Computer problems?
 

I'm stumped any ideas on this one:
I puchased and installed a new game, Command & Conquer Generals. But for some reason when I play it the video is super choppy and so is the sound. Its almost like the computer can't keep up. Then it crashes after a few minutes.

I went through all the toruble shooting things, supposidly my system has more than whats needed to run it. I even re installed the game.

Any ideas? Its almost like my video card can't keep up.

Look and see what kinds of other programs you have running in the background. Like maybe and antivirus program, or a screen capture program, or ipod service. If you aren't using it, make it go away.

what is the specs on this computer.. integrated graphics card on the mobo.. dedicated memory for the graphics card or leaches off the ram?

I'm no expert, this is what it says I have. Its a Compaq 6300:
Operating system: Windows XP Service Pack 2, 5.1.2600
CPU: 1394 MHz, GenuineIntel Pentium Model 11 Step 4
Total Memory 254MB, free 110 MB.
DirectX Version 8.1
Hard drive 37.26GB, free 29.59
SoundMAX Integrated Digitial Audio
Legacy Audio Drivers
Samsung SC-148C

Does this mean anything? I don't know much about computers, and I plan on replacing this one within a year. But I want to play my game before than, and I wonder if say a $50 video card will let me do that.

http://www.upgradedetect.com/default.asp

Click on upgrade detect

If I remember right, it gives you your specs for your machine...some of which you won't know what to do with lol.

System Requirements:

Windows XP/Me/2000/98 (Windows 95/NT not supported)
800 MHz processor (1.8 GHz recommended)
128 MB RAM (256 MB recommended)
1.8 GB free hard disk space (plus space for saved games and Windows swap file)
32 MB AGP video card (GeForce2, Radeon 7500, or more recent chipset with DirectX 8.1 driver)
8x CD or DVD drive, sound card, mouse, keyboard



I'd say more memory and a really good video card.

if you are running Win XP 1GB is almost mandatory if you want to do anything but internet. If you are running antivirus plus alot of other things in the background you can try turning everything else off. $125 spent on a video card can go a long way.

You definitely have very little memory.

So if I bring it to the place that works on computers, they can upgrade it for me for a few bucks? I wouldn't mind spending like $200 on it. I just don't want to go nuts because I'm getting another next year.

I know nothing about computers! As long as it works I'm happy! When it doesn't I get annoyed.

Do the work yourself! It's a piece of cake. Go to Best Buy Office Max or whatever. Spend $25-$50 on RAM. (ask a pro for help picking the right one)
Another $50-$75 on a video card and your set. If they say they'll do it for free-$15, then do it. If not, do it yourself.

I'll get my buddy to show me how to do it. I know nothing about computers I really don't want to get it apart and have it break right before school.

Actualy the place I usualy use is run by a family and I think they don't charge for install if you buy the stuff from them.

If you can do work on your W126 then adding memory and video card to your computer is a piece of cake... all you need is a screwdriver. I would get your memory to at least 512MB if not 1GB of RAM. Check newegg.com, you can get some good deals there. Make sure to get the right kind of memory as there are many different kinds. Before you get a video card make sure you know if you need an AGP card, a PCI card, or a PCI-Express card. You probably need an AGP. Generals is a pretty old game, shouldn't take much to get it running at a decent clip. Best Buy charges ridiculous prices for installing RAM and video cards, something like 40 or 50 bucks around here... so dont waste your money on the labor.

Too little memory. I have a "workstation" computer for work that has 2 gigs of ram because of the graphics programs I have to run at the same time. If you can work on your car you can beef up the RAM yourself. Good luck.

Sounds like your machine will be running PC2100 or maybe PC2700 DDR memory since you likely have a Socket 423/478 P4. It's cheap, very cheap now and depending on the number of slots which is likely 2 for the mass produced machines, check the specs again through the Compaq site and look at the upgrades to be sure. Check to see if your machine can handle 2 1GB memory pieces and that should be plenty of memory to run C&C. If you want to do it yourself you can go online through Pricewatch or Tigerdirect which has a good selection, and decent pricing.

You might find a performance monitor on your computer that will help you find bottlenecks. Read about swapping for memory issues. The choppiness you describe may be a low frame rate if you want to read about that. Read about WinXP tweaks. Check for spyware and viruses.

Hey Hattie -

I'm a pretty avid PC gamer and I've built my own machines for years. I've also accumulated far more knowledge than I ever wished I had regarding tweaking PCs for video performance. :rolleyes:

The most important aspect of your PC as it relates to gaming/video performance is the video card itself, followed closely by your CPU and RAM.

300Evil already posted the game specs.

Your PC's specs are here:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=213890&lang=en&docname=c00009592

Your PC uses integrated video - that is, the video is run off the motherboard itself, rather than with a separate video card.

This is your problem and this is why the graphics are stuttering. The onboard video (Integrated Intel AGP Graphics with up to 11MB dynamically) isn't powerful enough to render the graphics properly, simple as that. Upgrading RAM is a waste of money.

Also - it appears your mobo doesn't have an AGP slot, there are only two free PCI slots (not to be confused with PCI-e).

So you could try bypassing the onboard video and buy a cheap used PCI video card, but again, it's kind of a waste of money. PC graphics have advanced so far so fast that even AGP is quickly on the way out. Video cards have gone from PCI (yours) > AGP > PCI-e. So getting a decent old PCI card may be tricky and more importantly - drivers and support for those cards will be archived and out of date.

Bottom line is your machine wasn't really designed for running games and isn't really customizable. Even a low-spec game like this one will have trouble running on it properly. If you're going to be doing any more gaming at all, I'd get a newer used machine with better specs and upgrading capability. Look for a machine with an 8X AGP slot (or even better, PCI-e) and DDR RAM on the mobo.

You could try throwing some more SD RAM into your machine (it's cheap) but I really don't think that's going to help much, if at all. Lol..I've got stacks of used SD RAM, I could mail you a few 128 MB modules if you want for free! :D EDIT: Just noticed your mobo only has a total of two DIMM slots, for a total of 512 MB. So you'd need two separate 256 MB SDRAM modules to get your max memory, which at 512 MB of SD RAM, isn't going to cut it.

If you need any more help, just let me know!
C.

Thanks, actualy I think last time it was in getting worked on they bumped the ram up to 512.

This doesn't surprise me, I can only really play old games. Need for Speed High Stakes, and this game have lots of trouble.

So I can't add a video card? Darn.

I want a new computer but just don't have the spare money this year. Starting a new business kind of sucks the money for this stuff away.

My friend's sister is married to a guy who does a lot of work on computers. He just built my friend a super fast one! Its got the latest and greatest video card, and tons of other neat stuff. Two hard drives for example!

Next year when I have some cash I want to upgrade to something pretty nice. Whats a nice computer run anyway?

If you want to save money build it yourself (or have your friend do it for you). I bought a very fast 3800+ dual core AMD processor, 2 gb of Corsair RAM, motherboard, and 7900GT video card (top of the line at the time, its still very fast and will be for a long time IMO) for 900 in March 06. I reused my case, hard drive, monitor, cd drives and such. If you don't have those things to work with expect to spend more money of course. But $900 for this computer was a bargain.

I always have too many computers but I haven't built one in a while. I would like to build another one pretty soon but I'm not up on the hardware. I haven't built an AMD 64 yet, last one was Socket A.

What MB did you buy? Is it clear which AMD 64 socket will be developed the furthest into the future?