ARMA2 running really slow... what's the main cause?

[Doc8892 10]

I recently bought ARMA II, and though my computer only just met some of the minimum requirements, I still figured it'd run okay. As it happens, it runs deathly slow. My (big) mistake. What I was wondering is this: what would be the cheapest update to the computer to make it run at a reasonable speed? Or is the computer just not up to the task?

Here's what I've got:

Dell Dimension 9100

CPU: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 3.00GHz

CPU Speed: 2.99 GHz

RAM: 1.2 GB

OS: Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition (Build Service Pack 32600)

Video Card: GeForce 8400 GS

Thanks much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[ceeeb 147]

Those parts are 4-5 years obsolete now, it's time to buy a new system.

You only part you could upgrade significantly would be the video card, but since ArmA2 is probably one of the most CPU demanding games available, it would be a waste of money (little to no improvement).

[Chill xl 10]

Sorry to say but your whole rig is the problem. The cpu was already old for atleast 5 years now. The gfx card was never meant to for any serious gaming when it was just released, let alone run one of the most demanding games of the moment.

I would say save all your money, dont buy any parts as it all is a waste on this rig and buy a proper modern gaming pc, untill then run on the lowest settings and lowest resolution possible and see what happens...

[Flash Thunder 10]

You're still running on an Pentium 4 processor.

Your entire rig is out of date by 5 years man.

You need 4GB RAM at least

ATi 4800 +

Intel i7 processor or AMD's equivalent.

even my rig has problems running arma 2 at 30FPS.

and I updated my rig 6 MONTHS AGO!!!!! :mad:

Next patch will do wonders though so me happy. :)

[Doc8892 10]

Thanks to all who responded. I'll be due to buy a new machine in maybe a year or two. I figure when I do, I'll dust off ARMA: II and play it. It'll probably work then.

[anguis 4]

In the meantime, buy OFP:GOTY.

[Aelin 10]

You're still running on an Pentium 4 processor.

Your entire rig is out of date by 5 years man.

You need 4GB RAM at least

ATi 4800 +

Intel i7 processor or AMD's equivalent.

even my rig has problems running arma 2 at 30FPS.

and I updated my rig 6 MONTHS AGO!!!!! :mad:

Next patch will do wonders though so me happy. :)

totally disagree

[fantsu 10]

Cheap way to play ArmA2:

1. Sell your copy (it is still worth quite much) and your computer (not much)

2. Buy XBOX360 from ebay. Use your money from ArmA2 copy and comp.

3. Wish that you would get ArmA2 for x-mas present WHEN it is released to XBOX360.

And btw. 4 gigs of memory isn't even close enough running ArmA2 in any way.

Many of us have 8 or so, and they still get 20 FPS sometimes.

:bounce3:

[Zipper5 74]

Do not do that ^ (can't tell if he's being sarcastic). BIS have still not confirmed a 360 version in the making, and it's unlikely that you are going to see one until later next year.

[11aTony 0]

Now just wait a second guys. On my Arma 2 box it says under min requirements:

CPU: Pentium 4 3.0

RAM: 1GB

GPU: 7800/ATI 1800

So he has minimum and I tried arma2 on much worse PC. It wasnt complitely playable but it ran OK. For that PC the main problem was 6600 not GT. Then I put my old 9800GTX in and arma2 runs great. Not that great to play when there are really meny AI but for normal "destroy the convoy" missions its more then enough.

So other specs of my old PC are:

AMD 3000+ @2.12

1.5GB of RAM

500 PSU

BUT, if you have cash just buy another PC.

[maddogx 13]

And btw. 4 gigs of memory isn't even close enough running ArmA2 in any way.

Many of us have 8 or so, and they still get 20 FPS sometimes.

Codswallop. 4GB is fine for playing Arma2. I would be surprised if upgrading to 8GB gave anyone a significant performance increase. Much more important than memory are the CPU and GPU.

[NeMeSiS 11]

And btw. 4 gigs of memory isn't even close enough running ArmA2 in any way.

