Hi

TLDR: Is this issue more likely the Duron's small cache, the chipset, or just normal for this engine?

Trying to play Crimson Skies (2000) on my recently acquired system.

Performance is...suboptimal. Jerky, frame drops everywhere regardless of resolution and detail settings. Not the GPU, as happens in both Software and D3D. These specs should be overkill:

Duron 1000MHz (Morgan)
MX 420 64MB
512MB SDRAM 133, CL2
16GB SSD via IDE bridge
MS-6340v3 (KT133A)
Windows 98SE (also tried XP)

Have gone to great lengths to set up the KT133A

- VIA Latency Patch installed
- VIA Interleave Patch installed
- 4in1 driver pack installed; tried various versions as recommended in an old thread
- Tried system.ini tweaks
- Tried both Windows 98SE and XP
- Tried various GeForce driver versions, from the lighter 2x.xx through to the commonly recommended 45.23
- Tried powerstrip to reduce GPU latency
- Forced VSYNC always on @ 60Hz
- Experimented with DRAM speeds and CL
- Tried dozens of different BIOS tweaks, ACPI off, Fast Read/Writes off, shut off unused peripherals...nothing helps!

I'm not even that bothered about playing the game, more that I'm annoyed I can't fix it.

So is the wall here my specs, or just the fact it's a VIA chipset? KT133A is actually one of the better ones by VIA standards. Any thoughts?

Thank you.