Re: Any tweaks to speed up games under XP?

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Chris H. (winxpnews_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 03/14/04 

Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 06:30:11 -0800

Okay, now I'm hoping I'm not seeing a pattern here: "installed under XP and
shortcuts created under 98SE"? You're not dual-booting on the same
partition are you? If you're using the same folder on a common partition
for program installation and playing the games on XP and Win98SE attempting
to use the same files - don't. Just that simple. 

-- 
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
"pjp" <pjp_is_located_at_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message 
news:e4Ix6WZCEHA.2576@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
> Yea, I agree worth trying but not hopefull as it's apparent also in Links
> 2003 and Flight Sim 2004 (but not as much, slower game) which were 
> installed
> under XP and shortcuts created under 98SE.
>
> "Anthony Procissi [MSFT]" <procissi@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:OY%23cidUCEHA.3344@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> Preaching to the choir... :)
>>
>> Barebones services allocate half as much memory (maybe more), knock the
> base
>> CPU usage down a few percent, and cut running processes down at least a
>> third... less processes, less threads, less time the CPU has to spend on
>> context switching / paging... it must help to some degree; especially if
>> you're on hardware close to the minimum system requirements... but as you
>> say, the gain is likely to be negligible and the headache might cost you
> far
>> more than a hardware upgrade would.
>>
>> On the original topic... I'm not sure how Need For Speed actually 
>> installs
>> itself, but... maybe reinstalling it on XP and seeing how it performs
> might
>> be worth a shot. The whole "install on 9x, copy a shortcut to XP and
> launch"
>> seems a little sketchy to me...
>>
>> -- 
>> -Anthony Procissi [MSFT]
>>  US-Application Experience & Compatibility
>>
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
> rights.
>> "Chris H." <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:eJwC4$TCEHA.624@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
>> > LOL!  That's good, except - just for my own curiosity - just how much
> does
>> > one gain from doing these things?  And who is around to ask question
> after
>> > question in the newsgroups in an attempt to solve an issue like when
>> > someone suddenly screams for help because can't install anything?  They
>> > turned off Cryptographic Services because it was "recommended" and have
>> > forgotten or don't remember to turn it back on.
>> >
>> > To me, this is like people who over-clock hardware for what(?), rights
> to
>> > saying they're burning up their CPU, RAM or graphics card?  How does 
>> > one
>> > really tell that much "||" difference in speed, compared to that "| |"
>> > much in milliseconds?  And for what(?) to play online games where it is
>> > the speed of the Internet, not how fast the machine will perform 
>> > certain
>> > functions?
>> >
>> > And I thought college basketball was the only March Madness.  8-)
>> > -- 
>> > Chris H.
>> > Microsoft Windows MVP
>> > Associate Expert
>> > Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >
>> > "Anthony Procissi [MSFT]" <procissi@online.microsoft.com> wrote in
> message
>> > news:%23v%23ND5TCEHA.2304@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
>> >>I can't believe I'm going to dispute a statement made by the all 
>> >>knowing
>> >>Jimmy S... I might as well go after Chris H! :)  However, the "Disable
>> >>All" button in MSConfig - Services will leave "Essential Services"
>> >>enabled.
>> >>
>> >> You could use the Disable All button, reboot and run XP.
>> >>
>> >> Please note: I have test machines for such things, and do not 
>> >> recommend
>> >> trying this at home. I did so because if the Disable All button caused
>> >> Windows to no longer operate we would need to address that.
>> >>
>> >> Thanks,
>> >>
>> >> -- 
>> >> -Anthony Procissi [MSFT]
>> >> US-Application Experience & Compatibility
>> >>
>> >> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
>> >> rights.
>> >> "Jimmy S." <Private> wrote in message
>> >> news:ePp0rfSCEHA.596@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
>> >>> Hi pjp,
>> >>>
>> >>> I echo Chris's caution.  You should upgrade to a P4 instead of
> tweaking.
>> >>> You found one good trick already though, (run high) here's some
> more...
>> >>>
>> >>> USE THE FOLLOWING INFO AT YOUR OWN RISK!
>> >>>
>> >>> I don't really want to provide a tweaking guide, however it's
>> >>> clear that there's a demand, so I'll share some tricks I've used
>> >>> as long as you promise to set a restore point right now. Is that
>> >>> a fair deal? ;-)  Here's how to use Windows XP System Restore:
>> >>>
> http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/using/howto/gethelp/systemrestore.asp
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> I use these methods only for special games such as grudge matches.
