[MorningRayn]

Well, my mom just bought a new computer and it has just about the same specifications as my computer.

It has a 2.8GHz dual processor. I have a 2.93. We both have 1.0 GB of RAM. She has a NVidia GeForce 7200 LE. I have a 6200 LE. (Both are 256MB) Her computer is a Dell. Mine is an Alienware.

Well, I've recently started monitoring my FPS in a game (Guild Wars). With my specifications, screen resolution at 1280x1024, the graphics setting set as low as possible, the game runs at 15-20 FPS.

Well, I tried playing Guild Wars on my mom's computer, with the graphics all the way up, resolution the same, it runs at 30+ FPS. With the graphics all the way down, the game runs at 60FPS.

Why is there such a large discrepancy in performance?

I have a feeling that my video card is messed up.

When I first got my computer, the monitor wouldn't work. I would get some message like "video out of range" or something. I had to use a different monitor at first. After I installed the video driver, my first monitor (the one that didn't seem to work) began working. Ever since then, I've had no problems.

Is there anything I can do to try and fix it?

EDIT: Also, I tried taking one stick of RAM from my mom's computer and installing it on mine. It seemed to have no effect. With and without it, my game ran at 20FPS. Maybe there's something wrong with the RAM?

Another EDIT: So I looked at the NVidia Control Panel of my mom's computer and it says her video card is 512MB (with128MB dedicated to something... the rest was cut off). I know for a fact that it was advertised as a 256MB video card (I'm looking at the paper work right now). Is her computer being overclocked or something?

Edited by MorningRayn, 20 October 2006 - 01:06 PM.

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It could be a driver problem. Visit your manufacturers website to download the latest driver for your graphic card.

[GrantG]

It could be a driver problem. Visit your manufacturers website to download the latest driver for your graphic card.

[MorningRayn]

I already have the latest driver installed.

[SRX660]

First, a 6200 card will not match a 7200 at any point. The 6200 has 4 pixel pipelines while the 7200( odd number usually for a manufacturer) had 8 pipelines. More pipelines means better and faster graphics. The 6200's memory clock is around 400 mhz while the 7200 memory clock is around 600 mhz. the 7 series uses faster DDR2 memory while the 6200 uses DDR memory.

Theres more that can be explained but thats just details of wht the 7200 is better. Now if you get a 7600 video card you will see much faster playing. the 7600 has 12 pipelines and usually 800 mhz memory clock. Look at the specs on these two. I am assuming you are using AGP and not PCI-E for your video cards.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130051

While you can go for the 7800 card the expense is quite a bit more. it does have 16 pipelines and a 1200 mhz memory speed.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814130269

SRX660

[MorningRayn]

Thanks. I don't really understand video cards, but since both said 256MB I figured they would run just about the same. Guess I was wrong.

Well anyway, I have one other question. When you're installing RAM, do you have to install them in pairs? Because when I tried taking 1 stick of 512MB RAM from my mom's computer and put it in mine, it had no effect. Is there something else I have to do to install RAM?

And do you know any FAQs or guides that can help me just understand the different parts of the computer? I just want to know how X will effect my computer. Where X is located and things like that.

[jrm20]

You should really upgrade your video card. Im surprised that an alienware didnt come with a better video card than what you have.

If you have 1gb of ram that should be plenty for those games. Your video card is the problem as I said before.

[SRX660]

Just adding another 512 stick of memory will not boost the speed of the computer. The sweet spot for Windows Xp seem to be 512 MB. Any more than this you really don't notice any difference in speed. If you had looked in your system properties it probably would have shown the memory as slightly more than 1.5 gigs.

Heres a few websites to get you familiar with the parts of computers.

click on the how to assemble a computer links for pictures.

http://www.buildyour...arntobuild.html

Heres some good pictures.

http://www.tomshardw...n_pc/page2.html

http://www.directron.com/howtoold.html

http://www.build-you...are-basics.html

These ought to get you started.

SRX660