Running NeverWinter Nights 2 on M1210

I recently bought an XPS M1210 from Dell with the configurations:
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor T7200 (2GHz, 4M L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
2GB Dual Channel DDR2 memory
Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 7400 with TurboCache Graphics Card

But when I installed NWN2 and tried to run it, I was hit with the 128MB video memory problem. Now I know that the 7400 only has 64MB dedicated memory, but I had thought the extra shared memory would allow me to run it, as Oblivion also ran ok. I went to the System Requirements Lab which told me I wouldn't be able to run NVN2 nor Oblivion. So I searched around abit and found that others with the M1210 seemed to be able to run it ok, am I doing something wrong?

Thanks for your help in advance!

PS: Please move this if it is in the wrong section.

 

You won't be able to run NWN2 at anything but low settings. Your not doing anything wrong you just have the settings too high most likely.

Check the thread at the top of the page and make sure your GPU settings are correct (drivers etc.).

 

I am unable to even get into the game to change the settings. When executing the .exe, I get a message saying:

"Your video card has less than 128MB of video memory. Performance may be less than optimal."

and then nothing happens. This is probably due to the 7400 only having 64MB dedicated, since I just updated my driver at laptopvideo2go. Any other suggestions? >_<

 

Try this:

http://nwn2forums.bioware.com/forums/viewtopic.html?topic=517197&forum=116

Quote from that site:

Quote: The developers don't help us ,so I tried to solve this problem by myself. But for some reason,I could not post topics in Support Forums. So I can only post it Here.

Now ,Follow me

Click Start->Run,
Type Regedit to enter Registry Editor.
Then Find HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \\ SYSTEM \\ CurrentControlSet \\ Control \\ Video
In this class,you can find some sub class like {C84A0178 - 28C2- 4D98-ACC1 -486446A5E108}or others.
Don't Worry,Find Binary values named
"HardwareInformation .MemorySize"
Double click it and Mod the Value to:
00 00 00 08(Means 128MB Video RAM).
Do it like this!
You may find some Values also named
"HardwareInformation .MemorySize "
Edit them all!

Then Type DXDIAG in RUN,you can find your Video RAM changed to 128MB!
Then: Insert the disc & Play the Game!

 

Will that have some kind of weird side effects or something?

 

Not really, it's simply to tell the game you do have 128mb, and thus, avoid the crash to desktop.

 

Thanks alot.

Do you know if this only works with NeverWinter Nights or does it work with others as well?

 

It only works in NWN 2 as far as I know, but there might be other fixes for the other games.

 

Thanks Syusuke - a very interesting and well informed post - video memory is ALL these days in these latest types of game (eg NWN2). Processors seem to count for little. I am in Hong Kong on holiday at this time and just bought a VAIO VGC-LA38G. Fab machine also advertised with a NVIDIA GeForce 7400 (with 319 MB RAM), and by the way fully brought upto date with all the latest Sony and Microsoft software/patches. The Vista operating system reports 64 MB dedicated video memory and 271 MB shared memory total 335 MB.

The System Requirements Lab web site

http://www.srtest.com/bonus/t/sysin...tion_option_id=2857&submit2.x=79&submit2.y=20

(Excellent site) reported some 66 MB RAM and although all other criteria were met Video RAM failed. It would be a shame if for the sake of 256 MB (yes that is correct 256 MB RAM) a fabulous video card failed in the PC games market! I will post again when I have more information and crossed referenced.

PKRV

 

NWN2 has now been fixed, (though there is still a bug as the warning that the minimum 128MB video RAM has not been met dialogue box cannot be tick checked to not be shown again).

However the shared memory is not upto the task for playing this game at anything more than low-ish resolution and all effects turned off.

The GeForce Go 7400 GPU is superb but it can be shipped with just 64MB of onboard video RAM (I think it may support 128MB), and as such is crippled.

You can only see the true onboard video RAM using the display settings (advanced settings) dialogue box in vista. IMO It's about time that this type of memory is required to be documented in the blurb by marketing regulators as it drives all performance aspects.