>> >>>
>> >>> A:  Setup Hardware Profile for Gaming
>> >>>    Control Panel / System
>> >>>        Hardware Tab / Hardware Profiles button
>> >>>            Copy Profile 1 and rename it Gaming Profile
>> >>>                Leave Profile 1 at the top of the list
>> >>>                    Set to Select the first profile in 5 seconds
>> >>>
>> >>> B:  Disable Services for Gaming.
>> >>>    Control Panel / Administrative Tools / Services
>> >>>        For each service listed below do the following:
>> >>>            Right Click / Properties / Log On Tab
>> >>>                Click on Gaming Profile / click Disable Button
>> >>>                    Click Apply but Do NOT disable for Profile 1
>> >>>
>> >>> List of Services:  Alerter / Automatic Updates / Computer Browser
>> >>> Cryptographic Services (Will cause "Logo" Errors when installing SP1
> or
>> >>> DX9)
>> >>> Fast User Switching Compatibility / Help and Support / Messenger
>> >>> Print Spooler / Remote Registry / Secondary Logon (Run as... will not
>> >>> function)
>> >>> System Restore Service / Task Scheduler / Terminal Services / Themes
>> >>> Upload Manager / VMWare Authorization Service (These services only
>> >>> appear if
>> >>> you use VM Ware) / VMWare DHCP Service  " " / VMWare NAT Service   " 
>> >>> "
>> >>> Windows Image Acquisition (I won't be scanning while playing) /
> Windows
>> >>> Time.
>> >>>
>> >>> * You cannot expect to install games and use windows everyday with 
>> >>> the
>> >>> above
>> >>>    services disabled.  Those are just safe services to disable 
>> >>> *WHILE*
>> >>> you're in
>> >>>    a game.  After the games are over, reboot and use the original
>> >>> Profile 1 again.
>> >>>
>> >>> C:  Disable Page File
>> >>>    Since I have 512 MB Ram I find it faster to use RAM than to page 
>> >>> to
>> >>> the HD.
>> >>>        Control Panel / System / Advanced / Performance Settings /
>> >>> Advanced Tab
>> >>>            Virtual Memory Change / Select each drive / click No 
>> >>> Paging
>> >>> file and
>> >>>                click SET.  ****If you do not click Set it will not
>> >>> accept your change.
>> >>>
>> >>> *  Once you're finished your games turn back on the System Managed
> page
>> >>> file!
>> >>>
>> >>> D:  Use XP's Firewall Instead of 3rd Party Firewalls
>> >>>    We've already disabled your firewall (Norton's, Zone Alarm, etc.)
> by
>> >>> disabling
>> >>>    Startup programs in step D.  Check your services using the method
> in
>> >>> step A to
>> >>>    see if the firewall or antivirus program has services you should
>> >>> disable, i.e. Zone
>> >>>    Alarm installs a True Vector service you can disable for the 
>> >>> Gaming
>> >>> Profile.
>> >>>
>> >>> E:  Improve Framerates by Lowering Game Eyecandy and Sound
>> >>>    I found that by setting my resolution in Halo to 800x600, and
>> >>> lowering the
>> >>>    visual effects, I was able to improve my framerate from 24 to 52
> FPS!
>> >>> :-)
>> >>>    This is more improvement than any of the other tweaks provided.
>> >>>    Sound is something that you don't need.  Only keep sound settings
>> >>> that will
>> >>>    help keep you alive, for example to hear a tank rumbling near you.
>> >>> Music and
>> >>>    the sound effects made when you fire your weapons are expensive 
>> >>> ear
>> >>> candy.
>> >>>
>> >>> F:  Set Performance Options for Best Performance
>> >>>    Control Panel / System / Advanced / Settings / Visual Effects
>> >>>        Adjust for best performance (remember to change it back after
>> >>> your games).
>> >>>
>> >>> G:  Disable Startup Programs
>> >>>    Start / Run / type msconfig / Startup Tab / Click Disable all
> button.
>> >>>    You will be prompted to restart, when it restarts you'll have 5
>> >>> seconds to pick
>> >>>    Gaming Profile or it will default to Profile 1 instead.
>> >>>
>> >>> WARNING - DO NOT CLICK THE SERVICES / DISABLE ALL BUTTON!
>> >>> *Never touch the Services Tab in msconfig! It allows you to disable
> ALL
>> >>> services
>> >>> for ALL profiles with the click of one button and Windows won't 
>> >>> startu
> p
>> >>> again!!!
>> >>>
>> >>> Okay, so now I've shared some of the tweaks I've used on my own
> system.
>> >>> I
>> >>> hope this information will be helpful, and if used properly help you
> pwn
>> >>> your opps!
