Performance problem with CSS + other games

[Mittens]

I've probably posted this here before, but eh.. Its driving me fucking NUTS..

I've had this problem for about a year and nothing I have tried has worked to fix it so whoever manages to help me get this fixed wins many internets.

The Problem:
Basically, at random intervals during gameplay, my fps would drop to around 10-20 making it virtually impossible to play. Everything ingame would slow down. At first, I noticed that the temperature of my cpu was hitting the mid 90's in celcius. I fixed this, but the problem persisted.

What I have done to try and fix this:
- Lowered quality of ingame graphics to lowest possible
- Lowered Resolution to UNBEARBLY low
- Changed graphics card
- Changed processor
- Added fans (I've got 3 in there including a coolant system
- Changed Heatsink
- Changed my RAM (incase of faulty chips)

My computer specs:
Model: Siemens Scaleo T
OS: Windows XP
Service Pack: 2
CPU: Pentium 4 3400 MHz
Field Value
Motherboard: 3 PCI, 1 AGP, 2 DDR DIMM, Audio, LAN
System Memory: 1024mg
Previous Graphics Card: ATi Radeon 9600series (256mg)
Current Graphics Card: + Accelerator: NVIDIA GeForce4 Ti 4400 (128 MB)

Note: This happens with other games. To get an idea of how bad this is, imagine an awesome computer being unable to cope with Diablo II

[NERD]

So, by changing graphics card, you mean you swapped the ATi one with the nVIDIA one and vice versa? Because to me it sounds like a problem with the graphic card, either hardware issue or driver issue. The ATi 9600XT should be more than capable to do the job though, and so does the 4400.

Because the way I see it, it cannot be the CPU or heating issue, especially since you added fans, changed heatsinks, and from the sounds of it, played around with the fan setting in the BIOS, not to mention changing RAM.

The key here is that the problem persisted even when you changed the graphic level as low as possible, and lowest resolution possible- which points most likely to be the graphic card problem. I'm sure you've got the latest drivers installed? That would've been the first thing if I had the same kind of problems.

Anyway, I would suggest reinstalling windows- if more than anything, it should fix some of the internal problems with the OS and clearup the cache. Reinstall windows, install nothing but the games and try to give it a go.

Also, I hope you don't have too much programs running in the background when you are running the game- those eat up the RAM, and I've seen my ex-roommate laptop running slower than a P3-500mhz machine due to crapload of programs he had running in the background- 2-3 messenger programs, weather update, anti-virus, etc. He didn't even realize those programs were eating up the RAM/CPU power, and never got it fixed since he didn't take me seriously.

[Random]

I second some of NERD's advice: namely, try reinstalling windows and, in my opinion a more likely culprit, check background programs.

One thing to do that usually works would be to open task manager and a command shell (start/run/cmd).
Type "shutdown -a" in the command shell, but don't hit enter.

Then, proceed to close all the processes task manager shows. If you get unlucky and try to close one that starts a shutdown, go to command shell and press enter. Type the command again in case you need it a second time.

Anyway, eventually all but a few processes will be shut down, so close the command shell, go file/new task on task manager, and hit browse, find the .exe for your game..

You should now be able to launch your game, leave task manager open though.
Play the game, see if the same thing happens.. if it fixes it, you can work out exactly which piece of software it is - and if it doesn't, first reinstall windows, and failing that it's a hardware problem and you should either swap out everything you can (motherboard, ram, cpu, graphics card, etc) to try and fix it, or take it to a pc shop and have them look at it.

By the way, once you're playing a game with all tasks closed, and you finish the game, to get your desktop back, go file\new task like before ,and type "explorer.exe" to start your desktop.

[Shadowknight]

Before reinstalling windows, try the following:

Download a program called drive cleaner
unistall any and all drivers currently installed for ATI and Nvidia, if ATI is still installed
reboot
Use drive cleaner to remove ATI and Nvidia drivers. Sometimes unisntalling a driver doesn't necessarily get rid of all of its parts.
reboot
reinstall Nvidia drivers
reboot
See how the game plays now

Also run spybot and an antivirus program to make sure there aren't any hidden programs sucking up computer resources.

[Mittens]

I forgot to mention a few other things i did (because they were so numerous)

-Hit it really hard with my sword
-Updated graphics card drivers (This includes downgrading, removing and reinstalling drivers multiple times)
-Reinstalled Windows
-Ran Spyware / Virus scans
-Defragged at least twice
-Ran the game with almost no programs running in the back

I will try some of the things you guys mentioned that i havent tried yet.

[NERD]

I have no idea what is wrong then- you seem to know what to do, so at this point, maybe you should swap your motherboard?

[Random]

-Hit it really hard with my sword
Repeat. :/