A31p Display Corruption Sims2 (2ghz 1Gig memory XpPro)

[tomstarich]

When Sims2 was loaded for my daughter, the game ran fine for a while and then I would get display corruption. Kind of like patterns and lines on the screen. A reboot corrects the problem. At no other time do I have this problem.

The makers of Sims2 Electronic Arts site recommend shutting down all processes in the task manager but explorer.exe prior to running the game. Electronic Arts also indicates the compatibility of the display device in my A31p is unknown. I was not able to get the game to run without it reverting to a funky corrupted display even after making shutting down all processes as recommended by EA.

I even updated the display driver for my A31p (ATI Mobility Fire GL 7800) to the latest an greatest driver off the ibm web site.

I am not having any trouble with the display otherwise. All of my other programs work just fine. Has anyone else tried to put Sims2 on an A31p 2653r3u for their kids.

The question is... Does the ATI Mobility Fire GL 7800 found in the A31p have the ability to handle the Electronic Arts State of the Art game the Sims2? Any help or comments would be appreciated.

[Moroner]

Is this display corruption also happening to other apps, or is it restricted to the Sims? The problem described in this thread (http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=4661) looks quite similar to what you experience. Maybe you have HW problem.

[tomstarich]

In addition to the graphics corruption with Sims2 my computer also had a problem with Office 2003 and display corruption. I elected to switch to Office 2000 and have not had a problem since.

It may be that when the hardware is stressed, it overheats and that the display issues arrise. The weather here is getting colder tonight when its good and cold, I will take the laptop outside and test if the problem still occurs.

I noticed that the Sims2 game will start out playing fine but it is after a while that the display problems occur. I know for sure Sim2 demands alot of graphics resources and would be a very good stress test for any A31p.

I have NOT installed Xp Service pack II for fear it would cause more problems and walk me down that road to a recovery. It may be that Xp Service pack II may address some of these issues. I am just too chicken to try.

[Zeitgeist]

I have NOT installed Xp Service pack II for fear it would cause more problems and walk me down that road to a recovery. It may be that Xp Service pack II may address some of these issues. I am just too chicken to try.

SP2 works perfectly with my A31P. Just make in image with IBM Rescue and Restore http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.ws ... us&lang=en

Also update bios, access connection and update connector.

I remember that Sim2 is VERY hardware demanding- may be the A31p is just too old.

[tomstarich]

Display developed lines while a program called Dr. DivX was encoding a video. Looks very strange we almost need a picture to describe this but It now seems like the video is screwed up. Newest driver has been enstalled problem developed while computer was sitting idle. Could be the video issues go further than any program. TS

[tomstarich]

Simms2 is now playing but It seems necessary to put a fan blowing on the back of the laptop to keep it very cool. Without the fan the temperatures were reaching 140F and faults and graphics glitches were occuring. Apparently Sims2 really tests what the A31 is made of. No more problems

Summary of what was done
Updated Video drivers
Updated Bios
Updated 845 Chipset firmware from the Intel Website.
Updated update connector
Installed Xp service pack II
Placed a small table fan behind the A31p and set it to blow on the back of the computer into the air intake ports.

The computer no longer has any graphics problems playing Sims2