New Video Card installed, RAM installed, XP crash, Serious FPS Drops

Hi,

I recently replaced my video card, an NVidia GeForce 6600 AGP, with a NVidia GeForce 8400 512MB DDR2 PCI. I also installed a 1GB Kingston DDR RAM 400MHz memory module, on top of 512 MB already installed in the computer. All this went into a Dell Dimension 8300 Desktop computer.

Next thing I know, our computer crashed...and it kept saying that Windows got corrupted. This happened several times, and we eventually removed the 1GB memory module. All our problems went away.

However, I have noticed that now, whenever I play my games, such as Call of Duty 2 and Battlefield 2/Project Reality, the game is extremely choppy compared to before, even with the new video card. Call of Duty 2 run on the same settings as before the video card/RAM upgrades and Windows crash is now performing terribly. I have been getting as low as 1 FPS, compared to 30-40 FPS before. Battlefield 2 and Project Reality are very similar in performance: huge FPS drops/constantly low FPS.

I have all the correct Video Drivers and DirectX 9.0C/10 installed. I am getting 2 GB of RAM installed soon, but from my research, that wont help the FPS. Is there anything I can do to get back my lost performance? Will reinstalling/repairing windows do the trick? Any non-gaming program works like before without a hiccup.

Here are my system specs. Yes they meet the system requirements for all three games:

-Dell Dimension 8300
-Intel Pentium 4 Processor at 3.0 GHz with HT Tech
-512MB DDR SDRAM at 400MHz
-512MB DDR2 NVidia GeForce 8400 Video Card PCI (a note here: the original PC came with a DDR/AGP card, not DDR2/PCI like the new one. The RAM is still DDR SD RAM. Could this be causing problems? The 6600 installed before was not the original that came with the PC, but it was also AGP, not PCI).
-300 GB Serial ATA Hard Drive

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

-Sgt12Cougar

Think you will find your 512MB runs at 166Mhz x2 = 332Mhz.
As DDR stands for Double Data Rate.

Its a bad idea to run memory that have two different speeds.

As for your card i would try to find one with DDR 3 on.

If you buy two sticks of DDR 400 you will get Dual 128 bit memory mode.

A single stick is running on 64 bit mode. 512Mb.

Well, about the 2GB RAM, I am going to my local Frys to get it tomorrow. However, the drive is far too long to make several trips back and forth. So should I get a BFG 7300GT 512MB AGP Video Card? It should give me the performance I want right? And still give excellent graphics?

I know for a fact that before the crash, BF2 ran excellent with my current 8400 and 1.5GB of RAM.

About installing in pairs, I understand that part. Dell said that my system could handle a max of 2GB of RAM. So I am going to remove the current pair of 256MB modules and replace them with a pair of Kingston 1GB Modules.

I appreciate all the help guys.

Ryan, I am purchasing the 7600GS AGP that you listed above. It is available at my local store. So everything should be back to normal (or even better) after this upgrade hopefully.

Alright well I picked up a Patriot 2x1GB set of Memory Modules, based off the recommendation of several Frys staff. I also got the 7300, for that was the highest available. I will install later tonight and update this post with the results. Thanks for all the help guys.

UPDATE:

Actually installed everything around noon. After a couple of hiccups everything is working great! I can run CoD2 on DirectX 9, which would have killed my old card. Load times are quick with the new card. Project Reality is still a little choppy at times, but 64 bots can make any computer lag. Battlefield 2 is also excellent.

The computer also responds and finishes tasks much faster.

I am very satisfied, and thankfully the result was good.

However, there's this weird issue where the mouse wont work after switching profiles, it just freezes. I have to restart the computer to fix it. Unplugging it/putting the mouse back in wont work. I reinstalled the drivers, which I believe may have fixed the problem, but just in case, thought I would post it.

Yeah everythings working fine now. I installed all the drivers from the CD, and I have checked NVdia's site for newer, updated ones. I am up to date.

Hi I'm experiencing the same problem whit Dell Dimension 8300
but things i've done are different
I used to run my system whit Cpu Celeron D 2.8Ghz now i change it whit pentium 4 2.6Ghz HT /512 .
I had 4 ddr modules 256MB all the same brand Geil Value series and same serial number.
When I changed the cpu my computer start to make the very same problems freezes couple of times restarts whitout any visible reason. On the back of the pc case there are four led " ABCD" when it freez the B one light is yellow others are green on manual section the aren't such an example.
Here is a little strange thing when system boots when windows logo appears there has to pass few seconds befor it appear bright I'm sure that i can't explained it enough so here is a little video i've made
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqLvw3jdkSk
I'm not experiencing this problem whit the logo when I'm using my celeron D processor.
The very same problem i have when i'm using ubuntu it restarts and freezes when i start installing some packeges e.t.c
I looked up the motherboard there are no visible problems whit capacitors.
Before couple of months i've tried to install cpu P4 3Ghz HT/1MB but same problem appeared but more often system freezes when I play Call Of Duty2 after 5 min gaming when I browsing pages or using my desktop.

P.S sorry for my english