Looking for suggestions for computer upgrades

[Articus]

As the title says I'm looking for suggestions, due to the recent try of SC2, my computer can't handle massive combat to well and I'd like to fix that as well as a few other things.

Thank you in advance

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 7/21/2010, 18:14:07

   Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7600) (7600.win7_gdr.100226-1909)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gateway
       System Model: DX4200-09
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) 9100e Quad-Core Processor (4 CPUs), ~1.8GHz
             Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 3840MB RAM
          Page File: 2123MB used, 5552MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7600.16385 64bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
          Card name: ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x9440)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_9440&SUBSYS_24481682&REV_00
     Display Memory: 2681 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1018 MB
      Shared Memory: 1663 MB
       Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: SyncMaster
         Monitor Id: SAM037B
        Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (59.883Hz)
        Output Type: HD15
        Driver Name: atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.14.0010.0700 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.661.0.0
        DDI Version: 10.1
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 9/23/2009 15:00:58, 4649472 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: n/a
    WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-D700-11CF-8E77-4204A1C2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x9440
          SubSys ID: 0x24481682
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem6.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_R7X:8.661.0.0:pci\ven_1002&dev_9440
     Rank Of Driver: 00E62001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
   Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
       D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
            DXVA-HD: Not Supported
       DDraw Status: Enabled
         D3D Status: Enabled
         AGP Status: Enabled

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: Speakers (2- High Definition Audio Device)
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250155&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
         Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 7/13/2009 17:07:00, 350208 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0x0
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

            Description: Digital Audio (S/PDIF) (2- High Definition Audio Device)
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_0888&SUBSYS_10250155&REV_1001
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
         Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: n/a
          Date and Size: 7/13/2009 17:07:00, 350208 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Basic
              Cap Flags: 0x0
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Microphone (2- High Definition Audio Device)
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: HdAudio.sys
         Driver Version: 6.01.7600.16385 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 7/13/2009 17:07:00, 350208 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x0
           Format Flags: 0x0

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x045E, 0x006D
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x045E, 0x006D
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x045E, 0x006D
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Microsoft eHome Infrared Transceiver
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x045E, 0x006D
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: USB2.0-CRW
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x0A48, 0x3302
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Ideazon Merc Stealth MM USB Human Interface Device
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x1038, 0x0510
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Ideazon Merc Stealth MM USB Human Interface Device
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x1038, 0x0510
        FF Driver: n/a

Poll w/ Interrupt: No

-----------
USB Devices
-----------
+ USB Root Hub
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x1002, 0x4398
| Matching Device ID: usb\root_hub
| Service: usbhub
| Driver: usbhub.sys, 7/13/2009 17:07:09, 343040 bytes
| Driver: usbd.sys, 7/13/2009 17:06:23, 7936 bytes

----------------
Gameport Devices
----------------

------------
PS/2 Devices
------------
+ Microsoft eHome Remote Control Keyboard keys
| Matching Device ID: hid\irdevicev2&col05
| Service: kbdhid
| Driver: kbdhid.sys, 7/13/2009 17:00:20, 33280 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:04, 50768 bytes
|
+ Microsoft eHome MCIR Keyboard
| Matching Device ID: hid\irdevicev2&col06
| Service: kbdhid
| Driver: kbdhid.sys, 7/13/2009 17:00:20, 33280 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:04, 50768 bytes
|
+ Microsoft eHome MCIR 109 Keyboard
| Matching Device ID: hid\irdevicev2&col07
| Service: kbdhid
| Driver: kbdhid.sys, 7/13/2009 17:00:20, 33280 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:04, 50768 bytes
|
+ HID Keyboard Device
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x1038, 0x0510
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_keyboard
| Service: kbdhid
| Driver: kbdhid.sys, 7/13/2009 17:00:20, 33280 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:04, 50768 bytes
|
+ Terminal Server Keyboard Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_kbd
| Upper Filters: kbdclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: i8042prt.sys, 7/13/2009 16:19:57, 105472 bytes
| Driver: kbdclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:04, 50768 bytes
|
+ HID-compliant mouse
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_mouse
| Service: mouhid
| Driver: mouhid.sys, 7/13/2009 17:00:20, 31232 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:27, 49216 bytes
|
+ HID-compliant mouse
| Vendor/Product ID: 0x047D, 0x102E
| Matching Device ID: hid_device_system_mouse
| Service: mouhid
| Driver: mouhid.sys, 7/13/2009 17:00:20, 31232 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:27, 49216 bytes
|
+ Terminal Server Mouse Driver
| Matching Device ID: root\rdp_mou
| Upper Filters: mouclass
| Service: TermDD
| Driver: termdd.sys, 7/13/2009 18:45:55, 62544 bytes
| Driver: sermouse.sys, 7/13/2009 17:00:20, 26624 bytes
| Driver: mouclass.sys, 7/13/2009 18:48:27, 49216 bytes

------------------------
Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
------------------------
      Drive: C:
 Free Space: 271.5 GB
Total Space: 600.5 GB
File System: NTFS
      Model: WDC WD6400AAKS-22A7B0 ATA Device

      Drive: D:
      Model: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH15F ATA Device
     Driver: c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys, 6.01.7600.16385 (English), 7/13/2009 16:19:54, 147456 bytes

[shavas]

Nothing really wrong with your machine. Quad cores are not great for gaming as most games usually only use 2 of them. This is slowly changing. I would suggest upgrading your cpu to something faster. 1.8gig is slow for a core clock now. Get a new Phenom II x4 630 CPU.  They are 2.8Ghz / core. Cheap chips and 95W rated so probably supported on your motherboard. But you need to check that with gateway. You graphics card is fine. I dont think Starcraft 2 is DX11 so no point upgrading that. 4 gig of ram is sweet. So i would think for less than $100 you can upgrade your cpu and you should be away laughing.

