Having a nice 2xsai look to your game, but with bad computer specs

[Baato]

Hi everyone, I've been trying furiosuly over and over again, day in day out, weeks upon weeks (well just about 2-3 weeks) but to no end: I can't get me laptop to stop lagging with the 2xsai-type video filter!

I refuse to believe that my computer is simply too slow to handle it, I refuse!! (my specs are below). I am resolved and determined to get a nice video filter of any video plugin working. I am having frustrating trouble and if anyone can help me with tips and tricks then please do so! Now, onto the bulk of this post.

The best video plugin I have come to use so far is: P.E.Op.S. Soft Driver 1.7 Plugin. I have included screenshots as to what the sample game (xenogears) looks like WITH the video filter I want, and also which one my computer does not lag with. Now before you assume my computer does in fact lag with the prefered filter, take note that it is a peculiar type of lag and it isnt the standard "ur comp is too slow' type of lag. This will be explained later.

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Okay, so here are the plugin's current configurations:
Window Mode: Size 1024x768
Color Depth: 16 bit
Stretching: Scale3x unstretched (needs a fast cpu) --> This is the important option! Scale3x or anything type of look that is similar to that is what I am after!!
Dithering: No Dithering (fastest)

Use FPS limit
Auto-detect FPS/Frame skipping limit

Scanlines disabled
Everything else unchecked
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Okay, my computer specs are as follows:
Computer: HP Pavilion dv4000 laptop
Prossessor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.73GHz
Memory: 1014MB RAM
100HB harddrive 2mb L2 cache (I have a 300GB external HD, 16mb L2 cache: I've tried using it with epsxe but not much dif)
Graphics Card: Intel(R) 915GM/GNS,910GML Express Chipset
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Okay, onto the problem. When I use those plugin settings, the graphics are good (nothing fancy, the 3d is not enhanced, all that there is is that it gives a 2xsai-type look to any game I play, which I like. Now, when I start the game. It runs perfectly smooth. There is not a single thing wrong with it, and it is as if my computer was well beyond the power needed to use this filter (Scalex3 it is called, as you should have seen above.) Now, as I am playing, say like 3-4 minutes pass.. As I keep playing, suddenly it is as if the game hits and wall and THEN starts to lag. Not just any lag, the lag simply makes the game run at about 0.5 normal speed. And for the rest of the time I play it is this speed. If I stop the emulator, wait about 20 or so seconds and restart it, it runs at normal speed again until it hits that wall where it slows down again. If I put on frameskipping, it does the same thing except that instead of running at 0.5 speed, it gets really choppy (which is understandable). This choppiness is not an option in terms of my opinion, until I am completely completely sure that there is nothing I can do to fix the problem. All of the other filters that add a 2xsai effect are not as good, but they produce the same problem so if we fix one we fix them all)

So, does anybody think they can help me? Any tips of tricks? Any other plugin that might produce better results? I just want to pinpoint why exactly it starts to lag, I mean.. if it was the mere power of my computer, it should lag right away. but it dosnt, it runs perfectly smoothly for the first few minutes. I havn't tested it, but im PRETTY sure the time varies depending on what I do ingame. I am thinking it might be the memory: once it gets full it starts to lag. In such a case, does anyone know of a way to constantly refresh the memory so it doesnt get full? besides restarting the computer, of course.

Anyway here are the pictures. The first one is of the filter I like. The second one is a crappy filter, though it does not produce the lag problem. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!!

[RedLion]

Hello Baato and welcome to ngemu forums.

There is a guide at Emulation64.com for P.E.Op.S Soft GPU....:

Scale3X and HQ3X - OK...by now you get the picture. These modes will apply up to 3 times scaling, and will blend 2D sprites even further, but they require some serious computer speed.

So all I can advice you is:

-Stop all background process which can eat cpu power.
-Try to check the "PC Fps calculation" option in "special games fixes".It could work.....

[hushypushy]

It's because you're on a laptop. A laptop has specific powersaving functions, and one of them is, via changing the multiplier of the CPU, reduce the CPU speed. It does this because when you're sitting around, browsing the web or writing in MS Word (for example), you don't need much CPU power.

