Mobility 9000 IGP Cant Manage Frame Buffer!!!

Z3RO · Jul 14, 2006, 02:37 PM

Hello

I live in South East Asia, and lately have a disturbing problem w/ mobility 9000 igp..
and hardly find any solution..

my laptop is Toshiba P35-S605 which packed w/

Mobile Pentium 4 552 w/ HT technology running @ 3.5 GHz, 1MB L2, 533MHz
Samsung 512MB DDR 333 PC2700 (Factory default)
Apacer 512MB DDR 400 PC3200 (I add it myself)
TOSHIBA HDD 100GB 5400 RPM
ATI Mobility Radeon 9000/9100 IGP @ 128MB

The problem is.... I cant go back to 16/32MB on my frame buffer size!! I can do it when the Ram was 512mb... considering that Photoshop CS2 requires more RAM, then i add 512mb more since 1gb So-dimm is so #%!@%@! expensive!

When i add it, the laptop define 128mb for vga ram automatically.. and leave me 896mb for my graphic design activity... since my works exceed 900mb.. i consider to lower a bit my uma framebuffer size to 32mb (i doubt 16mb could run a native lcd res @ 1440x900, 32Bit, 60Hz... so i never tried it...) and the choice is 128mb, 128mb, 128mb..... end!! there is no 64mb, 32mb, or even 16mb just like before... ARRRGGHH

if you need additional infos... my framebuffer size is driver managed... it's controlled from Windows and restart for result.. i used the original ATI driver provided by Toshiba now.. I've tried any other driver (incl. the latest one from ATI) and there's no solution...

I want to gain back my memory

btw, I've played NFS:MW in this lappy and have a great performance... there's one disturbance though... all cars are very-very shiny!! so shiny that they are all silver without any cutting!! did anybody experienced this??

Z3RO · Jul 15, 2006, 02:09 AM

anybody knows any solutions??? anybody that also has mobility 9000 igp... please share your experience.... is this a memory incompatibility (pc2700 combined w/ pc3200), or hardware bug??? should i buy a single 1gb sodimm??

MOBILITY RADEON 9000/9100 IGP
Internal DAC(400MHz)
128Mb
ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9000 IGP
BK-ATI VER008.017I.057.002

Z3RO · Jul 15, 2006, 11:24 AM

..... hello.... ???
i wonder where anybody is... not even one of those admins respond anything....

btw how to upload a pic into this bbs?? i mean directly into this forum... not hyperlinking it or upload it to another web first...

today i've tried another 512mb pc2700 to try if this is caused by memory incompatibility.
the so-dimm i've tried was came from toshiba m35, it's a hyundai... mine samsung.... korean huh..??

took off my pc3200 apacer and put pc2700 hyundai... so it was both pc2700 512mb, hyundai and samsung...
started my windows, and the lappy reported there's 896mb on my system... not surprising... and then i opened display properties, tried to change my uma framebuffer... and i went into uma buffer size selection and voila!!

128mb....

that's all.....

&$^&#@# now what!! both memory are pc2700! both are 512mb!! both KOREAN!!
so i must try samsung n samsung or what??!!

is this a hardware issue???? is there any driver would solve this?? or i must go to a store and throw some &*%^@^ bucks into the seller's face just to get a 1gb sodimm!!!???

please help me......

RIV@NVX · Jul 15, 2006, 01:14 PM

If driver doesn't allow you to change to a value you want, I doubt there is any solution. This could be HW/BIOS limitation. Consider asking Toshiba tech support.

