Legit Reviews

I've been trying to rack my brain out at why my system doesnt perform that well in some games while in others it destroys.

System Specs At the moment.


CPU -

Manufacturer Intel
Family Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz
Architecture 32-bit
Internal Clock 3.2 GHz
Internal Clock Maximum 3.2 GHz
External Clock 200.0 MHz
MultiCore 1 Processor Core
HyperThreadingTechnology Available - 2 HTT Processors per Core
Capabilities MMX, CMov, RDTSC, SSE, SSE2, PAE
Version Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz

Caches
Level 1 8 KB
Level 2 512 KB
Level 3 0 B

GPU

NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GS AGP 256MB
AGP Aperture Size 128 MB
Bus
Type AGP
Revision 3.0
Enabled true
Rate 8
Sideband Addressing Supported
Fast Write Not Supported

Also a

Name SIS Processor to AGP Controller
Manufacturer Silicon Integrated Systems


PSU - Hiper Type R 580W SLI
1GB DDR RAM PC3200
Creative Audigy 4 SoundCard.

Now i can run games like Doom 3/Quake 4 at Full High/AA & AF Max and turn out around 30FPS, which i dont mind. ( If i need a boost lower it and it runs a lot faster ).

Now my main issue is Counter Strike Source, Now i thought it would be the same as HL2 ( same engine and all ) But i can run Source fully high and not really ever see a dip in FPS, 40-60 FPS easily.

But i go to Run Source and i can run it super High or Super Low and i still get around 20-30FPS in just one gun fight. ( Even with FPS Configs )

Before hand i was running a Nvidia FX5200 with 512MB and was able to play on 40 man servers no problem, now with 1GB + 7800GS and enough juice to run my system easily i cant even run a 5v5 well enough to play.

Now i thought it must be a CPU problem, Turned off HT as i've heard it helps and i get about a 5-10 FPS increase, but doesnt really fix it.

I Ran a 3DMark 06 and i got this error on the CPU test.

"IDirect3DDevice9::Present Failed: Device Lost (D3DERR_DEVICELOST)"

Now i ran that search through here and found myself on your forums, I read the thread and was slightly confused to some of the terminology/Solutions.

http://forums.legitreviews.com/about3857.html

and

http://forums.legitreviews.com/about2131.html

What is "F@H" ? Is anyone able to think about why my system cant run such a simple game??

Sorry for this to be my first post, Just extremely tired of not being able to play games which i should be able to destroy.

Thanks in advance to anyone who can!

F@H otherwise known as folding at home, is a Distributing Computing Program that helps discover how protiens "fold" in the hopes of figuring out ways to treat certain diseases like Cancer.

I would completly remove the drivers via DriverCleaner Pro, and then reinstall them. Make sure you have all your windows updates installed, and make sure you have the latest DirectX, good place to find it is FileHippo.com

Ya I agree...my first instinct was the video driver.

Ok i'll get DriverCleanerPro Unistall Video Drivers, Reinstall them. Run full checks through Windows + DirectX and retest.

See if i get any improvements, Thank you for Quick reply.

Cleaned Drivers/DirectX Updated/Microsoft Updated.

Anyone able to give us a link to a XP Professional. Nvidia Driver? Newest. I keep finding older ones/Vista Ones.

Nvidia 7800GS AGP 256MB

Right Downloaded/Installed.

Did another test, The test didnt give me an error but just closed it self down.

Doesnt even get 3 FPS on the CPU test, Which im very suprised as it maybe old but 3.2GHZ is still quite a meaty CPU. HT letting it down?

I ran CSS and still with Graphics low, Configs on aswell i was getting 18-31 FPS on 3v3 and then 15-19FPS while two people were firing.

Any clues as to why im getting such low performence.

Your P4 is the source of your frustration. CS:S is incredibly CPU dependent. A CPU upgrade will increase your CS:S performance.

So the whole problem for my system is my CPU, I know Source is CPU dependent mainly. But i just dont see how i got better results with a 250Watts PSU + Nvidia FX5200 256MB With 512MB Ram Over 1GB/7800GS/580WSLI PSU.

Same CPU/Mobo/Everything.

Do you have the same settings applied as the FX5200? If I remember correctly the FX series uses the DX 8 code path because it's horribly slow at DX9. When you start up any Source game after changing video cards it changes the settings automatically, increasing the graphics settings to look the best, so that is another reason why it would be slower.

I've run it a native DirectX9.5., then did 9/8/7 And it still provides same results, another strange thing.

No-one's been able to fiqure it out, Had this problem for nearly a year now.

Format reinstall.

Reformatting may solve the problem, but it's not the best to attack that first.

Let me ask you, how is the temperature of your CPU under load? If I'm not mistaken, those fancy P4's usually run around 40-50*C under load w/ the stock cooling solution? If you're any higher, you're stressing it too much, which will inevitably cause problems, such as frame loss. If this is the case, try applying new thermal compound to the CPU core and possibly find a new heat sink and fan. I prefer Arctic Silver 5 for the thermal compound. If you're not very knowledgeable with taking computers apart, please find a friend who is.

Those P4's are also power hungry monsters. My old notebook with a P4 2.8GHz CPU had a 150w+ power brick. That's freaking HUGE for a notebook. I would probably recommend a 350w+ PSU for your rig... not only for the CPU's demands, but your video card must demand a fair amount too.

HTH!

Formatted 4 times and still no change, My PSU has had numerous new thermal compounds over the last year and i've stucked in new cooling fans and that's not made a change.

Using the Hiper Type R 580Watts SLI PSU so i know it's getting enough juice.

P4 is your main problem along with switching from a directx 8 video card to a directx 9 card. As Bwall said the game is heavily CPU dependent, but switching to a better video card actually hurt you in this case. BUT only for this game as not every game is highly CPU dependent. It opened up a whole new level of detail and options, that it takes that much more CPU power to run at that level. CSS is a demanding game!!!

***edit - ah nevermind I should have looked before I posted.....the 5200 is DX9 compatible....***

Chimerasera wrote:Formatted 4 times and still no change, My PSU has had numerous new thermal compounds over the last year and i've stucked in new cooling fans and that's not made a change.

Using the Hiper Type R 580Watts SLI PSU so i know it's getting enough juice.

Wattage on the PSU is more than enough. But what about those core temperatures under load? That's what I'm more interested in. Find that out and let me know.

Bang on the money.

Last couple of weeks PC has just randomly turned off, thought it was heat realted so stuck in an extra case fan and it seemed to work.

But yesterday PC Froze and my speakers started crackling, turned the PC off manually then rebooted on.

Got an Error basically saying that the CPU Overheated, That must be the problem.

I've been ringing around my nearest stores and none have a CPU Cooler for a 478 Socket, Intel P4 3.2Ghz.

So im looking online for a new one, Only problem is i've not had much experience with Cooling, just installation of computer parts.

Does anyone know any reliable/cheap CPU coolers for a 478 Socket Chip?

Has to be able to support up to 3.2GHZ min pref 3.4.

coming from someone who plays a lot of counterstrike/half life. there are places in counterstrike, maps like militia and such that use that hdr lighting that will really knock down your fps. You can't even do it fully with out a good pixil shader 3.0 card and mine isnt. Yours however is I believe and that'll probably be givingyou some problems with the bloom lighting and other things.

No my Card runs HDR Full Recommended and does it np, i get same results as if it wasnt on.

It's my CPU overheating then my system slowing down, At the start of most servers like the first few seconds it runs clear then when the CPU has more work to do it slows down as it overheats.