Mafia performance issues. Any tips?

p3 866@910
512mb pc 133 sdram
gf3
sblive

Since I got my Geforce card 6 months ago, this is the first game that runs like crap at 1024x768. Sure I can turn the view distance ALL the way down to improve speed but I don't like chasing a wall of fog. Anyway, even the game's "detect settings" recommends 1024x768. But the game is literally a slide-show on my system at 1024x768 and all detail/view distance at medium. Any ideas anyone? Here's the weird part: my bro-in-law has a similar system but only 256mb ram and a ATI Radeon 7200 (32mb sdr) video card and THE GAME RUNS IDENTICAL ON HIS SYSTEM!!! His is a 933mhz though, but come on!! What gives? I run May Payne and Aquanox and GTA3 and Neverwinter Nights silky smooth. What engine does this game use anyway, so that I can stay away from it until I get my next rig? Thanks folks!!

CPU is whats causing that not vid card.
Only way to future proof your rig is too upgrade CPU

I agree. I have to run at 800x600, 16 bit to get about 30fps on my system

P3 1000mhz
Geforce 2 64MB GTS
256 MB Ram

PS. Driving in the countryside goes MUCH SMOOTHER.:D

Turn off Truecolor textures and use just compressed. I had a big problem until i did that.

compressed was on by default and I was going to go to true! so much for that idea.

I only notice frame rate slow downs mainly outside with a lot of activity.Obviously its CPU power too many entitys.
Indoors I get silky smooth framerates.