Guild wars lags for me... check my system specs

Koda

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

My computer is a Gateway
windows xp service pack 2
Pentium 4 Intel
1.60 GHz
256 MB of RAM
18.6 gb ahrddrive, 14.6 used

I use a NVIDIA GeForce2 MX 100/200
32 mb

I tend to lag alot in town, often taking minutes to even turn around.
My setting are set at lowest in GW. yet i still lag, and it takes 4 minutes to change areas. =\

Please tell me if I can do anything to make it run faster, or what I need to upgrade hardware/software.

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

the card is way below minimum spec and this game has a recommended 512mb of ram and can easily use 1 gig of it

Koda

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

so what do I do ~.~

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Koda
so what do I do ~.~
to be honest it depends on your budget

also are you on dialup?

the reason i ask is that the display by itself will not account for minutes or even seconds of delay on the screen

Koda

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

im on yahoo dsl i have about 700$ saved from my job

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Koda
im on yahoo dsl i have about 700$ saved from my job
the current best bang for buck in video cards is the nvidia 6600GT by far at around 200 dollars
optional choices exist that will give good results go for 75-125 dollars

make sure that your computer can take the additional ram and the correct size and type 512 can be had for about 45-60 and get a name brand as that doesnt cost much if any extra

your hard drive at that size must be at least 4 years old and fom my experience building them it is time for replacement and transfering your files to a safer pace

you can get 80-120 gigabyte drives for 100 or less

power supply will need to be upgraded for a decent video card as well

with 700 dollars you might check out the lower priced pcs which will give better overall performance and come with a full warranty

just be sure whatever video card is in it is fully direct x 9 COMPLIANT and you should be very happy with it

Koda

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: May 2005

new video card will stop my lag?

Loviatar

Underworld Spelunker

Join Date: Feb 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by Koda
new video card will stop my lag?
i have no way of knowing but i think it is something else than just the video card as that only is used for the display and would not cause any real delay

the long time waiting is data being transfered

can you tell if your hard drive is busy during these delays and how long has it been since your hard drive was defragmented?

a nearly full drive that is heavily fragmented can really slow things down as well

edit

got to go