I'm not sure exactly how to describe this but it feels like my computer starts to render a video in the middle of me playing IW4M.

The game launches no problem and I can play about two maps.. but usually by the middle of the third map, my performance starts dropping off sharply or feels like my internet connection lags.

If I back out of the game and restart it, it's fine.

 

I know it sounds like my CPU or my Vid is overheating, but I've checked them and they're both running nice and cool(ish).

 

Here's my setup:

C2D E7400 @ 2.8 (stock)

4GB OCZ 1066 (stock)

Sapphire 4870 512M - 66 degrees under load

Win7 - 32bit

Internet is 7/1 DSL

Can also be your RAM overheating. I remember that I had that issue while trying to play GTA4 with only 2GB of RAM.

Since you have 4GB, that shouldn't be the case, but we never know... either something is overheating or windows is having a hard time handling system cache (not usual on 32-bit systems though).

If you're sure that nothing is overheating, consider reinstalling windows. You should be running the game really smoothly with a 32-bit operating system on those system specs.

Thanks.. I've been putting off re-installing Windows because I'm just too lazy to backup my stuff.

Maybe a stress-test might reveal bad RAM ?

Try using memtest at it...

http://www.memtest.org/#downiso

starts to render a video in the middle of me playing IW4M

well it does 'render a video', seeing as the game is being rendered to your monitor. either that, or you mean 'encode'

starts to render a video in the middle of me playing IW4M

well it does 'render a video', seeing as the game is being rendered to your monitor. either that, or you mean 'encode'

 

Details, details.. i was thinking in terms of a 3D modelling program. But yes, encoding is what I really meant