crappy performance / odd problem with gaming

[User5]

Hey guys.

I have a REALLY REALLY weird problem..

I have:
AMD 64 3200+
Asus K8V SE Deluxe
1024MB Corsair XMS PC3200 RAM
160GB Seagate SATA
Windows XP Home
eVga 6800-GT

I had a 9800 pro, and I upgraded the video card thinking that was the problem, but unfortunately, I still have the problem when I uninstalled the ATI drivers, and put in the 6800GT and installed the latest drivers. No matter what card I use, I get a really strange problem. Even in a game like Wolfenstein Enemy terirtory which isnt exactly all that demanding, it is barely playable at times with a 6800 GT!! Whenever there are explosions on the screen (particles as they call them) my FPS drop from 150-200+ to 30 FPS at times when right next to an explosion, and then right back up to 200+. Its not just this game either. Whenever there are particle effects on games such as Need For Speed Underground 1/2, I get FPS dips. In Doom 3, with particles and even smoke when I walk through it, I get framedips. So its an extremely weird problem.

Just wondering if anyone knows of anything I can do. I cant imagine what the problem could possibly be. I tried uninstalling, reinstalling drivers and such and same problem with BOTH cards. This is really driving me nuts, since its aggervating being that I am experienceing under 30FPS on a 6800 GT in a game like enemy territory.

I am thinking about reformatting, but I have a feeling that the same problem will occur. Any ideas?

Thanks.

 

[timswim78]

You could run hijack this and see what apps are running. Maybe something is eating up your memory and CPU?


Also, scan for spyware/malware/viruses.

 

[Gannon]

If you have the time and a spare 10Gig or so hard drive laying around you could try installing a fresh copy of 98, 2000 or XP on it and see if you can reproduce the problems with a "clean" OS install with just those games, if you could then there isn't anything you can do. That problem sounds really weird but I guess this is why they say to install windows fresh every so often...

 

[User5]

Thanks guys.

I wouldn't *mind* reformatting and reinstalling windows, but thats deffinetly going to be a last resort, because with my luck the same problem will occur, and even so its just going to be a pain reinstalling all my games, files, music, etc.. But I guess it wouldnt be too bad to call in a sick day and spend a day on that. Im going to try and see if my friend has an old extra harddrive lying around, and try that out and see if the problem still occurs.

I just cant imagine what it could be. I can be in game getting over 200FPS, and then the instant particle/explosion effects come onto the screen, it dips down to 25-30 FPS, and then right back up to 200!

Thanks again. Ill try hijack this, but adaware/spybot/norton scans are frequent and everything seems to be fine in that department.

 

[tk11]

I'd probably try running a bunch of synthetic benchmarks. Make sure your video cards are running agp 4x or 8x mode. Check your memory performance(sandra). I think particle effects tend to be memory bound but it sounds more like your video cards are running in pci mode or something. Good luck tracking down this problem, it's a weird one for sure.