Need for Speed Underground 2 & T42p (2373-KXU)

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kjarrett · #1 Post by **kjarrett** » Wed Nov 24, 2004 9:56 pm

Ok ... no, I *DON'T* expect this thing to be a gaming laptop ... but I thought it would be fun to throw NFSU2 on it and see how it did.

I am running the stock IBM drivers ... game runs fine at 8x6 and 10x7 so far, but, only with the main "detail" slider set to 50%. When I try to push it even one click past, the screen becomes almost unreadable. I can push it back and it's ok.

Anyone playing NFSU2 on a T42p? Tips? I really don't feel like messing with video drivers just to play an occaisonal game.

I think.

-kj-

p.s. on my Dell Dimension XPS P4 3.0ghz / 2gb RAM / Radeon 9800 Pro 128 the game just FLIES at 10x7 and max everything!

gcchatel · #2 Post by **gcchatel** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 12:34 am

haha, right, but how much does your dell weigh and how long does the battery last?

AtmosMan · #3 Post by **AtmosMan** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 2:56 am

I think the Dell Dimension XPS is a desktop computer, not a notebook.

I haven't messed with any video drivers lately, so I can't (comfortably) give any advice as of now. Good luck though, and have fun.

kjarrett · #4 Post by **kjarrett** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:10 am

Yes guys, I know my Dell XPS is a desktop 'puter. It's awesome too. It's just that according to some benchmarks I ran, my T42p is very close in processing power to it (just not in 3D). I'm not trying to compare the two really. Just looking for ideas for possibly tweaking the setup. Doesn't really matter, plays and looks great at 10x7 and medium detail!

Ghostrider · #5 Post by **Ghostrider** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 10:49 am

If I may sum it up: Your problem is NOT low speed that makes the game unplayable if you increase the details but some kind of image distortion.

It sounds like a graphics driver problem.
I've heard about omega drivers that should work with the card but can't tell you more about it because I am still waiting for my notebook to arrive...... If it arrives I could test it and tell you more about altenative graphic drivers.

Nabeel · #6 Post by **Nabeel** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 7:16 pm

I have the Omega drivers, I can run NFSU2 and HL2, both at 800x600 with everything at max perfectly. 800x600 isn't that bad, as long as it looks great.

kjarrett · #7 Post by **kjarrett** » Thu Nov 25, 2004 9:50 pm

I just played for an hour solid at 8x6 with medium detail and it was great.

I may try the omega drivers just for yuks, as long as they're stable, which it sounds like they are.

Thanks guys...

-kj-

Ghostrider · #8 Post by **Ghostrider** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 10:25 am

Nabeel wrote:I have the Omega drivers, I can run NFSU2 and HL2, both at 800x600 with everything at max perfectly. 800x600 isn't that bad, as long as it looks great.

Won't 1024*768 with little less details give you a better overall quality? Maybe even the native display resolution with "low" details?! ...
Oh man - I think that I will have to test a lot of stuff as soon as the notebook arrives.

Nabeel · #9 Post by **Nabeel** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 5:42 pm

Ghostrider wrote:
Nabeel wrote:I have the Omega drivers, I can run NFSU2 and HL2, both at 800x600 with everything at max perfectly. 800x600 isn't that bad, as long as it looks great.
Won't 1024*768 with little less details give you a better overall quality? Maybe even the native display resolution with "low" details?! ...
Oh man - I think that I will have to test a lot of stuff as soon as the notebook arrives.

Perhaps, but I like how it looks now. I don't really notice much of a diff between 8x6 and 1024x768 other than smaller HUD

Same with HL2, I can run at almost everything maxed out at 800x600

kjarrett · #10 Post by **kjarrett** » Fri Nov 26, 2004 8:14 pm

OMG!!!!

I've got the Omegas installed and they RULE!!!!

8x6 with max detail is smooth as silk and things look GREAT!!!

This game totally and completely RAWKS!!!

Who says this isn't a gaming platform!!! HEH!!!

I love my Thinkpad!!!

Thanks all!!!

-kj-

Seba35LE · #11 Post by **Seba35LE** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:18 pm

I play this game on my laptop with the display set to 1400x1050 without any problems.

Ghostrider · #12 Post by **Ghostrider** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:28 pm

I've heared from other people with different NON-IBM Notebooks that they can't use the "normal" ATI or NVidia drivers for their cards.

Have you downloaded a special OMEGA driver version for notebooks or is it the standard OMEGA that you would also use for a desktop PC?

I don't want to get in trouble by using a wrong version and I have never messed around with graphics drivers for notebooks before...

kjarrett · #13 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:35 pm

Seba35LE wrote:I play this game on my laptop with the display set to 1400x1050 without any problems.

Yes but at what level of detail? I get a noticeable slowdown at 1024x768 with maximum detail. At 800x600 and max detail it's goregous and smooth.

-k-

kjarrett · #14 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:38 pm

Ghostrider wrote:I've heared from other people with different NON-IBM Notebooks that they can't use the "normal" ATI or NVidia drivers for their cards.

Have you downloaded a special OMEGA driver version for notebooks or is it the standard OMEGA that you would also use for a desktop PC?

I don't want to get in trouble by using a wrong version and I have never messed around with graphics drivers for notebooks before...

Standard driver package - it said it supported the Radeon Mobility series so I figured I was good to go, and I am! Very happy thus far. No problems with any apps and the (so far only one) game I've played is much better.

-kj-

Ghostrider · #15 Post by **Ghostrider** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 12:57 pm

Great! Thanks for the information!

BTW: Your signature says: "2.0ghz P4m 755" ... correct it to "2.0GHz Pm 755". The "Pentium 4m" is the "mobile" Version of the Pentium 4 - not a "Pentium M".

kjarrett · #16 Post by **kjarrett** » Sat Nov 27, 2004 2:20 pm

Roger THAT, thanks Ghostrider!

Seba35LE · #17 Post by **Seba35LE** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 5:46 pm

kjarrett wrote:
Seba35LE wrote:I play this game on my laptop with the display set to 1400x1050 without any problems.
Yes but at what level of detail? I get a noticeable slowdown at 1024x768 with maximum detail. At 800x600 and max detail it's goregous and smooth.

-k-

I play it at the maximum level of detail. I downloaded all my drivers from IBMs web site.

kjarrett · #18 Post by **kjarrett** » Sun Nov 28, 2004 5:55 pm

1024x768 with max detail on EVERY SETTING?

Seba35LE · #19 Post by **Seba35LE** » Mon Nov 29, 2004 8:55 pm

kjarrett wrote:1024x768 with max detail on EVERY SETTING?

Yes, 1024x768 with max detail on every setting including the world detail.

p0ser · #20 Post by **p0ser** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:55 am

how is it with the flexview screen when you play games? any excessive ghosting?

kjarrett · #21 Post by **kjarrett** » Tue Nov 30, 2004 4:14 am

Seba35LE wrote:
kjarrett wrote:1024x768 with max detail on EVERY SETTING?
Yes, 1024x768 with max detail on every setting including the world detail.

Well, snap me down! I could not even SELECT a resolution higher than 800x600 without corrupting the display with the IBM drivers. Go figure!

P0ser, no ghosting whatsoever here.

-kj-

Need for Speed Underground 2 & T42p (2373-KXU)

Need for Speed Underground 2 & T42p (2373-KXU)

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