Computer Hope

Software => Computer games => Topic started by: blackrainbow on June 17, 2010, 08:31:21 AM

Title: 256 colour
Post by: blackrainbow on June 17, 2010, 08:31:21 AM
heyyy guy im using a hp compaq nx6110 running windows xp pro sp3,  with 512 ram, 40gb hdd and mobile intel 915 gsm chipset. and intel pentuim M 1.73 ghz this is the second time i have came across this problem

the first time trying to play command and conquer generals,   my laptop has more than the recommended specs for it

Spec for C&C generals
 cpu 800 hmz
ram 128
hdd 3.2 gb
grathics 32mb


Specs for C&C Renagade
cpu 400 mhz
ram 96 mb
grathics 16 mb
hdd 700mb
and the second time is when i play Command and conquer renagade, i can play the first level of it and  the it crashes out with a black screen and an error message saying my grathics has stop working and goes in to 256 color mode its not a diver issue the drivers are up to day



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Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: quaxo on June 17, 2010, 10:10:25 AM
mobile intel 915 gsm chipset

The problem most likely lies in this, as the Intel chipsets are not designed for 3D gaming and can't handle the stress.

You're probably right, it's not a driver issue, it's a hardware one. It's not a problem, it's just that you've reached the limit to what the Intel video chipset can do.
Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: blackrainbow on June 17, 2010, 10:19:54 AM
hmm :/  any thing i can do
Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: quaxo on June 17, 2010, 10:34:24 AM
You might be able to get away with setting your games to the lowest possible quality, but it probably still won't work very well.

However, seeing as it's a laptop, there's nothing you can do. Laptops are not the best thing for gaming, they're even worse for gaming when they've got an Intel chipset. Another thing that hurts is that it only has 512MB of RAM, which it also shares for video.

My advice: (and I know it's not what you're gonna want to hear)
If you really wanna play games, invest in a good desktop. If it must be a laptop, make sure it's got an ATI or Geforce chipset in it and enough RAM to support both the system and the video card, since it's shared in most laptops.
Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: BC_Programmer on June 17, 2010, 11:42:59 AM
Quaxo:

I'd fully agree if the games were more modern, but since they are relatively old and also have quite low requirements, I don't think it's the normal issue of a underpowered integrated graphics.

However, that being said, I think the "try reducing quality/res" idea might be worth a shot. For some reason or another the graphics driver is crashing, and the fact that it does so on a relatively old game is somewhat worrisome. Does the laptop work with any other Direct3d/OpenGL utilizing games?

Also, in an interesting coincidence, I had the exact same problem on my older PC with a Nvidia 5500FX- I was able to fix it by updating the game, so if you haven't done so, make sure to install the latest patches (for C&C first decade if that is the product you actually have those games as part of).
Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: blackrainbow on June 17, 2010, 12:21:05 PM
i find my lapot a bit weird it can run portal, but i wont run c&c games, i can play ra2. hmm ill see if i can find the up date patches.
Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: quaxo on June 17, 2010, 06:44:58 PM
Quaxo:
I'd fully agree if the games were more modern, but since they are relatively old and also have quite low requirements, I don't think it's the normal issue of a underpowered integrated graphics.

Any time I've tried C&C Generals crashes on Intel chipsets before it even starts. I've had this issue before trying to run it on my EeePC and my girlfriend's Toshiba, both of which have Intel chipsets. However, World of Warcraft will run on Intel chipsets, as I've run it on both of those systems, on minimal detail and medium detail respectively. If I tried to push for more, it made the power adapter overheat on the EeePC and the Toshiba itself would push heat limits, even with a cooling pad.

Like I said, computers with that kind of hardware just aren't able to handle 3D games.

You know, it occurs to me now that I do have C&C: The First Decade and some Intel video chipset computers. I could experiment tonight and see if I can get Renegade to work.
Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: BC_Programmer on June 17, 2010, 06:52:26 PM
well, I don't think it's a "global" think with all intel chipsets... I know my Satellite L300 can run both games fine- but, then again, my L300 is a lot newer and has a far newer graphics chipset then the PC in question.


Actually, given the new information that it can run Portal fine, I'd be inclined to blame DirectX/Direct3d- or, I suppose, more precisely, the Intel Driver/Chipset's implementation of it.
Title: Re: 256 colour
Post by: blackrainbow on June 17, 2010, 07:31:01 PM
hmmm i have enough old parts laying around i will try to build a tower just to play them and finish the games :)  or i could micro wave my laptop (i think would be more enter taining :) ) dont try that at home