Why is Bioshock so slow?

[Yar Jar Rar]

I have a new Windows Vista computer and I can run Half Life 2 on the best resolution with just a little bit of lag, but today when I tried to play Bioshock on the worst resolution with all the graphics on the lowest settings, it runs really lagy. Why is that, and how can I fix it?

 

[KillerFrogX111]

first of all, this is the half life 2 section man[hack]. second of all, go buy it for 360

 

[Llama]

Well what are your system specs?

 

[kacation_man]

system spects would help indeed, i know, that if your running an AMD duel core, you have to run some "amd multicore" fix or something.. it should come with it, I believe the demo did.

Also, while where on Bioshock questions, and seeing as i had actually come in to the half life 2 dot net forums to ask this question regarding Bioshock, here it goes: I know that Bioshock retail copy only alows you to install the game on like.. i think its 5 differnt systems, and it can only be installed on one systems twice ( or maybe I've got my numbers mixed, either way you get the idea ), Is this an issue with the steam version? Being some one who is some what of a( and i can imagine a lot of you here at the forums are ) pc "modders" who are always upgrade their pcs. I have reinstalled xp severals times due to upgrades, twice in less then a week once i belive too. I can see how this limited install would be a huge problem for me, is some thing I will need to worry about if i download it via steam?

 

[Yar Jar Rar]

You mean like how much RAM I have, or something?

 

[Llama]

Ram, type of graphics card, the CPU.

 

[Yar Jar Rar]

Well, it has 894 MB of RAM. The processor is "AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 3800+ 2.00 GHz"

 

[Llama]

hmm. What's the graphics card like?

from those specs you gave me, it seems quite an old-ish system. Bioshock is a very demanding game, and windows Vista takes a lot of memory. Try killing all the un needed things running in the background before you run it.

 

[Yar Jar Rar]

By background things, do you mean like open folders and such?
And how do I find the information on the graphics card?

 

[AJ Rimmer]

Bioshock has higher system requirements than HL2. Your computer isn't good enough to run Bioshock well. Case solved

Oh, and moved.

 

[Kyorisu]

system spects would help indeed, i know, that if your running an AMD duel core, you have to run some "amd multicore" fix or something.. it should come with it, I believe the demo did.

Also, while where on Bioshock questions, and seeing as i had actually come in to the half life 2 dot net forums to ask this question regarding Bioshock, here it goes: I know that Bioshock retail copy only alows you to install the game on like.. i think its 5 differnt systems, and it can only be installed on one systems twice ( or maybe I've got my numbers mixed, either way you get the idea ), Is this an issue with the steam version? Being some one who is some what of a( and i can imagine a lot of you here at the forums are ) pc "modders" who are always upgrade their pcs. I have reinstalled xp severals times due to upgrades, twice in less then a week once i belive too. I can see how this limited install would be a huge problem for me, is some thing I will need to worry about if i download it via steam?

Yes you would the steam version contains SecuROM and the activation limits. Wait for either the revoke tool (free up activations) or for SecuROM to be removed. Otherwise there are always other means to fixing the problem.

 

[phantomdesign]

Start > Run > "DxDiag" + Enter > Display
(at least that works in XP)

Look in the "Device" section for the info; for example, my current system has . . . .

name: NVIDIA Geforce 6200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: Geforce 6200
Approx. Total Memory: 256 MB

Ram might be a bottleneck (the limiting factor); especially considering that Vista by default uses ridiculous amounts of memory (seem to remember someone showing me it was around 700-800mb). The demo barely ran on my computer with shitty framerates, but my computer is also rather old (except the video card, which was a mere temporary purchase).


I am curious how it will run on my new over-clocked Quad Q6600 (@3.5ghz), 4GB DDR2, NVIDIA 8800GTS (@690mhz) system.

 

[phantomdesign]

The activation limits piss me off; the only people who get ahead are those who pirate the game; as they don't have to deal with such annoying schemes. It's not uncommon that I'll purchase a game, leave it boxed, and use "alternative methods" to play the game due to outrageous activation schemes; or to avoid the need to have the CD/DVD in my computer.

 

[Kyorisu]

I mean using a crack.

 

[giant384]

by the look of your ram it looks like you have an integrated card or an nvidia card that uses Turbocache. also if your resolution is to low then it wont use all of the gpus power instead it will use the cpu mostly; bioshock is a very cpu intensive game so it needs all the power it can get.

 

[Tyguy]

turn off vertical sync for starters

 

[Kitfox]

I'm running windows Vista.

