Game lag, FPS issues, huge difference transitioning from XP - Windows7

[hambuggah]

Hi all,

I recently formatted my computer running windows XP & installed Windows 7 - 64 bit. (actually, it's been about a week).

I've noticed that games have been super laggy and the FPS could drop to 1 FPS from time to time. It has made it extremely difficult for me to play Starcraft II and other games.

I have installed all the correct & most recent drivers for my hardware (mobo, graphics card, sound card, etc...). I've done virus scans even though I haven't really downloaded much onto my PC aside from iTunes, Chrome, etc...

I've played around with my nVidia control panel settings, & in game graphic settings (from highest to lowest). It didn't fix the low FPS.

I am running Intel Core2: Quad 2.4GHz
8GB Ram
Gfx Card: PNY GeForce 9500 GT
MSI P6N SLI Mobo


I need some insight on this situation & advice. Thank you in advance!

 

[zigzag3143]

Lag (or latency) is often caused by a bad driver. Please download this free utility to check. DPC Latency Checker

 

[hambuggah]

thanks for the quick response. So if my latency ever jumps into the red zone, it'd mean I should uninstall & reinstall drivers?

 

[zigzag3143]

thanks for the quick response. So if my latency ever jumps into the red zone, it'd mean I should uninstall & reinstall drivers?

Absolutely. It is a bit of a bear finding the driver that is doing it but at least you are pointed in the right direction if it does.

 

[hambuggah]

I ran drive sweeper to clean out my drivers & reinstall them. It didn't help the situation. Then I used an application called DriverView and apparently I don't even have that many drivers installed aside from the stock MS ones.

It shows the nVidia display drivers, Physx, RealTek Audio, Kaspersky, etc...

Could the issue lie elsewhere?

 

[zigzag3143]

I ran drive sweeper to clean out my drivers & reinstall them. It didn't help the situation. Then I used an application called DriverView and apparently I don't even have that many drivers installed aside from the stock MS ones.

It shows the nVidia display drivers, Physx, RealTek Audio, Kaspersky, etc...

Could the issue lie elsewhere?

Sure, it could be the network, ram, power, heat, etc.

Whats the network setup and what does the ISP claim you are getting?

 

[hambuggah]

My ram seem to be fine. There is usually something like 5GB of ram idling while SC2 is running (out of 8GB). SC2 would eat up 1.5GB while the OS will take up the other 1.5. My network appears to be fine, I've been downloading at good speeds & my speedtest.net results showed what was expected.

I've checked the component temperatures via 3rd party apps & a few times in Bios and they appeared to be fine as well.

The power supply has never given me any problems before and I've been using this computer for 2 years.

 

[zigzag3143]

My ram seem to be fine. There is usually something like 5GB of ram idling while SC2 is running (out of 8GB). SC2 would eat up 1.5GB while the OS will take up the other 1.5. My network appears to be fine, I've been downloading at good speeds & my speedtest.net results showed what was expected.

I've checked the component temperatures via 3rd party apps & a few times in Bios and they appeared to be fine as well.

The power supply has never given me any problems before and I've been using this computer for 2 years.

OK and the network?

 

[hambuggah]

what would should i look at regarding the network?

[edit]

actually i just checked during a huge lag spike. my CPU usage went up to 94% during the time... but when I opened "Resource Monitor", it appears that there's 5GB of ram available & only 3GB in use by OS & SC2 combined.

The SC2 shouldn't work all 4 cores so hard, would it?

 

[zigzag3143]

what would should i look at regarding the network?

[edit]

actually i just checked during a huge lag spike. my CPU usage went up to 94% during the time... but when I opened "Resource Monitor", it appears that there's 5GB of ram available & only 3GB in use by OS & SC2 combined.

The SC2 shouldn't work all 4 cores so hard, would it?

No it shouldnt there probably is something else doing it can you open resource monitor when the computer is lagging and take a snip of the most active cpu, and ram screens

 

[hambuggah]

I've uploaded some screenshots during one of these lag spikes. It was hard to catch it, once I alt-tab out of the game, the cpu usage starts to drop for everything.

http://i42.tinypic.com/zs36o.png

http://i43.tinypic.com/2vj5zlv.png

[edit]
another SS with SC2 closed.

http://i44.tinypic.com/feqdj9.png

[edit]
Also including my DxDiag & MsConfig in case this information is relevant.

http://i40.tinypic.com/301d3ec.png

http://i44.tinypic.com/351wqxi.png