I got a P4 2.2 Ghz, but if anything is the problem, it would have to be my integrated video card (asus graphics controller something or other).
But then again, if it was, how come I never had this problem before!? :blink:
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Well, everyone so far sez "it's the int vid card" without answering why it worked better before. I agree, it's probably due primarily to that. But with a p42.2 ghz and an integrated video card with dedicated video memory, you should be ok in 800x600 if your exact chipset handles d3d or opengl.
1) I'd scan for viruses and adware/spyware. I use
http://housecall.trendmicro.com for virus scans and Adaware (
www.lavasoft.de) for spyware. but whatever, if it's up to date and you like it
This is a shot in the dark, but if it finds something, it might fix it easy. I ALWAYS do this first to correct performance problems. Sometimes it works.
2) next I'd find out exactly what chipset it is, what it's specs are, especially:
shared video mem:this is very bad. If you have it and are a gamer, you want to figure out something better.
D3D/OpenGL: This is so important. If it doesn't do it, you need better.
3) now that I know what I have, If it is worth it, update drivers for it. This can sometimes be used to fix corrupted drivers too, but just being laggy doesn't sound like that.
4) next, newest directx. This I'd bet 99:1 you already have 9.0b or 9.0c, and either is fine. If you don't know, you can use Start-->Run-->dxdiag to tell you.
5) try running a benchmark, I like 3dMark2001 from madonion.com. If you can't get AT LEAST 1000 on that benchmark, you need to figure something out to play NS very well.
6) tweak time. If the integrated video is nvidia, you will get over 1000-3Dmarks easy. just go into the display properties-->settings-->advanced and set vertical sync always off and set all d3d/opengl settings to max performance/min quality. After that you should be able to play in 800x600 with good enough framerates. If it's an Intel chipset, you might be ok. You might be able to tweak other chipset drivers the same way. ATI integrated chipsets for sure. Some Intel ones can be tweaked the same way too. Other chipsets, maybe, maybe not. GL
7) if any of this stuff actually helped and now you benchmark > 3000 3dmarks don't worry about your video too much. new hardware is always cool, but > 3000 3dmarks will be very playable.
now, lets assume you get > 3000 3dmarks and <20fps in places on certain maps still. your problem is half-life settings. (netlag doesn't kill fps much, it's different). lowering resolution is the obvious solution. You should be able to play well in 800x600 with that 3000+ 3dmarks, so if you have to go under 800x600 something is wrong. try switching from directx to opengl or vice-versa. Some chipsets do better in one some in the other. There are more half-life settings, if you get this far and still can't figure out why your framerate drops so bad, see
9) If I had decided it was just a poor performing chipset and I needed better, had the money and an agp slot, I'd go find a cheap card. <$50 for sure is enough. try gforce2-mx400 or gforce4-mx400 64mb agp, you can get one for like $35 if you look hard, and either is way better than any integrated I know of.
10) more money on a vid card is so worth it. I run a gforce ti 5700 I picked up for $89 new a month ago as an upgrade from my gforce2-mx400 (scored 3100 3dmarks with it) and it was so worth it. I now score 17900 3dmarks and run ns at constant max fps (I'm set at 60) in 1600x1200. NS looks so awesome now.....
I know most of this was really basic/general and probably not too much use, but I didn't have too much to go on in your in post....
Squats