Just got a brand new Dell Dimension 4700, runs great i must say. And recently we just got our cable connection networked, with a Lynksys router. I can surf the web and use instant messengers with no issues at all. But when my ciblings decide to play some online games they bought 1hr - 1 1/2hr into playing they get disconnected from the game and the internet, for those who don't know what i mean, is that they join a server and it kicks them off due to loss of connection. And once that happens Internet Explorer wont work(can't access websites) instant messenger won't connect. But the wierd thing is that, once the Dell is restarted it goes back to normal, and once again 1hr - 1 1/2hr into thier game playing same thing. Any way to resolve this problem? Thank You, Matthew Specs: Comcast Internet Connection Lynksys Wireless Router(i am directly connected through ethernet) Dell Dimension Desktop 4700 PS: could this be a port issue? it only happens with certain games

You are most likely experiencing high latency issues. Resolutions to this problem are not identical in every scenario, but fundamentally firewalls, P2P connections, your ISP alloted connection speed...etc has dramatic effects on the whole situation, but you can improve your odds. Here's a simple guide for starters but read more on the subject. Like many things, gaming is more fun if you do it in company. Trade those computer-generated opponents for flesh and blood as you test your mettle against your mates. Paul Hales shows you how. If you think computer gaming is a solitary, antisocial experience, think again. You don 't have to be lonesome, holed up in a bedroom with nothing other than a mouse and keyboard for company. Add another dimension to your gaming: interact with fellow gamers and enjoy the company of like-minded souls. Try multiplayer gaming. Normally, playing a computer game involves pitting your wits against those of the Pentium processor. The Pentium may be a mighty fine processor, but it only does what it's told. Your computer-generated opponents follow a set pattern of rules and do the same thing time and again. Pit your wits against a fellow human - or, indeed, a dozen of them ‚ and you're dealing with a whole new soupe de poisson .Your opponent will make a whole bunch of logical, intelligent or wholly illogical and unintelligent decisions that may ultimately baffle and destroy you. Beating the Pentium is one thing. Beating a fellow human is something else entirely. Multiplayer gaming is big business. You can play from home over the Internet, although you may be restricted by the speed of your modem and the solidity of your connection - but there are other options too, like wiring together two or more PCs or nipping into an Internet or gaming cafÈ, where you may find yourself embroiled in 20-person multiplayer mayhem. Here, we hope to give you an idea of what can be found by taking your existing games one step further and exploring the wealth of online titles flooding a games store near you. YOU AND YOUR MODEM The speed of your Internet connection can be directly proportional to your success in a game. If your PC can give and receive information (like the fact that you're pressing a trigger, or that someone is about to appear in front of you) to the game server very fast, things will go well for you. Should this exchange be delayed, you'll experience high latency, or ëping' and fast reactions won't be enough to save you from those players with faster connections and lower pings. Ping can become a real problem with games such as first person shooters where a huge amount of data is being swapped between computer and server. For example, imagine yourself crouched in a room facing the door. The next person to appear there will feel the heat of your MegaLaser IV ultra-rifle, right? Well, not if they have a much faster connection. If this is the case you'll see an empty doorframe, followed by the floor after you're shot by an opponent. You might not even have seen him coming, through no fault of your own. When playing online and where you have a choice of server it's worth connecting to each and choosing the one which gives you the lowest ping, thus ensuring an uninterrupted and pleasant killing spree. Avoid anywhere with a ping of more than around 400ms. With a spot of experimentation, you'll discover which are the best servers, and even at which times of day. The easiest way to avoid ping worries is to upgrade your Internet connection to either an ADSL or Cable modem. Both these services offer connections around ten times the speed of your modem and put paid to 99% of online gaming woes. However with limited availability and prices starting at around £30 per month it's not a solution that will suit everyone. WHAT DO I PLAY? So you 're geared up for multiplayer gaming, but what do you play? Can any game be played online and, if not, which ones are the best? You've probably got a shelf load of games at home you've never fully explored, although not every game will come with online/multiplayer options. These days it's a safe bet that if a game sets you out competing against similar opponents then it will come with some form of multiplayer modes. FIRST PERSON SHOOT-'EM UPS The most popular multiplayer games to play online are first person shoot 'em ups (FPS), and the various modifications or ëmods ' (see THE WORLD OF MODS) that exist to expand them. It's safe to say that if you enjoyed the single player experience, you'll go bananas over it online. FPS games have various modes from simple ëdeathmatch' (a madcap, every-man-for-himself shootout) to team-based games such as Capture The Flag. ROLE PLAYING GAMES (RPGs) Role-playing games are very popular too, and online often resemble a fantasy chat-room in which the various players interact under the guise of their assumed identity. Imagine immersing yourself in an RPG universe where every orc, elf or level 12 wizard is a real person playing from the other side of the planet! Ultima Online, available from Electronic Arts is an online-only RPG that is vast, ever-changing and may consume your life. It has also spawned many offspring, the latest being Ultima Worlds Online: Origin. Everquest is another online-only favourite, which is more combat-oriented. RACING GAMES Many racing games exist with online features allowing players to compete in races against real opponents. Race off from pole position in an authentic Grand Prix or bash your opponents off the road in a more arcadey sim. Future online racers in the pipeline, such as EA's Motor City, will allow you to compete against other players for virtual money which can be used to upgrade your vehicle and become the Internet's No.1. STRATEGY Once you've mastered a strategy game such as Age of Empires from Microsoft it's time to test your skills in the real world by taking on real opponents. This is one game genre where playing against a real opponent is more noticeable than ever. With players planning out deep strategies well in advance to be executed with military precision, this is one area where the computer just can't compete. Be prepared to be absolutely trounced the first time you play! SPORTS The FIFA range - which includes FIFA 2001 - offers ëreal 'football in an international league from the comfort of your back bedroom. Why not get some friends around and challenge our cousins overseas to your very own international. EA's FIFA range is unbeatable amongst soccer sims, although if footie's not your bag you can always take to the Net with basketball, ice hockey or rugby, amongst countless others. http://www.computerandvideogames.com/ B4 you criticize a bigger man, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, you're a mile away, and you have his shoes.

I have a similar problem too, I have a Dell Dimension 4500. I think its the LAN card that has the problem. I found the problem when I was upgrading my RAM, The LAN card occasionally becomes loose for some odd reason (I thinks its the temperature) and all you have to do is to turn the computer off, open your computer and reset: as in take out the card, clean it if its dusty, and put it back in. That should clear the problem. Dell Dimension 4500 Pentium 4, 2.0 GHz Windows XP Home, SP1 512 mb PC2700 nVidia Geforce MX 420 64 Mb 80Gb Hard Drive 24x4x48x CD-RW 8x DVD-ROM