Is my PC too old??

[Will]

I am new to GameEx, and am currently trying to get it working for me. The feature list (and video) look awesome, so assuming I get it to work I am registering and donating! For now though my performance sucks, and I don't know why. I have read the "if gameex seems sluggish" post and the docs. I have a newly installed WinXP box with all updates, etc. Here are my specs:

Celeron 3.2 GHz

512 Megs RAM

Geforce3 Ti200 (64 meg)

I have updated to all the newest chipset, graphics, sound, etc drivers. I have nothing else installed except the basics. I have changed GameEx to run at as low as 640x480 with all the trimmings off. It still runs VERY choppy, and is only barely usable. Is the video card the weak link? In the day it could play Quake 3 at 1280x1024 with all settings at max! Is GameEx really that tough? Or do I need a Direct X 9 card? Or am I doing something else wrong? I really want my MAME cabinet to look slick!

Will

[hansolo77]

Well... your computer is a Celeron. That's your first problem. BUT, it's also a 3.2GHZ, which is way faster than my 2.1. I don't have any problems with my games. The next 2 things may be your obsticals. More RAM is always better, and in my case, I have 2 512 sticks, giving me 1024mb. Also, the video card (Even if you were able to play Quake 3) is kinda old. Most videocards on the market today have at least a minimum of 128 mb RAM on them. Mine has 512. So you may be having trouble with MAME due to the video card and the RAM. I only mention the Celeron bit because I'm disgusted with Celeron and will never buy one again, but your speed there shouldn't be a problem.

[Will]

Actually the newer Celerons are not too bad. The reviews I have read put my 351 extremely close to an Athlon 2800+ and a P4 2.6. The 351 Celeron D isn't great, but it isn't bad. Plus it was $30 from Tigerdirect last week Since MAME doesn't need much, I wanted to save money in this area. I have more RAM I can steal from my server, so I'll try that, but I am beginning to think I need to spring for a new video card. Too bad I have already blown my budget on my MAME cabinet Until I can win some more money from my poker buddies, I guess I'll have to use some other frontend

[lingpanda]

I am new to GameEx, and am currently trying to get it working for me. The feature list (and video) look awesome, so assuming I get it to work I am registering and donating! For now though my performance sucks, and I don't know why. I have read the "if gameex seems sluggish" post and the docs. I have a newly installed WinXP box with all updates, etc. Here are my specs:

Celeron 3.2 GHz

512 Megs RAM

Geforce3 Ti200 (64 meg)

I have updated to all the newest chipset, graphics, sound, etc drivers. I have nothing else installed except the basics. I have changed GameEx to run at as low as 640x480 with all the trimmings off. It still runs VERY choppy, and is only barely usable. Is the video card the weak link? In the day it could play Quake 3 at 1280x1024 with all settings at max! Is GameEx really that tough? Or do I need a Direct X 9 card? Or am I doing something else wrong? I really want my MAME cabinet to look slick!

Will

You computer is fine to run mame. Your graphics card could use an upgrade. Is GameEx slow or mame? Only reason I suggest a card upgrade is for GameEx. First lets figure out if its mame or GameEx that is slow.

[bazzman69]

You computer is fine to run mame. Your graphics card could use an upgrade. Is GameEx slow or mame? Only reason I suggest a card upgrade is for GameEx. First lets figure out if its mame or GameEx that is slow.

i run mame and over 20 emus through gameex on me laptop

(celeron 2.6, 224mb ram with intergrated graphics)

with no issues at all, hang in there game ex rocks!

[Will]

wow...that is so weird. Lingpanda, the problem is not with mame. Mame runs beautifully on this PC and my older one. The motherboard is new (with new bios & drivers) and I have tried with a gig of RAM instead of the normal 512 I run, and had the same issue. GameEx ran just as slow (well maybe a little slower) on my Athlon XP 1800. I upgraded (partially) because the GameEx performance was so crappy, and now this one is slow too. The ONLY part it shares with my older PC is the graphics card. So, thanks to the people who have responded to me, I know that it isn't my PC. I am going to make sure I have the newest version of GameEx, then I am going to try on some other PCs. Maybe the problem is a bug with my video card or something.

Will

[Will]

Okay..all fixed. Turns out the video card needs to be better than my Geforce3. I guess probably a DirectX 7 or better card is necessary. I switched to my onboard video and GameEx works perfectly. Thanks to the people who responded, I was able to narrow it down to the video card--which I never would have suspected. THANK YOU. My Mame Cabinet rocks now. Now it's time to donate (as soon as I convince my wife with a demo)!

Will

[hansolo77]

Just throwing this out there... If you're onboard video is better than your expansion card, why were you using the expansion card in the first place? I mean, I can understand wanting to have the GPU do the work, and allowing system RAM to be used for the CPU more than rendering. But I mean, if your expansion card isn't even DX7, why bother?

[Adultery]

You can get a much nicer card for less than you think. If you're running alot of emulators, don't be afraid to go for that extra memory.

[Ricci]

Memory is the key trick here..don't go nuts on video cards and processors...not really necessary for this type of beast...just amp up your RAM and you will be surprised how well things will run...Up until a month ago, I was running everything on a P3 with 512 and never had a lick of trouble!

[Will]

Well I didn't know the onboard video was better than my Geforce3 until I tried it. I only got the new motherboard three days ago. It has been a while since I have had the time to play games that needed a good video card, so my graphics tech has fallen behind. I have good dev machines, but not gaming machines I am going to add another 512 RAM asap. Thanks for the help!

Will

[vuduman67]

Well I didn't know the onboard video was better than my Geforce3 until I tried it. I only got the new motherboard three days ago. It has been a while since I have had the time to play games that needed a good video card, so my graphics tech has fallen behind. I have good dev machines, but not gaming machines I am going to add another 512 RAM asap. Thanks for the help!

Will

You may be dealing with a graphics driver bug. I know you said you have it fixed now with the on board video but your Geforce 4 may actually be a better choice. DOnt know what your on board video is. Anyway

in the faq it mentions a problem with Nvidia drivers and GameEx. This was taken directly from the Faq"

Q: I have a good system, but GameEx runs terribly slow or freezes up (I have an NVidia video card)?

A: NVidia unified drivers newer than 66.93 and older than 81.85 seem to have serious bugs with DirectX 2D support. Get the latest NVidia drivers or alternatively you can get 66.93 drivers here. 66.93 was released November 2004. If you have an older card like a Geforce 2 or 3 you may still need the older driver.

This may not be a issue anymore but I had the exact same problem with my ti4200 I ended up switching video cards before I saw the Faq so I dont know if drivers would have fixed it or not.

[Will]

Thanks, but I don't think that was the issue. I tried drivers older than 66.93 and the newest ones as well with the same results. The Geforce3 Ti200 was a "value" edition of the full Geforce3. If it had been a Geforce4 (full) then it might have beaten out the Intel Extreme 2. Oh well...that issue is all better now.

Will