Final Fantasy IX Problems

[Lord_Zacron]

I have slowdown issues. When a battle starts, the swirl in works fine, however the music freezes for about 3 seconds. This also sometimes happens when changing screens (moving on to a new area). I have done my homework and read the sticky and tried Kane's configurations, however they do not work to fix this issue. Also I checked my drivers and they are ALL up-to-date and I have tried the running off of ONE core trick. Am I cursed to play with this annoyance?

I do not know what other information you could POSSIBLY need...Maybe my blood type or social security numbers, but I put down everything I could think you would need. I understand that you may not want to have contact with members outside of the forum but I am open to AIM or MSN chatting, if it leads to a solution.

AIM: WiLdEKaRrDeHcK
MSN: Nawaaz_Hack@Hotmail.com

I look forward to your prompt replies and thank you in advance for your help.

Sincerely,

~LZ~

Specifications-

System Information-
Gateway Laptop PC
Intel Centrino Duo 1.60 GHz with .99 GB RAM
Plug and Play Monitor on Mobile Intel (R) 945GM Express Chipset Family

Emulator Information-
ePSXe 1.5.2

Video Settings-
Plugin: Pete's DX6 D3D Driver 1.1.75
Author: Pete Bernert
GFX card: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family

Resolution/Color:
- 1024x768 Fullscreen - [32 Bit]

Textures:
- R8G8A8A8
- Filtering: 4
- Hi-Res textures: 0
- VRam size: 0 MBytes

Framerate:
- FPS limit: on
- Frame skipping: off
- FPS limit: Auto

Compatibility:
- Offscreen drawing: 3
- Framebuffer texture: 0
- Framebuffer access: 4
- Alpha multipass: on
- Mask bit: on
- Advanced blending: hardware

Misc:
- Scanlines: off [0]
- Unfiltered FB: off
- Dithering: off
- Screen smoothing: off
- Full vram: on
- Game fixes: on [00000201]

Sound Set-up-
Eternal SPU Plugin 1.41
Direct Sound with Buffer Size of 22
Audio out method- Thread
I have it set to Wait for XA buffer is free
and to Update before accessing register

CD-ROM Config-
P.E.Op.S CDR Driver 1.4
Interface: W2K/XP- IOCTL scsi commands
Drive: [1:0:0] Drive E:
Read Mode: (Auto-detected) BE_2(ATAPI SPEC 2)
Caching Mode: None

Limited Speed to 4X

Try again on reading error. Retry count 5

Subchannel Reading: Read Subchannels

[RedLion]

I suggest you to use Pete's DX6 driver.If it doesn't solve the problem, use P.E.Op.S. GPU (http://www.ngemu.com/plugins.php?cat=1&os=win32&type=gpu).

[Lord_Zacron]

I am currently using Pete's DX6 driver, thanks for reading the specs!! I tried the P.E.Op.S GPU but that doesn't work either. The games looks FAR too pixelated and the problems STILL persist. I have another symptom to add to the list, certain in battle animations make the game freeze as well, such as certain magics and Freya's Jump. RIGHT before the "Spear" notice shows up the game freezes. Thanks for the attempt tho'.

~LZ~

[Rockfire]

Try using Pete's OpenGL 1.76 plugin.

[Lord_Zacron]

Been there, and tried that.

Thanks for the input,

~LZ~

[cloudsBro]

Try changing your:

Sound Buffer size to 32 or 64.
Async mode to Smooth.

FPS limit to 60, instead of Auto.
Framebuffer access to 1.
Framebuffer textures to 0.

These settings work well with me when I run the game off an ISO.

[Lord_Zacron]

I'm running the game off of a USA Version CDROM, and unfortunately your settings did not help. Thank you very much for your help.

~LZ~

[Rockfire]

The slowdown's might be cd related, have you tried making a Iso? (http://forums.ngemu.com/everything-else-psx/34515-how-make-perfect-backup-psx-games.html)

[kuro]

i had the same problem. making an ISO fixed it.

[Lord_Zacron]

I'm working on making the ISO, I'll let you guys know how it goes from here. You've been a big help. Thanks!!

~LZ~

[Lord_Zacron]

Didn't work. Anymore ideas?

~LZ~

[RedLion]

Try pSX (http://psxemulator.gazaxian.com/).

[Lord_Zacron]

The sound gets fixed but then the graphics are pixelated like when I used P.E.Op.s. on the ePSXe 1.5.2. Also I don't want to start a WHOLE new game, I am pretty far along in the game and just want to get the emulator to run. I think the pSX works but the cost of the visuals of this game is just too high. Thanks a bunch for the help tho' guys.

~LZ~

[RedLion]

Also I don't want to start a WHOLE new game[...]
~LZ~

Just transfer ePSXe memory cards to pSX by changing their extension to ".bin".

[hushypushy]

You don't need to even do that. Just select the memory card in pSX.

[Lord_Zacron]

Now, here are my problems with pSX, the graphics are NOWHERE near as good as they are on ePSXe. Is there anyway to fix that? Also, that whole copy and pasting of the save files, or even just selecting the ePSXe SAVES folder, did not work. Neither did the extension change.

