Help with computer.

[TheCerberus]

About 2 years ago we bought an hp pavilion 754n computer. I've only played Diablo II on it, and that game ran fine with 60 fps and around 30-40 ping. It's current specs:

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition
Processor: Pent 4 2.53GHz
Memory: 504 RAM (on label it says 512)
Page file: 248 MB used, 1024 available
DirectX: 9.0c
Graphics: Intel 82845G, 64.0 MB total memory
Display Mode: 1024 x 768, 32 bit, 60 GHz
DirectDraw Acceleration: Enabled
Direct3D Acceleration: Enabled
Sound: Realtek AC97 Audio
Sound Acceleration: Full acceleration

So I can play Guild Wars, but on the fastest settings only, so the graphics are good, but not screenshot caliber. I get some lag every now and then. One problem that kept happening to me in the February BWE was I'd get a error message, stating "Not enough memory." It'd close the program, and it got to be really annoying. I'd lose progress in quests or drop from Tombs teams. Now, the minimum RAM for GW is 256, and preferred is 512, which I have although it's showing up as 504, which I have no idea why. Is there something I'm overlooking that's causing this problem? Are there some software/drivers/updates from these companies I can download to improve the system?

I'm pretty clueless when it comes to computers, so all the help I can get would be welcome.

[draceena]

A couple of questions...

1) What is your Hard Drive size? And do you keep it defragged?
2) It looks like you have an intigrated video card, have you checked for updated drivers for it or better yet, thought of upgrading it to a NVidia or ATI?

[Hurin66]

Memory, i dunno why, 504mgb sounds like you have 512 physically that should be ok. The hard drive should not be the problem....

Whats your OS?
Try running msconfig, and disabling the programs you do not need that start up.


other then that i think everything is ok, except i would consider upgrading that video card, i suppose it would run, but i would certainly upgrade especially if you could spare the cash.

Oh and try starting up in safe mode doing a virus scan followed by a scan for spyware (some good programs for that are spybot search and destroy, lavasoft adaware and the new windows xp whatever its called ).

If you still get errors after this tell me.

[Dienekes]

Your system memory is showing 504Mb because the onboard graphics chip is taking the 8mb to run windows as it doesnt have its own dedicated ram(I think the 64mb is how much it can take from your system RAM to use in games), depending on the chip this will probably increase in a game like guildwars to 64MB meaning you have even less actual RAM. Simple solution buy ANY cheap graphics card, it will be infinately better than what you have for around £30 ($55).

As for the out of memory, exactly how long are you playing GW for before you get this error?

Edit: Just checked the Intel site and the graphics chip does steal upto 64Mb of system memory :(

[Drafell]

Ok, the graphics card can use up to 64mb but it doesnt automatically do so. You need to tell out how much you want it to use in bios. guildWars should run fine on anything between 256 and 512 mb so it's more than likely that you are running out of memory on the gfx card and not in windows itself. what you will find in the bios is a setting for the integrated graphics, and a setting for the AGP aperture size.
The AGP aperture is the amount of normal system memory your card will use to cache textures (not counting the memory already allocated) if it runs out of its own memory. I woulds suggest reducing this to 64mb if it is currently higher. as this is the area most likely causing your pc to run out of system memory. Also its worth making sure that the settings for integrated graphics are set to use 64mb.

I hope this is understandable and helps.

[TheCerberus]

Right now, buying a new card isn't really an option, as much as I'd like to. I don't even have 55$ to do so, so I'm stuck with it for a while. Can't wait til college...

@draceena - Harddrive is 80 GB, and I don't know if I keep it defragged or not. How do I tell? I'd like to check for updated drivers, but I'm not exactly sure how to prompt it to download them. Maybe go to a website for them?

@Hurin - OS is XP home. I checked everything, everything seems fine.

@Dienekes - The last BWE I played was 2 months ago, in February, so I don't remember. This weekend I'll make sure to take a screenshot of it and I'll see how often and after how long it happens. I've only played twice, in October and February. October I had no problems at all; February I played a lot, and I think it happened around 5 times? I'll check this month and get an exact number if it happens again.

@Drafell - How do I get to the bios to alter these settings?

EDIT: While we're on the subject of computers, maybe you whizzes can help me with something. Is it possible to install something under a different name in the Add/Remove list? Let's say I normally install a program named 'AAAAA', and it appears first in the list. Can I have it install under a name like 'ZZZZZ' instead?

[bonesrool]

I think the bios key is F10, press it when you have the HP boot screen showing.
Check your puter docs for that info too, you ought to have it somewhere in the HP documentation <that is if you have that stuff...?>

[Ander Moonshadow]

your pc is definitely good enough, it's just you need a better graphics card. ATI would be best, preferably with at least 128 MB vRAM. Then you'll be able to get amazing quality.

[draceena]

To defrag:

1) Left Click My Computer
2) Right Click the C: drive
3) Select Properties
4) Click on Tools tab
5) Click Defragment Now
6) A window will pop up and you can select Analize or Defragment
7) Try just Analize to see if a defrag is needed (most likey it will)
8) Click the Defrag button and let it run to the finish.

Though this will probably not solve your problem, it will keep your HD in tip-top shape.

I pretty much agree with everyone else that a better video card would help emensly.

[TheCerberus]

Thanks, I'll try everything suggested.

And I guess that changing the name a program installs under is impossible?

[Pale Blade]

Thanks, I'll try everything suggested.

And I guess that changing the name a program installs under is impossible?

As far as I know, you can't change the name of a program install.

[Drafell]

It's not impossible to change the add/remove menu, but its definately not easy if you have no clue about editing the system registry. It is extremely easy to completely mess your computer up doing that.

[bonesrool]

This wont help your video ram size much, but it has to help the video component overall.

Go to the intel.com site and look for a link to their drivers page.
Select graphics, and look for your onboard graphics chipset - 82845G.
See if there is an update, probably is as it's about 2 yrs old.
If there is an update...
Download it and then install it.

hope it helps.