[HyDa_DRUID]

Hi all,

I am posting this in hopes that someone can show me some links or give me info on a system setup and windows install for gaming. I can install windows no problem, but I would like to read further on tweaking bios before a windows install, i read something about u dont want acpi or somthing like that enabled in bios when u install windows.

Also very important to me, Id like to find and read upon the PROPER way to install chipset drivers windows driver and updates, also the order i should install it all in. I know enough to install graphics drivers and what not with driver cleaner in safe mode ...ect... but id like to find the details out on it all for a clean install.

What brought me to make this post is that my system lately has been slacking. Ive been gaming a while on this machine and know its quirks fairly well for my PC knowlege. Theis machine used to run better, even after i reformat it still seems to run kinda jerky in games, wich is why im wondering if its a "pre-windows install bios option" that i meantioned prior. I only have 512 mb ram(have a gig on way) BUT, this machine used to run way better with all the same hardware on same games.

As far as the extent of the lack of system performance goes, I used to get for instance 70-100 fps in a certain game, and now im getting between 10-30. I am not tottally green to tweaking computers, but this has got me pullin my hair out.

any info or tutorial/guides on this matter will greatly be appreciated.

[e v o]

First make sure you have your latest VGA card's drivers installed. For ATI its the 5.3 cats. I would also recommend you reformat and reinstall windows. It sounds worse than it is. Just backup everything and you'll feel better when it's over. Nice & Clean.

For tweaking your system, the bios isn't the first place to look. Check these 3 points...


1. Services. Check how many are running in the memory at once. Go to the task manager (CTRL ALT DEL). You can turn some of the unneeded ones off.
heres a link to a good guide for this. I have 21 usually running when normally gaming, browsing.
hxxp://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

2. Programs. Check your MSconfig and make sure virus scanners aren't running when gaming etc. The Startup tab can get pretty messy if you haven't checked it in a while. (go to start-run-type 'msconfig')

3. Spyware. Huge problem nowadays. If you've got the internet, you've probably had or are going to get some spyware. Scan. Free proggies...Spybot Search & Destroy, Spywareblaster, Ad-aware, Microsoft antispyware...All free. Also Make sure you've run an updated virus scan.

Check these forums, a lot of the stickied topics cover this. Look around, this is a great resource

Ben

Oh and Chipset drivers. I don't have much experience with chipsets other than the nforce2. Which do you have? If you have an nvidia just go to nvidia and download the package. I've heard that nforce3 chipset drivers increase performance drastically.

[Tipstaff]

To add to evolve1s posting:

When installing always do the chipset drivers first, then IDE drivers (if necessary), directX, then video, sound, and everything else. Make sure you disconnect your ethernet cable before installing Windows from the router/modem as you don't want Windows actively talking on the net until you get your basic AV software installed. After that do any necessary updates to Windows before you start tweaking.

On this site you can find a program called TuneXP. It's a very good program that can help start your tweaking efforts. Make sure to read the help/documentation that comes with the software as there are functions that you shouldn't touch such as 'Clear Pagefile on Shutdown' (if you do it will take forever for Windows to shutdown).

- Tip