Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when running

Paulo500 · 10-30-2001, 02:02 PM

Every couple of seconds something would flash across the screen for a split second. Almost like it was a subliminal message or something! The program runs uninterrupted other wise. My refresh rate is set at 85hz iv tried 75 and im getting the same thing. Other than this, the program runs perfectly. I have the latest drivers from Dell and Microsoft. I’m pretty sure my system is quite able to run this program:
--Dell Precision Workstation 340
-P4-2ghz processor
-1gig of rd-ram
-nVidia Quadro2Pro 64 meg video card
-win2k + directx8a

thanks,
paul

Jim Sachs · 10-30-2001, 02:09 PM

There are two possible causes of this.

The first is some other task or program periodically interrupting the Aquarium. On my computer is happens when I am on-line and the Aquarium starts up. Network software can do the same thing.

The second possibility is that V-Sync may be disabled in your Display Properties.

Paulo500 · 10-31-2001, 11:10 AM

Your right, it was my network card. When i disabled the Novell network, the problem stopped. But this never happened on my last pc on the same network!!?? Do you know what the precise problem is and how to correct it?

p.s. How do people find out what the 'fps' are??

paul

Jim Sachs · 10-31-2001, 11:39 AM

I don't know exactly what combination does this. Today Prolific will be hiring someone who will attempt to catalogue all the hardware/software combinations that have any problem with the Aquarium, and eventually post them on the website.

Press "s" to see the statistics.

Paulo500 · 10-31-2001, 02:25 PM

Ok it turns out it is a combination of 2 things: The Novell network, and OEM Nvidia drivers. I downloaded the latest drivers from Nvidia and the problem seems to have been fixed. Also, I can stay connected to the network without interruption!

Thanks for the info, Sach.

Paul

Jim Sachs · 10-31-2001, 04:08 PM

I wonder why so many people drop the "s" off my name.

Lightfeather · 10-31-2001, 04:34 PM

I believe people drop the s off your name because an "S" denotes more than one. Plural if you will, and we all know there is only one Jim "Sach" =P

(Of course this is all speculation on my part. Everyone who drops the "s" could just be inattentive to their typing, or they just read your name fast and mentally dropped the s, or it could be a strange form of dyslexia, where instead of reversing letters and numbers, they just use a bad Mafia accent and say "Just Fuget Abaudit. We don need no stinking esses." or or or or... and the cycle continues...)

Paulo500 · 10-31-2001, 05:36 PM

Your right, i thought its supposed to mean the "ownership" of your Aquarium (Sachs Aquarium = Sach's Aquarium??!!).....ill remember the 's' next time, Sachs.

Sorry 'bout that...

paul

Jav400 · 10-31-2001, 07:54 PM

paulo500,

Just in case, please remember that the latest drivers are not always the best ones. Hmmm, let me rephrase that. The latest drivers are usually not the best ones. We have a help page set up with drivers that we have found that seem to work the best with different cards. If you have any troubles, feel free to refer to the ones we have here. www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/help.html

lancensign · 11-04-2001, 05:04 PM

I also had this problem and found it to be caused by a small program called TClock which I had running in the system tray. Being far more interested in maintaining the beauty of this aquarium screensaver than in having the functionality which TClock was providing, I deactived TClock.

10-30-2001, 02:02 PM	#1
Paulo500 Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4	Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when running Every couple of seconds something would flash across the screen for a split second. Almost like it was a subliminal message or something! The program runs uninterrupted other wise. My refresh rate is set at 85hz iv tried 75 and im getting the same thing. Other than this, the program runs perfectly. I have the latest drivers from Dell and Microsoft. I’m pretty sure my system is quite able to run this program: --Dell Precision Workstation 340 -P4-2ghz processor -1gig of rd-ram -nVidia Quadro2Pro 64 meg video card -win2k + directx8a thanks, paul

10-30-2001, 02:09 PM	#2
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	Re: Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when runnin There are two possible causes of this. The first is some other task or program periodically interrupting the Aquarium. On my computer is happens when I am on-line and the Aquarium starts up. Network software can do the same thing. The second possibility is that V-Sync may be disabled in your Display Properties. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-31-2001, 11:10 AM	#3
Paulo500 Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4	Re: Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when runnin Your right, it was my network card. When i disabled the Novell network, the problem stopped. But this never happened on my last pc on the same network!!?? Do you know what the precise problem is and how to correct it? p.s. How do people find out what the 'fps' are?? paul

10-31-2001, 11:39 AM	#4
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	Re: Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when runnin I don't know exactly what combination does this. Today Prolific will be hiring someone who will attempt to catalogue all the hardware/software combinations that have any problem with the Aquarium, and eventually post them on the website. Press "s" to see the statistics. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-31-2001, 02:25 PM	#5
Paulo500 Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4	Re: Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when runnin Ok it turns out it is a combination of 2 things: The Novell network, and OEM Nvidia drivers. I downloaded the latest drivers from Nvidia and the problem seems to have been fixed. Also, I can stay connected to the network without interruption! Thanks for the info, Sach. Paul

10-31-2001, 04:08 PM	#6
Jim Sachs Developer Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 9,816	Re: Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when runnin I wonder why so many people drop the "s" off my name. Jim Sachs Creator of SereneScreen Aquarium

10-31-2001, 04:34 PM	#7
Lightfeather Occupation: Nerd Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: California Posts: 314	Re: Dropping the "S" I believe people drop the s off your name because an "S" denotes more than one. Plural if you will, and we all know there is only one Jim "Sach" =P (Of course this is all speculation on my part. Everyone who drops the "s" could just be inattentive to their typing, or they just read your name fast and mentally dropped the s, or it could be a strange form of dyslexia, where instead of reversing letters and numbers, they just use a bad Mafia accent and say "Just Fuget Abaudit. We don need no stinking esses." or or or or... and the cycle continues...) Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want.

10-31-2001, 05:36 PM	#8
Paulo500 Registered Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Toronto, Ontario Posts: 4	Re: Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when runnin Your right, i thought its supposed to mean the "ownership" of your Aquarium (Sachs Aquarium = Sach's Aquarium??!!).....ill remember the 's' next time, Sachs. Sorry 'bout that... paul

10-31-2001, 07:54 PM	#9
Jav400 Administrator Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Tennessee Posts: 9,725	Re: Screen saver flashes every couple of seconds when runnin paulo500, Just in case, please remember that the latest drivers are not always the best ones. Hmmm, let me rephrase that. The latest drivers are usually not the best ones. We have a help page set up with drivers that we have found that seem to work the best with different cards. If you have any troubles, feel free to refer to the ones we have here. www.feldoncentral.com/Sachs/help.html Michael Administrator of Inside:SereneScreen Aquarium Forum, Chatroom, Fan Site & *Gallery* DVD Collection

11-04-2001, 05:04 PM	#10
lancensign Yellow Tang Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Florida Posts: 16	I also had this problem and found it to be caused by a small program called TClock which I had running in the system tray. Being far more interested in maintaining the beauty of this aquarium screensaver than in having the functionality which TClock was providing, I deactived TClock.