TerraShock

Tracert, http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314868

Are you using a router, wireless? If you are, take it out of the equation and plug directly into the computer and see if the issue persists. Routers/modems can and do fail.

That power supply should be just fine. Upgrade the video card and see if thats enough of an upgrade for what ya want.

If not, then upgrade the processor/mb/ram. Those will need to be done all together for the most part, so its a bit of an outlay. The sound card and hard drive are fine unless you need more data storage space.

This thread will prob help.
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=267014

Depends alot on what your video card can keep up with, and the frame rates you can live with. Cards with more ram generally can run higher resolutions at better frame rates.

No less than 1 GB for that size monitor, 2 would be better if you can swing the price diff. Check to make sure your power supply can handle the new one. FatherXmas has ya on the right track.

Great power supply that you should be able to upgrade the video card with. If you mostly play COX, then a better card will make lots of difference, as this game is more dependent on gpu processing.

Other games, a processor might be needed to noticeably improve performance, but I'd start out with a new vid card. Get the best you can fit in the case/afford, and go from there. If it doesn't improve enough for you, you can always use it in a different build later when you decide to spend the cash for a full blown upgrade.

4 GB ram is about min for Windows 7, if thats the OS your using? More ram will help loading times and maybe worth it, but you might be stuck with the new ram if you move to a new different MB system.

Thanks for the interest Katie, but there isn't really to much more to add.

If the power is six slotted, and I try to combine an enhancement with another, with one of those being selected, located in the last slot, the enhancment will not move into the combining tray. The enhancement, that is NOT located in the last slot will move into the combining tray, but the last one will not move at all.

It is only happening on a few different lvl 50's I have. Support is waiting on me to send some screenshots to help identify the problem.

Visual to help
Six slots in a power tray. O= enhancer, X=this enhancer will not move into the combining tray.

OOOOOX

Encountered this problem before the last issue update, so don't think it's related. Sent a bug report. Anyone else having this?

GM: "the effective level of the enhancement can be at maximum 3 levels higher than your character's current level"

My response
ME: I am aware of this feature, and it is only occurring on six slotted powers, affecting the last slot in the power.

One toon has Phantasm, 2 lvl 50 ACC enhancers in the last two slots. If I choose to combine these, the enhancer located in the last slot will not go into the combine tray. I've checked a couple other powers he has, same result. Cauterize has 2 Rech, in the last two slots, a 50+ and a 50 lvl enhancement, same result.
Earth's Embrace, 2 lvl 50 heal enhancers in the last two slots. Same result. The last one will not move to the combine tray. I ended up putting IO's in a couple of others I couldn't combine.

I've checked some other lvl 50 toons that have enhancers in the last slot that are suppose to to be able to combine, some work, and some don't. A "red side" toon, Psionic Tornado, a lvl 50+ and a lvl 50 endurance reduction, would not combine. A different toon, (red side), Omega Maneuver, 49+ and a 50 recharge, will not combine. Serum with two heal enhancers, 50+ and a 50, won't combine. Thanks and let me know if you'd like me to send screenshots.

It seems to be only related to lvl 50 toons. Thanks all.

Lil thread I started on the subject, might give ya some more info.
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=252792

I enjoy having some mobility in my granite at 24ish mph

Grats EM, all the best to you and your new bundle of joy

Here is a good guide by Hyperstrike, to assist in setting up the launcher to shut down after launch.
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=254442

I would keep AVG running, its pretty good protection and isn't resource hungry. You can also setup AVG, (as well as most others), to bascially ignore the COH programs. Look in the options area, or advanced options for that feature in AVG or whichever one you choose to keep running.

More than one malware program may cause issues as Starcloud said. Its ok to have more than one, in fact some will catch problems others miss, but they shouldn't be running concurrently. Spyware/malware and antivirus programs aren't really the same thing, although some will do both depending on which programs your running.

Until about 9 mths ago, similiar situation, XP 2 GB ram, and like you wasn't interested in using Win7, and had long load times after the graphics update. 9mths later, new computer, Win7, 9 GB Ram and much, much faster load times.

