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Xookliba · 07-09-2003, 02:37 PM

I have a Radeon 8500LE and I am having stuttering problems. Decreasing my settings didn't help either. (I shouldn't have a problem as this card is almost overkill for this game. Also I have a 1.5GHz CPU with 512 RAM, so it's not a machine issue.) Voodoo, however, is not the only source of problems. I found this at the Sorcerer's Place:

The game stutters or pauses for short intervals while playing (Back to Known Issues list)

There are several possible explanations for this behaviour. Firstly there was indeed a bug within the game that caused this to happen, and this is fixed in the final patch. There are additional factors that have also caused this problem for players. Here are some solutions to try:

1. Turn off virus scanners or other applications running in the background or system tray: Your processor will have a tougher time running the game if it has to run other programs at the same time. If you think you have shut down any active programs, don’t forget to also turn off the programs running in your system tray (i.e. these are the little icons at the bottom right of your task bar where it says the time). The icons represent programs that are running in the background. For example, you should see by default the Volume control there, which is a program that is running (you can leave this on though). The most guilty of these system tray programs for causing BG2 to stutter are virus scanners (e.g. Mcaffee or Norton). Turn these off and see if there is an improvement in performance.
2. Turn off EAX of set the Ambient volume slider to 0: Some players have encountered stutter difficulties with EAX and have found that the difficulties disappear when turning it off. Another audio related solution that might work is to drag the Ambient volume slider (in-game Options Screen) to 0, which effectively turns off the ambient sfx.
3. Voodoo cards using 16-bit textures instead of 32-bit textures: If you enable 3D acceleration in the BGConfig program and are using a Voodoo card, you must remember to uncheck the 32-bit textures checkbox and use the 3Dfx OpenGL drivers. Leaving 32-bit textures would cause problems, and by some reports, a stuttering of the game.
4. Many bags of holding, gem bags, and scroll cases in inventory: The problem associated with having too many of these is fixed in the final patch. However, in the remote possibility of continued problems, try leaving these items in the containers in your Pocket Plane instead of in your character inventory.

I am going to try the EAX thing (I had this prob in BG1). I also have a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. It has helped in other games to decrease the hardware acceleration. I also am guilty of a few bags of holding!

07-09-2003, 02:37 PM	#8
Xookliba Elite Waterdeep Guard Join Date: February 21, 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Age: 62 Posts: 14	I have a Radeon 8500LE and I am having stuttering problems. Decreasing my settings didn't help either. (I shouldn't have a problem as this card is almost overkill for this game. Also I have a 1.5GHz CPU with 512 RAM, so it's not a machine issue.) Voodoo, however, is not the only source of problems. I found this at the Sorcerer's Place: The game stutters or pauses for short intervals while playing (Back to Known Issues list) There are several possible explanations for this behaviour. Firstly there was indeed a bug within the game that caused this to happen, and this is fixed in the final patch. There are additional factors that have also caused this problem for players. Here are some solutions to try: 1. Turn off virus scanners or other applications running in the background or system tray: Your processor will have a tougher time running the game if it has to run other programs at the same time. If you think you have shut down any active programs, don’t forget to also turn off the programs running in your system tray (i.e. these are the little icons at the bottom right of your task bar where it says the time). The icons represent programs that are running in the background. For example, you should see by default the Volume control there, which is a program that is running (you can leave this on though). The most guilty of these system tray programs for causing BG2 to stutter are virus scanners (e.g. Mcaffee or Norton). Turn these off and see if there is an improvement in performance. 2. Turn off EAX of set the Ambient volume slider to 0: Some players have encountered stutter difficulties with EAX and have found that the difficulties disappear when turning it off. Another audio related solution that might work is to drag the Ambient volume slider (in-game Options Screen) to 0, which effectively turns off the ambient sfx. 3. Voodoo cards using 16-bit textures instead of 32-bit textures: If you enable 3D acceleration in the BGConfig program and are using a Voodoo card, you must remember to uncheck the 32-bit textures checkbox and use the 3Dfx OpenGL drivers. Leaving 32-bit textures would cause problems, and by some reports, a stuttering of the game. 4. Many bags of holding, gem bags, and scroll cases in inventory: The problem associated with having too many of these is fixed in the final patch. However, in the remote possibility of continued problems, try leaving these items in the containers in your Pocket Plane instead of in your character inventory. I am going to try the EAX thing (I had this prob in BG1). I also have a Turtle Beach Santa Cruz. It has helped in other games to decrease the hardware acceleration. I also am guilty of a few bags of holding!