Getting choppiness issues

Hi, I'm new to the forum, due to a problem that has recently arisen in my computer.

The specs are as follows:

Acer Extensa 4420
Windows Vista Home Edition
AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual-Core Processor TK-57 1.90 GHz
Radeon Xpress 1250
2 GB ram
(Let me know if any additional information is needed, but those are the essentials)

The problem is that, my computer gets spikes of choppiness, it happens very infrequently when im simply IMing or browsing the web, it happens occasionally when playing low end games like MapleStory or Starcraft or Diablo2, it happens very often when playing TeamFortress2, and it makes Unreal Tournament 3 unplayable it happens so often.

This issue didn't always exist, it's only very recent that it started happening. I'm not sure what caused it, or where to even start, so I'm hoping someone with much more experience than I could help.

Thanks in advance!

 

Bump~

I would greatly appreciate any help, this is my only computer, and as it stands, I really can't play any games on it during my free time.

A friend of mine suggested just trying a clean re-install of Vista. Does anyone else think that would work, or is there a solution that comes with much much less hassle?

 

Have you defragged your hard drive or tried updating your video card drivers?

 

I did defrag, but I have not updated my video card drivers. Thanks, I'll try that and let y'all know it it helped

 

Update: Went and installed new drivers for my video card, but the problem still exists. =( The problem isn't that my drivers are outdated, clearly. Does anyone have any other potential solutions or fixes?

 

had the same proplem about a year ago.....it turned out to be, I had to many things/programes/processes trying to get on the internet(updaters like googletoolbar and justsched.exe).
so i went to blackviper.com and shut a few things down i was never using like spool services. i didn't have a printer so it was just taking up ram...windows updates likes to check for updates every 30 mins...i also moved all non important stuff on to a small partion.

just check to see whats going on and stop all the stuff you don't use from start-up.
i now have a free running fast PC/Laptop.

good luck
Phil

 

Oh man, thank you so much, that website was insanely helpful! All of my games run seemingly fine now, except for Unreal Tournament 3... But, I'm pretty sure that it's because my laptop simply isn't good enough to handle it.

If anyone who knows about Acer hardware, is there a graphics card slot on the Acer Extensa 4420 model's motherboard? I tried to open it up to see, but was unable to open it. (I didn't want to be forceful for fear of breaking it, and I unscrewed ever screw I could see.)

I'm asking because it would be nice to upgrade my graphics card, since the integrated card it came with really isn't that good. It's a Radeon Xpress 1250.

 

Don't go to mad lol....but always do a restore point before you touch/use services and msconfig. just incase you trip yourself up.

all the best
Phil

 

I think everything is okay now. But like I requested earlier, any clue if my model has an AGP slot? I'd really like to upgrade my graphical capabilities.

 

Here's the full spec of your laptop

14.1"-diagonal widescreen WXGA (1280 x 800) CrystalBright™ LCD screen
AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual-core processor TK-57 operating at 1.9GHz
512KB L2 cache
Up to 1600MHz frontside bus
2GB of PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM memory
Maximum memory capacity: 4GB (Available system memory will be considerably less than this amount and will vary by model and system configuration. This is due to the use of shared video memory and operating system limits.)
120GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA (SATA) hard drive
SuperMulti DVD drive with Double Layer support (reads/writes DVD±R/RW, DVD-RAM, DVD±R Double Layer, CD-R/RW)
Acer InviLink™ 802.11b/g wireless LAN
Ethernet network interface (RJ-45)
56K V.92 modem
4 USB 2.0 ports
with Camera
1 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port
1 S-video port
Fast infrared port
Integrated 0.3-megapixel webcam, for video chat and still photos
5-in-1 memory card reader: reads SD, MMC, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, xD
ExpressCard/54 slot: also supports ExpressCard/34
PC Card slot (Type II)
ATI Radeon X1250 graphics with up to 896MB shared memory
High Definition Audio with built-in Acer 3DSonic stereo speakers
Microphone input jack, headphone/line-out/speaker output jack
6-cell 2000mAh lithium-ion battery; AC adapter
Dimensions: 1.61"H x 13.03"W x 9.76"D
Weight: 5.29 lb

 

as you can see from above you have no MXM slot so, rule of thumb say's no graphics upgrade.
but if you upgrade to 4GB of ram.
you can set a higher value for graphics in the bios.
make sure you have the latest bios Ver

 

Your laptop has an integrated graphic card which cannot be upgraded, sorry.


hoggie nice to see you around mate

 

Hi Boss how's you ?

