NFS Undercover issues? (computer experts?)

[nametakennow]

So for some odd reason I decided I would buy the new NFS. I find them extremely entertaining in spite of their cheesy storylines and incredible lack of realism. After all, some games ought to be just that, games.

Anyway, I installed it yesterday (PC) and it does not seem to want to run properly. I've checked the system requirements and I do stack up. Here's my machine (it's not much):

Intel Core2 Duo 2.13ghzNvidia 8600GT 256mb2gb RAMDVD+/-RW with plenty of read speed7200rpm hard driveVista 32bit

I'm running medium everything as far as graphics and 1280X1024 resolution. I've fiddled ENDLESSLY with these settings, I think I have a few on "low" now.

Anyway, the game will run very fluidly at some points and then freak out at others. It seems to alternate between fluid and awful every few seconds. It's barely playable. I've reinstalled the latest DirectX, installed the latest NVidia drivers, and added the entire game folder as an exception to the on-access scan my AVG does. I'm halfway tempted to turn off that on-access scan altogether and see what happens.

Any ideas? For the few seconds that it runs well it runs at a very good frame rate, so I don't think it's my settings. I've also tried lower resolutions (all the way down to 1024X768) and still get the same result. The issues seem to get worse the longer I play and the more action there is going on (multi-car cop chases, etc). I can't find anything on EA's site about it.

My computer ran Pro Street and Carbon just fine. It runs Grid, CNC3, Half Life 2 (and expansions) and a whole host of other games I've dabbled in easily as well with only a few modifications to the settings (usually in an upward direction).

I'm currently reinstalling the game to see what happens.

[hatchback240]

think its just an issue with the game overall, not just your computer ign's review tore the game apart because of its lack of ability to run smoothly, amongst many other things.

[nametakennow]

Damn. I hope they release a fix soon then. I've never seen anything like this. I should have read a review before buying like I usually do.

[hatchback240]

it happens man. need for speeds are usually decent regardless, i really dont understand how the managed to screw this one up but hey, good luck with it, heres to hoping for that fix

[nametakennow]

Update:

After the reinstall I've left the graphics settings alone. Apparently the game really only likes 1024X768, which is kinda awkward on my widescreen. It's still not perfect, but it's playable now.

Still can't wait for a patch to clean things up.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Isn't NFS an EA line? Yeah...have fun waiting for that patch fix.

[nametakennow]

Yeah, EA, it'll probably be awhile...

[x240xdrifter]

need for speed is a series that has and will always continue to die a slow n extremely painful death. each new game has it screaming why not kill me now!!!???

[gammer_ghn]

i bought carbon and when i start the game it restarts my computer... whyyyyyy? = [