>> >>>
>> >>> -- 
>> >>> Cheers,                                 Windows XP MVP Shell / User
>> >>> Jimmy S.
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com
>> >>>
>> >>> Game FAQs: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=FH;[LN];gms
>> >>> Visit my Zone.com / Gaming Helpsite: http://nibblesnbits.tk or Call /
>> >>> Contact
>> >>> MS Support at:
>> >>> http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=sz;en-us;top
>> >>> My advice is donated "AS IS" without warranty;  nor do I confer any
>> >>> rights.
>> >>> _________________________________________________________
>> >>>
>> >>> "Chris H." <winxpnews@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> >>> news:eZBPqzRCEHA.3348@TK2MSFTNGP11.phx.gbl...
>> >>> | Have you tried, instead of "tweaking" what you might think is
>> >>> necessary in
>> >>> | Services, to run the default?  Indexing, for instance, when turned
> off
>> >>> will
>> >>> | actually stop some games in their tracks.  It is there for a
> purpose,
>> >>> and
>> >>> | that is to make things run smoother and faster.  There are a couple
>> >>> web
>> >>> | sites and a PC magazine article which make recommendations to 
>> >>> "speed
>> >>> up" XP
>> >>> | for gaming, but they don't tell the consequences - like turning off
>> >>> | Cryptographic Services.
>> >>> | -- 
>> >>> | Chris H.
>> >>> | Microsoft Windows MVP
>> >>> | Associate Expert
>> >>> | Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
>> >>> |
>> >>> | "pjp" <pjp_is_located_at_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
>> >>> | news:u3fQ0uRCEHA.3024@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> >>> | > XP Pro with integrated sp1 plus all criticals from Update site
>> >>> applied.
>> >>> | > Latest VIA 4-in-1;s applied as first install after OS up and
> going.
>> >>> | > DirectX9.0b, passes all DXDiag tests and there's "No Problem ..."
>> >>> all
>> >>> | > around.
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > Tyan Trinity 400 S1854 motherboard
>> >>> | > PIII at 733Mz (to spec)
>> >>> | > 512 megs ram running at 133mz fsb (to spec)
>> >>> | > Radeon 64 DDR VIVO (7200)
>> >>> | > Xpert98 (2nd display multi-monitor)
>> >>> | > two wd hd's, 15 & 40 gigs with plenty free space on each
>> >>> | > Creative SB-PCI128 sound card
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > 2 Logitech Rumblepads
>> >>> | > 2 Logitch wheels (MOMO Force & Racing)
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > Mustek flatbed scanner "Twain", (lpt port pass thru model)
>> >>> | > Creative Webcam (also appears as a Twain scanner)
>> >>> | > Fuji digital camera as webcam or Mass Storage Device
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > 3 printers, 2 Epson inkjets and an old Canon laser
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > Logitech mouse
>> >>> | > Wacom pressure sensitive tablet
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > Ethernet card connected to four other older 98SE pc's in-house
>> >>> (TCP/IP and
>> >>> | > Netbuie as protocols, including XP)
>> >>> | > USR Robotics 56K external modem
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > 2 self-powered external four port USB hubs for all the USB
> devices.
>> >>> Does
>> >>> | > provide 500Ma spec to every port simultaneously, e.g. no attached
>> >>> device
>> >>> | > shows any kind of  problem in use..
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > The hardware seems stable an there was/is specific XP drivers for
> it
>> >>> all
>> >>> | > (I
>> >>> | > was surprised I found scanner driver). The ethernet is up and
>> >>> running with
>> >>> | > printers and folders being shared as expected from both sides. I
>> >>> even
>> >>> | > managed to get the Guest account to be able to use a proxy server
> on
>> >>> one
>> >>> | > of
>> >>> | > the other pc's to connect to the net after giving up in
> frustration
>> >>> at
>> >>> | > it's
>> >>> | > refusal to allow use of the dialup modem connection even though
> it's
>> >>> | > specified as "shared by all" by the "Admin" account that set it 
>> >>> up
>> >>> (Users
>> >>> | > are ok and can use it). The only problem hardware wise is, I 
>> >>> can't
>> >>> get the
>> >>> | > back speakers working off the sound card as there appears to be
> only
>> >>> XP's
>> >>> | > built-in support for the card.
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > This is the one thing I've found really makes a difference for
> games
>> >>> is,
>> >>> | > use
>> >>> | > batch files to start the game so you can elevate it's priority,
> e.g.
>> >>> "cmd
>> >>> | > /c
>> >>> | > start /High LinksLauncher.exe" is noticably faster (as I'd
> expect).
