Dell Inspiron 600m - Mobility Radeon 9000 - Skipping problem

DenethorM · Jan 4, 2007, 11:51 PM

I currently have installed Omega 3.8.252, since I heard ATI no longer supports 9200 and below. My computer is Dell specific, and every time I tried to get a driver from the ATI site, it said to go to Dell instead. Dell offers 3.8.2, so I went with Omega instead.

Here's my problem.

For every game I have that runs 3D graphics (as far as I can tell), I'm having a very odd problem. After playing the game for a while (could be 5 minutes, could be 30 minutes), the graphics suddenly start to *skip*, or freeze frame for a half second and jump forward to catch up to where it should be. There's not a loss in performance because it clearly runs fine in between the half-second *skips*. This continues on for 5-15 minute periods and then starts up again later on. Sometimes it doesn't stop.

This has occured in Freelancer, Morrowind, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, and Final Fantasy XI. Reducing the quality for optimum performance does nothing to stop it.

First thing I thought was that it was a RAM problem, but after checking it in task manager, there seemed to have been nothing out of the ordinary as far as RAM is concerned. The only program I run while playing is that game.

So now I'm thinking it could be a vRAM problem, but I have no way to check it, and seemingly no way to fix it since ATI no longer supports my card.

I've updated all the other drivers I suspect could have a hand in it, but that hasn't done anything either.

I would appreciate any advice you have in this. Just please tell me my laptop isn't doomed to play Starcraft for the rest of its days.

Delirium18 · Jan 6, 2007, 09:27 PM

So I am not the only one.. The same thing happens to mine.

I have tried searching for fixes. My friend owns the same modle as well. His never did it either till after awhile it started the skipping during World of Warcraft. He thinks it might be a driver problem, about 3 months ago his stopped doing it and he has been able to paly games on it ever since.

He can't remember what it was that finally fixed it tho.

Well if you find anything please post it and I will do the same.

DenethorM · Jan 8, 2007, 11:51 AM

I think I found out what could be causing it. I was browsing the internet when I noticed my computer was working extraordinarily hard (the fan was running on high) when it shouldn't have been. So I checked the Task Manager and it showed CPU loadouts of 70-100%. I turned off my browser and it still kept doing that.

So I got a program that logs my CPU and temperature continuously and gives me control over the fan. I found out that even when no program was running, while I was connected through my wireless card, my computer would start using up tons of RAM, and the temperature would rise considerably. When I disabled my wireless, it stopped.

I played a game using cable ethernet instead of wireless, and my skipping problem was fixed.

I don't know what's going on with the wireless card, but for now I'll just have to abstain from playing high-load games with my wireless running.

Jan 4, 2007, 11:51 PM	#1
DenethorM DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Dell Inspiron 600m - Mobility Radeon 9000 - Skipping problem I currently have installed Omega 3.8.252, since I heard ATI no longer supports 9200 and below. My computer is Dell specific, and every time I tried to get a driver from the ATI site, it said to go to Dell instead. Dell offers 3.8.2, so I went with Omega instead. Here's my problem. For every game I have that runs 3D graphics (as far as I can tell), I'm having a very odd problem. After playing the game for a while (could be 5 minutes, could be 30 minutes), the graphics suddenly start to skip, or freeze frame for a half second and jump forward to catch up to where it should be. There's not a loss in performance because it clearly runs fine in between the half-second skips. This continues on for 5-15 minute periods and then starts up again later on. Sometimes it doesn't stop. This has occured in Freelancer, Morrowind, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, and Final Fantasy XI. Reducing the quality for optimum performance does nothing to stop it. First thing I thought was that it was a RAM problem, but after checking it in task manager, there seemed to have been nothing out of the ordinary as far as RAM is concerned. The only program I run while playing is that game. So now I'm thinking it could be a vRAM problem, but I have no way to check it, and seemingly no way to fix it since ATI no longer supports my card. I've updated all the other drivers I suspect could have a hand in it, but that hasn't done anything either. I would appreciate any advice you have in this. Just please tell me my laptop isn't doomed to play Starcraft for the rest of its days.

Jan 6, 2007, 09:27 PM	#2
Delirium18 DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1 Rep Power: 0	So I am not the only one.. The same thing happens to mine. I have tried searching for fixes. My friend owns the same modle as well. His never did it either till after awhile it started the skipping during World of Warcraft. He thinks it might be a driver problem, about 3 months ago his stopped doing it and he has been able to paly games on it ever since. He can't remember what it was that finally fixed it tho. Well if you find anything please post it and I will do the same.

Jan 8, 2007, 11:51 AM	#3
DenethorM DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	I think I found out what could be causing it. I was browsing the internet when I noticed my computer was working extraordinarily hard (the fan was running on high) when it shouldn't have been. So I checked the Task Manager and it showed CPU loadouts of 70-100%. I turned off my browser and it still kept doing that. So I got a program that logs my CPU and temperature continuously and gives me control over the fan. I found out that even when no program was running, while I was connected through my wireless card, my computer would start using up tons of RAM, and the temperature would rise considerably. When I disabled my wireless, it stopped. I played a game using cable ethernet instead of wireless, and my skipping problem was fixed. I don't know what's going on with the wireless card, but for now I'll just have to abstain from playing high-load games with my wireless running.