Looking for the best possible drivers.

Foxxie-kun · Jun 12, 2009, 01:03 AM

I'm looking for any drivers, 3rd party or not, that work with Windows Vista 32-bit, ATI Radeon HD2600Pro 512MB PCI-E video card, and do not give severe graphical artifacts in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and KOTOR 2, and yet still offer the best possible performance on newer games such as Prototype and Bioshock.

I WOULD get the Omega Drivers, if there were any for ATI+Vista 32-bit. And I'm not sure if DNA-Drivers fix any of the issues with KOTOR.

The issues with KOTOR I'm talking about are glitches with the speed-blur effect used in force speed, and several other frame-buffer effects, where instead of showing the effect, it actually shows rainbow-bars across the screen or dims the screen to near black.

Thanks for the help.

Tipstaff · Jun 12, 2009, 01:23 PM

From what I remember most of the issues with KOTOR and Vista is that KOTOR isn't compatible with Vista. Among other things there are issues with running iton dual core machines. When running it on dual core machine it can be prone to crashing, and the only way around it is to set the machine to run on one core (done via the bios), or setting it to run on one core by setting the affinity to 1. Graphics wise, KOTOR runs on OpenGL, and interesting enough runs better (when it does) on Nvidia hardware than ATI, and you have to set it to run in Windows XP Compatibilty mode. When I had it on my ATI 1950Pro I couldn't get it to run properly (crash after crash), yet I had better luck on my GTX260.

Something I do remember is that you need to install and run the game in Windows XP Compatibilty mode while also using the "Run as Administrator" option. This seemed to help with both the Securom issues, and overall crash issues.

Foxxie-kun · Jun 12, 2009, 11:26 PM

The problem is, it has run perfect in the past (Aside from that graphical issue), no need to jump through hoops.

It's not that KOTOR is incompatible with Vista, it's that it works flawlessly when you know how to work it right (Disable Data Execution Prevention, etc.) except with ATI chipset based video cards giving graphical glitches on the speed blur.

Is a GTX260 worth the $170+ I've found it for on some sites? Not sure how much it is on Newegg, but I'd have to get a supplemental PSU or even just a new case+PSU to run newer cards, and the supplemental PSU is about $60+ on newegg itself. Still cheaper than a new case and PSU, but still pretty steep.

Tipstaff · Jun 13, 2009, 06:57 AM

For the price, no, a GTX260 isn't worth it now when the GTX275 is much faster, yet only cost about $25 more, if that. Mind you, buying a new video card, possibly a new PSU, and if the card doesn't fit, a new case, don't know if it's worth all that money just to play 1 or 2 games (it'd be cheaper to by an Xbox, and pickup those versions of both games). For myself, I would probably do a dual boot system instead, installing XP and Vista, or trying out the Windows 7 RC1 that has the option of running Virtual XP.

Come to think of it, I have W7 installed on my gaming rig right now. I'll give it a shot to see if KOTOR 1/2 will run under W7 as well as Virtual XP, however that system has the GTX260 in it, so even if it works I won't know if it does so for an ATI card.

SeraphicSorcerer · Jun 13, 2009, 07:01 AM

From what I've been able to tell There's no graphic acceleration in XP Mode.

Tipstaff · Jun 13, 2009, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeraphicSorcerer

From what I've been able to tell There's no graphic acceleration in XP Mode.

That's right. Forgot about that.

Foxxie-kun · Jun 13, 2009, 05:45 PM

Thanks for the help.

The thing is, my video card is due for an upgrade anyway, and with some of the new games out now not being able to be run at high specs on my rig right now (Crysis, GTA4, etc.), I figure it'll be worth it for a new card and such, or maybe just a full fresh rig.

At the very least I'll need a new HDD for a dual boot. I only have about 10GB left on my 245GB Drive.