Strangely, ePSXe isn't registered as a program that needs that CPU. So after a few minutes, it clocks down to 400mhz or something like that and ePSXe either lags like hell or freezes.

So you need to either plug in your laptop (which, by default, turns off all powersaving features) or manually disable those powersaving features if you plan to play off battery (you may have to go into the BIOS for this option).

[Baato]

Okay, thank you everyone who posted so far.

Now then, RedLion, I tried turning off ever process I could. I went down from 40 something to 25. And I turned on that option u told me to. And for awhile I thought it would work. I think the 'normal frame rate' lasted longer, but ultimately it started lagging again.

hushypushy, I just checked the there really is no specific power setting that dictates whether to save that kind of power (at least I couldnt find it in the power options tabs.) What is this BIOS you speak of? I only know BIOS as the file needed to play ePSXe or any psx emulator. How do I enter this BIOS and where would I find such a power-option? (By the way, if what you say is true about default options, then mine should already be set because never play on battery power.

Perfect, I've yet to try other emulators though I just finished trying PSX Emulator. But it didnt have the video filter I liked. Sighhh, i guess i will try some more tomorrow.

[RedLion]

Originally Posted by Baato

What is this BIOS you speak of? I only know BIOS as the file needed to play ePSXe or any psx emulator.

HushyPushy was talking about the bios of your laptop.You can access it at the start of your machine by pressing a combination of keys normally given at your start screen.

[hushypushy]

I don't have a laptop so I can't help with the specific options, but I am 99% sure that this is your problem.

To fiddle with the BIOS, you usually press F8 or Delete as it's starting up. It should actually say something like "press Delete to enter BIOS" or whatever. Then look around for something that decreases the clock speed to save power.

Have you tried playing with the power plugged in? IIRC that automatically turns off all powersaving features.

[Baato]

arghhhh I cant find any solution that works.. if anyone knows of a different plugin or emu at all that has the same or very similar 'look,' please let me know

[dj4monie]

Its Intel Graphix what do you expect??? Its bearly good enough to run DVD movies... I ran Pete's soft plug-in on my mother's 4 year old Pent 3 with Intel graphics. GT chugs along slow enough to make frustating to use. Actually game play is tolerable only if that's your own option.

You got the worst of the HP DV4000 series laptops. If you ever wanted to play games on it, you should have taken the battery hit and gotten an AMD cpu and Nivida GeForce Go graphics and it would have played it NO problem.

Even with a GeForce 4MX with 64MB, ePSX plays FINE and it actually doesn't run any faster on my ATI 9600X All In Wonder which has a much faste clock speed and more onboard memory.

Its your Intel graphics, not your CPU and not your memory, bios or any other reason. Those screens look horrible.

Here's how it SHOULD LOOK -





Captured with ePSX and Pete's D3D plug-in (no performance difference between it and Open GL plug-in) with Pent 2.4Ghz, 256MB@266 and GeForce 4 MX 64MB video card.

Sell that Lap and get something with a decent graphics chipset or on-board graphics card.

A $550 HP DV6000Z would give you the same level of graphics as I have showed you in those screen captures and it looks that GOOD with all the games I have run with the emulator.

That is the honest truth...You can run any PSX Emu with moderate PC specs, but you have to have a real graphics card/chipset.

[Smoky-]

2d software plugin? i can see 3D hills in the background.
try using direct3d or OGL

[Baato]

SUCCESS!! SUCCESS!! GUYS I GOT IT! I'VE FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT AFTER ALL THIS TIMEEEEE!!!

Its the heat of my laptop! I've run so many tests to ensure this is it and it is. When my laptop gets hot (while playing the game) it starts going at 0.5x speed when the laptop is at a specific temperature (not sure what the temp is). But when I put the laptop on a laptop cooler that i bought a few days ago I can play it endlessly. I tried for an hour and it didnt slow down (usually it slowed down within 10-15 minutes). I turned the cooler off and 2 mins after it was going slow again. I turned it back on and 1 min later the framerate went back to normal.

