Thanks Mice,
I have since developed a hard disk fault which Gateway are replacing. Maybe things might be a touch better after the refit.
Gateway tell me that only the processer is upgradeable, I am stuck with the video and sound cards. So I guess I will have to do all my 'sensible things' on the laptop, and buy a second hand PC for the games.
Since the fault with the hard disk, I find that my Saitek joystick produces a 90 degree left view whenever buttons 1 and 2 are pressed together. Reinstalling driver aswell as MSCFS and reassigning the buttons does not cure it. Perhaps the new hard disk will be better. Any idea's?.