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > I feel the basic problem is background "tasks" as Performance
> under
>> >>> | > Ctrl-Alt-Del shows cpu bouncing from 2 to 13% continually (but
>> >>> randomly in
>> >>> | > magnitude). I've tried to determine exactly what all these 
>> >>> various
>> >>> | > services
>> >>> | > do but when you try to research them it seems like the answer
>> >>> becomes a
>> >>> | > circular reference and it's never really explained. In 
>> >>> particular,
>> >>> it's
>> >>> | > undetermined what's going on in the background regarding the
>> >>> ethernet.
>> >>> | > There
>> >>> | > seems to be a number of various services that might be doing some
>> >>> type of
>> >>> | > "polling" for shares or something but as they're not really
>> >>> documented I
>> >>> | > have no idea what one's I can turn off etc. at no risk to
> basically
>> >>> | > mucking
>> >>> | > up what works now (the Guest account can connect to web using a
>> >>> Proxy
>> >>> | > server
>> >>> | > running on one of the other pc's as it "refused" anything to do
> with
>> >>> the
>> >>> | > dialup miodem connection). Basically, I'm very wary of blindly
>> >>> changing
>> >>> | > things under any version of Windows because as often as not
>> >>> "un-changing"
>> >>> | > it
>> >>> | > doesn't bring the system back to what it was (e.g. unknown
>> >>> inadvertant
>> >>> | > consequences).
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > For example, I have no idea what the "Alerter" service REALLY
> does,
>> >>> what
>> >>> | > "other features" absolutely require it to be running in order to
>> >>> function
>> >>> | > correctly nor what these "other services" also do. Ask help for
>> >>> "them" and
>> >>> | > you get another reference etc. which eventually seems to lead
>> >>> no-where
>> >>> | > usefull.
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > I have turned off the obvious, e.g. disk performance monitoring
>> >>> service,
>> >>> | > indexing and the like.
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > As usually MS's help isn't helpfull, just frustrating.
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | > "Chris Catt" <notknown@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
>> >>> | > news:uhM4JnPCEHA.712@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> >>> | >> Hi, all depends upon your hardware specs, we really need to know
>> >>> your
>> >>> | >> hardware specs before we can give you advice. What we need are
>> >>> cpu -
>> >>> | >> type/speed. motherboard, ram - amount/type, video card. If you
> have
>> >>> any
>> >>> | >> problems finding this out then here
>> >>> | > http://www.aida32.hu/aida32-download.php
>> >>> | >> is a good tool to use. Suffice to say that XP hardware
> requirements
>> >>> are
>> >>> | > much
>> >>> | >> higher than those of win98, therefore if you've not much ram, 
>> >>> say
>> >>> 128mbs,
>> >>> | > XP
>> >>> | >> will really need twice that before you get reasonable game
>> >>> performance. I
>> >>> | >> expect Jimmy S will have more to say on this, over to you Jimmy
> :-)
>> >>> | >> Chris C
>> >>> | >> Chris
>> >>> | >> "pjp" <pjp_is_located_at_@_hotmail_._com> wrote in message
>> >>> | >> news:OiF0SEHCEHA.2308@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
>> >>> | >> > Just installed XP Pro as dual-boot with existing 98SE.
>> >>> | >> >
>> >>> | >> > Same game (NFS:U) running from same folder (e.g. just created
> new
>> >>> | > shortcut
>> >>> | >> > under XP) is basically unplayable under XP it's running so 
>> >>> slow
>> >>> (slow
>> >>> | >> > motion) at 640x480 where-as under 98SE I can run it acceptably
> at
>> >>> | >> 1024x768.
>> >>> | >> > All other settings the same including under Properties DirectX
>> >>> | >> > settings.
>> >>> | >> > Links 2003 and Flight Sim 2004 seem the same but not so
>> >>> exaggerated,
>> >>> | >> > probably because they're not high speed "action" type games.
>> >>> | >> >
>> >>> | >> > Is this typical? I'm running same revision drivers for the
>> >>> Radeon, e.g.
>> >>> | >> Cat
>> >>> | >> > 4.3.
>> >>> | >> >
>> >>> | >> > I'm hoping it's all the crap running in the background so
>> >>> wondering if
>> >>> | >> > there's any site(s) document what all that crap actually does
> as
>> >>> MS's
>> >>> | > help
>> >>> | >> > doesn't even try to explain what they actually "do" in most
>> >>> cases.
>> >>> | >> >
>> >>> | >> >
>> >>> | >>
>> >>> | >>
>> >>> | >
>> >>> | >
>> >>> |
>> >>> |
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>
>
Quantcast