NOT Formating)

Intentioner of the Damned · Tue, 4th Mar '03, 3:32pm

Believe it or not, the sound card can have a massive effect on games - example, older games such as populous the begining, with sound hardware acceleration on anything other than basic (sound setup in direct x, dxdiag), the game races like nobody's buisness. So, maybe you have accidentally changed sound acceleration to lower than full.

Mind you, that would be an instant effect when you start the game, not after a little while of playing.

In which case, don't think i can help.

Thorin · Tue, 4th Mar '03, 3:41pm

Sounds like a classic memory overflow. Some background program you have running, dislikes games and steals all your memory, when you run them. Disable all the program running on your computer by using the task manager, than try your games agian.

enjan · Wed, 5th Mar '03, 12:22am

Well, that's not quite right. I doubt it's a "memory overflow" the game might have some small memory leaks but other than that, I doubt that's valid reasoning. It is wise to not run many services/programs in the background, but a lot of the services are necessary and you don't want to disable/kill them. So minimize what's running in the background, make sure all your software is completely updated, etc. Also, I'd consider taking a few hours and running a defrag and a thorough scan as well in case it's due to some error on the disk. If none of this helps, I'd consider playing with various multimedia settings in game, and in the hardware config outside of it and seeing what makes a difference. Above that it coud be some hardware issue, but that's doubtful.

Kovalis Darkfire · Wed, 5th Mar '03, 3:22am

How much Ram do you have in your computer?
You may just have a small amount of RAM. You might only have like 64 megs and need at least 128 or 256. That could definately cause a problem like that.

enjan · Wed, 5th Mar '03, 3:30am

Yeah, I'd assume you have better than the minimum system requirements for these games you play.

Aikanaro · Wed, 5th Mar '03, 11:31am

I have the min requirements, I'll test it tomorrow. IWD2 cuts out my internet connection

Foradasthar · Wed, 5th Mar '03, 12:39pm

It would be much easier if you could give us the basic specs of your computer. Which processor and how much Mhz, Display Card, amount (/type) of RAM, Hard-disk space, Soundcard, CD. Hope I didn't leave anything out.

Anyway, those stats are needed because of examples like AMD which requires separate motherboard drivers to work completely. Some soundcards require much more out of the cpu than others (it is a significant amount to say the least). What the lack of RAM does should be obvious. Hard-disk space is an issue when you don't have enough space for effective cache. Etc. Remember to make sure you're using the newest drivers.

Even if you believe it's all ok, I still suggest you speak those stats out loud, as usually people forget something relevant that others would notice. It's happened to me who knows how many times.

As for minimum requirements, the best definition for that in layman's terms = the requirements to get the game on, not running. Always go for a bit above the recommended to get even a moderately acceptable gameplay.

Morgoth · Wed, 5th Mar '03, 11:19pm

hmmm.. could be illegal processes as well, you know trojans and stuff

Aikanaro · Thu, 6th Mar '03, 11:58am

Well, by closing everything I was able to play IWD2 without a problem. I only played it for half an hour though but I think that I'll just believe that Its all good until I have a sudden urge to do some serious gaming again.
And I can't be bothered remembering what my computers stuff is. Just generaly label it as crap

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Tue, 4th Mar '03, 11:41am	#1
Aikanaro Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 5,521 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,715 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 88.53% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Alright, this has gone on for a while but I've ignored it for quite a while as well. When I play some newer games (IWD2, Worms World Party) it works well for a while but then it goes realy choppy. Even in some older games (Dungeon Keeper, Baldur's Gate) I experience the same dificulties. On completely retro games (Sim Tower) it workds as it should. I have a decent graphics card that should work well on all of these and 1.3 ghz, the only thing that is realy crap is my sound card and I don't see how that could effect anything. So what do we think is the problem?

Tue, 4th Mar '03, 1:22pm	#2
idoru Gems: 11/31 Latest gem: Bloodstone Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 411 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,430 Level: 12 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 81.55% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Are you running a lot of programs in the background?