 

Unemployed, quit smoking and drinking and on a diet. I'm loosing the will to live

 

WoW ATG thats sounds like a real bummer

 

I can set a higher value for graphics? what do you mean by that? My machine currently has 2 GB of RAM, but I don't see how upgrading to 4 GB can improve my computer's graphical performance.

 

when i upgraded the ram in my acer i was given the opition in the bios for DVMT which will give the graphics the max amount of ram it can use.
and check you have the newest BIOS Vers.

 

Lifestyle: Home & Student

Condition: New

Operating Systems: Windows Vista Home Premium

Startup Operating System: Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Premium

Optional Operating Systems: Microsoft® Windows® Vista Family (available separately)

Operating System Licenses Included: Microsoft® Windows® Vista Home Premium

Platform: Notebook PC

Expansion Ports: 1 - Type II PC Card Slot

Display Type: WXGA with CrystalBrite Technology

Screen Size: 14.1"

Maximum Resolution: 1280 x 800

Processor Brand: AMD

Processor Class: Turion 64 X2

Processor Type: Dual-Core

Processor Speed: 2.0GHz

Processor Number: TL-60

Processor FSB: up to 1600MHz

Processor Cache: 2 x 512KB L2

Additional Technologies: HyperTransport™ Technology

Memory Type: DDR2

Memory Size: 4GB

Memory Speed: PC2-5300

Memory Slots (Total): 2

Memory Slots (Filled): 2

Memory Slots (Available): 0

Maximum Memory Supported: 4GB (Up to 1 GB may not be available due to 32-bit operating system resource requirements)

Graphics Description: Integrated Graphics

GPU/VPU: ATI Radeon X1250

Video Memory: up tp 896MB of HyperMemory

Video Interface: S-Video, VGA

Capacity: 250GB

Hard Drive Speed: 5400 RPM

Optical Drive Type: DVD Super-Multi Dual Layer

Supplemental Drive Type: Media Reader

Capacity: 5-in-1

Media Types: SecureDigital
Memory Stick
xD-Picture Card
Memory Stick PRO
Multi Media Card

Audio Description: Integrated Audio

Audio Chipset: Hi-Definition (HD) Audio Support

PS/2 Mouse Connectors: N/A

PS/2 Keyboard Connectors: N/A

Serial Communication Ports: N/A

Parallel Ports: N/A

USB Ports: 4

FireWire Ports: 1

Fast Infrared Ports (FIR): 1

LAN Ports: 1

Modem Ports: 1

Audio Out Jacks: 1

Line In Jacks: 1

Microphone Jacks: 1

VGA Ports: 1

S-Video Connectors: 1 - TV Out

DVI Video: N/A

Port Replicator/Connector: N/A

Communications Description: Integrated LAN
Integrated Modem
Integrated Wireless LAN

Interface Type: RJ-11 Phone Connector
RJ-45 Ethernet Connector
Acer InviLink 802.11b/g wireless LAN

Data Transfer Rate: 56Kbps Modem
54 Mbps
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN

Protocols: V.92
802.11b
802.11g

Width: 13.03"
331 mm

Height: 1.16" - 1.61", 29.7 - 41.08 mm

Depth: 248 mm, 9.76"

Weight: 5.29 lbs
2.4 kg

Mouse Type: Touch Pad

Buttons: 2

Battery Type: 6-Cell Lithium-ion

Battery Life: Up to 3 hours

Specification Notes:

PS. 32 bit OS will only see 3GB of ram.
64bit OS will see the full 4GB ram