Another frame rate question

[TDeacon]

I guess I need my own thread, instead of hijacking someone else's...

My frame rates were significantly reduced by the new version, and the latest patch seems to have cut them in half again, so I'm between 11 and 20 fps with the same settings.  No longer playable until I buy a new PC.  Here's my DxDiag info.  http://home.comcast.net/~mark.hinds/misc_online_storage_dir/DxDiag_hinds_120201.txt

Using max texture size of 256, and all other settings mostly set for speed (and in any case, same settings as with previous version).  Any comments besides buy/make a new PC?  (Wife would not approve until I get re-employed).  Last version was not great, but I could still play.  

Thanks in advance.  
MH

[Skuzzy]

The limited RAM is one problem.  If you managed to cut down the amount of background processes, you might pick up some performance, but overall an 8 to 10 year old computer is going to struggle to run the game.

[TDeacon]

The limited RAM is one problem.  If you managed to cut down the amount of background processes, you might pick up some performance, but overall an 8 to 10 year old computer is going to struggle to run the game.

Limited video RAM, or the 1 megabyte of regular RAM?  

Also, did something change in the latest version with respect to use of RAM?  The reason I ask is that I was getting 30 to 60 fps previously, with equivalent settings and game conditions.  I would have hoped that any additional loads on the system would be configurable to "off" by the user, but what do I know...

MH

[Skuzzy]

Both actually.  The 1GB of system RAM is really too little to run with any of the "Advanced" options checked.  You will also need to check all the "disable" options in the "Options->Graphic Detail" and you probably should slide the distance slider to around 1 mile.

The new version does use more system and video RAM.

[TDeacon]

OK, with today's terrain change, it's back to 30 to 70 fps; same settings...

MH

[Skuzzy]

That is certainly possible.  In your case you are going to be on the wire all time.  Any little thing could push it from one side to another.

[TwinBoom]

did you defrag as well?

[TDeacon]

did you defrag as well?

No, but my hard drive is not fragmented.  There must be something different about certain terrains.  The funny thing is that the "slow" terrain didn't look any better (to me) than the "fast" terrain.  Probably I would need a new system to see the difference. 

MH

[TwinBoom]

think Skuzzy said you should defrag after every update i know it helps my old system
i defrag even if it says it doesn't need it

[Skuzzy]

Defragging is an option, but I have never done it on my work system and it runs the game ok, with an old NVidia 7600GT in it.  Of course I cannot run with any of the eye candy turned on.