Rage-quitting my bad computer

[Portasaurus]

A lot of the PC games I play suffer from a completely debilitating mouse lag which makes playing them absolutely impossible.

There IS need to be upset, I'm sick of it, and via the power of credit cards, I'm rage-quitting my bad computer.

What should I get?
Desktop? Laptop?
Should I get one of those Alien computers?
Roughly how much money should my credit card company be prepared to spend?

Halp!

[Danyelle]

1. Desktop. Laptops work...for P99 because it's old. But if you want to do other games too (seems like you do) i'd recommend desktop. Besides...why you gotta play vidya on the go? If you're out of the house you should be doing real life!!!
2. Alienware is nice but, depending on your budget, i'd say no. Build it yourself. Minimal research and it's easy. And building a pc is like 3x cheaper than buying stock of any brand and 40x cheaper than buying the same specs stock in a mac :P
3. if you build it, for a good enough computer to do most anything, if not everything, max graphics with little to no problems? Depending where you shop and brands ~800-1000 probably. For EVERYTHING including software, OS, and peripherals.

[falkun]

http://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc - view the sidebar
http://www.logicalincrements.com/ - find a price point and this will get you started. Add OS (~$100), a decent monitor (~$100-150), and mouse/keyboard (varies) if you need them.

Get a wifi PCI card if you are used to that with a laptop, although hard line is a better connection.

[Nuggets]

build one. build a nice one for a little over $1,000, or build a budget PC for like $500. Anything you buy/build will run EQ fine

[Pringles]

I prefer to build my own, but if you're looking for one thats built for you, ibuypower.com is a great resource IMO.

[Portasaurus]

And just to double-check, does it sound reasonable that almost every "slightly modern" game ("modern" = games released between 2008-2012) I try to play on my current computer (Dell Latitude laptop E5430) suffers from extremely debilitating mouse lag?

I also encounter this mouse lag (to a lesser-degree) sometimes during normal operation of the computer (outside of 3D gaming).

It happens about 50% of the time when I am trying to play p99. Pretty much 100% for Team Fortress 2. I'd say it happens about 5% of the time outside of these applications, but when it happens, my mouse jumps erratically all over the screen, causing me to click on the wrong thing, some mouse clicks and movements are missed entirely, I have to click things twice or three times to get the click to work, etc...

I have 8 GB of RAM and 4 processors... I don't understand why this computer is having issues with modern games (and even old games with FAR less system requirements). I especially don't understand how or why this computer could have a hard time running Everquest.

Yes, I am using the integrated onboard Intel HD Graphics 4000 driver.

http://s10.postimg.org/b6yctp3mx/lappy1.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/4idit7umt/taskman.jpg

[Grimjaw]

Yes, I am using the integrated onboard Intel HD Graphics 4000 driver.

just skimmed thru, but I would say the integrated graphics card is your problem. standalone graphic cards do wonders.

[Thulack]

Also make sure things like your disk defrag arent running in the background or any antivirus you have isnt running scan in the background. Things like that will slow down older laptops.

[nectarprime]

Your laptop isn't that bad, besides the lack of a dedicated GPU.

Lenovo makes good laptops for a decent price.

[Portasaurus]

Your laptop isn't that bad, besides the lack of a dedicated GPU.

That's what I'm saying! 4 processors and 8GB of RAM, yet I can't reliably click on my bag slots in a 15 year-old game... riiiight...

[nectarprime]

That's what I'm saying! 4 processors and 8GB of RAM, yet I can't reliably click on my bag slots in a 15 year-old game... riiiight...

Well, the CPU and RAM have little to do with the job that the graphical processor does.

You might try turning Vsync off in your Intel graphics control panel, if possible.

[Bardalicious]

Is the laptop getting overly hot?

Also, go to power management in the control panel and make sure that your profile is set to max performance vs. max battery life.

[Ambrotos]

Ya that integrated video card isn't great, but it should run eq np. As for other games, I think there would be issues.

There is something else going on here. What are your settings like in game for eq? Max, spell effects on, etc?

[Turp_SmokinPurp]

Ya that integrated video card isn't great, but it should run eq np. As for other games, I think there would be issues.

There is something else going on here. What are your settings like in game for eq? Max, spell effects on, etc?

Yea I have almost the same specs on my laptop but went with the AMD card. It still has the intel integrated an reads intel on my experience but i can choose to bypass it for games. How hard is it to install the AMD part that i have? Could maybe pay dell to upgrade it even.

His should run fine and for sure on lower settings though. Have you tried a new mouse? To make sure that is not the case. Maybe Lagg? Speedtest.net an post it.

