Author Topic: Agrivated after upgrading computers... (Read 2187 times)

gndprx · « **on:** June 21, 2004, 12:47:23 pm »

Well, got a bug to upgrade the computer in my cab with another one I had lying around.

Original computer was a Dell SFF P3 1Ghz with 512mb memory and Windows XP. The biggest problem with it being SFF case was that my vid card did not fit forcing me to have the case hinged open to a 45degree agle all the time.

So I took a P3 1.3Ghz with 768Mb memory, moved the hard drive over, installed 98SE hoping to get a little more performance gain out of it and re-configured my FE to point to the new drive.

Well, after trying to play a few games, I quickly realized that something is not right. Most of the games that I play (ShuffleShot, MK, etc...) are now unplayable due to choppy speed issues.

I tried to drop out to DOS and run straight from the command line mame and it was just as slow, so it doesn't appear to be an OS problem.

So my question is, how can a faster computer with more memory run mame slower?!?!??!

This box should be more than enough power to run any/all games short of the big shooters and driving games.

Any input would be great! Thx,

SirPeale · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2004, 12:51:46 pm »

Are all games like this?

gndprx · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2004, 12:53:01 pm »

Any of the ones I've tried so far are noticably slower ranging anywhere from load time to game play.

cbmeeks · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:14:08 pm »

Same video card on both machines?

The video card drivers could be the problem. DOS isn't always faster because the manufactorer of the video card usually write more efficient drivers for Windows.

And I have yet to see where Win98 is faster than XP....at least enough to warrant switching to a dead,unstable OS.

cb

gndprx · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:24:53 pm »

Same vid card. Simple ATI All-in-Wonder 64mb card.

I had hoped to eliminate some of the overhead of XP.

I may just end up installing XP again on the new machine and see if that makes a difference. I was thinking of running pure dos and a ArcadeOS, but I run GTG which requires some sort of Windows based OS.

Otherwise I'm back to square one and I'll just pull all the guts out of the Dell SFF case and mount it right to the side of the cabinet.

Lilwolf · « **Reply #5 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:30:39 pm »

drop the memory down to 512.

98SE doesn't handle over 512 well at all. This might be your only problem.

Also make sure you have updated your bios on the new motherboard.

gndprx · « **Reply #6 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:36:58 pm »

Interesting thought. After you mentioned that I ran across some webpages documenting possible problems.

http://www.dewassoc.com/support/win98/win9x_512memory.htm

In particular, that one mentions a direct problem with an AGP card installed and over 512Mb and the occupying of all virtual memory leaving none for the function of the computer.

I'll definately try that tonight.

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #7 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:37:00 pm »

Quote from: Lilwolf on June 21, 2004, 01:30:39 pm

drop the memory down to 512.
98SE doesn't handle over 512 well at all. This might be your only problem.
Also make sure you have updated your bios on the new motherboard.

I agree. Either drop to 512 with 98SE or stick with the 768 and XP.

krick · « **Reply #8 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:37:04 pm »

Make sure you install chipset drivers for your motherboard.

You can usually get them from the motherboard manufacturer's web page or you can also get them directly from the chipset manufacturer...

VIA: http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=403

SIS: http://download.sis.com/

Intel: http://www.intel.com/design/software/drivers/platform/

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:53:47 pm »

Quote from: gndprx on June 21, 2004, 01:24:53 pm

I had hoped to eliminate some of the overhead of XP.

Easier ways to do that:

http://www.blackviper.com/WinXP/servicecfg.htm

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1590&page=1

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article03-202

AlanS17 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 21, 2004, 01:59:38 pm »

Quote from: Lilwolf on June 21, 2004, 01:30:39 pm

drop the memory down to 512.

98SE doesn't handle over 512 well at all. This might be your only problem.

Also make sure you have updated your bios on the new motherboard.

Even at 512MB my machine ran a bit weird. Dropping down to 256MB fixed that for the most part, though.

