The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    HL2 doesn't get along with my 8400M (picture!)

    Discussion in 'Gaming (Software and Graphics Cards)' started by kenratboy, Jan 7, 2008.

  1. kenratboy

    kenratboy Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    [​IMG]

    Notice that the background is fine, but any objects on the background (door, wires running up wall, and the light at the top right side) turn a solid or near solid color when its dark. If I turn the flashlight on and shine it on these objects, they look fine. When I am in bright areas, it looks fine.

    What is going on, and how can I fix it? I downloaded and installed the latest drivers (I am assuming its a driver issue), but is it a setting, or something else?

    Thanks!
     
  2. Vizel

    Vizel Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    45
    Messages:
    206
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I really think that they designed game to be that way =P
     
  3. Wu Jen

    Wu Jen Some old nobody

    Reputations:
    1,409
    Messages:
    1,438
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Something is off in the way the textures are rendered. What settings are you using and what driver version?
     
  4. kenratboy

    kenratboy Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have tried every combonation of video settings, makes no difference. Its just 'stuck' like that. I get the gut feeling the game is OK, but the hardware/software is screwing up what is showing on my monitor.

    Not sure on the version, I see a few numbers, but its the latest one from Dell's support site. Does 101.43 sound right? Release date is 7/12/2007.

    Thanks!!!
     
  5. lucirz

    lucirz Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    273
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    31
  6. hollownail

    hollownail Individual 11

    Reputations:
    374
    Messages:
    2,916
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Hrm... I've run into the same thing with Hl2. But I only notice it if I turn AA onto certain levels. At 2x or 4x (I think) I'm okay, but any higher and that same issue occurs.
    Granted, I'm using crappy drives for my card, and it's an ATI card... :-/
     
  7. kenratboy

    kenratboy Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Just wanted to follow up and say that Windows Update found these new drivers and everything is not only fixed (graphics issue), but it runs faster as well.

    While this is not a SLI 8800 gaming monster, for what was going to be some $599 Best Buy Special, I really ended up with a decent little laptop. Playing Episode 2 at 1440x900 with a few goodies turned on and it runs just fine.

    Thanks for the help!