ZSNES Video lagging on a fairly new laptop?

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:05 am

I've been having trouble with ZSNES 1.42 (Windows version) video lagging on my laptop, -especially- when triple buffering is on.

The laptop is a Gateway 7320GZ in case someone else has had this problem on the same laptop and happens to know a fix for it (if any).

My laptop's specs are as follows:

Pentium 4 with HT (2.8 GHz, 533 Mhz FSB, 1 MB L2 Cache)
768 MB RAM (512 and 256 separate RAM sticks)
32 - 64 MB Video memory (Intel Graphics Controller)
80 GB HD

The processor has the Speed Step technology that makes the CPU conserve power by clocking it down when it doesnt have a load on it. (I've tried disabling Speed Step, and also HT in the BIOS but no luck with ZSNES, it still lags just as bad)

I've also tried other versions of ZSNES, I also tried Snes9x and different versions of it. Tried various other emulators and still no luck.

I fiddled around a bit in the options, disabling things, enabling others, also did some tweaking in the video options such as enabling sync, etc. Still no progress.

I've tried all the obvious things and I'm completely stumped (Yes I've tried closing all open programs, windows, turning off unneended services, disabled antivirus programs, defragging the harddrive, windows updates, etc....).

This isn't something where it was working fine and all of a sudden started happening one day, it's done that since I bought the laptop brand new.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

BTW the laptop is less than 2 years old.

Thanks!

Que · Post by **Que** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:07 am

Try a wip, instead of 1.42, many many fixes.
http://Ipherswipsite.com

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:09 am

Que wrote:Try a wip, instead of 1.42, many many fixes.
http://Ipherswipsite.com

Oh wow o.O; That was quick lol. Thanks for the info, I'll most definately try that ^-^

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:10 am

If you're trying to use an integrated Intel video card for anything useful... feel free to be extremely disappointed.

The only thing that comes to mind is that you may want to try to -6 parameter to force 60Hz... but you also need to check if the refresh rate is forced in DXDiag. You don't want to force it from there (if you're trying to use the -6 parameter)... or you could force 60Hz from there...

sweener2001 · Post by **sweener2001** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:10 am

integrated graphics will bring any system down. they suck.

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 6:18 am

Deathlike2 wrote:If you're trying to use an integrated Intel video card for anything useful... feel free to be extremely disappointed.

The only thing that comes to mind is that you may want to try to -6 parameter to force 60Hz... but you also need to check if the refresh rate is forced in DXDiag. You don't want to force it from there (if you're trying to use the -6 parameter)... or you could force 60Hz from there...

Hmm... yeah that's a good idea... I think I was trying to use some other parameter before, wasn't -6 though. Although my old Compaq desktop uses the Intel Graphics chipset also and I never had video lag problems on ZSNES with it... Thanks!

sweener2001 wrote:integrated graphics will bring any system down. they suck.

I agree, but unfortunately there's not much choice in video when it comes to laptops xP Although I probably could have benefitted by opting to go with one of those Mobility Radeon laptops?

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:06 am

Mmmm.. reading over the original post... disable Triple Buffering if it's causing problems. It's not required for the operation of ZSNES anyhow.

An ATI or NVidia chipset for the laptop graphics would be FAR better than most video chips (especially Intel) would provide... seriously.

adventure_of_link · Post by **adventure_of_link** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 7:24 am

ATi Radeon Xpress 200m user, works just fine and dandy, FAR better than any Intel bullsheist they can throw at you.

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 8:40 am

Deathlike2 wrote:Mmmm.. reading over the original post... disable Triple Buffering if it's causing problems. It's not required for the operation of ZSNES anyhow.

An ATI or NVidia chipset for the laptop graphics would be FAR better than most video chips (especially Intel) would provide... seriously.

Yeah... I kinda like triple buffering though because if it's not enabled, video tends to flicker. Oh well, I hope to be getting a new laptop soon and I'll be looking for one with an nVidia chipset. I appreciate the help though ^-^

adventure_of_link wrote:ATi Radeon Xpress 200m user, works just fine and dandy, FAR better than any Intel bullsheist they can throw at you.

I agree =P; Nice avatar BTW xD That's how I feel right now >.<;

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:05 pm

Please, don't double post multiple times.

adventure_of_link · Post by **adventure_of_link** » Fri Oct 20, 2006 11:40 pm

Cleaned up.

Remember, you are given an

button for a reason.

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 8:09 am

adventure_of_link wrote:Cleaned up.

Remember, you are given an button for a reason.

Whoops, I apoligize for that.

xMetaRidley · Post by **xMetaRidley** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:17 am

Have you updated the drivers? ZSNES with HQ3X runs at perfect 60FPS on my desktop with lower specs (P4 2.53ghz, 512mb RAM, Intel 82845 graphics. Yours has the Intel 82852 graphics). Go to downloadfinder.intel.com and try those drivers if you haven't.

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 9:37 pm

xMetaRidley wrote:Have you updated the drivers? ZSNES with HQ3X runs at perfect 60FPS on my desktop with lower specs (P4 2.53ghz, 512mb RAM, Intel 82845 graphics. Yours has the Intel 82852 graphics). Go to downloadfinder.intel.com and try those drivers if you haven't.

I've tried updating the drivers... yeah... no luck lol Thanks though!

xamenus · Post by **xamenus** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 10:22 pm

This is going to sound very stupid, but have you tried running a game with your laptop plugged in? I know that would defeat the purpose of a laptop, but seeing that you've exhausted all options, have the problem in other emulators, and haven't mentioned that you tried it, you might as well give it a shot.

And yes, be extra sure that you don't get an Intel card when you purchase your new laptop.

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 12:49 am

xamenus wrote:This is going to sound very stupid, but have you tried running a game with your laptop plugged in? I know that would defeat the purpose of a laptop, but seeing that you've exhausted all options, have the problem in other emulators, and haven't mentioned that you tried it, you might as well give it a shot.

And yes, be extra sure that you don't get an Intel card when you purchase your new laptop.

Yeah I play ZSNES with my laptop plugged in, I hardly ever run my laptop on batteries.

kevman · Post by **kevman** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 3:57 am

Well, go in to Task Manager and stop everything that isn't critical. Modern machines ship with "helpful" software that can reduce performance by as much as 50%, and make the system choppy.

If you hardly ever use the battery on a P4 laptop, you should remove it and store it someplace cool. Heat kills batteries, and p4 laptops make plenty of it.

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Sun Oct 22, 2006 4:08 am

Mmm.. using a desktop processor instead of the M series... not a good idea.

Try obtaining the latest WIP of ZSNES and use the "Use Higher Priority" option and see if that helps.

mewtwo064 · Post by **mewtwo064** » Mon Oct 23, 2006 5:50 am

kevman wrote:Well, go in to Task Manager and stop everything that isn't critical. Modern machines ship with "helpful" software that can reduce performance by as much as 50%, and make the system choppy.

If you hardly ever use the battery on a P4 laptop, you should remove it and store it someplace cool. Heat kills batteries, and p4 laptops make plenty of it.

While this is a laptop bought off the shelf at a store, I opted to wipe the harddrive and start off with a clean install of Windows because of those "helpful" programs that come standard with store bought systems. The only programs I have running are those that I chose to install after the Windows clean install.

Deathlike2 wrote:Mmm.. using a desktop processor instead of the M series... not a good idea.

Try obtaining the latest WIP of ZSNES and use the "Use Higher Priority" option and see if that helps.

Thanks, I'll try that.