*IMPORTANT* Regarding Intel Hardware! Driver issues, slow game performance
Nathan
Member Posts: 1,007
Hi folks, I have an important announcement to make with regards to integrated Intel graphics chipsets and performance with BG:EE.
First: our apologies for this. We tried everything we could, and in the end it seems like there will unavoidably be some of you that experience this issue.
We have not forgotten about, and will not forget about this issue - and are actively looking into solutions.
Sadly, due to poor OpenGL support for Windows on Intel's part, BG:EE suffers the consequences of this (yes, there are 3 links in that last sentence) and may experience slow framerates or issues.
We're not the first game with this issue (or one similar to it) and we likely won't be the last, sadly.
----
Q: What's the deal? Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 run on my toaster!
A: Yes, sure it does, but it didn't run 3D-Accellerated on your toaster. In fact, if you tried the 3D test included with Baldur's Gate on your toaster, it'd probably fail that test despite working fine in the old 2D engine.
Q: Did you try to fix it? Will you be fixing this going forward?
A: We exhausted EVERY avenue available to us with this. The unfortunate fact of the matter is, it's not up to us as to whether or not the OpenGL problem gets fixed - that's all on Intel's shoulders. You could try contacting them, but I can't guarantee that would fix the issue if the legions of Minecraft players who are or were experiencing similar OpenGL-related issues couldn't. Or maybe it will!
As for fixing it going forward, we're looking at our options. For obvious reasons we can't promise anything just yet.
----
Q: What ELSE can I do to try and fix this myself?
A: The previously linked modded drivers didn't really seem to help anyone. So instead, now that we have a few fixes in, what I've noticed is that there are more than a few people that seem to be stuck with old OEM drivers due to an installation decision on Intel's part.
In the next little while I'll I now have a link here that explains how to install Intel's latest reference drivers for your particular Intel graphics chipset, and bypassing the detection that says "Go to your manufacturer's website". Note that Windows detects the new drivers as fully compatible and everything, but any of this will still be an "AT YOUR OWN RISK" situation as we cannot officially support anything other than what Intel and/or your manufacturer recommends you do.
Here it is: http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/12156/how-to-forcibly-update-your-intel-drivers-at-your-own-risk
If you decide to try that, please read the whole thing.
----
Something else you can try is the following: in your baldur.ini file, located in your My Documents/Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition folder, modify the part after INSERT INTO options ROWS ( to reflect the following:
----
IF you experience problems, please feel free to post in this thread with details concerning what Operating System you're using, and what exact chipset you have. More information is always a useful thing.
Again, our sincerest apologies for any of you affected by this. We're working hard on a solution. If you feel this is too unacceptable for you and wish to discuss it with us directly, then feel free to e-mail support@beamdog.com and we'll try to accommodate your request.
First: our apologies for this. We tried everything we could, and in the end it seems like there will unavoidably be some of you that experience this issue.
We have not forgotten about, and will not forget about this issue - and are actively looking into solutions.
Sadly, due to poor OpenGL support for Windows on Intel's part, BG:EE suffers the consequences of this (yes, there are 3 links in that last sentence) and may experience slow framerates or issues.
We're not the first game with this issue (or one similar to it) and we likely won't be the last, sadly.
----
Q: What's the deal? Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 run on my toaster!
A: Yes, sure it does, but it didn't run 3D-Accellerated on your toaster. In fact, if you tried the 3D test included with Baldur's Gate on your toaster, it'd probably fail that test despite working fine in the old 2D engine.
Q: Did you try to fix it? Will you be fixing this going forward?
A: We exhausted EVERY avenue available to us with this. The unfortunate fact of the matter is, it's not up to us as to whether or not the OpenGL problem gets fixed - that's all on Intel's shoulders. You could try contacting them, but I can't guarantee that would fix the issue if the legions of Minecraft players who are or were experiencing similar OpenGL-related issues couldn't. Or maybe it will!
As for fixing it going forward, we're looking at our options. For obvious reasons we can't promise anything just yet.
----
Q: What ELSE can I do to try and fix this myself?
A: The previously linked modded drivers didn't really seem to help anyone. So instead, now that we have a few fixes in, what I've noticed is that there are more than a few people that seem to be stuck with old OEM drivers due to an installation decision on Intel's part.
In the next little while I'll I now have a link here that explains how to install Intel's latest reference drivers for your particular Intel graphics chipset, and bypassing the detection that says "Go to your manufacturer's website". Note that Windows detects the new drivers as fully compatible and everything, but any of this will still be an "AT YOUR OWN RISK" situation as we cannot officially support anything other than what Intel and/or your manufacturer recommends you do.
Here it is: http://forum.baldursgate.com/discussion/12156/how-to-forcibly-update-your-intel-drivers-at-your-own-risk
If you decide to try that, please read the whole thing.
----
Something else you can try is the following: in your baldur.ini file, located in your My Documents/Baldur's Gate - Enhanced Edition folder, modify the part after INSERT INTO options ROWS ( to reflect the following:
INSERT INTO options ROWS (I can't guarantee this will fix everything, but it may be the difference between the game running or not running for some of you, regardless of performance.
'Graphics', 'OpenGL Version', '1',
'Window', 'Full Screen', '0',
----
IF you experience problems, please feel free to post in this thread with details concerning what Operating System you're using, and what exact chipset you have. More information is always a useful thing.
Again, our sincerest apologies for any of you affected by this. We're working hard on a solution. If you feel this is too unacceptable for you and wish to discuss it with us directly, then feel free to e-mail support@beamdog.com and we'll try to accommodate your request.
Post edited by Nathan on
8
Comments
The only problem I seem to have is that when booting up on fullscreen mode, I'll get a white screen. Starting the game on windowed works fine, then I can alt+enter to play fullscreen.
I had a few problems with lagging - nothing that rendered the game unplayable, just a one-sec pause when starting dialogue or changing screens. Running baldur.exe on Windows 7 compatibility mode seemed to solve it.
At least until the problem no longer exists.
Will it run smoothly under the Mac OS X native version on the same machine or be even worse? I'd like to know before paying again for the Mac version (though I'd prefer to run the Native Mac OS X version, if possible).
'Window', 'Full Screen', '0',
CREATE TABLE options (
section string,
name string,
value string
);
INSERT INTO options ROWS (
'Window', 'Full Screen', '0',
'Program Options', 'Renderer', 'GL1'
);
@Coriander
I think that was entered successfully, but it made no difference to my lag issue. I really hope this is sorted as I'm extremely keen to play this game.
Just double checked my Baldur.ini and everytime I load the game, the ini file seems to reset itself and loses the Renderer line?
Using windowed mode then fullscreen works great! And no lag on the game. Really thank you, @Kilivitz!!
What I did:
open -> white screen.
alt + enter -> windowed white screen
close
open -> ok screen!
alt + enter -> fullscreen ok with no lag
I have to do this all the time I wanna play, so I have to remember to "alt+enter" before quit.
I understand that Beamdog is a small company working on a big project so there's going to be problems.
I also understand big, AAA titles are often released with problems and filled with game breaking glitches.
But... This is really, really disappointing. I suppose I need to be patient and understand crap happens. Its just hard when this was the only game I was looking forward this year.