BF2: new dog doesn't want to learn old tricks.

Okay, first of all, Battlefield 2 is 4 years old now, but still a blast to play. Naturally, therefore, I was only too happy to run it on my new rig, whose specs are as follows:
Phenom X4 9600 @2.3GHz
4GB DDR2 1066 RAM
WD Caviar 640GB HDD
XFX Radeon HD 4850 1GB DDR3
Corsair 450W PSU with 33A +12V
Windows XP x64

Problem: performance is dismal. Not only that, it doesn't seem to depend on the game settings - all high with 8xAA works the same as it does with eye candy turned off - averaging around 40fps, meaning that when there is a lot of action it goes down into the 20s.

Why is it that my machine whose capabilities vastly exceed anything even conceived of at the time of this game's making is having such a tough time? It runs modern games fine. TF2? Crank it up. Bioshock? Maxed out, not a hitch. COD4? Puh-leez.

Before anyone even mentions the word "driver", I'll say that I have tried the following Catalyst versions:
8.6 with 4800 hotfix
8.7 beta
9.2-based DNA release
9.6

I've got a clean slate with a fresh Windows install. Suggest away.

EDIT: Mystery solved. If you're having this problem and have a Phenom I, go into your BIOS and look for a setting having to do with a TLB patch. Turn the patch off. There is also a program out there that does this, but I think it must be run on every boot. Thank you THers for making me suspicious of my Phenom.

Quick update: just tried Catalyst 8.12. No DICE (see what I did there?).

Either it's not a driver issue or it's stemming from something all Catalyst versions since at least 8.12 have in common.

the phenom 9600 is not a strong cpu and thats what you are seeing as the limitation
[ which isnt about gfx quality ]

The game will only be using one of the phenoms 4 cores and they all run quite slow. What mb do you have ? It may be possible to fit a more game friendly cpu

Heh... I highly doubt that will happen. In tests others have done the Agena wouldn't even boot at 2.4GHz.

However, I can't help but be skeptical about the conclusion you guys have reached. I remember seeing a benchmark where they compared BF2 on a stock P4 with one underclocked to 1.0GHz, and the performance loss was almost nil. Not only that, but BF2 runs better on my Athlon XP at 1.833GHz with 1.00GB DDR400 and a 7600GS and on my laptop with a C2D at 1.8GHz and an 8400M GS than on the Phenom machine. BF2 is notoriously RAM-dependent, but not CPU-dependent in my experience.

However it is certainly a possibility that I can't count out. Clock speeds certainly are not the only indicator of overall processor strength. And if we're talking bottlenecks, it certainly ain't the 4850 or the RAM.

Monitor is a good ole VGA CRT running at 1152x854 connected to the 4850 the usual way, through the DVI output on the back of it, albeit through an adapter dongle of course.

Mobo is a Gigabyte MA770-UD3, which supports AM3, so if the Phenom is proving to be the problem I might just move up to a Phenom II 720 if I can get the cash.

I would suggest you at least save up between 102.99 and 119.99 and you can choose between these two CPU's :

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] k=Callisto

or

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] &Tpk=720be

both will run BF2 flawless and you can overclock them for even more horsepower......

without the tlb patch your system can randomly crash .

If that starts happening at least you know why and how to fix it
ie new cpu