Lagging games - need help

[spartanfox]

Typically, whenever I try to run a game, such as KOTOR or Fable on my PC, it runs fine for about the first five minutes, then starts to alternate between lagging terribly and playing normally in random intervals.

I can't find any real reason for it: I'm running a Vista with GeFore 8500 capabilities.

If anyone has any thoughts on what could be going wrong (or better yet, how to fix this) please let me know?

(PS: If this is a stupid question, I beg your pardon. I'm not exactly a computer whiz.)

[homer]

welcome to the forums spartanfox. i have a couple questions...

1. did you overclock your video card? if so, what software did you use/are using?
2. did you overclock your CPU?
3. does this lag happen on ALL games or just the two listed?
4. what make/model is your graphics card? im unsure what you mean when you say geforce 8500 "capabilities".

[spartanfox]

1 & 2: What do you mean by "overclock"?
3. All of them. I just felt the need to provide examples.
4. It's a GeForce 8500 card. Capabilities was an unnessesary addendum.

[gamerx365]

overclock basically means to speed it up, you can like, double the speed of games or slow them down also

[spartanfox]

Well, if that's the definition, I don't think I have...

[quaxo]

Does this happen with all games or just specific ones?

I do recall KOTOR having specific problems with Intel boards which required a BIOS update from Intel to fix. Problems exactly like what you're describing. At the time of KOTOR's release, I had an Intel board and the game would work fine for about 5 minutes, then you'd start getting the 'Gumby' effect, gliding around on one foot and  basically what would be defined as 'lag' if it were an online game.

Can we get the rest of the specs on your system? Aside from the video card and Vista, this can be related to many things such as overclocking (which was mentioned) and RAM.

[spartanfox]

As was aforementioned, it happens with all of them, those two were just examples.

My system specs are as follows:

Model: GM5478
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU          @ 2.40 GHz  2.39 GHz
RAM: 2030 MB
System Type: 32-bit operating system

I've tried updating the drivers, cleaning out my temp files, and defragmenting my system. Nothing helped.

[spartanfox]

And that intel update you mentioned... Got a link to download it off of?

[quaxo]

It's motherboard specific. You'll have to go to Intel's website and search for your particular model of board, and then they'll have a list of updates, including the BIOS one if available.

FAIR WARNING:
Do this as a last resort. Updating the BIOS can lead to more problems in some cases. It's unusual in my experience, but it does happen.

[spartanfox]

*Gnashes teeth* K... Anyone have a suggestion that's not so drastic?

(But if I do have to use that one, where can I pull up my motherboard stats?)

[spartanfox]

Like I said, though... this affects all my games... Even those that don't rely on a disk - like WoW.

I'm getting desperate - anybody have any idea what this could be?

[quaxo]

*Gnashes teeth* K... Anyone have a suggestion that's not so drastic?

(But if I do have to use that one, where can I pull up my motherboard stats?)

You will need to either:

1. Check the box the motherboard came in. It will have the model number on it.
2. Open the case and look at the motherboard itself. Somewhere, usually in larger letters/numbers, will be the model number of the board. It's usually between the processor and the expansion slots on Intel boards, but not always.

Check Intel's website in the download sections -> desktop boards -> your model number

Before you do that, have you updated to the latest nVidia drivers?

[spartanfox]

Yeah, I updated the Nvidia driver, cleared my temp files, defraged about ten times, and uninstalled kotor 1 & 2. Nothing helped.

[quaxo]

Has your computer always been this way? Or did it start recently?

Do you experience any problems outside of games (such as watching videos or playing music)?

How much memory does your video card have?

If you would, list all the programs usually running at any given moment on your computer, including anti-virus, firewall, bit torrent or other p2p programs, messengers, etc.

What resolution(s) are you running your games at?

Honestly, I'm a little stumped. Given your specs, these games should even phase your system. I'm sure there's something somewhere I'm just overlooking 

It's been a long time since I've used an nVidia card. I'm not sure how their options tool has changed. Perhaps Patio or someone familiar with it could suggest settings for that.

[spartanfox]

Has your computer always been this way? Or did it start recently?

Just about a week ago. Prior to that, it worked fine.

Do you experience any problems outside of games (such as watching videos or playing music)?

No, strangely. It only affects games.

How much memory does your video card have?

Where can I pull this up?

If you would, list all the programs usually running at any given moment on your computer, including anti-virus, firewall, bit torrent or other p2p programs, messengers, etc.

Webroot spysweeper. That's really about it.

What resolution(s) are you running your games at?

I've tried various different ones. Nothing helps.