Any suggestions.

[OldGuy]

Last few weeks have been having problems with COD4. Mouse is very choppy, and movement in game is also. Ping is in the 50's. using a wireless optical mouse, and have changed to a USB wired optical with no change.
have tried all the different graphics settings including optimal. Have defragged, and cleaned out all junk files with no change. Mouse works fine in all other programs.
WinXP sp3-Creative X-fi sound card-Nvidea 7600 GS video card-all drivers are current.
Any suggestions.:bigemo_t_net-2

[FireBlade]

I had the same type of prob and changed the mouse 3 times before it was ok.I used port usb and wireless and the last seemed to be ok.Just make sure the batteries are ok.Apart from that,i can't think what else it could be.

[CrazyCanuck]

What mouse do you have plugged in the USB port...manufacturer and model..it might be simply a default setting you have to change and/or a driver...

and i know its a dumb question but i have to ask..your not playing on a laptop are you?

[OldGuy]

What mouse do you have plugged in the USB port...manufacturer and model..it might be simply a default setting you have to change and/or a driver...

and i know its a dumb question but i have to ask..your not playing on a laptop are you?

1. It's a microsoft optical, but I have been using it for quite a while with no prob. And the batteries are fresh, that was the 1st thing I checked.

2. No it's a desktop.

[kingofcalif]

Ahhh I had that same problem....took my tower with mouse attached to upstairs window.....thru it out. Spent $2000 on new parts...it works fine now.
Sometimes you just have to throw the baby out with the wash water and start over.

[stinky]

Whats your frame rate Colin, my games does that also if i get a very low frame rate like below 20, even thou the ping is fine,

this is how to see your frame rate:

Put this into the console:

/cg_drawfps 1

Then hit enter. FPS and other info will appear top right.
To make it go away again type:

/cg_drawfps 0

if the frame rate is red (usually white) usually anything below 60 on my system the game will go choppy and mouse movement also,

[FireBlade]

When i had my prob and i kept changing the mouse,if i put the old mouse back in the prob would start again so i definately knew it was the mouse and i had been using that mouse for over a year before it went funny.

I don't think it was the driver side cos i re installed all mouse drivers as i was trying to sort it out.I just think the electronics in the mouse had gone.Thats what was wrong with mine although your prob could be something else but it's worth trying all avenues.It's a pain but it's gotta be done.

[OldGuy]

Whats your frame rate Colin, my games does that also if i get a very low frame rate like below 20, even thou the ping is fine,

this is how to see your frame rate:

Put this into the console:

/cg_drawfps 1

Then hit enter. FPS and other info will appear top right.
To make it go away again type:

/cg_drawfps 0

if the frame rate is red (usually white) usually anything below 60 on my system the game will go choppy and mouse movement also,

I'll check on that and get back.

Ahhh I had that same problem....took my tower with mouse attached to upstairs window.....thru it out. Spent $2000 on new parts...it works fine now.
Sometimes you just have to throw the baby out with the wash water and start over.

Wish it was that easy. System is old but can't replace right now. Also with my luck someone would catch it and throw it back in the window. LOL

[OldGuy]

Well, I just checked my frame rate, and it is 20-30, and when I move of scan, it drops to 8-10. ?????????

[kingofcalif]

Wow, something dragging your video card down. Try all video settings to low. did you change res lately? If you feel rich go buy a 8800 card.

[stinky]

Well, I just checked my frame rate, and it is 20-30, and when I move of scan, it drops to 8-10. ?????????


yeah it is defo the frame rate which is causing this, mine only happens now and then and i just restart and all is fine,

have you got the latest drivers out for your graphics card, i would try that first

what card so you have?

Also forgot to mention try lowering your graphics settings and resolution in game it could be trying to run to much for your graphics card

hope this helps!

[OldGuy]

Thanks for all the input. I have PART of the problem solved. I deleted, and re-installed my vid card, and updated drivers. FPS in now in the 55-60 range, but fluctuates greatly. The whole system is old, and probably needs replaced---------maybe someday.

[Macgeyvor]

Had a problem like that with my new mouse and all it was had a small hair on optical part. cleaned it and worked fine after that.

[kingofcalif]

Careful, I tried to clean the hair on my mouse it bit me.

[stinky]

Thanks for all the input. I have PART of the problem solved. I deleted, and re-installed my vid card, and updated drivers. FPS in now in the 55-60 range, but fluctuates greatly. The whole system is old, and probably needs replaced---------maybe someday.

