I've searched the forums and haven't been able to find anyone with a similar problem, but hopefully someone can help me out.
Just over the past few days I've begun having an issue with flickering graphics. Sometimes it's pieces of the characters during the cut scenes. Other times it's the background during actual game play (see screenshot). It's also frozen up on me a couple of times during cut scenes and I've had to reboot my computer. I just installed the 1.04 patch about a week ago and I'm thinking it has something to do with that, although I haven't seen anything like that mentioned anywhere. But I've never had a single problem before this. I tried updating the drivers for my video card but it didn't make a difference.
I have a Compaq Presario running XP AMD Sempron 2800+ 2.00 GHz, 2 GB RAM NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS Game installed on J:\\ with 166 GB free space Save games on C:\\ with 2.22 GB free space I'm playing Dragon Age: Origins Collector's Edition with Awakenings installed. The only mod I have installed is the one for different hairstyles The only DLC I have is Stone Prisoner and the bonus item promotions.
Any ideas what might be causing these problems and the best way to go about resolving them? ::crosses fingers that she doesn't need a new video card:: Thanks!
Everything about your hardware is just so marginal that the very slightest additional load is more than it can handle. The official minimum 7600 was the GT, not the GS. The minimum AMD processor is an A64, not a Sempron at all. I suspect that a few added specks of lint have collected in that puny little old and outdated video card, making it run very hot when loaded.
There have been many reports of the last patch degrading performance for Windows 7, but not for WindowsXP.
You can lower the load by reducing the screen resolution to a low level, but more than a video card, you really need a game-capable CPU instead of a Sempron (although there is a higher powered Sempron64 that's a lot closer to the minimum than what you have now, but it doesn't share sockets / Mainboards with the old one).
Modifié par Gorath Alpha, 15 octobre 2010 - 01:43 .
The expense (and the convenience, as well as the opportunity) of upgrades to the PC you have now is a variable proposition. There were two of the original Semprons, both of which were for now-unsupported sockets. The oldest, and slowest, was for the s462, or "Socket A", and there never was a particularly high powered AMD processor offered when Socket A was actively supported. The fastest was the Barton 3200, and those were last being sold new some five years ago, making them very difficult, and very expensive, to obtain now.
Socket A was never matched to PCIe, only the to the obsolete AGP video bus, for which available video upgrades are not widely available, but there are still a few new cards for AGP available at relatively reasonable prices.
The s754 socket is newer than the s462, and is the platform for which the vast majority of Semprons was sold. AMD stopped producing new s754 processors in the A64 line about 4 years ago, but those are easier to find than the older Bartons are, though still expensive because of the rarity. I think the fastest A64 cpu for s754 was the 3600, and there never were any AMD X2s for that socket that I can recall.
At the tail end of mainboard production for s754, there were a lot of those for the PCIe bus, instead of the AGP that the s754 motherboards had started out with.
Overall, the likelihood is strongest that only your tower box and storage subsystems will be yiur only practical salvage to carry forward. You are probably facing a need for just about everything new, starting with the mainboard, RAM, cpu, power supply, and video card. Trying to use any PC that is more than four years old is always a potential problem, and in your case, the cpu and mainboard designs were older than that, no matter when you bought that system,.
Gorath
Modifié par Gorath Alpha, 15 octobre 2010 - 02:24 .
lol a history story I don't think he/she was wanting Gorath
Just tell them its probably best to get a dual core CPU with at least 2.8 or 3 GHz per core (and of course the DDR RAM and a new Graphic Card too since its very very very possible the 7600 is a AGP)
To the OP there is some nice systems out there for a good price, if you want to go the manufacturer route and have a warranty, check out Acer and *gulp* Dell (Dell if you want to spend a bit more).
And also make sure the Graphic Card is not onboard, you can check this with PC's you want to buy pre-built by checking the specifications to see what the Graphics card is.
I was encouraged by an entry in the member's profile referring to a very early adventure game for desktop computers named the Black Cauldron that dated back almost as far as my own early game playing on home computers. There really aren't large numbers of us around the forums with that kind of longevity.
Well, you have been painted a pretty dismal picture thus far, but as they say, sometimes the truth hurts, maybe just a tad, LOL.. Anyway, with what you have, here are my recommendations until Old Saint Nick arrives....
1. I would take your system either outside, or in your garage for a GOOD Dusting:
A. Purchase a can (maybe 2 or 3. Depending on the age of the unit and the last time it was cleaned) of compressed air (Duster). There are a bunch of these on the market and pretty much anyone who sells anything to do with electronics will have one. But for simplicity, I went to amazon.com and selected the lowest price unit I could readily find. No need to buy the ones that cost more, unless they are a larger size, because pretty much, they are all the same. Anyway, here is a link: http://www.amazon.co...7181042&sr=1-11
A1. Do NOT touch anything on the inside. Unless you are grounded with an Anti-Static connection. All you need to do is touch something sensitive inside the unit with a non grounded finger and generate a static shock (the same ones you get on carpet and other things), and BINGO possible HUGE disaster. So, if you think you may touch something by accident (I use one regardless whenever I open my PC), I would highly recommend buying this or one just like it, so here is the link (to use it properly, follow the directions that accompany the Duster): http://www.amazon.co...&sr=8-1-catcorr
B. Hook yourself up to the Anti-Static and Prepare the Duster by placing the plastic tube into the spray head (small hole on the front of the spray head is used to hold the plastic tube in place)
C. Bring your unit to an area that is well ventilated (so you don't get all of what your going to be blowing out, all over your nice furniture). I take mine out on the porch deck.
D. Open the case of your PC. Again, make sure your Anti-Static is connected to the case of the PC
E. Once your prepared (only Dusting the INSIDES right now), start at the bottom and work your way up with the Duster, taking your time to get all of the small areas (take your time). Once your all the way to the top, start again, this time from the top to the bottom. You'll keep doing this until dirt stops blowing out of your unit. You will be amazed at how good your system will function as a result of such an easy task. But don't kid yourself, many people will take there units to a tech shop to get the same thing done, but at a cost of $75.00-$100.00. You'll be saving all of that, just by doing it yourself (and yes, it is very easy.
F. Now dust the outside of the unit to include your keyboard and mouse. If your mouse has a little rubber ball inside the mouse on the bottom, you will need to take the ball out and clean inside the ball well, paying attention to the plastic rollers that will usually have a very compressed line of dust on them. So in order to help you on this, here is a video link showing you how to clean your mouse. Link:
Here is a video link to show you how to clean a keyboard aqs well. Link:
2. I would definitely make sure your video cards driver is CURRENT. Here is the LINK for your graphics card. Since you state your running XP, I am assuming by what your specs say, or don't say in this case, that you are using a 32-B it system. So, here is your NVIDIA 7600GS Driver Link: http://www.nvidia.co...hql-driver.html
Well that should get you going and wish you the best of luck!
Gunny
PS: Of course I need to provide a disclosure statement, so here it is. Everything in this message is provided as a self serve item. I am not providing any guarantees regarding any of the suggestions. Use or handle at your own risk. OK, that should do it.. Good Luck!
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