Thanks for everyone's help but I cant believe its the heat of my laptop no one could have guessed probably lol. but u guys helped me in eliminating certain solutions etc etc etc so u guys have helped me a bunch, thank you all!

I hope someone else has this problem someday so they could get so happy after reading this post =)

[Mr. Killjoy]

Yeah, some laptop and even regular CPUs have that makes it underclock itself when it's overheating. What sucks is that it doesn't even warn, so if you don't know it... well... you end up posting on forums

Though I have to agree with dj4, don't expect too much of an Intel graphic chipset

[darth sephiroth]

at least the intel gfx chipset is better than the S3 chipset... *shrugs*

[dj4monie]

Originally Posted by darth sephiroth

at least the intel gfx chipset is better than the S3 chipset... *shrugs*

Actually have you seen the benchmarks for the newst S3 Unichrome card? It actually compares well with ATI and Nvidia budget cards. Don't get me wrong they still have a long way to go in order to be considered a serious player in even the budget graphic card wars, but their newest card isn't all that bad and it should smack the shhh out of Intel graphics, but for the new 945i IGP which I hear is comparable to low level solutions from ATI or Nvidia.

While game speed may have improved, I bet his imagines still look like a pixelled mess...

[Ignis]

Looks fine to me, what can you expect from crap looking on the playstation 2D sprites anyway?

Also I tried this option, pretty cool, Xenogears lags too much for me though when I try it, not that I really care anyway.

[hushypushy]

Originally Posted by Baato

Thanks for everyone's help but I cant believe its the heat of my laptop no one could have guessed probably lol. but u guys helped me in eliminating certain solutions etc etc etc so u guys have helped me a bunch, thank you all!

Oh really?

Originally Posted by hushypushy

To fiddle with the BIOS, you usually press F8 or Delete as it's starting up. It should actually say something like "press Delete to enter BIOS" or whatever. Then look around for something that decreases the clock speed to save power.

Have you tried playing with the power plugged in? IIRC that automatically turns off all powersaving features.

Ok so I didn't exactly say it, but I DID mention how your laptop automatically clocks down, which I knew was the problem since your very first post. At least now I'll know to mention to people also about the heat in future threads

[Baato]

sorry hushypushy but I don't consider you to have known either the problem OR solution to this scenario. You thought the cause was because my laptop wasnt plugged in, or because the setup in my BIOS was incorrect. It had nothing to do with that, actually. You said that by not moving the mouse or some such deal, the cpu begins to underclock in 5 or so minutes. The fact is that I could move my mouse all I want for as long as I want and that would not make a difference in when the cpu would begin underclocking. It all depends on the heat of my laptop, and please stop trying to make it seem like you knew in ANY form that it was an overheating issue. You did not even hint on the subject, so to say that you knew now is both far too late and quite frankly makes you look like you're desperately grabbing for undue credit.

But nontheless, thanks for trying to help me otherwise.

[hushypushy]

Laptops do a lot of things to save power and to keep cool. One of those is clocking down, which I mentioned. I already admitted that I didn't EXACTLY get it, but saying that "no one could've guessed" is a bit far off. And like I said, now I know to bring up that exact point about the heat in the future.

[Baato]

oh, when u said "didnt exactly say it" i thought u were implying that you knew all along but just didnt get around to explaining it. if u say you didnt exacty GET it then I wouldnt argue with you :P

But anyway you were right about underclocking, good job and thanks for the help

[Baato]

Just to point out to anyone who might be interested, the laptop cooling system that I have is NOT 100% sufficient in avoiding laptop underclocking and slowing down. There are still times, depending on what game im playing or what is happening in-game, where the heat DOES eventually go up enough to begin a slow-down. I play xenogears currently and this can be seen usually in scenes that have the battle backgrounds and panoramas displayed. I also tried a full 3d game like FF7 and the same happened (though after a much longer while than it did when I tried it without the laptop cooler).

This having been said, take care in buying GFX cards and take this post into consideration if you have your eyes set on any Intel Chipsets such as the one I have.