random stutters

Czez · Post by **Czez** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:38 pm

I have a slight random stutter with both zsnes and bsnes. Every once in a while the emulator stops for 2 seconds and the sound stutters during this time, then it goes back to normal. This happens around every 5 minutes or so.

I'm also getting a windows error at the same time telling me "your display driver has stopped responding and has been restored" gives me the indication it might be driver related, but it ONLY happpens with either zsnes or bsnes, everything else is fine. Is this a know problem? Whats going on?

My specs are the following:
Core 2 Duo P8600 2.40Ghz
4GB DDR3
Intel GMA 4500HD + 9300M GS (hybrid graphics, this only happens when I use the intel card)
VIsta Business 32-bit

creaothceann · Post by **creaothceann** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 5:00 pm

Integrated graphics card.

Czez wrote:(this only happens when I use the intel card)

Use the other one.

byuu · Post by **byuu** » Sat Jul 04, 2009 6:16 pm

Try the other video drivers to see if you can rule out any specific API. ZSNES uses DirectDraw and bsnes uses Direct3D. If you go to Settings->Configuration->Advanced, you can change the video driver to OpenGL (fast) or GDI (very slow). Restart the emulator for it to take effect.

If that fails, it's most likely your video card and/or drivers.

Post by **odditude** » Sun Jul 05, 2009 4:34 pm

it's more than likely the drivers. laptop manufacturers don't put much effort into using the latest and "greatest," and intel doesn't provide public reference drivers for the mobile chipsets.

Czez · Post by **Czez** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:20 pm

Yes, it works fine when I use the 9300M GS, but technically shouldnt the integrated intel card be enough?

The reason why I'm wondering is because Im testing custom drivers (since the stock drivers are old and slow) and the only error I get using the intel card is when I'm using zsnes or bsnes. So I just wanted to check if this error was known or if it might be related to the drivers.

EDIT
byuu: I tried what you suggested and switching to opengl and directdraw made the error disappear. However now, instead of getting the error I described I am getting temporary small fps drops in certain games. For example for 1 second the fps drops from 60 to 40-50.

franpa · Post by **franpa** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:35 pm

likely related to the drivers, as mentioned by Odditude above ^.

Deathlike2 · Post by **Deathlike2** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:37 pm

franpa wrote:likely related to the drivers, as mentioned by Deathlike2 above ^.

I don't recall making an appearance in this thread until... right now.

Don't expect drivers from integrated graphics to be anything worthwhile. You have to get at minimum of mid-end graphics (whether it be laptop or the desktop version) to reduce headaches on your head. Integrated Intel graphics is ALWAYS integrated low end (even NVidia's or AMD's integrated is a ALWAYS little bit better, but that's not really something to write home about).

Post by **grinvader** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:42 pm

Deathlike2 wrote:
franpa wrote:likely related to the drivers, as mentioned by Deathlike2 above ^.
I don't recall making an appearance in this thread until... right now.

franpa can see forever

due to CRT radiation directly in the visual cortex

Czez · Post by **Czez** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 6:45 pm

Deathlike2: He probably knew you would appear anytime soon

Anyway, thanks for the info I'll keep it in mind and stop using my intel card

I knew it was bad just didnt know it was THIS bad. Guess the only thing it's good for is saving power!

adventure_of_link · Post by **adventure_of_link** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 7:45 pm

grinvader wrote:
Deathlike2 wrote:
franpa wrote:likely related to the drivers, as mentioned by Deathlike2 above ^.
I don't recall making an appearance in this thread until... right now.
franpa can see forever

due to CRT radiation directly in the visual cortex

Since when does FRANPA get super powers

byuu · Post by **byuu** » Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:02 pm

However now, instead of getting the error I described I am getting temporary small fps drops in certain games. For example for 1 second the fps drops from 60 to 40-50.

That sounds pretty similar to what you were getting before:

Every once in a while the emulator stops for 2 seconds and the sound stutters during this time, then it goes back to normal.

It's probably one of those Vista background processes kicking in. I've seen it on my HTPC, figured it'd be better on a true dual core, but I guess not.

Czez · Post by **Czez** » Wed Jul 08, 2009 10:52 am

byuu wrote: That sounds pretty similar to what you were getting before:

The difference is that now its just a slight temporary fps drop, before the entire emulation stopped, caused by the display driver error. Anyway I'm getting slight random fps drops with my 9300M GS too, though not as frequent. (mostly this just happens with superFX games like Yoshis Island and Star Fox)

Perhaps it's just the high requirements of bsnes?

Works pretty smooth most of the time tough.

Squall_Leonhart · Post by **Squall_Leonhart** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:23 am

Set the power settings to Performance, rather then balanced/power saver

creaothceann · Post by **creaothceann** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:04 pm

"... now you're playing with Power!"