Well I'm starting this thread because ozzie thinks that ram optimizers are the way to go when u want performance, I said it in his thread and I'll say it here:
Anyone that understands the least about how ram works will tell u that ram optimizer tools are bs.
Yes, they free ram (or they say they do in their graph), but at what cost?
The best ram optimizers are those that do nothing (kinda like a placebo), and the worse ones just reduce your system performance. Just think about it: Why do u want to have your game running with less ram? And what are you willing to sacrifice to press Ctr+Alt+Del and see that infact it is using less ram (althou it's slower than when it uses more)...
In a perfect world where everybody has money, the solution would be to buy more ram, but since not everybody can affort it, here's some tips on how to dramatically improve your system performance:
(note: my system isn't in english so some of the therms I use might not be correct, I'm just translating as I go)
1-
Click Start->Run and type services.msc now u are seing the services snap-in, terminate all useless services by right clicking on them, clicking proprieties, clicking Stop and setting them to deactivate. Sometimes programs like nero recording sw, alcohol, and even microsoft office have processes running even if they are not running, these ones and other useless ones u can terminate.
U can terminate Indexing Services, for example (this is the service that XP uses to make the searches in your hdd faster, but let's be honest, how many times do u search someting in your hdd?).
ATENTION! Don't just go and randomly stop services, u have to know what they are for. If u are unceirtain of what is that specific service, look it up on google before u make the decision to terminate it. Otherwise u can screw up your entire system
2-
Right click on My Computer and click Proprieties click Advanced tab, click performance, then click adjust to better performance. If u want visual themes and drop shadows in the desktop icons click "Use visual styles in windows and buttons" and "Use shadows to icon names in the desktop", respectively then click ok (altho performance is better without this 2.
3-
Still in My computer Proprieties click "automatic updates" tab. Select "I want to be notified but I don't want automatic instalation" Click OK
4-
Richt Click on the desktop, click proprieties, click definitions, click advanced, in there, dependidn on your graphics adapter u might have a tab called 3D or something like that, click it. U'll find a tab or button "Open GL" and other called "Direct 3D".
Now, for better performance u should put all in minimum, but the graphics will be crappy, so what u can do is only disable Vertical Syncronization (VSinc) this will increase your fps without compromising the graphics quality.
5-
Before u start the game u can disable all apps that wont be used (firewall, aV, download managers, etc).
6- (Only if u want to multiclient)
While in game u can click Esc->Options and reduce the graphic quality to the minumun put everything in off or 1 is there's no off (there's more options if u scrool down).
7- (Only if u want to multiclient)
In the game console write /min (if using isrobot) and the game will run minimized, not rendering and therefore using less system resources.
8-
Click Start->Run, type msconfig go to boot.ini tab, select /noguiboot (this step won't optimize system preformance, it will only disable the XP boot screen, making it boot faster.
9-
Click start->Run, type "DISKPERF -N" thys will disable the HDD performance monitor, if u want to turn it back on use "DISKPERF -YD"
10-
Click Start->Run, type regedit, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft� 92;Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer, create a sub key named "AlwaysUnloadDLL" and set the default value to '1'. This will make windows unload dlls that are no longer being used.
11-
Click Start->Run, type regedit, navigate to HKEY CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Desktop on the AutoEndTasks entry replace the 0 with a 1
Change "WaitToKillAppTimeout" value 2000 (if it foes't exist create a new. type dword)
change "HungAppTimeout" value to 1000
navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControl Set\Control
Change "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" value to 2000
This will speed up the shutdown and for those of u that have problems shuting down(windows errors and stuff), It should bypass them also.
12-
thx to l33tn355
click start>run>msconfig and click on the startup tab. Then u can uncheck programs that u dont want to run on startup. E.g messenger, ituneshelper(...)
these can improve startup time and general usage because not so many processes are running
ATENTION! Like in step 1, Don't just go and randomly stop startup apps, u have to know what they are for. If u are unceirtain of what is that specific app, look it up on google. If u prevent some apps from running, u probabily won't screw up your system, but u might be disabiling some app that it's meant to protect your computer...
(note, some of this tips need restarting to work)
If u know of other working tips just post them here and I'll add them.