~LZ~

[hushypushy]

pSX uses software rendering, similar to if you used Peops software plugin on ePSXe. That's what software graphics looks like, you love it or not I guess...

[RedLion]

Also, that whole copy and pasting of the save files, or even just selecting the ePSXe SAVES folder, did not work.
~LZ~

Have you selected the memcards in the configuration panel?

[Lord_Zacron]

Yes I have and it has worked and run smoothly, however, I don't like the pSX emulator because of the low-res graphics. I would much rather work with ePSXe. Is there anything we haven't tried short of changing emulators or am I just asking for too much?

~LZ~

[hushypushy]

Try PSXeven.

[Lord_Zacron]

Same problem with PSXeven, it uses P.E.Op.S. The graphics using that plugin uses softwear rendering and it is VERY low-res!!

[RedLion]

Same problem with PSXeven, it uses P.E.Op.S. The graphics using that plugin uses softwear rendering and it is VERY low-res!!

And with Pete's OGL1?

[Lord_Zacron]

With Pete's OGL1 running:

Plugin: Pete's OpenGL Driver 1.1.75
Author: Pete Bernert
Card vendor: Intel
GFX card: Intel 945GM

Resolution/Color:
- 1024x768 Fullscreen - NO desktop changing [32 Bit]
- Keep psx aspect ratio: off

Textures:
- R8G8B8A8
- Filtering: 4
- Hi-Res textures: 0
- VRam size: 0 MBytes

Framerate:
- FPS limitation: on
- Frame skipping: off
- FPS limit: Auto

Compatibility:
- Offscreen drawing: 3
- Framebuffer texture: 0
- Framebuffer access: 4
- Alpha multipass: on
- Mask bit: on
- Advanced blending: on

Misc:
- Scanlines: off
- Line mode: off
- Unfiltered FB: off
- 15 bit FB: off
- Dithering: off
- Screen smoothing: off
- Screen cushion: off
- Game fixes: on [00000201]

Runs the same as in ePSXe

[RedLion]

Last attempt:try to update your drivers (graphic and sound devices).If it doesn't solve the issue, you'll need to deal with pSX....

[Lord_Zacron]

As I said in my FIRST post, I already did that, so I'm condemned to pSX with the P.E.Op.S. graphics? Either that or the glitchy game?

[Lord_Zacron]

Well, ladies and gents, I guess I am stuck, I would like to thank everyone who tried to help me, I appreciate your help.

~Lord Zacron~

[hushypushy]

Maybe try picking up a real videocard and see if that helps you. Intel graphics suck, downloading the latest drivers will help but not much.

It's probably something very elementary, but elusive...in other words, the solution might be very simple, but not something easy to guess.

[Spikeball]

EDIT: Sorry if this ends up hijacking your thread, Zacron.

Hey, guys. During the FMV cutscene in Dali when the party gets on the cargo ship headed to Alexandria, it freezes. (Picture of freezing: http://i12.tinypic.com/29vz87r.jpg) During this time, the sound loops very quickly (probably the last split second of music repeating itself.) I'm using a .bin ISO file as opposed to a CD. Here's all of the specs:

System Information-
Lenovo ThinkPad R60
Intel Celeron M 1.60 GHz with 1 GB RAM
Mobile Intel (R) 945GM Express Chipset Family

Emulator Information-
ePSXe 1.6.0

Video Settings-
Plugin P.E.Op.S. Soft Driver 1.17
Author: Pete Bernert
GFX card: Mobile Intel(R) 945GM Express Chipset Family

P.E.Op.S. settings here: http://i17.tinypic.com/44qte91.jpg

Sound Set-up-
Eternal SPU Plugin 1.41
Direct Sound with Buffer Size of 64
Audio out method- Thread
I have it set to Wait for XA buffer is free
and to Update before accessing register

CD-ROM Config-
ePSXe CDR WNT/W2K core 1.5.2.
Drive D:

If I missed any information, feel free to ask me for specifics. Any help would be much appreciated!

[Ignis]

Use the older version of epsxe, 1.5.2, or use psxeven (which works smoothest for me).

There's a sticky up top too by the way, titled:
Please read : Chrono Cross and FF9 running on ePSXe 1.6.0

[Spikeball]

Whoa, totally missed that. Sorry for the inconvenience, and thanks for the help! It's working just fine now.

[hushypushy]

That info is in TWO of the stickies at the top of the forum, by the way. And that was a needless post hijack, even if you did apologize. Keep that in mind for next time.

[Lord_Zacron]

So, now that I've reclaimed my post, ANYMORE IDEAS?

~LZ~

[hushypushy]

Reformat.

[ShendoXT]

Get SSSPSX (http://www.ngemu.com/psx/sssxpsx.php) and try then.
You can use Pete's DX6 D3D video plugin with the settings you posted earlier.

Since you are on a laptop make sure that it doesn't enter any power savings mode while you are playing.

[Lord_Zacron]

What would the power saving mode have to do with anything? Also, I tried it but it still gave the same problem at the same point. Whenever a battle starts. However, I should note that I am now on Disc 2 so, we can rule out CD damage.

I am glad however to see that not EVERYONE has given up on me.

~LZ~

[ShendoXT]

What would the power saving mode have to do with anything?
If laptop enters in a powersaving mode a CPU can be underclocked.