Getting Hex 2 to work on a Centrino notebook or maybe others - Polyloop

Narration · 30th April 2006, 21:26

This might help you similarly, if you can find OpenGL controls for another kind of machine without a fancy graphics adaptor.

It works at least on an Acer Travelmate 290, which is a middle-road Centrino chipset notebook. Without steps like these, you are sunk ;). But with them, it works well. No huge models have been tried, but that should be memory and CPU limits. This machine 768MB, 1.4 GHz.

Since finding the right place is an adventure, please be sure of the following first, unless you can't even get Hex 2 open. They are tips from others, and they work:

- Start Hex 2.
- Open the Properties Editor by Alt-p, or from the Edit menu.
- Select 3D-Display tab along the top.
- Select Advanced along the left side
- assure that 2-Sides Lighting and Local Redraw are both UN-checked. These are tips from others, and they work. For instance getting rid of that wild display activity when trying to paint.
- Validate the Properties Editor.

- if it is bothering you that an object turns half-transparent when you select to paint it, this is controlled from the Hex 2 screen. Deactivate it by using the 5th icon from the right, at bottom of screen. Deactivated means it looks like a cube. I am not sure if it installs turned on, which looks like a tiny wireframe.

Ok, here now is the step to take for sure, before you try the OpenGL settings:

- Close Hex 2. Also any other programs, especially Carrera or other OpenGL users. Be sure of this, or you won't be able to do your graphics card settings.

Now the OpenGL settings, which you need to find as follows. They are for the Intel Centrino's display controller here.

= right-mouse on your screen's desktop, choose Settings menu item.
= on the Display panel that appears, select Settings (farthest right tab)
= on the Settings subpanel that appears, select Advanced, Erweitert, whatever it is in your language to get more settings: furthest right of the 3 buttons in the lower part of panel.
= on the Advanced subpanel that appears, find the tab at top for your Intel display adaptor. Mine is labelled Intel Extreme Graphics, but that may be out of date as a name.
= find a button on the tab panel, which says something like Graphics Settings (Grafikeigenshaften here). Push it.
= now you are on a new panel. Find the OpenGL tab on it. Press that. Make settings like the enclosed graphic. You just mouse the right-hand settings to get a small menu to change them.
= The most important setting is third from the bottom. It means to use High (Hoch) memory allocation for the Graphics driver. I seem to remember this is 64M (or maybe less), but you likely won't see a number.
= I am working fine with the settings shown, but am not sure you need anything beyond the high memory allocation. Be sure _not_ to enable the S3TC or FXT1 settings - I tried these just to see, and they cause faults as you would expect.

Ok, that is it. Good fortune!

Narration · 30th April 2006, 22:22

Since I see someone is viewing this, please be aware I updated a small part, but important, about the transparent selections.

It turns out this is a feature you can control from Hex 2 screen, so you don't need to change the Opacity preference for it.

Thomas · 1st May 2006, 15:46

For the notebooks, please, take care of the graphic system. Most of the low and middle end computers have onboard Intel graphic ships.. and for 3D softwares it is the worst thing you can have.
Always take care to have a true Nvidia or ATI card, with its own memory (not a share memory)

marcovth · 1st May 2006, 15:58

I am impressed by my PIII-886 ViewSonic V1100 tabletPC (512MB/Shared 64MB Intel).

The modeling part of Hex2 works fine. Painting is not possible.
I have to do that at home on my P4/ATI-9000 Desktop.

I assume the license allows for two installs, if you use only one at a time ?

Narration · 1st May 2006, 16:41

Hi Thomas -- yes, I understand the Intel chips are not ideal.

My points were two:

- Very nicely, at least the Centrino chipset really can be made to work -- I see no graphics problems now, only software issues.

- Since this works, maybe the hints for it are useful to others with different setups.

