Why would this computer have troubles with Skyrim?

[amborgeson]

Problem:

 

It will start up and run, no functional issues. But frame rate is low and video is choppy/jerky, and it keeps dropping continuous control commands (Like movement) which requires re-initiating movement, and not always taking every intermittent input (attack, etc), requiring hitting buttons multiple times for one action.

 

 

Stats:

 

 

Operating System: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)

Language: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: System manufacturer

System Model: System Product Name

BIOS: BIOS Date: 06/10/09 14:14:21 Ver: 08.00.14

Processor: Pentium® Dual-Core CPU E6300 @ 2.80GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.8GHz

Memory: 8192MB RAM

Available OS Memory: 8192MB RAM

Page File: 2503MB used, 13876MB available

Windows Dir: C:\Windows

DirectX Version: DirectX 11

DX Setup Parameters: Not found

User DPI Setting: Using System DPI

System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)

DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled

DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

 

 

---------------

Display Devices

---------------

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9400 GT

Manufacturer: NVIDIA

Chip type: GeForce 9400 GT

DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC

Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0641&SUBSYS_236E1682&REV_A1

Display Memory: 4069 MB

Dedicated Memory: 997 MB

Shared Memory: 3071 MB

Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (59Hz)

Monitor Name: Acer LCD Monitor V223W

Monitor Model: Acer V223W

Monitor Id: ACR0027

Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (59.954Hz)

Output Type: DVI

Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um

Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.9053 (English)

Driver Version: 8.17.12.9053

DDI Version: 10

Driver Model: WDDM 1.1

Driver Attributes: Final Retail

Driver Date/Size: 12/17/2011 16:05:00, 17483072 bytes

WHQL Logo'd: n/a

WHQL Date Stamp: n/a

Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4501-11CF-6F56-62031FC2C535}

Vendor ID: 0x10DE

Device ID: 0x0641

SubSys ID: 0x236E1682

Revision ID: 0x00A1

Driver Strong Name: oem23.inf:NVIDIA_SetA_Devices.NTamd64.6.1:Section005:8.17.12.9053:pci\ven_10de&dev_0641

Rank Of Driver: 00E62001

Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C

[RitualBlack]

It is a good computer but your video card is a bit dated. A x400 series of Nvidia cards are mid-lower end and the 9000 series is around 5 years old. I would recommend looking into an upgrade. You have more than enough ram and 2.8ghz duo is still good. The gpu isn't enough to run Skyrim properly but assuming it would be compatible with a Nvidia 2xx series card I would recommend a 280. It is still a solid card and if you can find it online it shouldn't cost too much. If you can get an AMD card it would be even more cost efficient and a 5870 would be great.

[elderiii]

the 9400 was very weak when it came out.... soon to be 5 generations ago. If your Power Supply can handle it, a new video card would do wonders for you.

[amborgeson]

Ok, but then this is the weird part.. the above is my GF's computer. My own computer has no major issues. But...

 

My PC has the same video card, but even older, with only 1 GB of ram.

 

Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)

Language: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: n/a

System Model: n/a

BIOS: n/a

Processor: Intel® Pentium® Dual CPU E2200 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs)

Memory: 3326MB RAM

Page File: 1180MB used, 4029MB available

Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

DX Setup Parameters: Not found

DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

 

---------------

Display Devices

---------------

Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT

Manufacturer: NVIDIA

Chip type: GeForce 9500 GT

DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC

Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0640&SUBSYS_C9593842&REV_A1

Display Memory: 1024.0 MB

Current Mode: 1360 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor

Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200

Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll

Driver Version: 6.14.0012.9053 (English)

DDI Version: 9 (or higher)

Driver Attributes: Final Retail

Driver Date/Size: 12/17/2011 13:03:00, 4290816 bytes

[raatorotta]

It seems your PC is slower, 2,2 GHz is less than other pc's 2,8. But 3Gb ram is ok. Xp can't use more ram anyway. And yea like others said, you could use newer graphics card. If i was you i would buy 4-core cpu (if u motherboard allows it) and new graphics card, new power supply may be demanded also.

[amborgeson]

Well, having gotten more information today, i found out the keyboard/mouse issues were happening in other programs too, so the stronger, faster computer which works less well in Skyrim, may have something bad going on with it. So I'll have to see if I can clean it up... *sighs* time to make a boot USB with cleaning programs.