Question about video card in laptop

tropicsea · 03-29-2005, 11:51 AM

Hello everyone. This is my first message in the forum, and I start with a question..
I'm facing a problem on my HP laptop, a 1.3Ghz, 128MB Ram, S3 video card machine. (In fact, the video card is rather using a part of the 128MB memory, with the options 8,16,32 MB). Now, on to the problem..
Despite the limitations of the hardware, I am capable of using video-demanding programs, such as video games, as long as the requirements are more or less met. E.g. I am able to play with no problem games with minimum 128MB Ram and 16MB Graphic Card, even if my actual Ram at the point would be 112MB, as 16 would go to the "Graphic Card" Ram.
BUT...
I am facing problems now and then with programs that in no way should be so demanding. E.g. I attempted to try a Super Nintendo emulator, which works fine as long as it's in 256x224 window mode, but almost crashes the system with slow response when it's in anything bigger (not to mention full screen). Another example, trying to play a game which should work fine in even 64MB Ram, causes my system to give up the ghost. To be specific, as the game map was being loaded, the Virtual Memory started to get huge, the loading time took 15minutes (!) and when the game map finally appeared, the frame rate must have been 1 frame per minute.
All this don't seem very rational to me. How can it be that I can play some games when I can't play others, with either same, less, or way less hardware demands? Is there something I can try, with the DirectX maybe? Any ideas, any suggestions, would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance

**Cromewell** · 03-30-2005, 12:03 AM

More RAM should fix things for you, the huge virtual memory allocations slow it down (even more so on a laptop) because laptops have slow hard drives. There isn't a lot you can do through software.

tropicsea · 03-30-2005, 12:47 PM

As a matter of fact, I managed to find some interesting and useful information since yesterday. From what I have read, I think my problem is related to OpenGL (and apparently my card's inability to cope with it). I have an S3-VIA Twister card, by the way.
One solution that is mentioned in the web is to enable OpenGL-based 3D applications to use Microsoft Direct 3D drivers for 3D hardware acceleration. Any help regarding how this can be achieved?
Thanks

**Cromewell** · 03-30-2005, 09:25 PM

For the most part that isn't possible. OpenGL and Direct3D are different APIs and the programs graphics output has to be written specifically for it, so unless the game has both programmed in it's not going to be possible.

03-29-2005, 11:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
tropicsea New Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2	Question about video card in laptop Hello everyone. This is my first message in the forum, and I start with a question.. I'm facing a problem on my HP laptop, a 1.3Ghz, 128MB Ram, S3 video card machine. (In fact, the video card is rather using a part of the 128MB memory, with the options 8,16,32 MB). Now, on to the problem.. Despite the limitations of the hardware, I am capable of using video-demanding programs, such as video games, as long as the requirements are more or less met. E.g. I am able to play with no problem games with minimum 128MB Ram and 16MB Graphic Card, even if my actual Ram at the point would be 112MB, as 16 would go to the "Graphic Card" Ram. BUT... I am facing problems now and then with programs that in no way should be so demanding. E.g. I attempted to try a Super Nintendo emulator, which works fine as long as it's in 256x224 window mode, but almost crashes the system with slow response when it's in anything bigger (not to mention full screen). Another example, trying to play a game which should work fine in even 64MB Ram, causes my system to give up the ghost. To be specific, as the game map was being loaded, the Virtual Memory started to get huge, the loading time took 15minutes (!) and when the game map finally appeared, the frame rate must have been 1 frame per minute. All this don't seem very rational to me. How can it be that I can play some games when I can't play others, with either same, less, or way less hardware demands? Is there something I can try, with the DirectX maybe? Any ideas, any suggestions, would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance

03-30-2005, 12:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cromewell Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canada Age: 26 Posts: 11,802	More RAM should fix things for you, the huge virtual memory allocations slow it down (even more so on a laptop) because laptops have slow hard drives. There isn't a lot you can do through software. __________________ You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til ya understand who's in command here. www.userfriendly.org

03-30-2005, 09:25 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cromewell Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canada Age: 26 Posts: 11,802	For the most part that isn't possible. OpenGL and Direct3D are different APIs and the programs graphics output has to be written specifically for it, so unless the game has both programmed in it's not going to be possible. __________________ You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til ya understand who's in command here. www.userfriendly.org

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03-30-2005, 12:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
tropicsea New Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2	As a matter of fact, I managed to find some interesting and useful information since yesterday. From what I have read, I think my problem is related to OpenGL (and apparently my card's inability to cope with it). I have an S3-VIA Twister card, by the way. One solution that is mentioned in the web is to enable OpenGL-based 3D applications to use Microsoft Direct 3D drivers for 3D hardware acceleration. Any help regarding how this can be achieved? Thanks