Kind regards,
Narration

30th April 2006, 21:26	#1 (permalink)
Narration citoyen Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: north of alps Posts: 226	Getting Hex 2 to work on a Centrino notebook or maybe others This might help you similarly, if you can find OpenGL controls for another kind of machine without a fancy graphics adaptor. It works at least on an Acer Travelmate 290, which is a middle-road Centrino chipset notebook. Without steps like these, you are sunk ;). But with them, it works well. No huge models have been tried, but that should be memory and CPU limits. This machine 768MB, 1.4 GHz. Since finding the right place is an adventure, please be sure of the following first, unless you can't even get Hex 2 open. They are tips from others, and they work: - Start Hex 2. - Open the Properties Editor by Alt-p, or from the Edit menu. - Select 3D-Display tab along the top. - Select Advanced along the left side - assure that 2-Sides Lighting and Local Redraw are both UN-checked. These are tips from others, and they work. For instance getting rid of that wild display activity when trying to paint. - Validate the Properties Editor. - if it is bothering you that an object turns half-transparent when you select to paint it, this is controlled from the Hex 2 screen. Deactivate it by using the 5th icon from the right, at bottom of screen. Deactivated means it looks like a cube. I am not sure if it installs turned on, which looks like a tiny wireframe. Ok, here now is the step to take for sure, before you try the OpenGL settings: - Close Hex 2. Also any other programs, especially Carrera or other OpenGL users. Be sure of this, or you won't be able to do your graphics card settings. Now the OpenGL settings, which you need to find as follows. They are for the Intel Centrino's display controller here. = right-mouse on your screen's desktop, choose Settings menu item. = on the Display panel that appears, select Settings (farthest right tab) = on the Settings subpanel that appears, select Advanced, Erweitert, whatever it is in your language to get more settings: furthest right of the 3 buttons in the lower part of panel. = on the Advanced subpanel that appears, find the tab at top for your Intel display adaptor. Mine is labelled Intel Extreme Graphics, but that may be out of date as a name. = find a button on the tab panel, which says something like Graphics Settings (Grafikeigenshaften here). Push it. = now you are on a new panel. Find the OpenGL tab on it. Press that. Make settings like the enclosed graphic. You just mouse the right-hand settings to get a small menu to change them. = The most important setting is third from the bottom. It means to use High (Hoch) memory allocation for the Graphics driver. I seem to remember this is 64M (or maybe less), but you likely won't see a number. = I am working fine with the settings shown, but am not sure you need anything beyond the high memory allocation. Be sure _not_ to enable the S3TC or FXT1 settings - I tried these just to see, and they cause faults as you would expect. Ok, that is it. Good fortune!

30th April 2006, 22:22	#2 (permalink)
Narration citoyen Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: north of alps Posts: 226	update Since I see someone is viewing this, please be aware I updated a small part, but important, about the transparent selections. It turns out this is a feature you can control from Hex 2 screen, so you don't need to change the Opacity preference for it.

1st May 2006, 15:46	#3 (permalink)
Thomas Always learning new stuff Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Merignac, France Posts: 11,295	For the notebooks, please, take care of the graphic system. Most of the low and middle end computers have onboard Intel graphic ships.. and for 3D softwares it is the worst thing you can have. Always take care to have a true Nvidia or ATI card, with its own memory (not a share memory) __________________ Polyloop owner & Administrator - no support by PM or email. Polyloop [EN/FR] - Meuuh [FR +16 ans] - Totyo [FR] - Pixologic [JOB] - Le ZBlog [JOB] - La3dpourlesnuls [FR]

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1st May 2006, 15:58	#4 (permalink)
marcovth NURBS Booleans are your friend Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 139	I am impressed by my PIII-886 ViewSonic V1100 tabletPC (512MB/Shared 64MB Intel). The modeling part of Hex2 works fine. Painting is not possible. I have to do that at home on my P4/ATI-9000 Desktop. I assume the license allows for two installs, if you use only one at a time ?

1st May 2006, 16:41	#5 (permalink)
Narration citoyen Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: north of alps Posts: 226	Hi Thomas -- yes, I understand the Intel chips are not ideal. My points were two: - Very nicely, at least the Centrino chipset really can be made to work -- I see no graphics problems now, only software issues. - Since this works, maybe the hints for it are useful to others with different setups. Kind regards, Narration