As said Turn down some things and test. If max spell effects an stuff are on turn them down and shadows, and clip plane, just to see if that is the problem. If that does not fix it, report back.

[Portasaurus]

Is the laptop getting overly hot?

Also, go to power management in the control panel and make sure that your profile is set to max performance vs. max battery life.

RealTemp shows my CPU occasionally reaching into the low 80s while running 1 copy of EQ.

Power settings are set to Ultra Performance

http://s27.postimg.org/lv17jph0j/realtemp.jpg

http://s8.postimg.org/uv1b7ar85/ultraperformance.jpg

[nectarprime]

@Turp - sadly in these laptops you cannot add or replace the GPU

@Port - That's super hot, your CPU is throttling for sure. You should open it up and clean out all the dust, and consider repasting the CPU as well. A laptop cooler isn't a bad idea either.

[Portasaurus]

@Turp - sadly in these laptops you cannot add or replace the GPU

@Port - That's super hot, your CPU is throttling for sure. You should open it up and clean out all the dust, and consider repasting the CPU as well. A laptop cooler isn't a bad idea either.

So what you're telling me is.... my cats have been slowly sabotaging my computers over my life by slowly clogging them with hair?

If I fix all of this simply by BLOWING IN IT like I used to fix NES games I'm going to shit myself

[Tewaz]

Was anyone rocking a Voodoo back in the day? So goog.

[Ambrotos]

Yea I have almost the same specs on my laptop but went with the AMD card. It still has the intel integrated an reads intel on my experience but i can choose to bypass it for games. How hard is it to install the AMD part that i have? Could maybe pay dell to upgrade it even.

Depends on the laptop. I had to turn off my intel video card in my alien ware laptop with my nvida card. Was just a case of downloading the bios that would allow it. I couldn't turn mine off and had to find a "hacked" bio for it. If you are able to turn them off at will, your bios should be set up to totally disable it.

As for Port.

If any of my laptops/desktops even remotely go over 55c I get worried. It means there are issues going on. As a laptop it could just be something as simple as it not having the air flow to help keep it cool. Do you use a chillmat or have the vents spaced from the desk?

I would agree that if your laptop is hitting 80c + playing eq, that is your issue. You can always open it up and check to see if your fan is clean. But it sounds more like air ventilation problem. Go with trying to keep your pc cool, and see how it goes from there.

[Turp_SmokinPurp]

@Nectar Glad i went with the special edition than.
It runs new games decent. So i know Ports should run EQ on minimum or does graphic make that big of a difference? Shouldn't matter on EQ that much.
my specs are similar.

Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition with Intel Core i5 3230 @ 2.6, 6 gigs ram.
Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution screen. AMD 7730M graphics card is the only big difference. Mine still rates window experience using the on board intel 4000

@Port I see you have Ultra performance clicked. But it says it limits CPU throttle?
Try High Performance is what I run on my dell.
Laptops always run hot but make sure your fans are working fine. If old consider cleaning them. If need be just play near AC if can.

[Ambrotos]

Dell Inspiron 15R Special Edition with Intel Core i5 3230 @ 2.6, 6 gigs ram.
Full HD 1920 x 1080 resolution screen. AMD 7730M graphics card is the only big difference. Mine still rates window experience using the on board intel 4000

Ya see if you can set it up to totally disable the intel card. Once you do that you can do the windows experience and such with the amd.

[Turp_SmokinPurp]

Ya see if you can set it up to totally disable the intel card. Once you do that you can do the windows experience and such with the amd.

Yea i wish i could do this somehow, because it runs like windows an the computer in general off the shitty intel. so like any program i cant manually access an say AMD than it auto does the intel.

Since i don't think i can from the research i did, can't he than get this upgrade pretty easy, since these 2 are compatible or whatever?
This was stock dell so they may have a program or what is needed to integrate upgrade?

[Grimjaw]

Ah ya, it does sound like CPU throttling due to overheating. I have a Dell Lattitude for work also. (Dell Latitude laptop E6410)

I have researched this issue before for myself... An easy way to tell when its happening, your Task Manager will artificially inflate the CPU to 100% usage


Intel processors have a built-in safety mechanism - CPU Throttling. When the CPU gets too hot, it will slow down by A LOT, in order to try and save itself by cooling off.

Now here is where it gets stupid... Dell decided to hijack this safety mechanism and LOWER THE THREASHOLD in order to protect its other shitty components - RAM etc.

For me, the issue eventually resolved itself, after cleaning up the laptop and applying the latest BIOS, firmware etc. but while it was affecting me daily I would need to point a fan directly at it, to avoid the issue.

