Hi, I just purchased a new PC (Q9450 cpu running @ stock speed, 8800GTS 512MB gfx, 4gb ddr2-ram, asus p5k/epu mb) and I tried playing cod4. What struck me was that I got some slow downs in the game (fps going to red numbers, 40-50 fps) - that's with default graphics settings (basically everything set to high), and in 1280x1024 resolution, 4xAA. Btw I am running Windows XP.

I just want to know if I should expect some slow downs with these graphics settings, or is something wrong?

I have the recent nvidia driver installed, I tried setting vsync to always off, as I remember it often helped on my older pc's.

does sound odd to me, however i wouldnt say 40-50 fps is slow and you shouldnt feel much from it. My system is worse and im sure i ran pretty flawlessy on high @ 1440x900. 4xAA may be slowing you i dunno.

Is your XP 32 bit? May not be using all your RAM

It is 32 bit yeah, I know I wont utilize all ram, but I just bought 4gb as I will probably soon move to a 64bit OS.

Hm It seems to be a bit better now.. have to do some more testing.

I discovered I had a program downloading quite heavily in the background. Do you think that can affect FPS as well?

Yeah, it could. Depends how much it's doing. Let your computer be running a virus scan or something. I remember back on the old single core chips, you had to make sure you weren't running extra stuff so it wouldn't slow down. But now it's not as bad on dual cores, though you could get slowdown.

Now that I have a quad core it shouldn't be the workload of the program causing the trouble. What I meant was that a bad connection due to the download maybe could hurt the fps..

But at least I shouldn't expect for example 100 fps stable at these settings with this rig? I don't know what's normal fps-wise for today's games on today's PC's which is why I ask here.

you say it went to red numbers on the fps counter, what were you using for counting the fps?

I used the ingame "cg_drawfps 1" command.

I just did a 3DMark06 test, I scored 13695 points - that should be okay?

no more comments?

i'm using 1440x900 everything high 4xaa on a 8800 gts 512 and a e7200 and it fluctuates between 45 to 120 fps , theres a lot going on and llike tomdrum said 40-50 aint that slow and it jus happens in mere milliseconds , but i dont know maybe it is a bit odd since its a better cpu

Actually the fps is mostly dropping when scoping in with your weapon (using red dot sight or similar). That alone chops off like 20 fps or something, and when firing with a weapon producing light-effects, like the M4 carabine (or whatever it's called, the colt), the fps go to like 40-45 if i'm firing at some more or less open area.

I don't think I get that low fps when just running around..