pmistry

Sometimes with newer computers and newer hardware older OSes are just not the best to use. I see people running P4-2.5GHz PCs with Windows 98. I know they like Windows 98 alot but they have had nothing but problems with their system, it might be a good idea to try a different OS. Glad your problem is fixed.

Yeah I agree with you on Windows XP's DMA support, it sucks. I have an LG 52X CD-ROM drive, and while it doesn't support UDMA/33 it does support Multiword DMA Mode 2. In Windows 98/ME if I check off DMA and reboot, the drives will work in DMA mode and all is fine. In Windows XP if I select DMA if available, the drive will kick back into PIO mode because of the BIOS. If I go into my BIOS setup and select CDROM instead of AUTO for the device and manually input DMA, Windows XP will use DMA. However I didn't have this problem with Windows XP until I installed CD-Rom burning update. Also under Service Pack 1, I get these issues too, probably because the CD-Rom burning update is included. Before using these updates I could select DMA If Available and Windows XP would enable DMA on the next reboot. Also installing my VIA drivers help as well.

Yep installed DX 9 with the new Catalyst 3.0 drivers for my Radeon 8500. I had corruption in Mafia, and noticed my Quake 3 timedemo dropped 5 frames. I went back to Catalyst 2.5 and recovered the 5 frames, and the Mafia menu is no longer corrupted. Even with DX 9, the 2.5 Catalyst are the best for the Radeon 8500.

Yeah I am wondering as well. At the Rage3D computer forums, Radeon 8500 users have reported some loss in 3DMark performance, but the real test comes with games and real game performance, I guess you just have install this stuff and find out.

Thanks for the heads up on this.

Yeah MX200 is the SDRAM model with a 64-bit bus. The MX400 or normal MX would be a better choice.

This is why I don't install games to the bloody "Program Files" folder because it makes Windows put those stupid quotes around the path name. So for you the target box is like this: "C:\Program Files\Max Payne\MaxPayne.exe" For me I install to separate directories with less than 8 characters so it conforms to DOS rules. So I have: C:\Max\MaxPayne.exe As you see no quotes. So then I just go: C:\Max\MaxPayne.exe -developer and viola all is well. However, yours should work by going like this: "C:\Program Files\Max Payne\MaxPayne.exe" -developer If it doesn't open up a DOS Box and go like this: C: cd program files\max payne maxpayne -developer That should work, you can also use Notepad to create a batch file to start the game with the developer parameter.

The Quake 2 source it out, but I don't think it is GPL yet. The GOLK code is illegal code that came from the Quake3 game itself and shouldn't be used. As for the project it will continue, I don't think these guys are going to give up on something that they spent so much time on. Its just a matter of rewriting some code here and there and continuing on.

Yeah the GF2MX is quite old and with your setup your video card is the bottleneck. Get yourself a good GF4 Ti4200 or Radeon 9500. If you have the money you can get the higher models.

Also I mentioned this in another forum, but ATI just released the Catalyst 2.5 suite, it is more customizable than any other release, give it a shot.

Hey, great screen shot, I like the fact that this source port really gives the Quake 2 game engine a major brightness overhaul. The game is just so dark for me normally, but now it looks nicer when you adjust the overbright settings.

Try using the ASPI drivers bundled with CDRWin.

I have this problem with Windows XP SP1, with an LG 52X CD Drive, every other OS enables DMA for it except XP SP1. I don't know why. I remember that the CD Burner update for XP also gave me this problem.

Try running the new Catalyst 2.5 drivers if you aren't already. Supposed to have some 9700 improvements in them.

Run disk defragmenter, and disk cleanup.

Ahh the tangled web which we weave.

The first beta release of Quake 2 Evolved has arrived, and I am quite impressed. http://www.planetquake.com/blur

Make sure under your DVD drive that "DMA If Available" is selected. You may also want to poke around in your BIOS and make sure that "AUTO" is selected for your DVD drive.

These new ATI Catalyst 2.5 drivers work great under Windows 2000. I am running a Radeon 8500LE and the lockups with older GL programs in 2.4 are now gone. This set also adds some new Control Panel options. Compared to 2.4 these ones are much better.

I think it was 2 days ago, check www.rage3d.com for the latest info. I think this release fixes all of those bugs in 2.4. I have to admit that 2.4 was a pretty poor release.

Download the Free editon of this, should work with MSN. Can you still use IE? http://www.panicware.com/product_downloads.html

Ah XP vs 2000, yeah its been done, but seriously if 2000 does everything you need it to, then why switch up? I am thinking you are concerned with gaming performance and compatibility the most. XP has the most recent patches applied to it, but if all your old games run fine on 2000 then you are goo d to go, all new games support 2000 out of the box.

Christian, I ran into this same problem myself, I fixed it by downloading this codec pack. Just install some of the audio codecs. http://www.divx-digest.com/software/nimo_pack.html

You know I was thinking of some of those old landmark PC games, and I have to say that Kingpin really set the precedence long before other games did. People say that Soldier of Fortune crossed the boundary for realistic violence, I disagree, Kingpin was out before it and had some sick violent graphics, you could blow off people's head in Kingpin and see brains fly. Plus, Kingpin's graphics are top notch and in fact rival some of the games today. This is a Quake 2 engine based game too! Everyone loved the flamethrower effects of Return To Castle Wolfenstein, but in fact those effects are the same as Kingpin, after all it is the same developer. Just take a look at some of the screenshots and you will see how good they are still. Textures are amazingly detailed, amazing lighting effects, and even better the AI that follows you around is capable, just like Elite Force and Jedi Outcast, but Kingpin came out in 99. If you missed this title, I recommend you take it a for a spin its tough but helluva alot of fun. Here are some screenies from Planet Kingpin: http://www.planetkingpin.com/image.asp?img=/gameinfo/screenshots/images/large/kp_pkp_01.jpg http://www.planetkingpin.com/image.asp?img=/gameinfo/screenshots/images/large/kingpin1.jpg http://www.planetkingpin.com/image.asp?img=/gameinfo/screenshots/images/large/ss3.jpg

You know I like that LG 16x DVD-ROM or the Pioneer 16x DVD-ROM, they are fast and quiet. I am currently using an LG 52X CD-ROM and it is quite fast but disks get really hot when used for awhile. I am assuming you don't need CD-RW capabilities. In any case I would get a DVD drive, they are cheap enough, and most new software will require DVD eventually, plus CDs work in DVD-ROM drives and usually spin at 40x+ speeds. This website has some reviews of optical drives: http://www.cdrlabs.com