I have a Core 2 Duo T5250
A Geforce 8400M GS
2047 DDR2

The demo runs slow on all settings ): help

 

[Kyorisu]

I'm running windows Vista.

I have a Core 2 Duo T5250
A Geforce 8400M GS
2047 DDR2

The demo runs slow on all settings ): help

Theres your problem.

 

[Llama]

I'm running windows Vista.

I have a Core 2 Duo T5250
A Geforce 8400M GS
2047 DDR2

The demo runs slow on all settings ): help

Naff CPU, naff GPU.

Get a 8800 GTS (8600 if you are on a very thin breadline)

and get at least a Core 2 Duo E6750

 

[giant384]

Naff CPU, naff GPU.

Get a 8800 GTS (8600 if you are on a very thin breadline)

and get at least a Core 2 Duo E6750

do you even understand his specs????

its a laptop for those who dont know so he cant upgrade.

 

[xvillanx]

Really? i got a 8800 GTS,Duel core processor and 2gb of ram.And i get no lag at all, maby you need a better computer or get a 360.

 

[kacation_man]

I dont understand why the steam verstion has the limitations on it... i thought this was why steam was created, to help prevent pirating and not ever being able to lose the game ( short of the account name a password ), so i fail to understand why the steam version has limitations on it, it can only be registered to one user, why limit any more?

 

[giant384]

I dont understand why the steam verstion has the limitations on it... i thought this was why steam was created, to help prevent pirating and not ever being able to lose the game ( short of the account name a password ), so i fail to understand why the steam version has limitations on it, it can only be registered to one user, why limit any more?

wtf?

steam version and the retail version don't work the same way. with the retail version you have Securerom installed which is used for activation and i believe you can only active your game up to 5 times (every install) with steam you can install in other words there is no limitations like you said,but you can only use it with your steam account and it can only be used by one person at a time to play the game.

Also steam is the one of the best anit-pirating tool so i dont know where you were going with that. also its great so you dont have to have those pesky cds around to install it.

 

[kacation_man]

i know this... but the steam copy does come with the secuRom with it

 

[DEATHMASTER]

Can't wait for the patch though, ever since I got my new card the game crashes randomly.

 

[Xendance]

Also steam is the one of the best anit-pirating tool so i dont know where you were going with that. also its great so you dont have to have those pesky cds around to install it.

I never really understand what people mean by how Steam is the best anti pirating tool. I saw my friend play on a cracked version of Counter-Strike the other week... how does Steam prevent this?

It confuses me everytime.

 

[Ravioli]

I never really understand what people mean by how Steam is the best anti pirating tool. I saw my friend play on a cracked version of Counter-Strike the other week... how does Steam prevent this?

It confuses me everytime.

He plays counter-strike without VAC support...which practically means that the gameplay will be shit and he will play with 10 year olds...

 

[Krynn72]

I never really understand what people mean by how Steam is the best anti pirating tool. I saw my friend play on a cracked version of Counter-Strike the other week... how does Steam prevent this?

It confuses me everytime.

As far as I know, he can only play on servers running the cracked version too, so legit players always play with legit players.

 

[Tarkus]

Hey Krynn, just so you know, I've also clicked your sig's link

 

[Uriel]

Can't wait for the patch though, ever since I got my new card the game crashes randomly.

Valve has released more patches for TF2 just during the playable beta stage than Bioshock will have it's entire period of existence.

 

[Acepilotf14]

Were actually lucky. I read the Microsoft EULA, and it says I can only install one copy of Halo on one computer. If they found out I have it on two computers, I can get my license revoked. D:! Oh shi-

 

[soulslicer]

does forced AA work for bioshick?

 

[whyboysfail]

Bio shock playing well on ati

hey i have 3.2 ghz ht processor overclocked 2gb ram ddr2 + hd 2400 pro graphics card with 512mb memory .i m playing well bioshock at highest setting except resolution 640 X 480.and all settings are high and i m playing well game on my rig.

 

[swiss]

Im having slow play on bioshock too (not to mention corrupt graphics).
My laptop is a dual core T7300 @2 Ghz, 2Gb Ram and a ATI radeon hd2600 graphics card.
Pretty good specs - but on high settings bioshock is slow. Ok on medium though.

 

[Herr Mike]

For the original poster, I'd recommend a RAM upgrade.

It might be a lamish video card, I'm no expert on them. I have settings maxed on mine, and it runs great. I just have a 3.0 GHz P4 HT with 2GB RAM @533 MHz. My video card is a nVidia 256 MB 8600 XFX GeForce. Only $130 at Tigerdirect. $100 if you subtract the advertised rebate, but I never got any paperwork for it and haven't called about it yet.