I've tried to find help on so many websites I've lost count, that's how desperate I am to get this issue fixed. Hopefully I can get some help....

I really can't figure whats going on with my FPS. I just recently upgraded from the Radeon 9200 128 MB to the Radeon 9800 Pro 128MB and the only difference I've noticed in the game I bought it for (counter-strike:source) is my detail setting being able to be set to medium instead of low. Also the resolution went up to 1024x..instead of being at 800x600. I have disabled Vsync, and the AA and AF have been turned off. Well, there really wasnt an option to turn it off completely, just setting it to 2x or checking the "application Preference" box. (I just left the boxes unchecked so I guess both are set at 2x, only because this made the game a little less choppy). I have turned off Fastwrite.....updated the chipset for my mobo as well as my video card (4.12 catalyst ATI drivers). I am still stuck at about 50-65 fps MAX when NOTHING is going on, which is the same as my 9200 card. And i drop as low as 20-30 when firefighting happens. My fps_max is set to 300. I cannot figure out why i cant stay in the range of 70-80 fps constant. I expected a somewhat improvement when i switched the cards, maybe i was wrong and should accept the low fps even with the 9800 pro?

Specs:
AMD Athlon XP 3000+ @ 2.09 GHz
512 MB ram
9800 pro 128 MB and all updated ATI drivers

Thanks in advance for any help....

 

That's weird. I just check the reviews on this car and people are averaging atleast 60fps. Do you have any other apps running in the backgroud? Try running msconfig and disabling unnecessary programs and see if that helps. Also, make sure that if your card requires a separate power input that it's connected. I've forgetten to hook up a video card to the power supply before and that really hurts the performance.

If all else fails, try calling ATI. They're usually pretty helpful and can help you optimize your computer for that card.

 

The problem is you need system Memory. You need more RAM! XP is a hog and requires atleast 512 to run. I would double that number and you should see quite an improvement. If you are running other things than you need more RAM.

 

what drivers?

if you changed the drivers when you changed the card did you fully remove the old ones? sometimes they dont like to go away and will cause issues.

also make sure you have the newest drivers from ati.

 

More memory. Memory memory memory!

Hardcore gamer? Go with over 1GB

 

Thanks for the replies guys......i thought 512 would be good enought for COunter-strike :source...seems like a lot of different setups had 512mb of ram, even less......

I have the 4.12 catalyst drivers installed now, suggested to me after the newest ones from ATI didnt do squat.

 

What kind of memory do you run? 1 dimm 2 dimms?

512 is not enough... Get more.

 

Yeah, go with two 512 sticks. Don't get the cheap stuff though. Try to get some low latency sticks form Corsair or OCZ.

Newegg.com has the best deals on everything.

 

ok...I upgraded to 1 G of ram and all it did was raise my details to the highest settings, but the fps are STILL THE SAME. Man, I cant figure this out.....!!!!!

 

have you called the video card company? There are guys there that live off that stuff. I once called Corsair (the memory company) about a compatibility question. The guy ended up giving me a whole walkthrough on the motherboard setup as well. Really geeky guy, but man did he love to talk about computers. I would give that a try before you do anything else.