Hey all, a while ago, the motherboard to my computer blew out, because the power source must have overheated, and we sent it to someone to replace the motherboard. Once we go the PC back, it seemed to be running unusually slow, so I decided to back up some files, and completly wipe the hard drive, start from scratch. Noticed major improvements in how Windows itself ran, as in menu's poping up, and such, but for some reason, everything else is running extremly slow. Unreal Tournament 2004 runs pretty smoothly, and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 ran alright for the first few minutes. After reinstalling a screensaver I had before with my PC, I noticed major frame rate loss, compaired to the way it ran before all of this happened. So I ignored it and continued. Then today, I went & installed GunBound (www.gunbound.net) & here is where all hell broke loose. Gunbound was running on the MENUS.. not 50fps... not 30... it was running at what felt like no more then 10fps! What the hell? Does anyone know what might be going on? What I can do to fix this? How much MORE is this going to cost me? We already spent, what was for us, a fortune, just to get this PC back to half decent. Any ideas? I'd really love to know what the hell is wrong with this computer.
I'm using WindowsXP. What am I looking for in the bios, I know a good bit about computers, but I never actually been in the bios because so much can go wrong. I've only been in there once, and that was to disable my onboard sound. What should I try, to bring this PC back normal?
I can't find the article I was reading before. Perhaps check out the mobo manufacturer's site and see what they have to say. I'll have a look later and see if I can find what I was thinking of, it's something you tend to have to change with a lot of new boards for 2k/xp but I can't remember the name.
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Pete Nattress Cheesy Bits img src/uploads/sccheesegif
Registered 23/09/2002
Points 4811
18th December, 2005 at 09:21:50 -
Maybe the new motherboard the guy fitted is worse than the one that was in there before. If you go into BIOS and disable all the stuff you're not using, and perhaps flash the BIOS too if you know the make and model, that might help.
DaVince This fool just HAD to have a custom rating
Registered 04/09/2004
Points 7998
18th December, 2005 at 15:49:24 -
I've been in my BIOS for dozens of times now, and it really isn't much with the newer BIOSes that can go wrong if you watch what you're changing.
In the BIOS on my current computer, I have an option to increase the amount of RAM reserved for the video card. I noticed that the max, 8 MB, makes the graphics run a lot faster.
You've probably already tried this but make sure you have the latest motherboard and video drivers, as well as the latest direct x installed properly.
Secondly, where did you get the new motherboard? Do you know if you previously had a seperate (Agp/pci E) graphics card? Your new motherboard might have onboard graphics (usually found on in-store pcs because they're cheaper to make). This is basiclly where they combine the graphics card with the motherboard. If you have onbaord graphics then you will find an option in the bios to increase the amount of ram you can reserve it, as DaVince said above (this will use up your system RAM though).
Ideally, you're much better off with a seperate graphics card (I've had some terrible experiences in games with onboard graphics). If you had a seperate card before, it could be that the motherboard is trying to use the onboard graphics instead of your graphics card- you can probably find a bios setting to change this, there should be something to set it from 'onboard' to AGP (or pci express if you have a newer card/mobo).
The new motherboard is P4 Motherboard: M925G according to the little 2 page quick guide thing the guy gave me. My previous motherboard came with my PC. I have a PCI bus videocard, Radeon 9250, and a PCI Soundcard. The motherboard does have onboard video & onboard sound, but the guy who repaired the PC, guided me through disabling the onboard sound, so after a full system restore, my soundcard would install smoothly. He recommended it for the videocard, but I didnt see any video settings in the bios, and the videocard seemed to have installed smoothly anyway. 1 issue though, before I installed the latest DirectX & drivers for my videocard, the Diag window thought I had a Radeon 9200 chipset, and it still only thinks I have 480MB of ram, when I actually have 512MB. I'm not sure what all I can do, to get this PC back up to its original speed, as far as games go. Hell, when ever I play scrolling games on MMF, unless they are at a good resolution, when they smooth, they go from 50fps, down to 10fps, if not lower. Diamond: Revolution was also running very noticablly slow, with backgrounds off & everything. I dont know what to do with this thing!
Pete Nattress Cheesy Bits img src/uploads/sccheesegif
Registered 23/09/2002
Points 4811
19th December, 2005 at 18:15:48 -
"480MB of ram, when I actually have 512MB"
This is because the onboard video is taking 32mb of RAM for itself. You should really try and disable it; have a really good look in the BIOS again and check the Device Manager. ("hardware" tab of "system" options on control panel)
Now see, I never would have guessed the motherboard would be able to suck down ram for its own gready use. It makes sense though I guess, thanks Pete, I'll check it out. Any other idea's on what I can check for in the Bios are highly appreciated, & thanks to everyone who's helped out so far.
As pete says, if it says you only have 480mb, it must be that the motherboard is taking up the extra 32 to use with the onboard graphics card, which means that you are running the onboard grpahics (a radeon 9200 by the looks of it) instead of your 9250.
Is your radeon 9250 card actually physically intalled? As in slotted into the agp slot on the motherboard? If so, does your monitor cable plug into the motherboard or your card?
First Post for a few months, try plugging your monitor into the onboard video socket, i'm guessing the onboard is still running, never heard of this before though.
There may be a bios setting for turning it off (sometimes it has a option like primary video adapter, onboard, PCI, AGP etc) you want PCI. Or you may have to fiddle with actual physical jumpers on the motherboard.
My MB went a few months ago, a big chunk was missing in it where a component was . It took the PSU too. Rebuilt mine myself though (becuase i'm poor )
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Edited by the Author.
iag window thought I had a Radeon 9200 chipset, and it still only thinks I have 480MB of ram, when I actually have 512MB. I'm not sure what all I can do, to get this PC back up to its original speed, as far as games go. Hell, when ever I play scrolling games on MMF, unless they are at a good resolution, when they smooth, they go from 50fps, down to 10fps, if not lower. Diamond: Revolution was also running very noticablly slow, with backgrounds off & everything. I dont know what to do with this thing!
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