Minor Radeon chipset troubles on Diablo 2, need solutions for acceptable framerates

[brinstar117]

Good day fellow AnandTech'ers!

Recently I've started playing Diablo 2. I understand that it's a very Glide API oriented game but it supports Direct3D to some degree. Diablo 2 ran great on my brother's Voodoo 3 (on Windows ME) and ran great on my system with a Voodoo 5 (Windows 2000 Pro).

Now my brother is using a Radeon 32 DDR and I'm using a Radeon 8500. All our games run great without a hitch save for Diablo 2. Under Direct3D rendering framerates are intolerably slow to the point where it's unplayable. The framerates become even worse when the automap is displayed. When the automap is turned off, the framerates improve marginally.

Are there any programs, hacks, or tweaks I can do to keep D2 running at an acceptable speed? Using DirectDraw leaves performance at an acceptable level but leaves something to be desired when considering visual appeal. In the meantime I'll use my Voodoo 5 for D2.

Thanks!

 

[t3chvest]

Someone has to have an answer... I have the same problem, I only run at 25fps with a system that should be getting like 70. Also, between each screen (opeing screen, menu, loading screen, etc.) it blinks a lot and is really ackward.

 

[*kjm]

t3chvest are you playing in single player? If so I have read you can only get a max of 25FPS in single player. If you play online you will get more. I use Ddraw for DiabloII. We all just have to face the facts, DiabloII was made for the Voodoo chipset.... end of story. It wont look as good on any other video card. I have used the Gforce, 8500 and KyroII in DiabloII. I put a V5 5500 in the wifes system just to play DiabloII and run the 8500DV in my system for everything else.

 

[dbal]

I have the slight impression that Ati's drivers have poor support on games designed for Glide.....Even though I have a RadeonVE I ve seen the DiabloII expansion on a GeForce2MX 400 :disgust: which generally sucks and it was fine under Direct3D.....
Anyway, who cares for a dead API like Glide?

 

[duragezic]

I think it's the game always runs at a 25fps internally no matter what you see or are getting. Don't know if it applies to single or multiplayer.

I used to play D2 in D3D and it was slower but not THAT bad but I did get the pause when joining/quitting games. The only solution I know if is to use DirectDraw (2d). It looks a bit worse but you get use to it but it flies so it's all good. Just play a little xpac loving and the 800x600 makes up for it.