faster pc but slower game start-up

[Paul.]

I appreciate this may have nothing to do with my set up of XP but its worth
a try.

I have just upgraded my pc from a Dell 8200 1.7GHz to a Dell 8300 3.0GHz.
Both running XP pro but the new pc has double the RAM, 512MB.

Most applications seem faster to load and run except for a game my son
occasionally plays called Return to Castle Wolfenstein. For some reason when
the game is started it takes about 20 seconds before the menu is displayed.
Before this would have only taken about 2 seconds. Both pc's have the same
setup except the new one has a few less applications installed. Same Norton
AV etc is on both.

I have tried reinstalling the program but still the same. I realise this is
a long shot, but can you think of any reason why this would happen? Is there
a website that can perform a check on your pc?

Thanks.

Paul.

 

[RJK]

Sounds like it's getting clockbound somewhere. If it's an older game,
perhaps it can't cope properly with a much fater processor than was
available when it was written.

regards, Richard

 

[Paul.]

the following

Sounds like it's getting clockbound somewhere. If it's an older game,
perhaps it can't cope properly with a much fater processor than was
available when it was written.

regards, Richard

Thanks for the fast reply. We will just live with it then.

Paul.

 

[John Ski]

Subject: faster pc but slower game start-up

From: "Paul." (e-mail address removed)
Date: 1/13/2004 12:01 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <#[email protected]>

I appreciate this may have nothing to do with my set up of XP but its worth
a try.

I have just upgraded my pc from a Dell 8200 1.7GHz to a Dell 8300 3.0GHz.
Both running XP pro but the new pc has double the RAM, 512MB.

Most applications seem faster to load and run except for a game my son
occasionally plays called Return to Castle Wolfenstein. For some reason when
the game is started it takes about 20 seconds before the menu is displayed.
Before this would have only taken about 2 seconds. Both pc's have the same
setup except the new one has a few less applications installed. Same Norton
AV etc is on both.

I have tried reinstalling the program but still the same. I realise this is
a long shot, but can you think of any reason why this would happen? Is there
a website that can perform a check on your pc?

Thanks.

Paul.

Paul,

It gives me a sense of unreality to be concerned that a game takes 18 seconds
longer to load on your new computer. Nonetheless, I do have a couple of
suggestions. First did you defrag the new HD after loading all those programs?
This may speed loading if the RTCW executable is spread all over a large hard
drive. Second if defrag doesn't help I might try changing the compatability
settings. Right-click the icon, select Properties, click the Compatability Tab.
Since I don't know how old the game I can't suggest a setting, but try Win98
and see if it makes a difference.

HTH,
John
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"
***Arthur C. Clarke***

 

[RJK]

...I should have thought of that...setting older programs to "compatibility
mode", I've done that for several of my own !

regards, Richard

 

[Paul.]

the following

It gives me a sense of unreality to be concerned that a game takes 18 seconds
longer to load on your new computer. Nonetheless, I do have a couple of
suggestions. First did you defrag the new HD after loading all those programs?
This may speed loading if the RTCW executable is spread all over a large hard
drive. Second if defrag doesn't help I might try changing the compatability
settings. Right-click the icon, select Properties, click the Compatability Tab.
Since I don't know how old the game I can't suggest a setting, but try Win98
and see if it makes a difference.

Thanks John,

However, the RTCW game is not that old and does say it can be installed on
XP, plus the previous pc was also running XP.

20 seconds was a slight exaggeration as it takes 13 seconds before it the
menu pops up (1-2 secs on old pc).

On the subject of defrag, this machine does have a 120 gig HD and is the
inbuilt defrag still ok or should I look at a third party product?

Thanks again.

Paul.