New video card will not really help the load times, and as long as you continue to use XP, you'll be limited to what your system can use for memory. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3_GB_barrier

This memory allocation includes the memory in your video card as well, so your bascially stuck with only using about 3GB for all your system/program needs.

Windows 7 is actually pretty good, once you understand how the UAC works, but you may still need to upgrade the system if you can't add more ram memory to your current motherboard.

If your able to add more ram, that will help, and if you can, start killing some process startup programs. Skype is pretty resource hungry, no sure about Paltalk. Bascially if you can shut down any that you don't need, while playing, you free up memory the game can use.

http://www.blackviper.com/ lists some configurations for trimming window programs as well, if your inclined and comfortable making "service" changes.

For other programs, use task manager to keep programs from starting up. Some monitor programs that will help you identify what is loading,
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/s...rnals/bb963902 and their process monitor and process explorer programs located there.

Could the drivers be corrupted? It might be that the ATI drivers you uninstalled, didn't get all removed.

"I showered... honest!"
and your fur is all fluffy now too... heh

I've had at times where I go to switch toons and the timer will end and nothing will happen for a few seconds, 45 maybe?, then it will usually just boot me back to the log in. Nothing requiring a reboot or restart of the game. Does it happen when the servers are under heavy loads, more busy times of the day?

This post has some info on submitting more info for people to try and help if you wanna go that route, http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=231628
Submit a support ticket to as well, can't hurt.

Here is a chart to look at, http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/...70,2834-7.html
Newegg has a Zotac GTX 570 for $310 after instant, and mail in rebate. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814500185
There are several 480's in that price range as well. Can't speak for ATI.

You've got the power supply to handle just about any. Consider if you want a card that will exhaust the heat, if you don't have good case airflow. Good luck in your search

To eliminate heat, as an issue, open up the side of the case and play a bit. The fuzzy screen sounds like a graphics card issue, that may be failing due to heat buildup. Have you tried that?

1 more thing to check, then I'm outa ideas, if you can look in the, NVIDIA Control Panel --> Manage 3D Settings --> Global Settings, and switch "Power Management Mode" to "Prefer Maximum Performance".
This causes the card to keep full power instead of "throttling down" when switching between between 2d/3d modes. Hope you find a solution.

Have you tried to load the game into "safe mode"? Try lowering your graphics too. Lowering world details, and turn ambient occlusion completly off.

Looks like your reltek audio drivers may be out of date. Check if they have any new ones.

I've also heard that Star Dock can cause some issues. Dock Login Service (DockLoginService) - Stardock Corporation. Disable that service, and if you don't need Steam running while playing, nix it as well.

Give those ideas a shot

"Just in case there is anything I'd want to upgrade in the future that would need it, and I figure it would boost a little performance no?"

Nope, a new power supply won't boost performance by itself. Sometimes one is required to install and run, newer better performing components, video card, processors, etc, or overclocking. Don't buy cheap, off brand, power supplies. Oh, and one more thing, don't buy cheap, off brand, power supplies.

On my older machine, I found if I tried to "quit to desktop", before a app. 4-5 secs had run off the timer, I would experience that issue. Dunno if you've tried just giving it a couple secs before hitting the "quit" button.

There was a post that the evga overclock tool was causing similiar symptons, if your using it.
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?p=3098395

MaximumPC has written up a couple of articles on the subject that might help ya decide.
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea..._ultimate_back
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/fea...up_and_restore

If you can give some extra ram a try, either cheap, or on loan from someone, that might help with the loading/time out problems. No idea if the OS is gonna be a snag though.

Dunno what your price or time constraints are, but these two links may help ya save a little money.
http://dealnews.com/Computers/PC-Com...-Deals-48.html http://dealnews.com/Dell-Coupons.html

I bought my last system off newegg. Got a great deal on a refurb i7 920 Asus system, so check there as well.

Normally you want to add in pairs for a speed advantage depending on your mother board. http://www.crucial.com/kb/answer.aspx?qid=3629

As Father Xmas stated, you'll need to know your power supply wattage to determine which vid card you can upgrade to. But you'll most likely need a new one, which brings up issues of finding one that you can put inside the case. Small cases will have issues with larger vid cards as well.