AJ-
I had exactly the same problem as you. 8500GT PCI version by Sparkle, aye?
http://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=129977
I am sorry to say that you will
never get SH3 to run properly with this card. I have tried everything - way above and beyond the suggestions listed here. RAM is not the issue. I have 1.5gb and it still runs like crap. The 8500GT PCI just doesn't do
Silent Hunter...neither 3 or 4. It'll chew through
S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or
IL2 or
Half Life 2: Episode 2, but you can forget about playing SH. Sorry, mate - just take my word for it and save yourself the (literally) dozens of hours of low-level tweaking that I tried.
I'm building a new system this month, and will be getting rid of this piece of cack Dell once and for all. I hope none of the above suggestions have inspired you to spend money on more RAM, because it's a total waste. The best I can suggest is returning the 8500 or selling it, and spending the money on one of the new ATI 2400Pro series PCI cards that are coming out, or a good 128bit x1550 PCI card.
PS: If I didn't say it loud enough before - DON'T BUY MORE RAM!