Anyone that understands the least about how ram works will tell u that ram optimizer tools are bs.
Yes, they free ram (or they say they do in their graph), but at what cost?
The best ram optimizers are those that do nothing (kinda like a placebo), and the worse ones just reduce your system performance. Just think about it: Why do u want to have your game running with less ram? And what are you willing to sacrifice to press Ctr+Alt+Del and see that infact it is using less ram (althou it's slower than when it uses more)...
In a perfect world where everybody has money, the solution would be to buy more ram, but since not everybody can affort it, here's some tips on how to dramatically improve your system performance:
(note: my system isn't in english so some of the therms I use might not be correct, I'm just translating as I go)
1-
Click Start->Run and type services.msc now u are seing the services snap-in, terminate all useless services by right clicking on them, clicking proprieties, clicking Stop and setting them to deactivate. Sometimes programs like nero recording sw, alcohol, and even microsoft office have processes running even if they are not running, these ones and other useless ones u can terminate.
U can terminate Indexing Services, for example (this is the service that XP uses to make the searches in your hdd faster, but let's be honest, how many times do u search someting in your hdd?).
ATENTION! Don't just go and randomly stop services, u have to know what they are for. If u are unceirtain of what is that specific service, look it up on google before u make the decision to terminate it. Otherwise u can screw up your entire system
2-
Right click on My Computer and click Proprieties click Advanced tab, click performance, then click adjust to better performance. If u want visual themes and drop shadows in the desktop icons click "Use visual styles in windows and buttons" and "Use shadows to icon names in the desktop", respectively then click ok (altho performance is better without this 2.
3-
Still in My computer Proprieties click "automatic updates" tab. Select "I want to be notified but I don't want automatic instalation" Click OK
4-
Richt Click on the desktop, click proprieties, click definitions, click advanced, in there, dependidn on your graphics adapter u might have a tab called 3D or something like that, click it. U'll find a tab or button "Open GL" and other called "Direct 3D".
Now, for better performance u should put all in minimum, but the graphics will be crappy, so what u can do is only disable Vertical Syncronization (VSinc) this will increase your fps without compromising the graphics quality.
5-
Before u start the game u can disable all apps that wont be used (firewall, aV, download managers, etc).
6- (Only if u want to multiclient)
While in game u can click Esc->Options and reduce the graphic quality to the minumun put everything in off or 1 is there's no off (there's more options if u scrool down).
7- (Only if u want to multiclient)
In the game console write /min (if using isrobot) and the game will run minimized, not rendering and therefore using less system resources.
8-
Click Start->Run, type msconfig go to boot.ini tab, select /noguiboot (this step won't optimize system preformance, it will only disable the XP boot screen, making it boot faster.
9-
Click start->Run, type "DISKPERF -N" thys will disable the HDD performance monitor, if u want to turn it back on use "DISKPERF -YD"
10-
Click Start->Run, type regedit, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft� 92;Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer, create a sub key named "AlwaysUnloadDLL" and set the default value to '1'. This will make windows unload dlls that are no longer being used.
11-
Click Start->Run, type regedit, navigate to HKEY CURRENT USER\Control Panel\Desktop on the AutoEndTasks entry replace the 0 with a 1
Change "WaitToKillAppTimeout" value 2000 (if it foes't exist create a new. type dword)
change "HungAppTimeout" value to 1000
navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControl Set\Control
Change "WaitToKillServiceTimeout" value to 2000
This will speed up the shutdown and for those of u that have problems shuting down(windows errors and stuff), It should bypass them also.
12-
thx to l33tn355
click start>run>msconfig and click on the startup tab. Then u can uncheck programs that u dont want to run on startup. E.g messenger, ituneshelper(...)
these can improve startup time and general usage because not so many processes are running
ATENTION! Like in step 1, Don't just go and randomly stop startup apps, u have to know what they are for. If u are unceirtain of what is that specific app, look it up on google. If u prevent some apps from running, u probabily won't screw up your system, but u might be disabiling some app that it's meant to protect your computer...
(note, some of this tips need restarting to work)
If u know of other working tips just post them here and I'll add them.