No problem. Is it playable now? and have you lowered your settings.

if it is an old system 60 fps is ok i think

also when you say the reinstalled the card did you use the driver that came with it, or download the latest one off the website???

[OldGuy]

Well, now back to square one. Played last night, on the sniper server. Just standing, and not miving, got fps of 55-75. If i move, or scan around, fps drops into 30's. Whats really got me confused is that at times I get fps in the 90's, especially if looking through scope. Go to full view (not through scope) and fps drops dramatically. Being essintally computer illiterate, i'm assuming that the scope view makes the card have to handle less info, thus higher frame rate. Any ideas?

[oldman]

This frame rate thing can be deceiving, you will see that on some maps, depending on detail your frame rate will go into the red, mine does regularly, from what I gather when on maps look up at the sky and you should see a frame rate in the 100's (1 of the clever sods will tell you what the best is)
When Hamster and Goose get sorted, Goose talked me thought all the best settings for CoD, altering things I never new existed. he may be able to help you or you could try pm'ing him.

[stinky]

oldman is right in what he is saying, the fps never stays the same during the game. (unless you have top spec graphic cards and the max fps set at a certain level)
and you are right with the scopes it with always go higher because the graphics card dosent have to work as hard as half the screen is black


most servers are set to max fps of 125 but that dosent mean it has to be that, 60fps is enough to play the game, mine used to be that untill i also talked to goose and got setup, it evolves lowering all your graphics settings in game.
try setting them all to low of off and also turn anti anilising off and see what fps you get then. there are also sum setting out of COD you can do but that is a bit more advanced, there is a post about setting's on here by CrazyCanuk carnt remember what its called

Are you still having problems playing the game. if so can you get on team speak i can guide you though some off the things and go though your mp_config file and set it up with you
(PM me if you can get on ts tomorrow night or at the weekend

[Yourself]

Andy, how long has this been happening?

Since you've installed XP SP3?

Have you re-installed DirectX 9.0?

Have you updated your Creative (sound) drivers?

What gaming resolution are you running at?

What CPU (and at what speed) are you running?

How much RAM do you have in your system?

Is that an AGP or a PCI-e version 7600 GS?

How much free disk space do you have (if you have multiple hard disks, how much on each)?

What kind of monitor are you using (LCD or CRT)?

The 7600 GS card just may not be enough graphics power for the newer, highly detailed sniper maps - a symptom of that is a frame rate that fluxuates wildly.

Yourself (Dave)

*EDIT* how much RAM is on the 7600 GS?

[OldGuy]

Andy, how long has this been happening?

Since you've installed XP SP3?---Before that.

Have you re-installed DirectX 9.0?-----Yes

Have you updated your Creative (sound) drivers?-----Yes

What gaming resolution are you running at?-----Have tried ALL

What CPU (and at what speed) are you running?-----P4 2.8Ghz

How much RAM do you have in your system?------2Gig

Is that an AGP or a PCI-e version 7600 GS?----AGP

How much free disk space do you have (if you have multiple hard disks, how much on each)? 160 Gig HD with 120 Free

What kind of monitor are you using (LCD or CRT)?------22" CRT

The 7600 GS card just may not be enough graphics power for the newer, highly detailed sniper maps - a symptom of that is a frame rate that fluxuates wildly.----That's exactly what it does. Standing still with NO moement, can swing between 90+ & 20's. :mad:

Yourself (Dave)

*EDIT* how much RAM is on the 7600 GS?----512


Here's the info you asked about.

[Yourself]

I think your system is both CPU and GPU constrained for the newer maps.

The wildly fluctuating framerate shows that the video card is being overloaded, however I do believe that you won't see the maximum benefit of a faster card with that level processor. A new card should still give you a HUGE benefit, especially if you game at a higher resolution.

Here's a quick test - set your graphics options to the minimum you can (640 x 480 or 800 x 600 and minimum everything) and then watch your frame rates...specifically watch your minimum frame rate. That will ATTEMPT to take the video processing out of the picture and show what your CPU is doing (in game). If the frame rates are acceptable, then your CPU should be acceptable with a faster video card.

You can upgrade the video card to a newer AGP video card.

