Radeon 8500LE can't handle Morrowind....

markjs

Senior member
Sep 4, 2000
926
29
91
I don't get it....Morrowind will work fine right after I start it after a reboot, but the more I play the more it runs like crap. I get pauses and it phases in and out of choppy slideshow performance after a while. My system is:

Athlon XP 1700+
ECS K7S5A Mainboard
512MB PC133
Onboard SiS AC97 Sound
Onboard Lan
ATI Radeon 8500LE 64MB
Realtek PCI NIC
Western Digital 40GB and 20GB 7200RPM ATA 100 hard disks
Running Windows XP Professional Service pack 1

I have tried substituting the 512MB of PC133 for 256MB of PC2100 DDR but it works better with the SDRAM, as it has to use the paging file less. I get about 7200 3D Marks in 3D Mark 2001SE with the PC133 and about 7500 with the DDR. I don't get it at all....Morrowind should run flawlessly with this hardware. Is it yet another example of game developers being in Nvidias pocket? I know this card can kick some ass....it runs UT2K3 at very acceptable framerates on Default settings, so Morrowind should be a slam dunk.....why isn't it?
 

murphy55d

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
11,542
5
81
I experienced massive slowdown in many parts of the game on the system in my sig(xp2000 speed, 512 ddr, gf4 ti4200)... it isn't just ATi.
 

CrowDog

Golden Member
Jun 7, 2001
1,709
8
81
Yea that game ran like crap for me too:( I have almost the same specs as you do too.......
 

ROTC1983

Diamond Member
Oct 2, 2002
6,130
0
71
I used the game with a GF4 Ti4100 128 meg and I have no problems. Now I am running it with a Radeon 9700 Pro and I experience no problems. Have you tried messing around with the settings?
 

exp

Platinum Member
May 9, 2001
2,150
0
0
That's really strange. I assume you've patched the game and updated all your drivers?

I think it has to be something else besides your VC. Heck, I use a GF3 and it worked fine with the graphics settings cranked up. :confused: Could it be your sound? I had CTD problems with my onboard sound (Cmedia) for a bit until I switched drivers.
 

tkdkid

Senior member
Oct 13, 2000
956
0
0
I have a Geforce2 GTS V and it runs fine..and I've played for probably 8 hours at a time. It does slow down with some effects (rare) and crashes to desktop every now and then. Other than that, it's fine. Seemed to run smoother after the latest patch.
 

markjs

Senior member
Sep 4, 2000
926
29
91
Yea h it's patched with the latest drivers. The sound never slows down.....coul it really be that?
 

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
athlon xp 1600@2100 (1.74ghz)
512ddr ram
8500le 64mbddr
7200rpm hd

it ran fine for me, grpahics set rather high, 1024x768
check out the ElderScrolls.com forums for some tech help, may be that theres some pbscure windows patches or something some 8500 users needed to get Morrowind working right (i had a problem with it crashing regularly, forget what i did, sorry, but i DID find a solution, whatever it was, at the ES forums)

had to cut view distance down to about one half of full distance, with all the buildings and trees this is a very graphically intense game (and the minimum requirements are a total joke, btw)

oh

search google for the Morrowind FPS optimizer, may help a bit, tiny app, quite handy if i remember
 

exp

Platinum Member
May 9, 2001
2,150
0
0
The sound never slows down.....coul it really be that?
Man, I have no idea, it's just a shot in the dark. :( All I can say is when Morrowind first came out there were a SH*TLOAD of bugs, and even with the patches I doubt they got all of them. Personally I actually got hit with two bugs since beside the soundcard my memory was also a problem.

I recommend doing what Sauron suggested (check the official forums). I remember doing a search there and they had tons of threads listing common problems and their solutions. If all else fails you can try asking for help there.