PC game problem, need some PC Gurus

[ApathyTrigger]

Recently I purchased SWAT 4 for the PC, I had checked my system via systemrequirementslab.com and the test came back saying my computer was beyond the recommended specs. However when I click to start the game it takes a good 10-15 mins just to start. Then another 2 or 3 once I click on Career, and finally the mission loading time is just ridiculous. I have to assume this means something isn't up to par on my pc that wasn't checked. So here's my specs hopefully someone can tell me the problem. Thanks

Intel Celeron D 3.20 GHz
1022 MB RAM
Directx 9
NVDIA GeForce 7300 GT 512 MB
31 GB disk space (With 14 GB free)
Windows XP

 

[ChocoFace]

why do you have so little disk space?

 

[Darktau]

I don't think you have enough disk space (or your disk is very slow) I would recommend getting a new Hard drive (bigger) or cleaning up your current one with Microsoft's disk cleanup tool and Auslogics Disk Defrag.

EDIT: What country are you from, I could get the URL of a cheap and cheerful hard drive

 

[xHipaboo420x]

Yeah, you need more hard disk space. On my old computer I had like 1GB of space left, and most games just chugged horribly.

 

[SextusMaximus]

I don't think you have enough disk space (or your disk is very slow) I would recommend getting a new Hard drive (bigger) or cleaning up your current one with Microsoft's disk cleanup tool and Auslogics Disk Defrag.

EDIT: What country are you from, I could get the URL of a cheap and cheerful hard drive

While I agree with this, SWAT 4 isn't a very demanding game at all, and your system specs easily come within the minimum.

 

[cyber_andyy]

New HDD. I'm kinda gob smacked you have such a small one...

 

[Darktau]

I don't think you have enough disk space (or your disk is very slow) I would recommend getting a new Hard drive (bigger) or cleaning up your current one with Microsoft's disk cleanup tool and Auslogics Disk Defrag.

EDIT: What country are you from, I could get the URL of a cheap and cheerful hard drive

While I agree with this, SWAT 4 isn't a very demanding game at all, and your system specs easily come within the minimum.

Windows, as far as an operating systems goes, tends to die when you get to lower amounts of hard drive space, or the outer ring of your hard disk (where the speed of the disk is lower). I had a problem like this, thinking it was the CPU, but I got a new hard drive just in case, and voila, speedy PC again .

 

[SextusMaximus]

I don't think you have enough disk space (or your disk is very slow) I would recommend getting a new Hard drive (bigger) or cleaning up your current one with Microsoft's disk cleanup tool and Auslogics Disk Defrag.

EDIT: What country are you from, I could get the URL of a cheap and cheerful hard drive

While I agree with this, SWAT 4 isn't a very demanding game at all, and your system specs easily come within the minimum.

Windows, as far as an operating systems goes, tends to die when you get to lower amounts of hard drive space, or the outer ring of your hard disk (where the speed of the disk is lower). I had a problem like this, thinking it was the CPU, but I got a new hard drive just in case, and voila, speedy PC again .

Hey, I'm running with 17GB out of my 228GB hard drive, although the computer is partitioned (damn hewlett packard), so I guess that more than makes up for it.

I'm not too hardware friendly, so I don't know much about these things...

 

[Booze Zombie]

Hard drive... you really need a new one, also, four GB of RAM would be of assistance to any gamer.

Both are relativly inexpensive upgrades for a PC.

 

[iTeamKill]

Windows uses hard drive space as a way to pre-cache or what ever the term, stuff on to the hard drive to simulate the way RAM works. I also just assumed you had xp. Vista does it too, but thats what I was remembering at the time... More drive space would help significantly.

New egg has some massive drives dirt cheap. just make sure you buy one with the same connectors as your computer has. I assume IDE but assumptions are never good so verify it.

If my above statement is wrong... I'm an engineer by profession, not geek squad.

 

[e2density]

You also have a single core processor. That just won't do with today's games. And get a better graphics card. I'd recommend you just buy a new PC, but not from Dell or anything, custom build it.

 

[Abedeus]

Hard drive... you really need a new one, also, four GB of RAM would be of assistance to any gamer.

Both are relativly inexpensive upgrades for a PC.

With a Pentium D and 7300GT (both shitty), even 8GB of RAM wouldn't help him.

 

[Katana314]

Let's keep in mind SWAT 4 is a kind of older game. It's really only helpful if you guys find one piece of hardware that would be the main bottleneck.

 

[wordsmith]

Your main bottleneck is (as people have said) your hard drive. You can pick up a terabyte HD for about £70, 1000GB.

7 series GPU... I'd change that as soon as you've got the cash, but you don't need a new one to play your game.

Every gamer could always do with more RAM, but again, not particularly needed at the moment.

... In fact, you know what, I wouldn't usually say it, but I think you're due a new rig. I wouldn't say it because I know a new rig is a serious dent in the wallet, and most of the time you can get by on simple upgrades, but a single core CPU and a 7 series GPU says that your machine is at least 3 years old, which is my personal boundary for thinking about replacing it.

If you need help choosing parts, yell me.

OT: New HD is the way to go I think. You can pick up something larger than a 31GB for virtually pocket change. Not that I'm suggesting this one in particular, but a quick look at amazon.co.uk gave me a 60GB Maxtor Hard Drive [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxtor-DiamondMax-Plus-D740X-internal/dp/B000122RLM/ref=sr_1_103?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262876446&sr=1-103] for £21... Can't say fairer than that really?

 

[curryinc]

is 14gb of free space really considered too low?

 

[Darktau]

OT: New HD is the way to go I think. You can pick up something larger than a 31GB for virtually pocket change. Not that I'm suggesting this one in particular, but a quick look at amazon.co.uk gave me a 60GB Maxtor Hard Drive [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maxtor-DiamondMax-Plus-D740X-internal/dp/B000122RLM/ref=sr_1_103?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262876446&sr=1-103] for £21... Can't say fairer than that really?

Or a 180GB for £30

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/prods/Components/HardDrives-Internal/SATAUpTo200GB/Samsung/HD161GJ.html

 

[Darktau]

is 14gb of free space really considered too low?

Yes, Your computer will start to struggle with "Virtual Memory" which is when the computer uses hard drive space as RAM, and other processes like temporary files etc., having about 25GB+ free will keep everything running smoothly.

 

[Booze Zombie]

is 14gb of free space really considered too low?

On a relativly modern PC?
Yes.

For instance, I've got a PC that's roughly a year old, it has 63.6 GB used and 402 GB free.
It only cost me around 800 quid (back then) and it's still running most modern games perfectly fine.

If my slightly dusty rig can run most games and your rig can't, you need an upgrade.