The main problem is that DELL advertised the laptops as "They are powerful enough to replace workstations (desktops)", but that's just not true - especially when you connect 2x 27" monitors.

That's the last time I ever get a DELL.

[Bazia]

just buy a nice gaming computer desktop for 700$ and you wont have to deal with these dum issues

[Rais]

http://slickdeals.net/f/7090890-hp-envy-700-desktop-free-hp-7-plus-tablet-core-i7-4770-8gb-ddr3-1tb-hdd-intel-hd-4600-win-7-prem-2-year-warranty-650-575-amex-free-shipping

Looks like a good deal to me. All you need to do is buy a video card for about 150 bucks and you can run anything.

[Grimjaw]

no windows8 that's a bonus

[georgie]

build your own pc

[Portasaurus]

Update: I cleaned out quite a bit of dust from the fans and my CPU temperature has improved, but I am still experiencing a jittery, jumpy mouse that stutters all around the screen when in-game and occasionally at other seemingly random times. Just now, with CPU temps in the 40s, I am experiencing the jumpy mouse.

I am also now plugged directly into my router and disabled my wifi adapter. No difference.

I also changed my power settings to "HIGH" (from ULTRA) and am not seeing a difference.

I also tried a different (wireless) mouse. I don't seem to have a wired mouse that I can try. One thing I haven't done yet is change the channel on my wireless router, which I guess *could* in theory be interfering with my wireless mice?

Although it seems illogical that this computer would continue to struggle to run eq, I am probably going to just end up laying down on a new dedicated gaming desktop.

Thanks everyone for the help. If anyone has any other cards up their sleeve, please let me know.

[Ambrotos]

Have you checked how much process/memory eq(Whatever game) is using while playing? That should help us figure this out.

Ctrl Alt Delete, open process window while in game. You will see a spike happen opening this up. It should all be low usage though.

[nectarprime]

I have had a wireless mouse that had weird jittering when my router was on a certain channel. Worth a try.

[Bardalicious]

Update: I cleaned out quite a bit of dust from the fans and my CPU temperature has improved, but I am still experiencing a jittery, jumpy mouse that stutters all around the screen when in-game and occasionally at other seemingly random times. Just now, with CPU temps in the 40s, I am experiencing the jumpy mouse.

I am also now plugged directly into my router and disabled my wifi adapter. No difference.

I also changed my power settings to "HIGH" (from ULTRA) and am not seeing a difference.

I also tried a different (wireless) mouse. I don't seem to have a wired mouse that I can try. One thing I haven't done yet is change the channel on my wireless router, which I guess *could* in theory be interfering with my wireless mice?

Although it seems illogical that this computer would continue to struggle to run eq, I am probably going to just end up laying down on a new dedicated gaming desktop.

Thanks everyone for the help. If anyone has any other cards up their sleeve, please let me know.

Yeah, it's possible I suppose. Have you not tried using the touchpad for the sake of comparison? There's something else going on here. Your laptop isn't the greatest but it's far more than sufficient to run an 8ish year old game client.

[Portasaurus]

I have had a wireless mouse that had weird jittering when my router was on a certain channel. Worth a try.

I am excited at the prospect of this being a router interference issue because it would be a great easy panacea, but there's one big hole in that logic: If it was constant wireless router interference, why would the jittery mouse (almost always) only be consistently noticeable when running 3D games? (it still has happened outside of gaming, although infrequently)

Will change channel and report back.

[Ambrotos]

Buy a 4 dollar wire mouse and see.

[Grimjaw]

wireless mouse? dude that's gotta be the problem just plug one in and test derrr

[Portasaurus]

Does nobody else here use a wireless mouse? Am I an idiot?

Wait... don't answer that 2nd question.

[Bardalicious]

Have you not tried using the touchpad for the sake of comparison?

[nectarprime]

I use a wireless mouse all the time. Just a simple thing to rule out while troubleshooting. Increased network traffic can cause wireless interference.

[Thulack]

Does nobody else here use a wireless mouse? Am I an idiot?

Wait... don't answer that 2nd question.

i use logitech trackman wireless mice and dont have any issues. But i'm guessing it still more of a laptop throttling issue then a mouse issue.

[Grimjaw]

throttling would slow down everything, including the game, not just the mouse

[tekniq]

best buy offers interest free financing if you sign up for their credit card. I got a pretty good computer & monitor and i paid like 50$ a month for 2 years.

[Clark]

Does nobody else here use a wireless mouse? Am I an idiot?

Wait... don't answer that 2nd question.

Wireless mouse is terrible!

[Bazia]

you'd really be better off just getting a better computer dude

use financing or something and just save urself the future headaches