Performance Problems when running games

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

I'm running XP on an IBM thinkpad r40 with a 1.3 Ghz processor and 512 MB
RAM. When I try to run Need for Speed, I can play for about half an hour, and
then my computer freezes and automatically reboots. It comes up with a page
of errors that I don't have time to read, but it mentions something about
BIOS updates or insuff. memory. The game requires 256 MB, so I'm okay there.
The only thing that might be wrong is that I have a 16 MB video card, and it
requires 32MB. Would this be causing my laptop to freeze up? Or is it because
XP uses too much RAM when it runs? When I check my physical memory it says I
have 512 MB, but only 312MB are available. Is there a way to cut down on how
much XP uses? I'm also using the paging file as virtual memory at 765MB, but
that doesn't seem to help.
I raised that to 4096MB, but it didn't fix the problem.

Basically I just want to know if I need to upgrade my video card, or if the
problem is RAM related. The game seems to run fine graphics-wise, so I'm not
sure.

If anyone could help, that would be great. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

Your issue is directly related to your video adapter. If you have
a 16 MB video adapter, and the program requires at least a 32 MB
video adapter, that is why you are experiencing a freezing issue.

You'll have to contact IBM support and find out if your ThinkPad's
video adapter can be upgraded.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.aspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Preston" wrote:

| I'm running XP on an IBM thinkpad r40 with a 1.3 Ghz processor and 512 MB
| RAM. When I try to run Need for Speed, I can play for about half an hour, and
| then my computer freezes and automatically reboots. It comes up with a page
| of errors that I don't have time to read, but it mentions something about
| BIOS updates or insuff. memory. The game requires 256 MB, so I'm okay there.
| The only thing that might be wrong is that I have a 16 MB video card, and it
| requires 32MB. Would this be causing my laptop to freeze up? Or is it because
| XP uses too much RAM when it runs? When I check my physical memory it says I
| have 512 MB, but only 312MB are available. Is there a way to cut down on how
| much XP uses? I'm also using the paging file as virtual memory at 765MB, but
| that doesn't seem to help.
| I raised that to 4096MB, but it didn't fix the problem.
|
| Basically I just want to know if I need to upgrade my video card, or if the
| problem is RAM related. The game seems to run fine graphics-wise, so I'm not
| sure.
|
| If anyone could help, that would be great. Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.perform_maintain (More info?)

Hi,

Try this link to check if your computer meets the requirements for playing
games.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/games/gameadvisor/default.mspx

Regards
M. Rajesh
..Net and Windows Shell MVP
www.winxpsolution.com.

"Preston" wrote:

> I'm running XP on an IBM thinkpad r40 with a 1.3 Ghz processor and 512 MB
> RAM. When I try to run Need for Speed, I can play for about half an hour, and
> then my computer freezes and automatically reboots. It comes up with a page
> of errors that I don't have time to read, but it mentions something about
> BIOS updates or insuff. memory. The game requires 256 MB, so I'm okay there.
> The only thing that might be wrong is that I have a 16 MB video card, and it
> requires 32MB. Would this be causing my laptop to freeze up? Or is it because
> XP uses too much RAM when it runs? When I check my physical memory it says I
> have 512 MB, but only 312MB are available. Is there a way to cut down on how
> much XP uses? I'm also using the paging file as virtual memory at 765MB, but
> that doesn't seem to help.
> I raised that to 4096MB, but it didn't fix the problem.
>
> Basically I just want to know if I need to upgrade my video card, or if the
> problem is RAM related. The game seems to run fine graphics-wise, so I'm not
> sure.
>
> If anyone could help, that would be great. Thanks.