question about video performance for geeks

[autobotsrollout]

My computer:

AMD dual Athlon 4400 + 2.3 GHz
2 gigs of RAM
ATI Radeon x1950 GT, 256 megs of RAM

My computer is CHOKING when I try to play some games - Ghostbusters most notably, but just now Indigo Prophecy as well. Altering screen resolution and graphics effects makes no difference: running the games on 640x480 with minimal graphics options

Comments

[thandrak]

The 256 megs of textures is a bit low. Hm. But... how's your free ram? Got anything to display free ram as you play? I'm thinking it might be hitting your cached memory... is it on the same drive as your OS?

[autobotsrollout]

70 percent free ram.

[thandrak]

... mmrmph. What's your antivirus? Could be scanning the files as the game tries to access them, causing... entertainment.