Other CPU Alternates.. Pricer but better.
 AMD Phenom II X4 945 3Ghz 8MB AM3 95W with Original Heatsink and Fan
 AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2GHz AM3 8MB Cache CPU with Original Heatsink and Fan

Faster spec chips with 8meg cache / core. Cache helps alot. Some of the slower models have less cache / core.

Anyways Check with you maunfacturer for CPU compatibility and see what it can run. Buy the best you can afford and enjoy.

[Arghem]

It's almost certainly the CPU that's making for the sluggish performance.  Being biased I'd tell you to build a solid core i7 system with 6GB of ram but that wouldn't be cheap and isn't required.  As shav said your graphics card is fine so CPU and RAM are where to focus.  If you can get the game running and alt tab to check memory utilization that can usually tell if more memory can help.  If you're running 90%+ of your memory used going to 6GB would help a bit.  Otherwise CPU is all you can do.  And definitely make sure you check what CPUs are compatible with your board.  AMD has parts that use the same socket but are not compatible with all board using that socket.

One small correction shav, most of the games released in the last year or so do take advantage of quad core (sometimes just 3 cores), however a marginally faster dual core is usually as good.

[Quethel]

What actual video card is that? I know it says 4800 series but there's 4830, 4850, 4870, etc. I assume this means you have the onboard graphics card disabled as that model comes with a 3200. And am I reading that wrong or does it say your video drivers are from 2009?

I am extremely hesitant to point at the CPU. Our PCs are nearly the same(I have 4gb of ram and a Radeon 4850 on XP) but your CPU is considerably beefier than mine(Athlon 64 X2 4400+). I haven't played SC2 but I have played Crysis and it's playable on high settings for me. The minimum CPU spec for SC2 is a Pentium 4, which you exceed by a massive amount. In other words, I don't see how it could be your hardware. Without having played it or seen how the game gets sluggish on your comp, my initial assumption is that it's a problem with the software. If it's not the game, then I would look to drivers and make sure you have the latest Catalyst install.

[BubbaWilkins]

I don't have the whole system specs on hand of my gaming rig, but for comparison:

OPERATING SYSTEM:
Windows 2.5.1.2600 (Service Pack 3)
CPU TYPE:
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
CPU SPEED (GHZ):
2.42
SYSTEM MEMORY (GB):
2
VIDEO CARD MODEL:
NVIDIA GeForce 9800 GT  (x2)
VIDEO CARD DRIVER:
nv4_disp.dll
DESKTOP RESOLUTION:
1920x1080
HARD DISK SIZE (GB):
298.08
HARD DISK FREE SPACE (GB):
221.21


My drive setup isn't noted, but the games are installed on a pair of raptors in raid.  Your CPU is slower, but has twice as many cores to work with.

Couple of things about SC2 though:

It's optimized for dual core platforms, and I don't think it actually utilizes more than 2.
It's optimized for 32bit systems, and there is actually a slight decrease in performance for 64bit.
Not sure of what type of games you played, but there was a noted decrease performance in Free For All matches where more than 2 players were in the game.

In the 2v2 matches I played, I had no real loss of performance with massive armies.  The only time I had problems is when one of the other players lagged for some reason.  Your issue may have been more latency related than platform as well.

I'd leave your system as is for now.  It seems pretty solid and should run most stuff just fine. 

[Articus]

What actual video card is that? I know it says 4800 series but there's 4830, 4850, 4870, etc. I assume this means you have the onboard graphics card disabled as that model comes with a 3200. And am I reading that wrong or does it say your video drivers are from 2009?

I have a 4880.
As for my catalyst drivers it says its up to date but it didnt seem to have much of an effect in visual performance when I installed the card.

[Arghem]

Guess it could just be a weird driver conflict problem then.  Hit the internet and update all your key drivers (video, audio, chipset etc.).

Might even be worth re-installing them even if the version matches.

[shavas]

Just plop in a faster CPU. And get the latest ati bundle drivers and install. Done. Like i said.. you are looking at a 100$ upgrade path. Your machine aint that old as it is so should be good for a while yet.

[Articus]

I have a 4880.

scratch that its a 4870 HD

[Cinaed]

Stupid question but are all of the graphics options turned down/off/reduced?

[Quethel]

I have a 4880.
As for my catalyst drivers it says its up to date but it didnt seem to have much of an effect in visual performance when I installed the card.

What says it's up to date? There's no autoupdater for any graphics driver I've ever seen, at least on XP. The last update for Catalyst was in June of 2010. Everything I can find on version 8.661 says September of 2009.

Download the latest driver here:
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

[Articus]

Stupid question but are all of the graphics options turned down/off/reduced?

yup everything was turned down.

I have a 4880.
As for my catalyst drivers it says its up to date but it didnt seem to have much of an effect in visual performance when I installed the card.

What says it's up to date? There's no autoupdater for any graphics driver I've ever seen, at least on XP. The last update for Catalyst was in June of 2010. Everything I can find on version 8.661 says September of 2009.

Download the latest driver here:
http://game.amd.com/us-en/drivers_catalyst.aspx

I don't remember where I saw it, but yesterday I re-dled the drivers before raid and installed the latest ones but since beta for SC ended I couldn't test it.

[shavas]

http://www.techspot.com/review/305-starcraft2-performance/page13.html

Starcraft2 only uses 2 cores.... but read that review for info about how systems should perform... since it is wholy about sc2.

[Articus]

SC2 has been running fine now, not choppy or anything. Though a few times itll suggest I lower settings since I have them all at ultra now. The reinstallation of the Catalyst drivers helped a lot.