A video lag issue - little troubleshooting

[danurve]

Let me start by saying I think this is a video issue, but Im not convinced of that.

Sometimes if I am viewing a ship exploding zoomed in periscope view either attack or observation, I get a small amount of lag or stutter in the frames. Sometimes this even delays keyboard commands. This happens if I happen to be on the bridge and using the binoculars as well. It does not happen if I am watching in F12 view, or screen-shot junkie [.] view. I've concluded this is just a deal-with problem when your looking at the fireworks so to say anywhere from or on the boat.
I have added more memory, 2 gigs ddr400 in dual channel mode made sure the virtual memory space is properly allocated, even tried overclocking the 2 gig cpu to 2.2 and while that helps this persists. Video card is maybe a little yesteryear but a 256meg AGP ATI isn't a slouch either (w/17" CRT mag monitor).
So, before I write this off as a deal-with-it thing anyone have an idea or a perhaps something I could tweek and try?

[gabeeg]

You don't say what mods you are using (especially eye-candy mods) or what model of ATI graphic card you are using, or what specific 2GHz CPU you have....but I will give it a shot.

First, If you are not using the latest ATI driver give that a shot...or do some google searching and see if a particular build of the ATI driver offers better performance than the one you have. I would highly suggest one of the custom modded drivers such as Omega's. You can also try one or more of the ATI tweaking utilities to increase performance (sorry, have no specific names or links...but they are out there...well I take that back "PowerStrip" is a good universal one)

Make sure you stop any un-needed services or background apps before running SHIII...this alone can have a big impact on performance.

[danurve]

I consider it a given to close down a/v and anything else I don't need before launching the game.
Probably should be posting this from home where the machine is for better details. I also see ati.amd has posted a new 7.4 Catalyst since 04/18.
AMD 2.0 939 (o/c'd 2.21)
2 gigs OCZ DDR 400 (PC 3200) 2.5-4-4-8 d/c mode.
Card is a HIS Radeon 9550 256MB DDR agp.

Current Mod version 2.15 has alot of intense graphic affects but if memory serves had this occur before using any heavy mod. It's realy not a bad machine, very little overall trouble if any with it. I would say the most demanding thing it has to deal with, is this game! I was looking into the power bios and even thought of o/c'ing the agp but left that alone. Maybe I am just being picky in trying to iron out the game to run as smooth as possible. I suppose looking into driver tweeks or alternates would be something to try.