dell gaming issues?!?!?!?

[DeezWho]

I currently have the following setup ...
Dell Dimension 8250:
P4 2.4b ghz
256 MB 1066 RDRAM
ATI Radeon 9700


When I play video games (especially America's Army) ... I start running into major lag issues after playing for a while. no matter what I do the lag just gets really bad and I have to quit the game cus I cant even move properly eventually. When I run the framerate stats they seem to stay at 40+ at all times, even when Im getting lagged ... in addition Im not noticing any network related issues as Im on cable and the DU stats show no packet loss.

Someone told me maybe the stock psu on the dell is a POS and is just not powerfull enough for the radeon and the p4 during extreme operations and so is causing it to lag outrageously ... does this seem reasonable?

Also, is dell in any way accountable for this retarded psu if that is indeed the problem?


Memory doesnt seem to be the issue as when I first start it up I dont have this lagging issue.


Any ideas, comments, suggestions, etc ...

 

[fyleow]

memory

 

[Lyfer]

Make sure all you're devices are have the latest drivers. Try updating the BIOS. Do a clean reinstall of Windows. If all else fails, try replacing the PSU with an Antec/Enermax/Sparlke.


BTW, if it is the memory, D/L memtest and find out.

 

[amdskip]

I'm guessing it is a priporatory(sp) power supply meaning that only another dell power supply will hook up physically to that motherboard. Dell motherboards are pretty much hit or miss and they are very picky about memory. I'd try replacing the memory but really is 256mb enough? I run 1 gig for BF1942.

 

[DeezWho]

another related issue is this:
1066 RDRAM is expensive!

I could buy 256mb of 1066 rdram for the same price as an Abit IS-7E mobo AND 512 MB of pc2700 ddr memory...


Which would be the better option?

 

[balbrain]

Yeah, more memory dude. I have a Dimension 8100 with 640 Megs of RAM. My games run good.

 

[John]

I used to have a lot of machine lag after I exited UT2K3, and I was running a 2GHz Athlon and 512MB PC3200. Since I added another 512MB the lag is gone.

 

[dexvx]

Sounds like a problem with the OS. I would also update all drivers to the latest version. If you feel apt, I would suggest you clean up non-essential programs or even re-install windows. I'd run memtest86 to make sure it isnt a hardware problem first, though. If it is, the system should be under warranty (minimum of 1 year) and you can replace it. Contrary to popular opinion, you dont need 1GB of memory to run stuff.

Whoever told you the Dell PSU is a POS must like being high. Dell PSU's on their upper end Dimension line are solid PSU's that are probably better than 90% of all aftermarket PSU's on the market. Dare I say, its probably a better PSU than the PSU that person who said it was a POS has.

 

[DaTT]

I assume your running XP on your system....if this is true (although you have RD RAM) 256MB isn't enough. XP likes to gobble up memory, meaning your available memory will drop faster than a whore's pants. I used to run 512MB with a 2.4b GHz and a 128MB vid card with BF1942....got very chopy at times.....1.5GB of RAM did me well.

 

[wetcat007]

Originally posted by: DeezWho
another related issue is this:
1066 RDRAM is expensive!

I could buy 256mb of 1066 rdram for the same price as an Abit IS-7E mobo AND 512 MB of pc2700 ddr memory...


Which would be the better option?

Ugh the RD memory syndrom...

 

[ElFenix]

sounds like memory leaks in the game. the power supply isn't at fault. flakey power doesn't do that sort of thing. dell PS's are underrated anyway (or maybe properly rated seeing as how most 300 watt PS's can't get anywhere near that). a PS that couldn't handle a stock dell configuration (like the 9700) would never get through product engineering anyway. the support costs would be a nightmare.

 

[sandorski]

I too would think it's a lack of memory.

Radeon 9x00 tweaks try this link though, you may be able to get some improvements with these, but I doubt they'll make much difference.

I also saw somewhere some BIOS setings that may help, but I don't really recall what they were.

 

[Budman]

Originally posted by: fyleow
memory

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