Computer running TERRIBLY!

[ns12123]

I recently built a new computer. Specs:

AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ overclocked to 2.84ghz
1GB DDR2 800mhz RAM
Radeon HD3850 512MB CAT 8.5 drivers
PC Chips A33G mobo (I know. Cheap.)
Windows XP SP3

Games run like crap. Terribly. UT3, Titan Quest, and Company of Heroes all chug terribly at the lowest settings. I installed the AMD dual core optimizer and the AMD driver for XP. The mobo has the latest BIOS. All MOBO drivers for XP are installed. What could it be?

 

[cal8949]

go over your bios settings again. check ram timings, cpu speed, check if both cores are running. 1gb is low for an xp gaming pc i would add another gig. monitor ram usage and see if you need more in games. i bet its mostly your ram

 

[cal8949]

when i had xp sp2 on my machine i know i used more then 1 gig of ram in most games

 

[sailer]

A standard amount of ram for XP machines has long been 2 gig of ram. Using only 1 gig will force it to use virtual ram on the hard drive a lot, thus slowing the game considerably. So up the ram to 2 gig and see how the computer does.

 

[PsyKhiqZero]

get something to monitor cpu and gpu temps. if these things overheat they will slowdown to avoid burning up.

 

[blackhawk1928]

MORE RAM DEFINATLY, I would add another gig and your good to go with just about ever game out right now, but in the near future games will be more munchy so maybe consider getting 3gigs, becuase the game CRYSIS eats up around 900mb of ram when I play it and If i had a gig it wouldn't be enough cuase the actually operating system takes up like 300-400mb of ram so yeah get more RAM

 

[smalltime0]

Personally I think 4 GB is minimum for running XP, 8 GB for Vista

1GB is really killing your computers performance, you will see massive performance gains for the $60 or so it will cost for a 2GB stick

 

[fowang]

Personally I think 4 GB is minimum for running XP, 8 GB for Vista

What are u planning on running on ur vista box with 8gb of ram a SQL server? lol

but yeah the min has to be 2gb as other posters has said with 1gb u will be using your hdd for virtual memory

 

[smalltime0]

What are u planning on running on ur vista box with 8gb of ram a SQL server? lol

Small missile systems need RAM.

nah, lol I saw a 4GB kit of Ballistix Tracer 800 MHz for pretty cheap and bought it.