Need Info. About Enhancing Video Card

Screen Savers Not Running Right

from WinCustomize Forums
I have 2 screen savers that when they are running they do a start & stop on the motion of the saver & then one of them just stops running after about 15 seconds. I looked up the FAQ from the site, found the same question & the answer was to update/enhance your video card. I guess mine isn't 'powerful enough'? Every other screen saver I have,except 2 more that aren't as bad, runs like a champ including a couple of Matrix ones & several Aquariums. I don't understand what's going on. I tried to look all over,even their link, for an 'upgrade' but can't seem to find a 'match' & most of it I just don't understand. I have a Toshiba Satellite M35X-S161 with celeron'inside' (it says). I have more than enough memory that's for sure, more than half the disk is empty according to the comp. 1.30GHz & 480MB of RAM. It's an XP home edition. Under Display adapters:Intel(R) 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller. Then below the Intel. etc. the same exact info. is repeted including #'s & letters. Written exactally that way both times. I hope that's enough info. & that I can be helped. I've been trying to fix this for 2 wks now by myself & I just don't know enough & don't have time anyway. I'm very busy with a 1yr.old & being disabled I just don't have time to figure this out for myself. Thank You for ANY help I can get! Mae.
7,928 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It may be the screensavers, and not the video adapter.

You have onboard graphics, so there is not a lot you can do at this point, except perhaps select the screensaver - then use the settings button next to the screensaver and see if you can change the settings to something more agreeable with the video adapter (if it is indeed the adapter that is causing the issue).

Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Some screensavers require OpenGL which most onboard video does not support.
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Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Thank You both for your info so very much! I wonder is there anything I can download &/or place inside the computer to make it more 'powerful'? I have 1 screensaver that was working fine then the picture turned fairly cartoonish & it started that 'frame by frame' type of movement too. I hadn't touched any of the controls for the color levels. (this just happened). Again I really Thank You so much!
Mae
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you feel that it is not the screensaver (i.e., all screensavers do the same, or this screensaver is much more detailed and/or animated), then the only things I can think of are:

1 - Go to the Toshiba web site and see if they have any updated drivers for the model Intel Graphics controller your machine is listing. In general, you will always want to go to the manufacturers web site first to download graphic controller drivers (or verify that you can download from the graphic controller manufacturers web site) when working with a laptop. They are often specialized drivers, and obtaining them from say Intel directly may or may not work correctly.

Note - Intel is currently offering an updated driver for your graphics controller, which was released on September 28, 2005, and can be downloaded here http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df-external/filter_results.aspx?strTypes=all&ProductID=922&OSFullName=Windows - you would want download #1.

Please verify with Toshiba whether or not you can use this driver before installing. It is listed in Intel's "Laptop Graphics Controller" section, but it is always best to be sure before installing.

Intel does indicate the 82852/82855 GM/GME Graphics Controller to be compatible with, and support the OpenGL 1.3 specification. It also indicates a 32 MB memory, which is not a whole lot of memory resources - but should work with many screensavers and basic games.

2 - Try changing the settings on the screensaver (i.e., the animation speed if available). If you slow the speed down and there is significant improvement, then you are probably experiencing the limitations of the graphic controller's 3D capabilities, or memory resources.

3 - You can try changing the hardware acceleration settings via "Right-click desktop > Properties > Settings tab > Advanced button > Troubleshoot tab > Acceleration slider". This may actually increase the issue, but may be worth a shot.

Again, if you are experiencing a "global" issue (all screensavers) in performance, it would point to a limited graphic controller. If on the other hand, you see issues with less than say 20% of your screensavers, then it is more likely that the screensaver was made for higher end graphics cards/adapters - or is faulty in some way.

I hope this helps.

Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Whew! What a LOT of info! But a LOT of GOOD info!!! THANK YOU so MUCH for taking the time to write all that out!!! I am really sorry it's taken me this long to thank you for your help, but I've been much more than busy. I'm gonna read this over again carefully & check into what you've suggested. It was only 3 or 4 screen savers that I was having trouble with. It may have just been them their selves, but I also now have a new comp. & haven't had time to transfer them yet so I guess I'll find out something with that as well. I will, however, check into it as I do have the old comp. still & maybe it can be fixed.
Thank You Very Much!!!