Hardware or Software??

[Steel]

In one go I installed Windows 7 64Bit (used to have Win XP 32Bit), 4GB Corsair RAM (used to have 2GB) & a 4870 1GB graphics card (used to have a 3850). Before the changes I was playing Football Manager 2006 with no concerns then after the changes the match highlights became stuttery. I have now tried FM 08 and have the same problem. I have also started playing Stalker SoC and there is quite a bit of screen tearing going on. I am aware that the in game V-Sync is broken but I have V-Sync always on in ATi Tray Tools but there is still screen tearing.

My question is shall I try some more games or do you think the changes I have made may be causing these problems. I'm a bit disappointed at the minute as I have spent quite a bit of money on these upgrades and things aren't going to plan.

Cheers for any advice.

[matty-hodgson]

have you installed all the latest ATi drivers?

[Steel]

Yes, everything is up to date.

[Syllopsium]

You're changing too many things at once.

It's unlikely to be the extra RAM, which leaves Windows 7, the 4870 and the ATI drivers. ATI are currently having a few teething problems with the 5xxx cards and Windows 7, but it looks like 4xxx cards are somewhat better.

First : google to see if anyone else has seen the issue. It may save you a lot of time.

Update your sound drivers if you haven't already, and try disabling sound. If that fails, stick back in your old graphics card. If that still fails, try the Vista graphics drivers in Windows 7 for your 4870, then try taking out your RAM.

At that stage you're probably going to have to re-install XP and change things incrementally to see how things change. First XP and old graphics card, then new graphics card. You could do that first, but it's probably more hassle for you.

PK

[Steel]

Tried a couple more games before doing any hardware/driver changes.

Half Life 2 runs ok but only with V-Sync enabled. GTR Evo runs ok. Football Manager still puzzling me though, can't seem to get an answer from the SI forums.

Can sound affect stuttering? I do get the odd static 'click' noise but I had this before I made the above changes. I've been on the ASUS website for my mobo and there are 3 updates available, 1 each for Audio, LAN & Chipset.

[Phage]

My guess is the software. Those are all quite old games.
Did you change the monitor ?
We had a problem with FIFA 06 on my new system as it simply wasn't capable of the new resolution. Max video was 1280x1024, and the new monitor is 1920x1080. Took quite some fiddling with settings to get it to work. (FIFA 09 works fine out of the box.)
Is it possible that your system is having problems trying to make an old game play on a higher res ?

[Steel]

Still have the same monitor - a 20" Samsung 2032BW with a native res of 1680*1050. I was recommended to buy the 4870 as it would be best suited to my monitor.

[Phage]

The 4870 is a good choice. No problem there.
FIFA 06 played OK on that res previously ?