cod2 fps problem

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

ok im having fps problems.

i started out with a radeon 9200 and got 25 fps (on average).

i have just upgraded to a x800 gto (agp) and am still getting about the same fps.

what the heck is going on?!?!

im stumped. all my graphics are on low, my resolution is low, im on directx 7. i dont know what to do.

my other pc specs include: 2.6 celeron, 512 ram, and 40 gig hard drive.

the only programs im running in the backround are xfire (chat program) and ventrilo.

thanks for your help

[flawedreality5]

You can do Ctrl + Alt + Del and click on the Processes tab to see how much ram those programs are taking up. 512mb can be easy eaten up by those backround programs. Why are you only using DirectX 7?

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

cause directx9 slows everything down...i dont know one person that uses direct x9 that plays cod2. everyone is using it.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

how do i check to see what type of ram my pc needs?

[blue60007]

I'm assuming you completely uninstalled the old drivers, and have installed the newer ones?

You *should* be able to play it at DX9 fine with that card. With my X800 XL (like one or two steps above the GTO) I can play it at a 1280 resolution, mostly max settings fine. (Although I do have a slightly faster CPU and 2GB of RAM)

Is this an off-the-shelf build (ie, Dell)? or a custom made? If the former, what brand and model is it? If the latter, what motherboard?

Try killing XFire and Ventrillo and then running it.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

so basically my problem is probablly my ram?

[flawedreality5]

I don't know how much Ram those programs take up but you can check yourself to see like I said above. Try upgrading to DirectX 9 and upgrading the ATI Catalyst drivers to the newest. But try upgrading to DX9 first.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

directx9 wouldnt help me at all...i know that. it slows my pc down even more. because it puts snow on, and shading and all these other graphics. although i did upgrade my drviers.

[flawedreality5]

Did you close off those programs like Blue said?

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

yep tried that...it still takes up like 98-100% of cpu usage...

[blue60007]

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL bOOsT because it puts snow on, and shading and all these other graphics.

What do you mean by that? Are you saying it's showing abnormal graphics? Or just more eye-candy?

Originally Posted by DiGiTaL bOOsT yep tried that...it still takes up like 98-100% of cpu usage...

Your CPU usage will always be at 100% in a game, doesn't matter what you have in the system.

What's important is the available RAM. Go back into the task manager (Alt+Ctrl+Del)

You should see something in the lower right corner that says Commit Charge:. Post what you see there (this is with all open windows closed). Ie, I see 547M / 2992M.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

just more eye candy....


its reading 531M/1250M is that bad?

and thats when im out of a server and game is just idling

[blue60007]

Whoa...that's with nothing open?

Mine is about the same when I've got 10 things open and 10 pages up in Firefox.

Down there at the bottom there should be "Processes". What's the number there?

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

24 processes with cod2 and firefox

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

actually i had to go into bios and change my agp settings from 112 ( or whatever) to 256. that gave me a bit more fps (it doesnt drop below 40 now)

but still not what i was expecting. do you think more ram would help me out?

[blue60007]

What resolution are you running the game at? what about Anti-aliasing (something like None, 2x, 4x, etc) and filtering type? (bilinear, trilinear or anisotropic)

My X800 XL gets about 40 fps at 1280x1024, 2x AA and Anisotropic filtering.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

AA is off and i think my resolution is 600X800...so its pretty low.

im thinking its my memery...what do you think?

[blue60007]

hmmm...not really sure. Also that Celeron isn't really a gaming processor. That may be holding you back as well. You should go back into the Task Manager and under the processes tab see if anything in there is taking up a large amount of RAM.

[jfk]

In order, I'd say the first problem is your lack of ram. The minimum for a good gaming rig would be one gig. I'd definately say you're way short there. Secondly, as was mentioned, the Celeron isn't a very good gaming processor. Still, it should be acceptable. That vid card is not your problem, it should have no problem running that game with the majority of the settings on high. My sig rig plays the game with everything maxed, and I seldom drop below 36-37 fps in either single or multiplayer.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

ok so would it be even worth it to upgrade ram?

i only upgraded my current pc so that i dont suck so bad in cal this season, but my build will be here sometime in early april...so you guys think i should just wait?

[jfk]

Memory is cheap right now. I'd grab a matched pair of 512Mb's (if your mobo supports dual channel ram) or a single compatible 512 stick if it doesn't. Won't cost much and should give you a very nice boost. However, for 3 months it's up to you. I hate poor gaming so I'd do it. Heck, I'm already shopping new vid cards and the one I have ain't exactly chopped liver.

[flawedreality5]

Ram is so cheap these days that I think it would be worth it to get another 512 stick, that is if you motherboard as an open slot. If not, you can buy 1gb stick for about $80 and replace all the sticks. If you're building that computer from scratch in April, you might be able to move that stick of ram into it if the motherboard speed is compatible.

[blue60007]

What motherboard is this? (Or if it's pre-built, what brand and model?) we should be able to help you pick something out if you want to do a RAM upgrade.

[kingsownall]

u might want to upgrd rams to a gig at least. like what blue said. celeron not a good processor for gaming but 2.6 shuld get u sumwhere. i mean with 512mb ram. u realli shuldnt even be playing low settings with ur computer. rocommend getting a stick of 512 ram(my favorite company is corsair) but u can choose any brand as long as tehy are decent. i brought my stick for 40 bucks and tahts a bargain in my opinion. i tried cod2 and im getting decent framerate. even when i had my old 9200 i got like 35 or more fps. like what blue said. custom or u brought it off sum1? wait what company is ur rams from? that might be the problem. low quality rams might be it

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

the computer i have now is a pos 4 yr old dell that i upgraded. it takes pc133 ram (i think) so def not interchangable over to my new motherboard.

i already have the motherboard, case, and psu for my new build. i am buying parts as i get the money.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

could it possibly be that my graphics card is only running at 4x? if it is how do i check, and how do i turn it up to 8. i had to go into cmos and change my memory setting...it was at 128 haha

[flawedreality5]

You should be able to find the bus settings in your BIOS. I know I can.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

bios or cmos?...my cmos is very limited...im still learning lol

[WolfPac_Ite]

The BIOS is usually on a CMOS chip. So check your BIOS.

[DiGiTaL bOOsT]

...how do i do that? i hit f2 to get into setup...i cant really change much from there...dont forget this system is fron 2001 and i didnt update bios...