New card, low fps.

[max90]

I just purchased a new card, a GTS 250 (low power version) it's not the best, but a significant improvement over my ati x1250 integrated card. My problem is I seem to have a very low fps in games, I installed nfs underground 2 which is a very old game pulled everything to max, no aa the frames where hanging around 60-70. I downloaded the Bioshock demo pulled everything to max the fps were hanging around 40-50, in heavy action they dropped as low as 29, switched everything to medium the fps's remained unchanged average 40-50 and in heavy action it still dropped as low as higher 20's.
I'm thinking maybe something else is bottlenecking it, here are my other hard ware specs:
Mobo: Gigabyte ga-ma69g-s3h
CPU: AMD Athlon X2 64 5200+
Ram: some no name dual channel 2 gb sticsk Cl 5 667 MHZ
But even if there is a bottleneck I should have gotten way more fps with a 2004 game like NFS Underground 2, any opinions welcome.

 

[plznote]

Do you have vsync enabled?
Operating System?
any other games?

 

[max90]

Nop vsync is disabled.
My os is win 7 32 bit version.
I installed Deathspank and that ran at an average 40-50 fps.
Sidenote my screen resolution is 1280x1024.

 

[max90]

Yes I thought that might be a problem, but this cpu should still get 100+ fps in a 2004 game like NFS Underground 2.
Temps are 53 degrees Celsius while gaming, if anybody were to think that over heating is the problem.

 

[plznote]

Clock speed of CPU?

 

[max90]

2.6 ghz.

 

[jjb8675309]

get a better cpu, get 2gb more of ram, what resolution are you gaming at? Looking at your specs and fps in different games I would say you are getting just about what you should with the given system but it def can be improved upon with some upgrades

 

[max90]

I play on 1280X1024, I tried decreasing the screen resolution, this should have helped in case of a cpu bottleneck, it didn't.

 

[jjb8675309]

I play on 1280X1024, I tried decreasing the screen resolution, this should have helped in case of a cpu bottleneck, it didn't.

yeah your cpu is bottlenecking your system no doubt, if you decrease resolution and are seeing no sizable gains then there is no doubt you are missing out on a bit of performance from your gpu, then again a gts 250 is only so powerful. I would either try to upgrade your cpu or try to overclock it a bit to around 3.2 and see if there is any difference. Also I would think that 4 gb of ram is pretty much nessesary for modern gaming. If you can go for a quad core cpu upgrade of around 3.0 ghz and you should see no bottleneck at all.

 

[max90]

There is also some audio distortion from time to time like I'm the speaker jakc has been put on metal. I just wanted to make sure there is nothing wrong with my gpu since even if my processor is dated it still should have massacred a 2004 game like Underground 2.

 

[max90]

My video playback also has washed out colors in win 7.

 

[Tamz_msc]

It could be a driver issue.Try installing the latest drivers.

 

[max90]

I have the latest drivers installed. I also noticed what I think are artifacts.
Here is a screenshoot:
http://i51.tinypic.com/jf7pfb.jpg

 

[Tamz_msc]

Yes, I see a few white dots.Make sure that the temps are under control.

 

[55Range]

Have your drivers been removed, registry cleaned prior to new card/driver install ?
Cpu might be bottleneck, whilst playing, monitor your cpu usage with task manger, then install msi afterburner, under different games, check their usage, then post back..
As for temps, use HW monitor to monitor them.

 

[GoldenI]

processor is the bottleneck.

 

[max90]

They were at 53-55 when playing, but when I took the pictures I didn't even start the game. I just entered and exited and they were there fizzling all over.

 

[max90]

I can't seem to edit my message, anyway yes I did a clean install, I even permanently disabled my on board graphics card in the bios.
When all else fails take out the nuke, I'm doing a format anc clean install of win 7, let's see what happens.

 

[max90]

Okey reinstalled windows 7,needles to say no changes in performance, the max temp in afterburner reached 71, but stabized around 61 when the fan speed picked up, should I start considering sending back the gpu, other people have had problems with this same model, note to self stay away from Leadtek. If I do send it back I'm going for a Gainward gts 450.

 

[55Range]

The gts 250 low power is slower than gts 250 normal-
Well, get a new card ..

 

[max90]

I know all that, but the card is new and I wanted to know if it's faulty or it's just this weak.

 

[55Range]

I guess its just weak-
Make some research , google- gts 250 low power and compare it to yours..

 

[max90]

But still even if it's weak like I said a 2004 game like NFS Undergroudn 2 should have been a breeze and what about those squares...

 

[mrjericho1991]

as said above,gts 250 low power is not worthy card,not even to max out 2004 game,because clocks are clocked lower than normal,well at that point,i think its the same as overclocked 9600gt,but it should max out nfs,dont know why its not doing that,add 4gb ram,that should fix it,no need to get new cpu for just 1 low standard game of 2004,if others are running fine than its problem of game not your cpu,and no need to get new gpu,its worst statement ever from anybody.

 

[55Range]

as said above,gts 250 low power is not worthy card,not even to max out 2004 game,because clocks are clocked lower than normal,well at that point,i think its the same as overclocked 9600gt,but it should max out nfs,dont know why its not doing that,add 4gb ram,that should fix it,no need to get new cpu for just 1 low standard game of 2004,if others are running fine than its problem of game not your cpu,and no need to get new gpu,its worst statement ever from anybody.

Add 4 gb ram ?
No get another 2 gb ram ..


To Op, get a new card if you are not satisfied, gts 250 lp is only slower than stock 250, might also cpu bottleneck.. Monitor the cpu via task manager ,see if touches/remains 100% whilst gaming ..