Should my system run better than this?

[FuZioN2k3]

Specs:

CPU: Intel p4 3.4 ghz 800mhz FSB 2mb L2 Cache

Mobo: ASUS p5nd2-SLI deluxe

Vid card: BFG Tech gefoce 7800 GTX

Memory: 1gig(512x2) corsair PC4200 ddr2 ram(http://www.corsairmemory.com/corsair/valueselect.html#ddr2dimm)

HDD's:

150gb samsung HDD

110gb western digial HDD

Pwr Supply: Powersteam OCZ technology 420 watt

I believe that's all I need to include. So here is my problem:

I bought all of that stuff recently, hooked it all up, formatted my harddrive and installed winxp+sp2 and all updates. I ran into a few problems in the beginning as my CPU heatsink and fan wasn't attached properly and came apart in the case causing the PC to turn off due to overheating. Prior to that I installed everything that came with my hardware... the mobo...graphics card..ect. Updated everything to it's latest drivers, and installed BF2 and 3dmark05. I ran 3dmark at it's default and scored 7302. I then played BF2 on all highest graphics settings in 1600x1200 reso, the initial FPS is about 80-90 then the game gets jerky and locks up on some frames. I tried on a lower screen res (1024x768) and it had the same problem. I also noticed ALT tabbing out of the game takes a LONG time, and the desktop loads in little by little in different sections. Also sometimes when alt tabbing in the bottom right corner of my screen a small grey strange looking box will appear. I get these same effects when closing the game also. I noticed one thing on my mobo where the CPU connects, 1 of those tiny little pins looks different from the others. It's not out of place I looked at it with a magnifying glass, it's just slightly discolored. I'm not sure if that could be causing these problems? I would think this new system I setup would run EVERYTHING flawlessly... so please if you have any ideas what may be causing these problems let me know.

[Zxian]

It could be that your video card is overheating. Either that or it's not properly seated.

Those would be first two checks.

[boooggy]

u did not say anything about the rest of software installed.

[FuZioN2k3]

Vid card is running idle @ 41 C and after playing it was around 59 C. Is that good, bad?

I'm not sure what you mean boooggy, all thats installed on this sytem is what came with my mobo, and vid card + 3dmark05, MSN, GSA, and FRAPS.

[Zxian]

The temps seem ok.

Have you tried re-seating the video card?

EDIT I'm probably not the best source on this, but did you check that your Power Supply would be able to handle all your hardware?

Edited July 6, 2005 by Zxian

[FuZioN2k3]

Reseated the card, replugged the monitor and i'm getting some better performance but higher temps.

I reach about 70 C playing BF2 for 30 mins on all high 1600x1200. The game lags in the initial spawn, until the frames build up then it rarely drops under 60fps, sometimes gets around 40 FPS or so when alot of things are going on. Is that good/normal?

And yes I checked, and re-checked to make sure I had enough power to handle everything.

I'm still concerned about the discolored prong/pin/whatever on the mobo where the CPU connects. Could that cause any problems? If it was would the computer just not boot up at all? Just curious

[Zxian]

I have no clue as to the "Normal" performance of the 7800... sorry.

I'm not sure about the pin... ripken204 is the resident hardware guru here. I'm just throwing out my usual engineering-based troubleshooting steps.

[FuZioN2k3]

Thats cool, I appreciate any help I can get.

I tried playing bf2 again, frame lag like hell in the beginning tons of locking up. Began to smooth out the more I played, after the first round of the game was over and the game restarted it was alot smoother. I have no idea what could be causing this, it's not overheating because the more I played the hotter it got and the better performance lol.

Maybe I have a defective card? Still that pin on the mobo bothers me, it could be ruining everything and I need a new mobo... hopefully ripken204 or someone will check this thread soon

Thanks again for all the help.