Second Life Forums Archive

Nataani Sartre

Registered User

Join date: 14 Sep 2005

Posts: 7

10-16-2005 13:08

I was wondering if anyone could help me with poor game performance. My specs are as follows:

ADM Sempron 3200+ processor
256MB 3200 DDR SDRAM memory
Integrated ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Graphics with up to 128MB shared video memory
Cable internet connection

I am pretty sure that I desperately need to upgrade my 256MB to a gig or more. Is it possible to go with *less* than a gig and experience little problems in-world?

Also, my other problem is the speed that I am connecting with. My modem has tested out at 1492.3kbps, yet I cannot seem to connect at anything above 100kbps -- usually I am connecting a LOT slower than that, being forced to log out.

I SERIOUSLY appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks!!

Zapoteth Zaius

Is back

Join date: 14 Feb 2004

Posts: 5,634

10-16-2005 13:45

From: Nataani Sartre

I was wondering if anyone could help me with poor game performance. My specs are as follows:

ADM Sempron 3200+ processor
256MB 3200 DDR SDRAM memory
Integrated ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Graphics with up to 128MB shared video memory
Cable internet connection

I am pretty sure that I desperately need to upgrade my 256MB to a gig or more. Is it possible to go with *less* than a gig and experience little problems in-world?

Also, my other problem is the speed that I am connecting with. My modem has tested out at 1492.3kbps, yet I cannot seem to connect at anything above 100kbps -- usually I am connecting a LOT slower than that, being forced to log out.

I SERIOUSLY appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks!!

I also have 256MB of RAM.. I have a lot of lag, but can get on with it with the settings turned down.. But from what the guy who built my PC told me (lol) I have a super duper Nvidia graphics card that makes up for a lot of that...

Have you tried turning your settings down in prefferences? (Ctrl+P in world)

_____________________

I have the right to remain silent. Anything I say will be misquoted and used against me.
---------------
Zapoteth Designs, Temotu (100,50)
---------------

Nathan Stewart

Registered User

Join date: 2 Feb 2005

Posts: 1,039

10-16-2005 13:53

In your network preferences make sure your bandwidth slider is turned up, although its possibly going to be a graphics card related issue as anything that uses shared memory will either be slower and usually lower end of the market. and remember that 256Mb with 128Mb shared really means that the graphics card grabs 128Mb of your system memory only leaving you with 128Mb of ram to run your operating system and sl

_____________________

Thili Playfair

Registered User

Join date: 18 Aug 2004

Posts: 2,417

10-16-2005 14:52

;_; eeep with 256 ram you arent using your cpu very efficent , i hiighly recommend 1 gig min nowadays , especially with that cpu and above.

With that low youll be caching and hd swapping alot ~.~, i remember going over 1 gig ram, and the hd drive went silent ^^ no more swapping.

Nataani Sartre

Registered User

Join date: 14 Sep 2005

Posts: 7

10-16-2005 16:32

Thanks for the help, you guys!!

I've turned a lot of my settings down, and still experience the 90-100 kbps connection speed.

I guess that memory card is a MUST....and then I'll take it from there once it's installed...

Lee Linden

llBuildMonkey();

Join date: 31 Dec 1969

Posts: 743

10-17-2005 13:52

"shared" means your graphics card is literally stealing your system memory.

You have 256MB of memory.
Your graphics card takes 128MB of memory to run itself.
Windows takes 256MB of memory to run itself.
Second Life takes 256MB of memory (beyond Windows) to run itself.

"All signs point to No." ;^)

I recommend a minimum of 512MB system memory to run Second Life effectively. Get more if you can.

Nathan Stewart

Registered User

Join date: 2 Feb 2005

Posts: 1,039

10-17-2005 14:15

I think its time the system requirments page got a bit of an update then, its still saying 256Mb and i guess video card maker dont make it clear enough that shared video eats that up too

_____________________

Nataani Sartre

Registered User

Join date: 14 Sep 2005

Posts: 7

10-17-2005 14:15

Thank you, Lee! I am definitely planning on upgrading my memory very soon. I don't need to upgrade my video card, too, do I?

Does this mean that my connection speed will *increase* once I upgrade?

I sent an email yesterday to SL's support page, and got a response from Warren Ferguson. He recommended a program called WinMTR that will "...monitor your network's performance from your own connection right to Second Life including packet loss." I have downloaded it so I can check it, but I am completely *clueless* how to use it. :-\ Does anyone know how to configure this program?

Thanks again!!

Lee Linden

llBuildMonkey();

Join date: 31 Dec 1969

Posts: 743

10-17-2005 16:28

Oh, sorry, we normally send instructions with that support note. You can try these:
http://secondlife.com/tiki/tiki-index.php?page=TechTraceroute

Amber Lehane

Registered User

Join date: 28 Mar 2005

Posts: 47

Built in components

10-20-2005 13:10

The Built in Video and sound on the newer PCs are convinent and all but like everybody else said they take up system resources. You can get a seperate video card and have your friend fix the bios to diable the on board video.

