Graphics Deadspace Problem

[xtyger]

I've been forced to play on my Dell laptop for the last six months or so. From the start, there's always been a dark area on my screen, right about where the horizon is. It was maybe an inch wide and runs the width of the screen. I assumed this was from the lesser video card the laptop used, or perhaps some limitation of the RAM it uses.

I could still play, though, since if something was close enough, it would show up although the background would still be dark.

A few days ago, it changed. I don't think I changed anything in my Options and I certainly didn't do anything to the computer. Now, the dark space is twice as wide (maybe even wider than twice) as it was before and I can't see as far into the horizon as I used to be able to.

I went to the Options and Graphic Details, or whatever it's called, and moved the viewable range to the max allowed of 3 miles. Still no change.

The laptop has 153.9megs(?) of video memory and only around 29 to 45 seem to be being used at one time. System memory is 511 megs and usage varies between 375 to 475 at any given time.

Any suggestions as to how I can lessen the deadspace? What's that Gamma thing in the Graphics Options do?

Quite honestly I'm not sure if this problem is with my connection, the computer, or the game. Connection seems fine but my frame rates have been all over the place as of late. Then again, they bounced around before. I haven't done anything to the computer. Only thing I can think of is the video card is spazzing out or I inadvertantly changed something in my viewing preferences.

[The Fugitive]

Biggest problem is your on a crappy laptop

The black bar is most likely a driver issue. Run a Dxdiag and post the first third or so here on the message boards. Some of these gurus will stop by and let you know the best, not neccisarlly the newest drivers to run on your card.

Untill then you can set the graphics settings lower. When you load the game instead of choosing "online", click on the video settings button. In there make sure you are NOT preloading to memory, and try turning down the texture size. If its at 512, turn it down to 256. If 256, go down to 128.

In the game, once its loaded up, slide all the sliders in the "Video" section towards the preformance side. Your frame rates are bouncing all over because your computer is trying to keep up and is having a heck of a time doing it.

[xtyger]

Hey, the laptop was a gift. Besides, I'm stuck with it until I get my gaming computer fixed. I would normally play with my Alienware system, but something went wrong with the usb ports and they're frying anything that hooks up to it. I've burned up a whole bunch of joysticks on it, among other things. It still works. I just can't use the usb ports.

I didn't even expect the laptop to handle it when I first got it, but decided to give it a try. It actually does ok most of the time, despite the graphics. The game does tax the system, though. The fan on that thing never goes on until I'm playing AH. Once I quit, the fan goes off.

Thanx for the help. I'll try your suggestions. Not sure about the DxDiag, but I think I saw mention somewhere here on how to do that.

[Roscoroo]

start /run/ type in Dxdiag  hit enter.

[xtyger]

System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/9/2006, 18:21:21
       Machine name: MANGELS-D600
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
       System Model: Latitude D600                  
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A16
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.60GHz
             Memory: 512MB RAM
          Page File: 282MB used, 966MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: MOBILITY RADEON 9000
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI MOBILITY/RADEON 9000 AGP (0x4C66)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4C66&SUBSYS_011D1028&REV_02
   Display Memory: 32.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Default Monitor
  Monitor Max Res:
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6587 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 11/10/2005 17:49:44, 252416 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 11/10/2005 17:49:24, 1406464 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-0F26-11CF-236A-1721A3C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x4C66
        SubSys ID: 0x011D1028
      Revision ID: 0x0002
      Revision ID: 0x0002
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
 Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBLineReplic ate
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SigmaTel Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24C5&SUBSYS_011D1028&REV_01
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: stac97.sys
         Driver Version: 5.10.3952.0000 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 11/15/2004 13:37:52, 264440 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: SigmaTel
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xB5B
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 48000, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------

[xtyger]

Tried to post the whole thing here, but got a message that the file was too long. Had to delete some stuff toward the bottom.

[AKDogg]

For your alienware machine, just go get a USB pci card and disable your MB USB's.  I had a system do that to me.  USB card is like 25-40 dollars with 4 ports on back and 1 internal.  Alot cheaper then replacing the MB.

For the laptop, U should be using 4.12 drivers for the video card.

[Krusty]

First of all I have the same laptop here at work (LOL! I'm typing on it now).

Second your video card is a 32MB Radeon Mobility 9000. That's a pretty sad card. I wouldn't be surprised if it's half card-related, half driver-related.

That kind of card was never designed for AH level games. However, seeing as you've got no choice in the matter I can understand why you'd do it.

*IF* it's card-related, the widening of the black band could be indication that the card is starting to fail, or some part of it is. *IF* it's driver related it could be little tweaks you've done with AH that have gotten worse.


Try as Fugitive suggested, but also turn the   "optimize terrain" and "optimize objects" buttons on or off depending on what you already have them set to. There is an option to disable horizons in the in-game graphics options. Just clear all the checkboxes, disable all skins (I'm sorry, this is mandatory for a 32MB card), reduce resolution to 800x600, reduce detail sliders to "performance" as far as they go, and good luck.

[Skuzzy]

You need the 4.12 Catalyst version drivers from the manufacturer.  The later ATI drivers have that 'black' stuff bug for all 9000 series cards.  The 4.12's do not have this problem.

[xtyger]

MwDogg wrote, "For your alienware machine, just go get a USB pci card and disable your MB USB's. I had a system do that to me.".

How do you disable your MB USBs? Someone actually suggested the pci card route to me some time ago. I bought a card and installed it. Problem was, it installed right along with the other usb ports, at least according to the device manager, and I think the problem is with the usb controller, or whatever it's called, that controls all the usb ports.

[AKDogg]

U have to disable the USB controller in your bios.  Bios is the screen that pops up when u boot up your computer (before the Windows screen).  Depending on your computer, to get into the bios u have to hit del, esc, f1, f4 or f10.  Any one of those should get u into the bios.  Del and esc are the common ones.

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by xtyger
MwDogg wrote, "For your alienware machine, just go get a USB pci card and disable your MB USB's. I had a system do that to me.".

How do you disable your MB USBs? Someone actually suggested the pci card route to me some time ago. I bought a card and installed it. Problem was, it installed right along with the other usb ports, at least according to the device manager, and I think the problem is with the usb controller, or whatever it's called, that controls all the usb ports.

There's a jumper on the motherboard for that.  Look for a jumper that is labelled USB, should be a 3 pin setup, with the jumper on the first 2 pins.  Move it to the last 2 pins.  Might have 2 jumpers, depending on if you have 2 or 4 USB ports.