Z3RO · Jul 16, 2006, 07:34 AM

Quote:

If driver doesn't allow you to change to a value you want, I doubt there is any solution. This could be HW/BIOS limitation. Consider asking Toshiba tech support. -RIV@NVX

Thanks for the respond!
now i feel that this forum is alive

Yes i asked toshiba but locally... I've asked the customer care and then they give me 3 solutions... take off one of the ram, buy a 1gb ram so i may get 1gb exceed ram, or ask the ati......
they also said that most users would prefer the highest ram selection available, so it's not a major bothering matter.....

however the matter is my vga mem is managed by driver under windows (the uma buffer size is not available in bios configuration, i've confirmed this)... i suspect that this is driver incapability instead of the h/w... and also this is probably restricted by ATI itself (such as overclocking selection) so i wonder if any unofficial would work such as omegadrive (which was not helping in this matter....)

this way of thinking made me fall into this forum and i dont find anybody asked this matter... and since this place is a DRIVER HEAVEN where the GOD of DRIVER should live, i pray so that i can find my solution here...

and hey where are those Gods?

swimtech · Jul 17, 2006, 07:59 PM

We're definitely not gods, just people who feel like this place is a slice of heaven at times...

.

Take a look at this thread HERE and read through it - hopefully it will give you some advice and maybe a couple things to try that might help...

Z3RO · Jul 19, 2006, 08:19 AM

Thanks...

btw it's a shock to know that am9000 can boost into 256mb... he (siguric) wanted to boost his uma... yet i'm trying to lower it......

perhaps i have to forget my dream to lower the uma buffer and get a 1gb sodimm..... is there any cheap ddr400 pc3200 1gb sodimm?

still i think that this is weird... the lower option seems just fading away... it would be realistic if i cant upgrade into the higher uma.... but i wantd to do the opposite....

thanks again..

Randomness · Jul 24, 2006, 12:24 AM

Hello Z3RO:

From what i understand, you are having difficulting changing the UMA Frame buffer on your Toshiba Satellite P35-S605.

What BIOS version are you running?
There is an update for your P35-S605 here:http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/cont...ds/sp35v14.exe

File Link information:
Title: ACPI Flash BIOS version 1.40 for Satellite P35-S609
Version: 1.40
Size: 2,865,152 bytes
Posted: 10/19/05
Released Date: 10/19/05
Operating System: BIOS

Please double-check that this is the correct BIOS update for your system, and follow the instructions carefully, i take no responsibility if you incorrectly flash your BIOS, and end up with a dead system. DO NOT LOSE POWER IN THE FLASH PROCESS.
Please also make sure that this update applies with regards to any local language compatibility settings.

A Newer BIOS may correct your UMA issue. Please keep in mind that the IGP chipset only allows the UMA to be changed through the BIOS and not through the Driver software.

Good luck, and take care.

Z3RO · Jul 29, 2006, 10:28 AM

Hello randomness...

thanks for the reply...

mine is already 1.30 (ive checked it myself on bios info)
(which should be packed w/ the updates about the lcd etc..)

the latest bios is 1.40 which only repair CTRL-key function...
so actually i still doubt this would solve my problem...

btw since there's seem no other solutions, i'll try to ask someone experienced here in my town to flash my bios... perhaps not in near days since i still use this lappy for my graphic design works..

Quote:

Please keep in mind that the IGP chipset only allows the UMA to be changed through the BIOS and not through the Driver software.

i also thinked like that until i dont find the uma buffer menu itself on the bios screen...
usually (and probably every) computers with built-in vga w/ shared memory would have its mem settings on bios, dont care it's a desktop or laptop....

but mine isnt! its nowhere in bios screen...

the bios is PhoenixBIOS 4.0 release 6.1
screen 1 only shows info about my lappy... only hdd config available here
screen 2 only shows whether you should use HT tech/USB legacy or not
screen 3 is a security setting... where you define password for lappy or not]
screen 4 is booting config..... which device should boot first...
screen 5 is save config, dont save config, factory default, etc...

....... no uma buffer size setting... like i told you it's managed by ati driver under windows, which probably trigger some hidden option on bios...

hope this mystery can be solve...

Randomness · Jul 29, 2006, 10:45 AM

Hello:

The graphics drivers don't reveal hidden settings in the BIOS. I would still suggest the BIOS update as well. Although it may correct a small issue, they still update the rest of the BIOS code, but don't bother listing it all in the revision history.

However, i don't think you need to worry about only having the 896MB of system RAM. Your Radeon 9000/9100 IGP has 128MB which will help render textures, and process more graphical data.

