Help with a simple PC OC.

totally_tonedef · Oct 8, 2004, 10:24 PM

Hello, my first time here and I will come strait forward and let you know that I am a complete newb, so please bare with me

.

See my situation is one of, I am a poor college student and my 3.XX ghz processor 2gb ram is a long ways away, so I need to give my dinky P4 2ghz , 1.99GHz (it gives me both of those numbers btw) 512mb ram a little boost. Also since I am poor I need to be able to survive with a stock fan.

Now I know practically nothing about all this bios flashing and what have you, so lay-terms are a must here

. I just want to be able to play CS:S and not get 10 fps in a gun fight. I know it isn't my graphics card because I have a x800PRO with the latest Omega Drivers...so I am pretty sure it is the rest of my system restricting me, so any help would be most grateful!

Thank you for your time,

-Tonedef

totally_tonedef · Oct 9, 2004, 06:53 PM

No takers??

Nacht · Oct 9, 2004, 07:35 PM

what kind of motherboard is it?

Judas · Oct 9, 2004, 08:08 PM

A full list of system specs... including the kind of air flow your getting... The type (retail/OEM? ) heatsink you've got..

IF the system is a Prebuilt (Compaq/Dell/HP/etc.)

What kind of software you are running.... any active background programs... (anything nasty? )

i recommend you go to http://www.pcpitstop.com/ and run the full test and report back with any problems it saw.. (yellow/red flags and if they were able to help you solve some of them) also mention the score you got.... and if you could send us a link to your run

(it's all free and i would seriously recommend that site to anyone.. they hate Gator as well

)

I personally don't have a whole lot of experience with Intel system anymore... haven't touched up on any for a good while...

But as soon as you can get all the information you can get about your machine.... i'm SURE there will be a bunch of people around to help you out (also consider, it's Thanks Giving weekend in Canada, so there are a good amount of people not going to be around for a few days, including me)

totally_tonedef · Oct 10, 2004, 03:14 AM

Alrighty then. I have a prebuilt Alienware that is about 2 years old, so I have no clue about its airflow or heatskin. As for background programs, no gator or spyware here. Here are my pcpitstop scores http://www.pcpitstop.com/techexpress...T49WTKJYRSCLCE .

Thanks for the responses!! If there is anything else you need to know just ask again.

-Tonedef

Shinjikun · Oct 10, 2004, 10:08 AM

Those links aren't working for me.

If you have an X800 Pro then you should at least be getting playable frame rates; even with a P4 2.0 GHz CPU and 512 MB of ram.

Do you happen to know how many watts your power supply is? Also what drivers do you have installed for the video card?

totally_tonedef · Oct 10, 2004, 10:16 AM

Alright the links should work now, sorry about that. As for my power supply it is 380 watts and I get good FPS until a battle, I am pretty sure that it is not my graphics card at all...just has a feel like it is mt CPU slowing down. I have the most recent Omega drivers installed btw.

Shinjikun · Oct 10, 2004, 10:23 AM

Strange issue. Sure the CPU can be limiting the video card but an X800 Pro is still beastly enough to not slow down in the CS series.

Try reinstalling your chipset drivers, reboot, and then redetect your SmartGart settings (even if they appear ok). Reboot again and see if AGP 8X is enabled.

What resolution are you playing at? Are you using any AA or AF as well? Is Catalyst AI on in the latest set you are using?

totally_tonedef · Oct 10, 2004, 10:36 AM

I have done all that. I run at 1024x768 all settings are on high...but even if I go off the map into the black, when spectating, I get only about 50 FPS. But that is only on full MP games, in stress test and in empty maps, my FPS is great at like 60ish running around and all. Man Shinjikun I really am having a blast with my comuter here huh

. I get all the eye candy, but my computer just can't hadle a bunch of moving and calculating all at once...

Nacht · Oct 10, 2004, 11:26 AM

lol. since it is limited to online play, it is definitely your cpu and memory. the netcode is all worked by the cpu, and games that have lack luster or even mediocre net code will cause performance issues.

those links still dont work for me...but if you're running a semi-decent mobo then you should be able to easily OC a little bit from the bios. if you happen to have one of the AI series from asus then you dont even have to do it yourself

totally_tonedef · Oct 10, 2004, 01:46 PM

Those pics SHOULD work now...I am pretty sure this time. I really would like to OC this CPU...but I am not going to touch ANYTHING until I know it will not kill my only computer for a while. That is why I am sking you guys.

totally_tonedef · Oct 16, 2004, 05:09 AM

Bump...

HawgsHead · Oct 17, 2004, 08:58 PM

Well,I will add this.You are at the right place tone_def!These folks know there stuff!!!Listen to them!...And give them a little time.I have an Alienware rig also.What case do you have?The Dragon or the Preditor?And youre links still dont work.

HawgsHead · Oct 17, 2004, 10:07 PM

He has 2 80MM fans in front of the HD's and 2 80mm fans in the back of the case.There's also 1 80mm fan beside the video card on the side of the case pulling air out.The airflow is great if he hasnt messed with the factory wireing job.You can hardly see any wires.

totally_tonedef · Oct 18, 2004, 03:25 PM

Thanks HawgsHead! I was starting to give up. You are right about where I have fan slots though the bottom front and back are empty. I get about 30C in my processor and 32C in the system zone.

As for my pics, I think I got them to work so here ya go:

CPU

Cache

Mainboard

Memory

SPD

Hope this all helps