_Iz- · « **Reply #11 on:** June 21, 2004, 03:46:13 pm »

Are you sure it's a P3 1.3? I didn't think they made one of those...

RayB · « **Reply #12 on:** June 21, 2004, 03:51:35 pm »

Umm did you just stick to the default video card settings? Win98 may have detected your card and it may be 'working' but if you don't install the proper dedicated video drivers, the performance will be lousy with the default video.

gndprx · « **Reply #13 on:** June 21, 2004, 04:49:08 pm »

The P3 line didn't stop until the 1.4Ghz chip. That was the end of the line.

Re: the video drivers, I downloaded the latest drivers directly from ATI. I'm going to try droping it to 512Mb tonight and see what happens.

_Iz- · « **Reply #14 on:** June 21, 2004, 05:06:51 pm »

Quote from: gndprx on June 21, 2004, 04:49:08 pm

The P3 line didn't stop until the 1.4Ghz chip. That was the end of the line.

Re: the video drivers, I downloaded the latest drivers directly from ATI. I'm going to try droping it to 512Mb tonight and see what happens.

You're right. But they also made a P4 1.3 which would be quite a bit slower... Even worse if it's one of the early P4's with no cache. They were also hamstrung with regular sdram...

Sylentwulf · « **Reply #15 on:** June 21, 2004, 09:08:56 pm »

One other quick note. If it was just the case bugging you, why not just switch ALL of the components over to the other case?

DrewKaree · « **Reply #16 on:** June 21, 2004, 11:43:12 pm »

Quote from: Sylentwulf on June 21, 2004, 09:08:56 pm

One other quick note. If it was just the case bugging you, why not just switch ALL of the components over to the other case?

Mobo compatibility issues with the case, usually. He'll probably have to do lot more hacks to it to make it serviceable inside that case. Now, skipping a case, and mounting it inside a cabinet........

Sylentwulf · « **Reply #17 on:** June 22, 2004, 08:09:24 am »

ATX is ATX in most cases. You could also buy a new case/power supply for around $30 shipped (granted, it's a beige box, but hey, it's gonna be in an arcade cabinet....)

gndprx · « **Reply #18 on:** June 22, 2004, 03:20:34 pm »

Didn't have a chance to play with it last night, so I don't know if the memory will fix it or not.

As far as swaping cases, the small form factor dell uses quite a bit different motherboard / power supply / drive configuration than would fit nicely in a normal case. I would be better off mounting it directly to the cabinet, which may be the route I go anyway.

The power supply plug is not standard atx supply and the drives it uses are the thin laptop style drives and ribbons. Not standard ATA.

What I may do is just swap the processors for the faster processor, load up the memory and let it go at that with the original guts.

DrewKaree · « **Reply #19 on:** June 22, 2004, 11:52:33 pm »

Quote from: Sylentwulf on June 22, 2004, 08:09:24 am

ATX is ATX in most cases. You could also buy a new case/power supply for around $30 shipped (granted, it's a beige box, but hey, it's gonna be in an arcade cabinet....)

you are quite correct that ATX is ATX. The SFF, however is RARELY large enough to hold a standard ATX board, and usually is outfitted with a smaller board, hence the "S"=small.....think ITX or micro-version.

And, as he stated, things don't comingle with his two systems.

Tiger-Heli · « **Reply #20 on:** June 23, 2004, 07:41:51 am »

I re-read the initial post, and if the same problem is occurring in DOS, then it's not an excess memory problem.

I couldn't tell from the post if Gndprx is running in true DOS or just running Windows MAME from the command line.

I recommend getting a (True DOS) version of MAME, and then either selecting "Re-boot in MS-DOS mode" or (better) booting from a DOS floppy and running DOS MAME from the command prompt.

If that runs fine, you probably have the problem with excessive memory in Win98. If that fails - then memory is probably not your problem, but I'm not sure what is.


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