New games on old hardware ?? Help!!

[johny crunch]

Hey Dudes

I recently installed the game F.E.A.R and Quake 4 and neither games would run on my computer despite having more than enough muscle in my system. I eventually reloaded windows which solved the problem and subsequently discoverd that it was my AceMega Codecs pro that was causing the problem. Are there any Safe Codec software bundles that I could use that wont interfere with my games.

Quake 4 is also now freezing my system, it will run for ten or so minutes then freeze, I have uninstaled and reinstalled the game, done a scan disk it hasint fixed the problem. Not sure what else to do.:grayno: I am wondering if my six month ago up to date hardware (intel 3.2 chip: 1 G ram; HiTec raedon 9550se 256 graphics card) could now be out of date, as I also installed F.E.A.R and Starship Troopers and have to run these games on medium to low settings whereas previos games would all run on max settings

Can anyone advise ?

[culubalo]

your running quake 4 which is opengl heavy on an old card that was lower end when it came out quite possible more 12 months ago and does not come from a company renowned for opengl support.

Starship troopers is probably just less hardware intense, or doesn't require the same opengl power quake 4 has.

sorry man, but your computer was outdated when you bought it and it was lower end when it was new so now its just not able to do what you wan't it to :(

same advise as always, get a new gpu.

[Pjspliff]

With your System, it should at least start the game.

-Update your Graphic-Card driver
-What are your CPU-, System-, GPU-Temps on full Load?

And also try to set the graphic-Level to low or very-low (maybe manually via notepad :) ).

[johny crunch]

Hi guys thanks 4 reply, my CPU is a Pentium 4 Intel 3.2 HT, I dont know what GPU means. I downloaded the latest graphics drivers and also latest Direct X (Oct) and I uninstalled AceMegaCodecs and replaced it with microsoft codecs. There has been a vast improvment on my games, played Quake for over an hour on medium to high settings, so far no problems

[Pjspliff]

GPU = Graphics Processing Unit = your Graphic-card

Your System isn't that bad, its only your Graphic-card, which will thwart your CPU.

[johny crunch]

Ah comprende, my graphics card is a Powercolor 9550se Raedon Hitec Excalibur 128 Bit 256 MB

[Morpher]

Your problem is probably your graphics card, the 3.2 cpu and 1gb ram are fine for those games, but that graphics card was probably already a low end card when you bougth it and now is slowing your computer

[culubalo]

I think he already knows it was low end when he bought it ;) it was lower end when it was new

If you are willing to part for a low amount of cash, you should *try* and get a geforce 6600gt, if you can get that into your rig you are basically guaranteed to run unreal tournament 2007 powered games, which will carry you quite some distance ;)

[johny crunch]

Hey Dudes, thanks for reply. I wasint aware that it was a low end card as it cost a couple of thousand Rand (7 Rands to 1 US Dollar). Basically I am a missionary and mony is an issue (my current card was a gift as were the games) but I will certainley check out the specs on that card you recomend. How ever cince I updated Direct x and graphics drivers it has improved substatilly, but then again Unreal Tournament 2004 was one of all time favorite games I would really like to be able to play UT 2007

[johny crunch]

Hey Dudes, I checked out the specks on that g-card (geforce 6600gt) and its a 128 bit 128 mb card, my card is a 128 bit 256 mb card, what can this card do that my card cant ?? I spoke to our local computer boffins in the mall and they recon with my system and GPU I should have no problems to run any game and that if my games are running slow or on low settings that its a software problem or conflict. So I am feeling a little confused as I am getting conflicting information!

If random and fdjc4 read this; Hey Dudes :nod: I would really apreciate your input on this

Thanks guys

[Pjspliff]

It depends on your GPU Speed and your amount of Pixel-Pipelines, how smooth a game will run.

--- Your Card (Powercolor 9550se Raedon Hitec Excalibur 128 Bit 256 MB):

ATI Radeon 9550 SE
Clock-rate(Core): 250 MHz
Pixel-Pipelines: 4

Memory : 256 MB - SDRAM-DDR
Clock-rate(Memory): 400 MHz
Bandwith: 128 Bit

--- A Geforce 6600GT:

Nvidia GeForce 6600 GT
Clock-rate(Core): 500 MHz
Pixel-Pipelines: 8 (Urgent for new Dx9-Games)

Memory: 128 MB - GDDR3 (GDDR3 Ram is faster and gives more OC-Capability)
Clock-rate(Memory): 900 MHz
Bandwith: 128 Bit

You see, your card is ~50% of a 6600GT technically, but it isn't easy to compare a ATI- and Nvidia-Card (because they use diffrent techniques)
And a 256MB -Card is only needed, if you wanna play a game with bright and clear Textures (not many games outta there supports this, not yet :D ).

[johny crunch]

Hi Pjspliff, thanks for the interst dude much appreciated, I am starting to understand and that is always a good thing. Unfortunaley money is tight right now so I am stuck with what I have but also gratefull that I have what I have