How do i enable Triple Buffering? If i have it!

utilitarian

sorry in advance for the wordy message...

ok, this is a really tough question. I have a Dell Latitude D610 (it is a lap top, i don't know if this is obvious from the model number). Within this laptop is a Mobile Intel 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset, that is the graphics card. Now here is my problem, i am learning to program computer games, and the language i am using is C and the gaming library i am using is Allegro (Allegro is like an alternative to Direct X (kind of)).

Now, there is a little program in Allegro that you can write that is in this book i have that makes triangles float around on the screen, however, it does not work for me because it says that "Triple Buffering Not Available". So i decided to look up the problem on the internet, and i found a few pages confirming that i do indeed have a graphics chip in my laptop (that i mentioned above) that has triple buffering but it implies that i have to enable it!?!

So, at last, my question is this, do you know if i have it, i have searched my help files, googled the ass out of it, and messed around with all i can but there is no where that says i have triple buffering on my laptop, let alone how to switch it on...

phew, sorry for the long message....

Utilitarian

formatman

try running DX diag and see if there are any options in there to enable it

Dell may have disabled it in the hardware design to save costs

otherwiese try getting an updated graphics drivers from Intels site for this chipset

mathias

Try this ,
Some nice info here , and also some calculations on the overheads involved in using triple buffering which may well have some bearing on your laptop.

http://www.ocworkbench.com/2006/articles/DXtweaker/

Mad Mike

According to this document download.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/30526401.pdf that chipset does support triple buffering.

It probably has to be enabled in the Display Properties controls:
Right click on a blank area of the desktop - select properties - settings - advanced

From here it gets a bit harder to find because every chipset uses a different setup menu but look for 3D settings and perhaps OpenGL settings. With my ATI chipset I had to go several menus deep to find it - From the advanced menu above I went - control panel - 3D - Api Specific - Open GL and there it was. Hunt around and you may find it too.

utilitarian

guys thanks for all that, i was starting to feel like i was simply misreading every piece of documentation i was coming across.. i will try it all out...

utilitarian

8T8

The option for forcing triple buffering on with OpenGL is there but it depends on the driver installed. I don't recall it being there for Direct3D but I'm not sure on that I think it is left up to the developer to implement it.

Some manufacturers hide many of the settings for the Intel GMA950 integrated graphics whereas other expose the full control panel, if the options aren't present you could try messing around with drivers or try downloading the latest from Intel's website as they have reference driver available.