Tue, 4th Mar '03, 1:39pm	#3
Istari of Thay Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Hayon Shegûl, Istari's Mansion Posts: 152 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 713 Level: 9 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 41.51% Daily Activity 0% Weekly Activity 0% Monthly Activity 0% Achievements	Could be you'r DirectX Drivers... But the newest games has the best version with them, so I really don't see how that could be the problem... Anyway, it's worth a try... (Try Defragmenting you'r PC, NOT Formating)

Tue, 4th Mar '03, 3:32pm	#4
Intentioner of the Damned Gems: 14/31 Latest gem: Chrysoberyl Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Norfolk, England Posts: 623 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,826 Level: 14 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 26.9% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Believe it or not, the sound card can have a massive effect on games - example, older games such as populous the begining, with sound hardware acceleration on anything other than basic (sound setup in direct x, dxdiag), the game races like nobody's buisness. So, maybe you have accidentally changed sound acceleration to lower than full. Mind you, that would be an instant effect when you start the game, not after a little while of playing. In which case, don't think i can help.

Tue, 4th Mar '03, 3:41pm	#5
Thorin Gems: 9/31 Latest gem: Iol Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 303 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,037 Level: 11 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 12.36% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Sounds like a classic memory overflow. Some background program you have running, dislikes games and steals all your memory, when you run them. Disable all the program running on your computer by using the task manager, than try your games agian.

Wed, 5th Mar '03, 12:22am	#6
enjan Gems: 5/31 Latest gem: Andar Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: US Posts: 107 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 593 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 66.98% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Well, that's not quite right. I doubt it's a "memory overflow" the game might have some small memory leaks but other than that, I doubt that's valid reasoning. It is wise to not run many services/programs in the background, but a lot of the services are necessary and you don't want to disable/kill them. So minimize what's running in the background, make sure all your software is completely updated, etc. Also, I'd consider taking a few hours and running a defrag and a thorough scan as well in case it's due to some error on the disk. If none of this helps, I'd consider playing with various multimedia settings in game, and in the hardware config outside of it and seeing what makes a difference. Above that it coud be some hardware issue, but that's doubtful.

Wed, 5th Mar '03, 3:22am	#7
Kovalis Darkfire Gems: 13/31 Latest gem: Ziose Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: CA Posts: 570 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,223 Level: 15 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 55.49% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	How much Ram do you have in your computer? You may just have a small amount of RAM. You might only have like 64 megs and need at least 128 or 256. That could definately cause a problem like that.

Wed, 5th Mar '03, 3:30am	#8
enjan Gems: 5/31 Latest gem: Andar Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: US Posts: 107 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 593 Level: 8 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 66.98% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Yeah, I'd assume you have better than the minimum system requirements for these games you play.

Wed, 5th Mar '03, 11:31am	#9
Aikanaro Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 5,521 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,715 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 88.53% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	I have the min requirements, I'll test it tomorrow. IWD2 cuts out my internet connection

Wed, 5th Mar '03, 12:39pm	#10
Foradasthar It's simplicity that matters Join Date: May 2002 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 1,332 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 3,101 Level: 18 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 0.44% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	It would be much easier if you could give us the basic specs of your computer. Which processor and how much Mhz, Display Card, amount (/type) of RAM, Hard-disk space, Soundcard, CD. Hope I didn't leave anything out. Anyway, those stats are needed because of examples like AMD which requires separate motherboard drivers to work completely. Some soundcards require much more out of the cpu than others (it is a significant amount to say the least). What the lack of RAM does should be obvious. Hard-disk space is an issue when you don't have enough space for effective cache. Etc. Remember to make sure you're using the newest drivers. Even if you believe it's all ok, I still suggest you speak those stats out loud, as usually people forget something relevant that others would notice. It's happened to me who knows how many times. As for minimum requirements, the best definition for that in layman's terms = the requirements to get the game on, not running. Always go for a bit above the recommended to get even a moderately acceptable gameplay.

Wed, 5th Mar '03, 11:19pm	#11
Morgoth Forever reading, never to be read! Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Amsterdam, Holland Posts: 3,607 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 8,320 Level: 27 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 57.78% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	hmmm.. could be illegal processes as well, you know trojans and stuff

Thu, 6th Mar '03, 11:58am	#12
Aikanaro Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Elsewhere Posts: 5,521 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 11,715 Level: 31 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 88.53% Daily Activity 3.42% Weekly Activity 2.94% Monthly Activity 2.76% Achievements	Well, by closing everything I was able to play IWD2 without a problem. I only played it for half an hour though but I think that I'll just believe that Its all good until I have a sudden urge to do some serious gaming again. And I can't be bothered remembering what my computers stuff is. Just generaly label it as crap