The UMA shared memory is split (in the hardware level) into 2 categories : Frame Buffer, and Texture Memory.
The Actual Frame buffer's memory allocation is automatically determined by your resolution and color depth.
The texture Memory would than be given the rest of the available UMA shared memory.

Most Graphics design programs are able to use the Radeon GPU and its texture memory to help improve preformance.

Unfortunately the only way to change the UMA shared memory would be through the BIOS. I suppose you could hack a driver to "emulate" the memory back to the system, but this is messy, and will cause a preformance decrease.

You may need to contact / look through the Toshiba support service website for more help on this issue.

Good luck, and take care.

Z3RO · Jul 30, 2006, 10:40 AM

Quote:

The graphics drivers don't reveal hidden settings in the BIOS. I would still suggest the BIOS update as well. Although it may correct a small issue, they still update the rest of the BIOS code, but don't bother listing it all in the revision history.Randomness

it's definitely worth a try but What makes me doubt it is p35 family is various... some are w/ dedicated ram and some are shared... some amr9000/9100igp and some amr9700.. and just one update for all p35 is seem strange if uma frame buffer setting on bios is exist but the lappy use dedicated ram..

Quote:

However, i don't think you need to worry about only having the 896MB of system RAM. Your Radeon 9000/9100 IGP has 128MB which will help render textures, and process more graphical data.

The UMA shared memory is split (in the hardware level) into 2 categories : Frame Buffer, and Texture Memory.
The Actual Frame buffer's memory allocation is automatically determined by your resolution and color depth.
The texture Memory would than be given the rest of the available UMA shared memory.

Most Graphics design programs are able to use the Radeon GPU and its texture memory to help improve preformance. Randomness

hmm... probably so but, what makes down is.. since photoshop cs2 uses ram exceed 900mb (seldomly 1.01gb-1.34gb) i still think that gaining back ram is the modest solution.. since it would prevent windows to start using hdd as additional mem (5400rpm is so slow)

and probably i wont use 16mb as uma frame buffer... just 64mb is definitely help... since i have 64mb more for photshop

my lappy lcd native res is 1440x900 @ 32bit color, 60Hz.... 64mb/32mb for this screen res would be plenty enough...

Quote:

You may need to contact / look through the Toshiba support service website for more help on this issue.Randomness

i'm a li'l fed up w/ their support service atm.... perhaps next time...

btw eventho i still think that this problem is weird... buying a 1gb sodimm is probably best solution...
anybody knows a cheap one somewhere below $100? here where i live those are priced $139

i just hope when i add 1gb... the lappy wont define 256mb as my uma frame buffer... (just like siguric said that 256mb will appears in amr9000 uma size when 1.5gb ram is available)
this is a crazy corruption!

EDITED

this is pic of the main problem... my current winxp is english winxpsp1 w/ jap lang pack... my p3 desktop use the native jap winxp home no sp...

Z3RO · Jul 30, 2006, 11:24 AM

Now adding pics about my bios....

Z3RO · Aug 4, 2006, 12:13 PM

what should i do..? the experts here are unwilling to flash my bios....

this is caused by the first splash screen...

mine (TOSHIBA SATELLITE P35-S605) is out of the list..

yet in the toshiba support download page.. they mentioned mine.
http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/t...p?soid=1185721

which one should i believe?

Randomness · Aug 4, 2006, 01:45 PM

Hello:

Indeed, flashing a BIOS is ricky, but usually the OEM buts code into the flash utility that makes sure that the system about to be flashed is compatible. You could always send them an email to double check.

Although a BIOS flash cannot always guarantee it will give you access to the UMA setting.

Generally, however, ATI Radeon IGP's only supports upto 128MB of shared memory. So if you add a 1GB SODIMM, and another 256 or 512 MB SODIMM, the IGP won't steal any more than the 128MB. I think only the newer notebooks with the Xpress 200M support more than 256MB from the current information i have available.

You could try www.tigerdirect.com to find memory. I think they ship worldwide. However the 1GB SODIMM for 139 sounds like a good price.

Good luck. And take care.