Freezing/poor frame rate

[infowars]

My computer recently started dropping frame to between 1-5 if there is anymore than two people in my line of sight.  Seems worse when looking forward.  I absolutely cannot dogfight like this.

I have made many adjustments to texture, skins, cleaned out old programs, made sure nothing was running, etc.  I've read threads about lag and what not and have even started to try to disable processes.  I've downloaded a couple programs to help with this and even read help files on them.  I'm still having issues and now I think I'm making them worse.

Again this just recently started so I'm assuming its software issues.  Below is my set up,  I know its old,  I should be upgrading soon


OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer   Microsoft Corporation
System Name   
System Manufacturer   Compaq Presario 061
System Model   EL427AA-ABA SR1711NX NA610
System Type   X86-based PC
Processor   x86 Family 15 Model 47 Stepping 2 AuthenticAMD ~1989 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date   Phoenix Technologies, LTD  3.14, 1/17/2006
SMBIOS Version   2.4
Windows Directory   C:\WINDOWS
System Directory   C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device   \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale   United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer   Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name       Compaq_Owner
Time Zone   Pacific Standard Time
Total Physical Memory   512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory   138.84 MB
Total Virtual Memory   2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory   1.96 GB
Page File Space   1.03 GB
Page File   C:\pagefile.sys

[The Fugitive]

You don't mention the video card, but even so this system barely meets the min requirements. For it to run the game you would have to have the textures turned down to 128, all sliders to faster or less detail. Your computer would have to have the background processes down (under 15 at least) as few as you can get. Turn off all skins, and pre-load nothing. Even then, getting into a heavy areas is going to really hit your computer hard.

[infowars]

Here's my video card info,  I have about another month left with this computer.  But I'm not sure I can handle the lag I get only when in close.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.



---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series (0x5954)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5954&SUBSYS_2A26103C&REV_00
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6571 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 8/13/2005 21:36:12, 238592 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 8/13/2005 21:35:54, 1313792 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-1A14-11CF-276A-2C0AA1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x5954
        SubSys ID: 0x2A26103C
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
 Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

[Skuzzy]

That is a pretty low end video chip.  Try changing the "Maximum Texture Size" in the game's "Video Settings" to 256.  Set the resolution to 1024x768.  Leave all the other options at default.

You will also need to make sure you have as little background processes as possible.  In the "Options->Graphic Detail" you will want to move the sliders towards performance, where applicable as well.

See if that helps.