Many of us have 8 or so, and they still get 20 FPS sometimes.

:bounce3:

Bullshit, i have pretty similiar specs to yours (Slightly better, but only 2gb ram) and i usually have double the FPS in your sig, played with most settings on high. (Though because my bottleneck is the CPU changing settings does not have a significant impact on performance in decent tests)

[Potatomasher 0]

Yeah i can confirm too that whoever says 4 gigs mem is minimum is bullshitting.

I played with only 2 gb mem when i bought A2 and didn't see any difference to 4gb mem that i now have. It clearly doesn't use much mem. You can put like 200gb mem if that would be possible and it wouldn't perform any better...

The things that helped was upgrading my old single core CPU to X2 CPU and disabling pagefile on OS drive.

things that matter:

1.CPU

2.GPU

3.Fast HDD

To OP:

If you can upgrade that slow as hell GPU to something like 8800GT or 9800GT you would get reasonable frames with normal details. Those GPU:s are old now and if you can find one somewhere i bet it wouldn't cost much.

Edited November 26, 2009 by Potatomasher

[Aelin 10]

[quote=Potatomasher;1498526

If you can upgrade that slow as hell GPU to something like 8800GT or 9800GT you would get reasonable frames with normal details.

with high details

[jw custom 56]

Now just wait a second guys. On my Arma 2 box it says under min requirements:

CPU: Pentium 4 3.0

RAM: 1GB

GPU: 7800/ATI 1800

So he has minimum and I tried arma2 on much worse PC. It wasnt complitely playable but it ran OK. For that PC the main problem was 6600 not GT. Then I put my old 9800GTX in and arma2 runs great. Not that great to play when there are really meny AI but for normal "destroy the convoy" missions its more then enough.

So other specs of my old PC are:

AMD 3000+ @2.12

1.5GB of RAM

500 PSU

BUT, if you have cash just buy another PC.

It says Dual Core!

[11aTony 0]

CPU: Dual Core Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz, Intel Core 2.0GHz, AMD Athlon 3200+ or faster. Thats what it says. Now AMD 3200+ runs on 2.2 (SINGLE CORE!).

[bangtail 0]

CPU: Dual Core Intel Pentium 4 3.0GHz, Intel Core 2.0GHz, AMD Athlon 3200+ or faster. Thats what it says. Now AMD 3200+ runs on 2.2 (SINGLE CORE!).

Minimum means just that. It means that it WILL play the game but probably NOT very well.

@ Fantsu : Inform yourself before spouting nonsense. 4GB+ (unless you run your games with several memory hungry apps in the background) will not help A2 in any way and has absolutely NOTHING to do with your frame rate.

[spoonytom69 10]

I have a dual core 2 ghz on 2 gb ram and radeon hd 4850

works at bout 30 fps for me on high settings unless theres a shit load going on

[[frl]myke 14]

@Spoonytom69

Welcome to the Forum. You might want to read the Forum rules to stay out of trouble.

In this case, this rule might be of interest for you:

§10) Do not dig up old threads

Threads older than 4 months should not be dug up unless something significant is being added. If in doubt as to what is "significant", contact a moderator and they will give you their opinion. As always old threads will remain open or be closed at the moderator's discretion. Digging up an old thread simply to ask "any news" is also not acceptable, PM the thread starter or mod leader to ask.

Besides that i wish you a nice stay.

[gL33k 0]

You're still running on an Pentium 4 processor.

Your entire rig is out of date by 5 years man.

You need 4GB RAM at least

ATi 4800 +

Intel i7 processor or AMD's equivalent.

even my rig has problems running arma 2 at 30FPS.

and I updated my rig 6 MONTHS AGO!!!!! :mad:

Next patch will do wonders though so me happy. :)

stop misleading him. AMD has no equivalent of intel i7 :D

[[frl]myke 14]

@gl33k

congrats, you also epicly failed to check the date of the posts.

Here is your price:

FPDR

[gL33k 0]

and 1 years and half later, amd still have not any CPU able to equal intel core i7 on this ground...