Pre-Rendered Cut-Scenes freeze my PC!

[Lvondas]

First off, I have this same problem with Jedi Academy and I bet a few other games out there that I haven't tested. Also I don't have this problem with World of Warcraft videos.

 

If I go into KoToR and skip the cut-scenes then I'm fine but if I let one play or go into the videos menu and have a look at ANY video my computer freezes (like the trailer for Republic Commando). Sometimes within seconds, sometimes 10s of seconds.

 

I usually hear a cracking sound while the video is playing and this tells me that a freeze is near. I hear one big zap sound when the freeze takes place and sometimes I see a few brightly coloured lines across where the video paused.

 

First off, it isn't my sound drivers fault (I disabled them and I still got the freeze) and Its not my graphics card driver's fault because they are fully up-to-date (radeon x1650) AND out of desperation I installed the Omega drivers for my card. This changed nothing apart from my options in my GFX Card config thing. How useless

 

Also I only get this freeze when IN GAME. I can play the Republic Commando trailer and Intro to KoToR outside the game no problem (in full screen too). I have virus scanned my computer, I have fixed my registrys, what more can I do?

 

Why can't my computer handle 2003 videos in games (JKA and KoToR but can handle 2004/5 videos in games (WoW)?

 

[sWKotOR]

ReportDateTime=8/15/2007 19:52:48

SysInfoVersion=v1.00.60

GameExists=1

GameVersion=v1.03.514077

GameInstallLocation=D:\Program Files\LucasArts\SWKotOR\

 

[OS]

Name=WinXP

Version=Windows XP v5.1 build 2600 Service Pack 2

Service Pack=Service Pack 2

Status=Pass

 

[swapFiles]

c:\pagefile.sys=1152

 

[CPU]

CPUCount=1

CPUSpeed=1661

CPUFamily=6

CPUModel=6

CPUStepping=2

CPUVendor=AMD

CPUName=AMD Athlon XP 2000+

Status=Pass

 

[Memory]

RAM=768

Status=Pass

 

[Disk Free Space]

C: (FAT32), UNICODE=4.18GB

D: (NTFS), UNICODE=7.67GB

F: (NTFS), UNICODE=5.49GB

Status=Pass

 

[CD-ROMs]

DriveLetters=E:\,G:\

Drives=PIONEER DVD-RW DVR-108

 

[Video]

Video Card Name=RV530 LE (Omega 3.8.360)

Video Memory=512

Desktop Resolution=1024x768x32 @ 75Hz

DirectX=DirectX (9.0+) (4.09.00.0904)

OpenGL Version=2.0.6458 WinXP Release

OpenGL Vendor=ATI Technologies Inc.

OpenGL Renderer=RV530 LE (Omega 3.8.360) x86/MMX/3DNow!/SSE

Vid Card Status=Warning

Vid Card Driver Status=Pass

GL Status=Pass

DX Status=Pass

 

[Audio]

Sound Card Name=Realtek AC'97 Audio for VIA ® Audio Controller

Status=Pass

 

 

;Game Options from swkotor.ini

 

[sound Options]

Sound Init=0

Music Volume=85

Voiceover Volume=85

Sound Effects Volume=85

Movie Volume=100

Force Software=0

EAX=2

Disable Sound=0

Number 3D Voices=16

Number 2D Voices=24

Environment Effects Level=0.60

2D3D Bias=1.50

Environment Effects=1

Environment Effects Nonstreaming=1

Environment Effects Streaming=1

 

[Game Options]

GUIsInScreenShot=1

EnableScreenShot=0

Reverse Mouse Buttons=0

Hide InGame GUI=0

Use Small Fonts=0

Keyboard Camera Deceleration=2000.000000

Keyboard Camera Acceleration=500.000000

Keyboard Camera DPS=200.000000

Hide Unequippable=0

Tutorial Popups=1

Subtitles=1

Mini Map=1

Floating Numbers=1

Status Summary=1

Enable Mouse Teleporting To Buttons=1

Mouse Sensitivity=33

Auto Level Up NPCs=0

Mouse Look=0

AutoSave=1

Reverse Minigame YAxis=0

Combat Movement=1

Enable Tooltips=1

Difficulty Level=1

TooltipDelay Sec=1.000000

Memory Access=1

Memory Level=1

 

[Movies Shown]

Movie 0=112

Movie 1=44

Movie 2=0

Movie 3=0

Movie 4=7

Movie 5=0

Movie 6=0

Movie 7=1

Movie 8=0

Movie 9=0

Movie10=0

 

[Alias]

HD0=.\

OVERRIDE=.\Override

TEMP=.\Temp

MODULES=.\Modules

LOGS=.\Logs

LOCALVAULT=.\LocalVault

DMVAULT=.\DMVault

SERVERVAULT=.\ServerVault

STREAMMUSIC=.\StreamMusic

TEMPCLIENT=.\Tempclient

SAVES=.\saves

CURRENTGAME=.\currentgame

TEXTUREPACKS=.\texturepacks

STREAMWAVES=.\StreamWaves

 

[Graphics Options]

RefreshRate=60

Height=768

Width=1024

V-Sync=1

Anisotropy=16

Frame Buffer=1

Anti Aliasing=6

Texture Quality=2

Emitters=1

Grass=1

Soft Shadows=0

Shadows=1

Brightness=57

EnableHardwareMouse=1

FullScreen=1

AllowSoftShadows=1

 

[Autopause Options]

Mine Sighted=1

End Of Combat Round=0

Enemy Sighted=1

Party Killed=1

Action Menu=0

New Target Selected=1

 

[config]

firstrun=0

 

[Keymapping]

Action286B=8

Action286A=7

Action285B=10

Action285A=9

Action284B=54

Action284A=51

Action283B=54

Action283A=51

Action282B=69

Action282A=73

Action281B=53

Action281A=76

Action280B=69

Action280A=73

Action265=52

Action264=57

Action263=43

Action262=85

Action261=84

Action260=83

Action259=82

Action258=81

Action257=80

Action256=79

Action255=78

Action254=77

Action253=31

Action245=75

Action244=55

Action243=67

Action242=74

Action241=87

Action240=56

Action239=68

Action238=82

Action236=83

Action234=81

Action232=80

Action230=79

Action228=78

Action226=77

Action225=70

Action224=90

Action223=31

Action222=25

Action221=24

Action220=29

Action219=28

Action218=42

Action217=87

Action216=65

Action215=63

Action214=62

Action213=60

Action212=61

Action211=66

Action210=59

Action209=71

Action208=89

Action207=72

Action206=30

Action205=55

Action204=67

[ChAiNz.2da]

BINK movie format is notoriously "crap" (my official bone-ified opinion.. hehehe). Their compression codec reeks frankly... especially compared to what compression exists today for video..

 

However.. since they're not options, you may want to try downloading and installing RAD Video Tools if only to get the newest codecs possible

 

http://www.radgametools.com/bnkdown.htm

 

It *might* help out with playing the movies in-game (cross your fingers). Other than that, you can try lowering any non-essential graphic boosts you've got going, or at least stepping them down.

 

For me, while I can play with anti-aliasing 8x... my system responds much better using 4x. It's only two steps down, but the game engine (graphic wise, play wise & stability) seems to be better optimised for lower AA settings go figure..