Page 1 of Got new PC - where`d I start to optimize it game-wise?

Ok I`m running on a P4 - 2 GHZ with a 64MB GeForce graphics card under Windows XP. From what I`ve seen so far, the games run like absolute pants, and are scarcely playable for a guy who`s an avid console gamer.

Surely I should be able to run my games in the higher resolution & graphic settings? What do I need to get in terms of drivers etc? I`ve nothing installed in that respect at the moment, so any performance tips would be apreciated!

Thanks.

Need more info mate.
e.g. just `cos it`s a 64MB graphics card doesn`t mean much now. If it`s got MX in the name then you`ll really struggle at higher resolutions.
What is the graphics card, how much RAM have you got etc....

Ste

One thing you could do, is get a copy of PC gamer with a free CD, these tend to have loads of free graphics drivers added on like DirectX, OpenGL and all that. No idea what they actually do, but they seem to work

Oh bugger - looks like I`ll need a new card.

I`m not too good with technical gibberish, but here`s what it`s listed as under system info.

NVIDIA GeForce MX/MX 400

How much is a new card going to set be back? Any recomendations?

You won`t need direct X updated if you`re running XP, it`s already version 8.1. You may need to update your graphics card driver. Go to http://www.nvidia.co.uk/view.asp?IO=winxp-2k_30.82 This is the latest driver. There is a 41.09 version but as far as I know this may still be Beta. Others may know different... Check your version by hitting the windows key and the pause/break key, Hardware, Device manager, Display adapters. Double-click your graphics card then select the driver tab. Look for Driver Version. Presume it`s an older GeForce 2? Doesn`t matter `cos Nvidia`s drivers support it.
What resolutions were you thinking of running? How much RAM have you got. Your card and RAM are more important now than your processor in newer PC`s..

Ste

sounds like your card should be fine for gaming mate.
my mates got the same one i think and it runs medal of honour at high fps.
get a bit more ddr ram perhaps and try playing at 600x800.

One thing i always use is bigfix, it`s a small program that basically looks at the software you`re running, and thru some dedicated websites, lets you know when an update is available.

If its a GF2 MX (which it sounds like) then its an `ok` card, best drivers for this card are the 20series (ie 23.11s etc) ignore any of the newer drivers unless its a GF4 mx in which case go with the newer ones, if you`re running xp then there are a lot of things you can turn off that are of no importance (its full of cartoony things) have a look here for more info http://www.blkviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

You should see a difference with newer drivers, if you want a total gaming machin then you`ll need to invest some time tweaking your pc, takes a while but once you`re used to it it`s well worth it!

I agree, it may be `fine` for gaming at lower resolutions. Jason said "Surely I should be able to run my games in the higher resolution & graphic settings". That`s why I said this card isn`t upto it. Some games play OK even over 1000 resolution. Try GTAIII with effects on even at 800x600 and you even hate it when it starts to rain!!

Ste

RAM is best for games, especially FPS. If you not got 256mb, do so. If you can, get 512.