simple terms?
the Framerate is how fast the computer can "draw" on the screen.
anything above 30 frames a second is considered fine
anything above 60 is no longer noticeable, and is perfectly smooth.
in Source, there are benchmarks built into Counterstrike:Source and Half Life 2: Lost Coast. difference being, Lost Coast is free 
there also other benchmarks in Source , but I dont think those are publicly available.
Thanks 
So it must have to do with the video card ? My husband changes the whole computer when he gets a game and its choppy He just built us a new computer and was in awe at how smooth his game was playing . I take it his framerrate is good then 
Counterstrike rings a bell. He plays Command and Conquer Red alert. Tiberiun sun. He played Quake and stuff - I havnt seen that one in awhile. He must be into the same stuff as you. His new thing is he wants to play World of Warcraft (WOW).
Thanks So it must have to do with the video card ? My husband changes the whole computer when he gets a game and its choppy He just built us a new computer and was in awe at how smooth his game was playing . I take it his framerrate is good then
Counterstrike rings a bell. He plays Command and Conquer Red alert. Tiberiun sun. He played Quake and stuff - I havnt seen that one in awhile. He must be into the same stuff as you. His new thing is he wants to play World of Warcraft (WOW).
yeah, its usually easiest to upgrade the GPU (graphics Processing Unit- the Video Card) when it gets choppy.
alas, there comes a time when the CPU requires upgrading, which is something I hate doing.
you gotta polish the heatsink...put just the right amount of thermal paste...its annoying.
Red Alert...whoa. Classic game.Tiberian Sun, not so much...Quakes ancient, but good.
World of Warcraft...uh oh. you might wanna keep an eye on that...
google it if you want to know more. suffice to say, its addictive, and leads to many an all nighter.
Yeah and it seems when you change the CPU you need a new motherboard/ram unless my husband just tell me that grrr. LOL
Yeah, I figured World of Warcraft would be a prob hence probably why he is trying to convince me to play too. We only have 4 computers and a laptop in the house
My husband use to have LAN parties that started one day and ended the next he has no probs staying up all night playing games. I remember he thought it was hilarious that our neighbor was out at 6am getting the morning paper and 17 people were leaving our house with their computers. LOL . I think they were playing Half Life. It was a few years ago. He keeps trying to organize another one.
Yeah and it seems when you change the CPU you need a new motherboard/ram unless my husband just tell me that grrr. LOL
Yeah, I figured World of Warcraft would be a prob hence probably why he is trying to convince me to play too. We only have 4 computers and a laptop in the house
My husband use to have LAN parties that started one day and ended the next he has no probs staying up all night playing games. I remember he thought it was hilarious that our neighbor was out at 6am getting the morning paper and 17 people were leaving our house with their computers. LOL . I think they were playing Half Life. It was a few years ago. He keeps trying to organize another one.
No, he is correct, you usually have to get a new motherboard and sometimes RAM, depending on the age of the machine.
its the socket, you see.
my old PC had an AMD processor, and was on socket 939 (i...think...)
my new one is LGA775. wont fit , you see.
I would recommend you start playing too, its a great social thing.
and yeah, LAN parties rule 
I may look into playing the game although I'm not really into games.
I got to get him on AFF - you two have a lot in common
I've got 2 questions;
1. Is that 8800GTS a G80 or a G92 (512mb)?
2. 32 or 64 bit operating system?