GTA Slowdown?!

[fatboyjim]

I am running Grand Theft Auto on my Athlon 1.2GHz, 256DDR RAM, 32MB TNTII Card etc etc

It's SLOWING DOWN! It feels like almost a halfing of the framerate at least, every couple of seconds


I don't know why, any ideas?


Thanks,

[mike breck]

Hi fatboyjim,

A merry christmas to you.

Are you getting slowdown in any other games?

Try "Ctrl+Alt+Del" and "Endtask" everything apart from Explorer and Systray.
Some programs like virus scanners may have to be closed independently.

Does that help?

Regardless of whether you can minimize slowdown by eliminating programs running in the background, I think the TNT11 is causing a bottleneck in your system. To get the best from that system you should have at least a Geoforce2mx or a Radeon.

HTH

[fatboyjim]

Is it really a bottleneck? I knew it wasn't top of the range or anything when I bought it but didn't think it would be that bad

My mate says he's overclocked his to get 100fps, I'll check that out then buy a decent card


Cheers Mike,

[mike breck]

My view is you have a very fast CPU throwing instructions at the TNT11 (Vanta?) and then twidling it's thumbs while waiting for the card to keep up.

The TNT11 is now a couple of generations behind the geoforce3 and if it is the Vanta, it was never considered very good anyway.

However, another short-term solution is to reduce the resolution and colour-depth. That should take some pressure off the card and increase framerates.

Mike

[fatboyjim]

Hell no, not a Vanta

It's not the M64 one either, it's the 128 bit version

But I know it's not a good card, I'll be upgrading it soon

But why would it slowdown on my 1.2GHz, and run perfectly well on my brother's P133 with 2Meg vid card?


Ta,

[mike breck]

But presumably both of you are running the game at different resolutions and colour depths?

Another factor is sound in the game. Sometimes playing around with the different sound quality settings can reduce choppiness and slowdown.

Are you using the most recent video and sound drivers?

Are you running the game on WinXP or Win9x?

[fatboyjim]

I have tried running it on mine at 320x240 or whatever the crappest one is

Sound Quality... must find

Yes newest drivers

Win2K

[fatboyjim]

Found one of these... will this be a bottleneck?

Or would you suggest something better / more expensive

More help needed please...

[mike breck]

Jim,

I tried a Geoforce2 mx 32MB on my T/Bird 1200 266 and I wasn't overly impressed.
Currently I'm running a Hercules 3D Prophet 11 mx 64MB (a Geoforce2 with 64MB of memory)and all my games, including the demanding AvP2/RTCW, are flying. That extra 32MB of memory makes all the difference.
I bought mine from a local store for about £100 - a little bit more than the 32MB versions - but well worth it. You can probably get it cheaper elsewhere.
That card will certainly do the business and is less expensive than the crazy prices being charged for Geoforce2 Ultras and Geoforce3s.

HTH

[fatboyjim]

OK cheers Mike,

I'll look for a Hercules 3D Prophet then

Thanks again,



PS. I'm fitting anoother better heatsink with Arctic Silver II tonight, wish me luck

[mike breck]

Good luck Jim,

My advice is to apply it with your finger (wrapped in a poly-bag or plastic glove) and just put a "thin skim" on the Slug. Less is best.

You'll be able to do this with your eyes shut very shortly.

[fatboyjim]

cheers mike, it worked!

Temps are around the same for 1.2GHz as I was getting before with 950MHz

Thanks again,