I personally don't like using onboard components like that due to the fact it IS using system resources. You'd be a lot better off with a new video card. Consult your mainboard documents and or the guy that put together your PC and see if you can do that.

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Poor Gameplay

Poor Gameplay
Nataani Sartre Registered User Join date: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 7	10-16-2005 13:08 I was wondering if anyone could help me with poor game performance. My specs are as follows: ADM Sempron 3200+ processor 256MB 3200 DDR SDRAM memory Integrated ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Graphics with up to 128MB shared video memory Cable internet connection I am pretty sure that I desperately need to upgrade my 256MB to a gig or more. Is it possible to go with less than a gig and experience little problems in-world? Also, my other problem is the speed that I am connecting with. My modem has tested out at 1492.3kbps, yet I cannot seem to connect at anything above 100kbps -- usually I am connecting a LOT slower than that, being forced to log out. I SERIOUSLY appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks!!
Zapoteth Zaius Is back Join date: 14 Feb 2004 Posts: 5,634	10-16-2005 13:45 From: Nataani Sartre I was wondering if anyone could help me with poor game performance. My specs are as follows: ADM Sempron 3200+ processor 256MB 3200 DDR SDRAM memory Integrated ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Graphics with up to 128MB shared video memory Cable internet connection I am pretty sure that I desperately need to upgrade my 256MB to a gig or more. Is it possible to go with less than a gig and experience little problems in-world? Also, my other problem is the speed that I am connecting with. My modem has tested out at 1492.3kbps, yet I cannot seem to connect at anything above 100kbps -- usually I am connecting a LOT slower than that, being forced to log out. I SERIOUSLY appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks!! I also have 256MB of RAM.. I have a lot of lag, but can get on with it with the settings turned down.. But from what the guy who built my PC told me (lol) I have a super duper Nvidia graphics card that makes up for a lot of that... Have you tried turning your settings down in prefferences? (Ctrl+P in world) _____________________ I have the right to remain silent. Anything I say will be misquoted and used against me. --------------- Zapoteth Designs, Temotu (100,50) ---------------
Nathan Stewart Registered User Join date: 2 Feb 2005 Posts: 1,039	10-16-2005 13:53 In your network preferences make sure your bandwidth slider is turned up, although its possibly going to be a graphics card related issue as anything that uses shared memory will either be slower and usually lower end of the market. and remember that 256Mb with 128Mb shared really means that the graphics card grabs 128Mb of your system memory only leaving you with 128Mb of ram to run your operating system and sl _____________________
Thili Playfair Registered User Join date: 18 Aug 2004 Posts: 2,417	10-16-2005 14:52 ;_; eeep with 256 ram you arent using your cpu very efficent , i hiighly recommend 1 gig min nowadays , especially with that cpu and above. With that low youll be caching and hd swapping alot ~.~, i remember going over 1 gig ram, and the hd drive went silent ^^ no more swapping.
Nataani Sartre Registered User Join date: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 7	10-16-2005 16:32 Thanks for the help, you guys!! I've turned a lot of my settings down, and still experience the 90-100 kbps connection speed. I guess that memory card is a MUST....and then I'll take it from there once it's installed...
Lee Linden llBuildMonkey(); Join date: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 743	10-17-2005 13:52 "shared" means your graphics card is literally stealing your system memory. You have 256MB of memory. Your graphics card takes 128MB of memory to run itself. Windows takes 256MB of memory to run itself. Second Life takes 256MB of memory (beyond Windows) to run itself. "All signs point to No." ;^) I recommend a minimum of 512MB system memory to run Second Life effectively. Get more if you can.
Nathan Stewart Registered User Join date: 2 Feb 2005 Posts: 1,039	10-17-2005 14:15 I think its time the system requirments page got a bit of an update then, its still saying 256Mb and i guess video card maker dont make it clear enough that shared video eats that up too _____________________
Nataani Sartre Registered User Join date: 14 Sep 2005 Posts: 7	10-17-2005 14:15 Thank you, Lee! I am definitely planning on upgrading my memory very soon. I don't need to upgrade my video card, too, do I? Does this mean that my connection speed will increase once I upgrade? I sent an email yesterday to SL's support page, and got a response from Warren Ferguson. He recommended a program called WinMTR that will "...monitor your network's performance from your own connection right to Second Life including packet loss." I have downloaded it so I can check it, but I am completely clueless how to use it. :-\ Does anyone know how to configure this program? Thanks again!!
Lee Linden llBuildMonkey(); Join date: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 743	10-17-2005 16:28 Oh, sorry, we normally send instructions with that support note. You can try these: http://secondlife.com/tiki/tiki-index.php?page=TechTraceroute
Amber Lehane Registered User Join date: 28 Mar 2005 Posts: 47	Built in components 10-20-2005 13:10 The Built in Video and sound on the newer PCs are convinent and all but like everybody else said they take up system resources. You can get a seperate video card and have your friend fix the bios to diable the on board video. I personally don't like using onboard components like that due to the fact it IS using system resources. You'd be a lot better off with a new video card. Consult your mainboard documents and or the guy that put together your PC and see if you can do that.