Here is a link to a Tom's Hardware chart showing relative performance between a several cards (I hope this works - I've been experiencing problems with Tom's Hardware recently) (http://www.tomshardware.com/charts/desktop-vga-charts/oblivion-the-elder-scrolls-4-outdoor,569.html?p=1614%2C1583%2C1589%2C1592%2C161 5%2C1611%2C1586%2C1628%2C1632%2C1608%2C1631%2C1639 %2C1633%2C1570%2C1630%2C1588%2C1610%2C1627%2C1620% 2C1622%2C1560%2C1565%2C1557%2C1617%2C1563). Page through it and look for the NVIDIA 7600GS, the ATI X1950PRO, and the AMD 3850. This represents the PCI-e versions of the cards, but the relative performance is what we're looking for (not absolute performance).

I just selected (at random) Oblivion at 1280 x 1024 with higher graphics settings as a benchmark - you can select whatever you want, but keep it to a game rather than one of the canned benchmarks like 3DMark.

From that list, I see:

NVIDIA 7600GS: 4.3 fps
ATI X1950PRO: 17.1 fps
AMD 3850: 26.9 fps

Dropping the resolution to 1024 x 768, I see:

NVIDIA 7600GS: 6.5 fps
ATI X1950PRO: 22.5 fps
AMD 3850: 37.5 fps

Oblivion is a pretty demanding game, and I think your CoD4 framerates will be higher (probably much higher).

Assuming that you get decent framerates with the minimum graphics settings I suggest above, I think going with a new 3850 may be your best bet for your current situation. You may find a used X1950PRO, but those have been selling for quite a high price.

I see an AGP 3850 for $114.99 USD (after a mail-in rebate) (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102730) which probably would work very well for you - that may be the least expensive way to go (boy...it's easy spending other people's money).

It is hard to recommend purchasing another AGP video card, however - PCI-e cards are less expensive and are more the current and the future. Unfortunately, you have to replace pretty much all of your system to switch over to PCI-e.

AMD 3650's are less expensive but I couldn't find a decent frame rate comparison.

The 3850 should give you decent graphics performance at your LCD's native resolution of 1650 x 1200 (or whatever it is for a 22" LCD).

Yourself (Dave)

[OldGuy]

Dave:

Really appreciate all the advice and help. My whole system is pretty old, and has been (a part here and a part there) upgraded over a period of time. In reality, when finances allow, I think a new system is in order. Have looked at some OEM systems, but all have Vista, (and I hate it) so probably will have one built. In the meantime, will still play the sniper map, just takes 10 min to run from one side to the other. LOL. Thanks again.

OldGuy (Andy)

[dutchboy]

Hi! You don't have to get Vista installed, you can still get xp. Good luck.

[Yourself]

I don't want to dissuade you from an upgrade that will be extremely beneficial to you.

I am (or was) in a similar position - I have an AGP-based 3.0 ghz P4 system (basically, the same as yours) and the 9800XT that I was running in it finally died.

I was going back and forth between scrapping the system (replacing everything necessary to change to PCI-e) and upgrading it.

I ended up upgrading it to an X1950PRO a year and a half ago -- it was a great upgrade (while it lasted), and the system is still running fine today - good enough for all of the gaming that we do in my house (excluding Crysis).

I say "while it lasted" because I ended up giving the video card to one of my son's friends for his system - he just brings the video card over when they have a lan gaming session and reinstalls it into my system.

The system is still fine with that card, and plays CoD4 great.

In your case, I think you're looking at spending around $130 USD (I see the mail-in rebate is no longer listed) to really enhance your gaming experience, and effectively getting another couple of years use out of your system.

Alternatively, you can spend upwards of $500-$700 to get a PCI-e system which will be much faster but really won't offer (that much of) a better gaming experience - your frame rates will be higher, but the 3850 will get you great rates on your existing system (the difference of 50 fps and 90 fps in-game is negligible on an LCD in my opinion).

As I said in an earlier post, it's not my money. Were I to be in the same situation (again), I would still make the upgrade.

However, I would only make the upgrade going to a 3850, not a 3650.

Especially if your 2.8 is a HyyperThreaded processor.

Also, what do you have against Vista?

I know this is a hot subject among many people, but Vista is a good O/S, especially on newer, faster hardware. The interface (GUI) is a bit different than XP, but that is only an annoyance for a few days while you're getting used to it.

I'm not running Vista yet on most of my machines because 1) I still have some unopened XP upgrades for future use; and 2) most of my machines are DELL's, which means I have to purchase Vista.

I did get Vista in my daughter's laptop and we have been happy with it.

I would not let Vista cloud my purchase of a machine - heck, I even ran a Windows ME machine without any problems or issues for several years.

Anyways...my two cents...especially spending other people's money, but I do think you'd be pleased upgrading the video card to a 3850-class card.

Yourself (Dave)