What a Dilemma

[Houndstone Hawk]

Originally Posted by squidgyb

without much else to go on, I'd say the weak point is the CPU/OS - depending on your motherboard/power supply the CPU is ripe for overclocking, which would undoubtedly help - 3-3.2GHz should be doable with stock cooling, 3.6 and up to possibly 4GHz with decent cooling. That might not be your thing though - but I'm surprised you're having problems with graphical effects, considering you're running a GTX 580; I'm deducing that the CPU must be chocking trying to feed the GPU with the information it needs.

Windows 7 would be a viable upgrade too - I'd advise anyone to do that upgrade if they have the cash to spare.

e: hah, nanja'd

OMG! Only had the sodding thing 18 months ago lol. Thanks for your advice. I would go down that road, it's just the know how that's against me. I wouldn't have a clue how to o/c anything & am not sure even how to find the spec of my motherboard lol. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

*Edit* M/Board is a P5QC & P/Supply 850W if any help.