Game performance problems on a 5150

Question

I own an Inspiron 5150 and I found about the overheating problem, so I've done the neccessary steps to keep things cool, but that doesn't seem to be where the problem lies. A few of my games run perfectly (Half-Life 2 runs great on 1024 X 768 on medium settings). On the other hand, games like Chronicles of Riddick and Deus Ex 2 run terribly. I know that Riddick has some gross performance issues, but what goes on here seems beyond that. Even with the settings on low and a resolution lower than 1024 X 768 the games move very, very slow. I'm talking about no more than 15 fps. On the lowest possible settings I only managed to muster 25 FPS on Deus EX 2. Thief III also runs terribly on the lowest possible settings. All of these games use shadows heavily. Could that have anything to do with it? Can anyone tell me what's going on? You'll be my friend if you do

4fluke · Answer

The shadows can definitely slow things down - I've seen the same thing happen on my machine when running Doom 3.  Turn off the shadows and see what happens.

DjSKittles · Answer

I put everything as low as it can go it still runs poorly :(

hegas · Answer

I have same problem, I was starting to think it may have been windows xp updates, only seems to have started recently, happens with most games now, ET, Flashpoint, Battlefront. runs slow then speeds up then runs slow, thinking of reversing SP2 - bit drastic though

DjSKittles · Answer

If it runs slow then speeds up, then go to the control panel--power options and in the power schemes go to 'Maximum performance'

hegas · Answer

thanks, I had the scheme set for home/office but have changed over and will see if this works tonite after work, thanks again for the reply

4fluke · Answer

Makes me wonder if the 'console' is an extra layer of software for the game to run through to the OS?????  XP doesn't have a native DOS - it just emulates it as far as I know.  Software/computer engineers/SC folks,  feel free to jump in here....

DjSKittles · Answer

I had the same problem myself once!

Here's something I noticed. Any game that is ported from a console, such as Splinter Cell, Hitman: Blood Contracts, Deus Ex 2 and Thief III all run terribly, yet I can run Painkiller at the highest possible setting with above-average performance. This can't be normal...can it?

hegas · Answer

tried changing the power option but it still happens, tried adjusting video options, sound options and it still slows down (stutters??) then goes to normal speed then does it again! Installed one of the games on my Duron (yes a Duron) 700 mhz desktop! and guess what - it doesn't happen - plays better than except for the graphics detail but it doesn't stutter like the P4 on this laptop!

still makes we wonder if something has been updated and changed a setting or a program running in the bgd affecting the memory?

jizam · Answer

All i can say is,i have the exact same problem with my 5160 and its even getting to the point it kinda lags on websites 2,and virtual pc is super slow because of this issue also.Its driving me mad

hegas · Answer

found out I have old video drivers (bought this laptop end of 2004 but it had 11/2003 drivers for the video card) so have downloaded and will install - may help hopefully;

I still think its a memory problem/processes in bgd, thought about using "end it all" program but with XP I don't know safely what processes I can shut down - will start searching the net for the answer!!

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