Optimizing my PC for gaming?

C

Chingpow

Member
Hi, I'd like to do whatever I can to optimize my laptop for gaming. Here are my specs:

System manufacturer/Model #: HP DV9920US
Operating system: Windows Vista Home
Processor: AMD Turion(tm) 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-60 2.00GHZ
System type: 64-bit OS
Direct X: 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
GFX card: NVIDIA GeForce 7150M / nForce 630M
Memory: 4GB DDR2 RAM 2DIMM, 512 KB + 512 KB L2 Cache microprocessor cache
Hard-drive: 250 GB (5400 rpm)


Would switching from Vista to XP make a difference? The only game I really play is Combat Arms, and I've been experiencing a lot of ingame lag lately. (Not internet related). I even used the website systemrequirementslab (might be better known as "Can You Run It?") to test my laptop for minimum specs on Combat Arms... and it basically said I passed the "Recommended" test with flying colors.

Why am I lagging? I x-out of everything else before gaming, but somehow I'm still being slowed down. Yes, I do have an antivirus program... but it doesn't take up much processing power at all. No, it doesn't scan on its own regularly.

I did a HijackThis scan, and nothing looks out of the ordinary... so I don't think it is spyware or anything like that. Any ideas on what I could do?


Edit: I noticed my HDD speed is 5400 rather than 7200.... if I used my external hard-drive for Combat Arms, might that be faster? I think the RPM is 7200...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP DV9920US
    CPU
    2.00 GHz AMD Turion X2 TL-60 Dual-Core Mobile Processor
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 RAM 2DIMM, 512 KB + 512 KB L2 Cache microprocessor cache
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7150M
    Sound Card
    Altec Lansing speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.0" WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    250 GB (5400 rpm)
    Other Info
    http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=HPDV9920US
To get an idea what your computer would be like with XP try running it in classic mode for a while.
Up until 2 weeks ago that is how I ran mine and it was fast.

Control panel, personaliziation, theme, classic.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
I think I might try it. Also, do you think making a partition of vista that has no updates on it - for gaming only - would run faster for gaming?

It seems like I lag the most in Combat Arms games when there are more people. Maybe 10+ seems to do it... which is odd, because Halo CE (on PC) didn't seem to lag much more when there were more people, if I remember.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP DV9920US
    CPU
    2.00 GHz AMD Turion X2 TL-60 Dual-Core Mobile Processor
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 RAM 2DIMM, 512 KB + 512 KB L2 Cache microprocessor cache
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7150M
    Sound Card
    Altec Lansing speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.0" WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    250 GB (5400 rpm)
    Other Info
    http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=HPDV9920US
Is it always laggy or does it slow down after abit.

But honestly, its most likely your system just can't handle it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • CPU
    Dual L5639 // i7 950 @ 4.0Ghz
    Motherboard
    Evga SR-2 // Gigabyte x58a-ud3r
    Memory
    12Gig Corsair XMS3 // 6Gig OCZ Gold
    Graphics Card(s)
    gtx 560 ti // gtx 260-216
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual 22" // Headless
    Hard Drives
    OCZ aGILITY 3, 120Gig + Seagate 500Gig x 2
    PSU
    Silverstone da700 // Corsair 520hx
    Case
    Rosewill BlackHawk Ultra // Antec 900v1
    Cooling
    Twin CM Hyper 212+ // Noctua NH-u12
    Other Info
    Acer 8930 laptop with x9100...
and no, having Vista with no updates is not a good idea, and probably won't help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
hey chingpow, i used to play combat arms and i know my system can handle it and it was lagging like crazy, maybe it is there servers, i just stopped playing because of the lag. plus there are so many cheaters how can you stand to play with all the hackers? try America's Army, hook up with the 3rd inf div. they dont cheat and are a great bunch to game with.
 

My Computer

System One

awannabeee said:
hey chingpow, i used to play combat arms and i know my system can handle it and it was lagging like crazy, maybe it is there servers, i just stopped playing because of the lag. plus there are so many cheaters how can you stand to play with all the hackers? try America's Army, hook up with the 3rd inf div. they dont cheat and are a great bunch to game with.
Click to expand...

I think you're right about the servers. =/ I'll try playing on the less populated ones and see if it makes a big difference. I agree about the hackers, but Nexon recently added in a video capture system.. so you can record from the game rather than having to use Fraps or some other program. It makes reporting them easier. Also, Nexon said they're going to be repackaging Combat Arms, as in rewriting everything... which means it'll take a long time, but once they're done, it'll be hacker free, at least for a little while. I have high hopes. :P
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    HP DV9920US
    CPU
    2.00 GHz AMD Turion X2 TL-60 Dual-Core Mobile Processor
    Memory
    4GB DDR2 RAM 2DIMM, 512 KB + 512 KB L2 Cache microprocessor cache
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce 7150M
    Sound Card
    Altec Lansing speakers
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17.0" WXGA High-Definition BrightView Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    1440 x 900
    Hard Drives
    250 GB (5400 rpm)
    Other Info
    http://www.beachcamera.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=HPDV9920US
optimizing your pc.
game boosteer beta 2.
advanced system care
io bit security 360
malwarebytes
avast free version has game setting.

run these weekly and update them weekly, check your nvidia website update for your gpu.

go to start, control panel, system, device manager. i go through the whole list ocasionally to see if anything updates.
Computer Diagnostics & Network Audits Software | Lavalys.com download their free version of their hardware identifier, run it and you will notice it has some links to manufactures of some of your hardware.

keep your machine defraged not just the windows version advanced system care has one.

i dont know for sure about the os question because i am not a professional, but i have crysis on a vista hdd and an xp hdd and it runs better on the xp hdd. i believe, (and could be wrong) , that you should research what the exact system requirements are for a game and try to run them in that environment. in the case of crysis doing better from xp, i believe is because it is made to run on direct x 9 and since my xp is running 9c it is easier on my machine. like i said i am not a professional so dont quote me, i just think a machine with direct x 10 or 11 that has on board or integrated video capabilities will get bogged down trying to process the direct x 9 information.

in other words, if it were me and i had the hdd, and the os i would do it!
Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies go here for a bootloader tool that will make switching between os's easy as pie. if you are uncomfortable about installing BCD if you decide to please ask questions, there is nothing worse than trashing a perfectly good set up. follow the set up directions to the "T" believe me i didn't and it took hours to set the hdds and os's back to rights.!!!

also google game tweaks for combat arms and see what you get a lot of games these days have tweak guides.

P.S. do all the updates for xp, i have had non of the issues i hear some complain about as they tell you to stick with sp1. i think some people want a vw to run like a porsche, and it just aint going to happen.

p.p.s. keep using these forums because the people hear are incredibly knowledgable.
 

My Computer

System One

Have you ever messed with your nVIDIA settings? Right click your desktop and go to nVIDIA control panel, if it asks you about something of "standard or advanced" choose advanced. Go to 3D settings then manage. Now look at all the features and read the description, won't take but a minute, and change the settings accordingly to performance and you'll see a change. I used to lag all the time playing Counter Strike while on high performance on my laptop and I changed those settings, now I play on Balanced. :) Hope this helps.
 

My Computer

System One

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