Laptop Video Augmentation

Tech-Archive recommends: Repair Windows Errors & Optimize Windows Performance

From: BW Williams (anonymous_at_discussions.microsoft.com)
Date: 08/02/04 

Date: Mon, 2 Aug 2004 11:30:31 -0700

I have recently been given a Toshiba Tecra 8000 PII 266.
The system was owned by a family member of mine and I used
in our home on a irregular basis. I recently formatted the
hard drive and installed Windows 2000 Professional on it.
I chose this operating system largely because it is far
more secure than Windows 9x and also because at the
conclusion of my A+ Certification course that I will
likely get an MCSA/MCSE on this OS.

The system runs fairly well, but it is certainly lacking
in the graphics department. I suspect that the graphics
card, a NeoMagic MagicGraph256AV is likely soldered or
integrated into board itself, albeit I would not attempt
to open the case to find out. The problems with graphics
are currently slowing down a trial version of the game
called Zuma Deluxe. I suspect that the graphics card is
responsible for this. The balls do not roll, but rather
jerk across the screen, however at somewhat a consistant
pace. I attempted to adjust the "in game" hardware
acceleration, but was told that my system didn't meet the
minimum requirements.

Such has also been the case for other newer games that I
have installed. I have come to accept some limitations,
but some can also be remedied. I am wondering what I can
do to fix this. I have already adjusted the swap file size
much larger than it was. Now I am looking for a hardware
solution. Is there *anything* (a device or card) out there
that I can use to improve my hardware performance besides
extra RAM or newer drivers? Also, is it typical to find a
slot for these video cards inside the case or are they
usually soldered/integrated? Thanks for the help in
advance.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Theres no need for a new Xbox, says Microsoft
    ... Moore's Law relates to transistor density, not to any specific hardware. ... > aspects of the game, like gameplay, characters and story. ... Nicer graphics should not impede gameplay, ...
    (alt.games.video.xbox)
  • Re: Stacraft 2. What do you think?
    ... hardware makers cannot test on every game (particularly FUTURE games ... Any game could cause these PCs to overheat. ... fry his card. ... I doubt any of their video cards died do due overheating. ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.strategic)
  • Re: Play Want Bin Expense 3DS Special Edition Fighter II X Turbo Alpha Dash
    ... card I forget. ... What the consoles do have going for them is that obviously you never ... always the temptation to twiddle instead of game. ... You can mess with graphics settings, you can mess with the drivers, ...
    (uk.games.video.misc)
  • Re: Thoughts on PhysX....
    ... I can only see using an ATI card for vid and nVidia ... which doesn't require a separate chip (on a stand-alone card or GPU). ... you ever see the graphics in Flight Simulator X? ... The issue is that in game development, ...
    (comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action)
  • Re: Northrend ETA
    ... A decent percentage of people with older graphics card were ... to support all hardware in every possible configuration out there is ... PC game makers don't do a good job of pushing the hardware though. ... Then you have to remember that the low spec internet cafe machines of ...
    (alt.games.warcraft)