Jun 12, 2009, 01:03 AM	#1
Foxxie-kun DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Looking for the best possible drivers. I'm looking for any drivers, 3rd party or not, that work with Windows Vista 32-bit, ATI Radeon HD2600Pro 512MB PCI-E video card, and do not give severe graphical artifacts in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and KOTOR 2, and yet still offer the best possible performance on newer games such as Prototype and Bioshock. I WOULD get the Omega Drivers, if there were any for ATI+Vista 32-bit. And I'm not sure if DNA-Drivers fix any of the issues with KOTOR. The issues with KOTOR I'm talking about are glitches with the speed-blur effect used in force speed, and several other frame-buffer effects, where instead of showing the effect, it actually shows rainbow-bars across the screen or dims the screen to near black. Thanks for the help.

Jun 12, 2009, 01:23 PM	#2
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	Re: Looking for the best possible drivers. From what I remember most of the issues with KOTOR and Vista is that KOTOR isn't compatible with Vista. Among other things there are issues with running iton dual core machines. When running it on dual core machine it can be prone to crashing, and the only way around it is to set the machine to run on one core (done via the bios), or setting it to run on one core by setting the affinity to 1. Graphics wise, KOTOR runs on OpenGL, and interesting enough runs better (when it does) on Nvidia hardware than ATI, and you have to set it to run in Windows XP Compatibilty mode. When I had it on my ATI 1950Pro I couldn't get it to run properly (crash after crash), yet I had better luck on my GTX260. Something I do remember is that you need to install and run the game in Windows XP Compatibilty mode while also using the "Run as Administrator" option. This seemed to help with both the Securom issues, and overall crash issues. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Jun 12, 2009, 11:26 PM	Thread Starter #3
Foxxie-kun DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Re: Looking for the best possible drivers. The problem is, it has run perfect in the past (Aside from that graphical issue), no need to jump through hoops. It's not that KOTOR is incompatible with Vista, it's that it works flawlessly when you know how to work it right (Disable Data Execution Prevention, etc.) except with ATI chipset based video cards giving graphical glitches on the speed blur. Is a GTX260 worth the $170+ I've found it for on some sites? Not sure how much it is on Newegg, but I'd have to get a supplemental PSU or even just a new case+PSU to run newer cards, and the supplemental PSU is about $60+ on newegg itself. Still cheaper than a new case and PSU, but still pretty steep.

Jun 13, 2009, 06:57 AM	#4
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	Re: Looking for the best possible drivers. For the price, no, a GTX260 isn't worth it now when the GTX275 is much faster, yet only cost about $25 more, if that. Mind you, buying a new video card, possibly a new PSU, and if the card doesn't fit, a new case, don't know if it's worth all that money just to play 1 or 2 games (it'd be cheaper to by an Xbox, and pickup those versions of both games). For myself, I would probably do a dual boot system instead, installing XP and Vista, or trying out the Windows 7 RC1 that has the option of running Virtual XP. Come to think of it, I have W7 installed on my gaming rig right now. I'll give it a shot to see if KOTOR 1/2 will run under W7 as well as Virtual XP, however that system has the GTX260 in it, so even if it works I won't know if it does so for an ATI card. __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick. Last edited by Tipstaff; Jun 13, 2009 at 07:06 AM.

Jun 13, 2009, 07:01 AM	#5
SeraphicSorcerer HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 2,295 Rep Power: 156 System Specs	Re: Looking for the best possible drivers. From what I've been able to tell There's no graphic acceleration in XP Mode. __________________

Jun 13, 2009, 05:45 PM	Thread Starter #7
Foxxie-kun DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 6 Rep Power: 0	Re: Looking for the best possible drivers. Thanks for the help. The thing is, my video card is due for an upgrade anyway, and with some of the new games out now not being able to be run at high specs on my rig right now (Crysis, GTA4, etc.), I figure it'll be worth it for a new card and such, or maybe just a full fresh rig. At the very least I'll need a new HDD for a dual boot. I only have about 10GB left on my 245GB Drive.