Resolution "problem" FF7

[Knightriders]

Well, for you that wouln'd be a problem but for me(well, for my computer actualy)IT is a problem.
I can run FF7 at 640x480 when there's no progs running.
But when I'm online and some progs are open, well, the game is slow so I wanted to change the resolution to 320x240, but I just can't.
I can't really expres myself like I would want to 'cuz I'm french and my english is a little bad so here's a little screeny


Here's my specs: pentium 2 at 400Mhz with a matrox G100(4mo, no 3D acceleration) on windows XP pro and I Have FF7 in english(like you can see on the screenshot lol)
Thanks in advance for the answers and excuse me for my bad english

[Aaron]

Do you have any other games that can run in 320x240?  It might be a graphics driver limitation.

If the comp has an AGP slot, you could buy something cheap like a TNT2 ($20-ish? Maybe less) that would support full 3D accelleration.

[Messiah99]

Umm, every test fails EXCEPT for the 8bit textures? I know what your problem is, youve got the ass-backwards edition of FF7, haha.

But in all seriousness, Aaron gave you the best solution, if you have it, just shell out a little money for a cheap graphics card, and while youre at it, if youre just going to get a cheap one, get one that FF7 supports, and you wont have all of the lovely little problems we all talk about so often, haha.

[Goku7]

Actually, Messiah99, those test results are NORMAL for cards that don't have 3D acceleration.

I used to play the game on a Trident 2D-only 2MB card, and the only test it passed was the 8-bit paletted textures.  Now, obviously I was only limited to using the Software Renderer, but still, FF7 thought the card could do 8-bit paletted textures in hardware.

And I'd have to agree with Aaron's assessment.  It HAS to be a driver limitation, I seriously doubt that the card itself is physically incapable of 320x240 resolution.

[Knightriders]

A limitation, impossible, 'cuz the first time I've played FF7 I was able to play in 320x240. And I didn't update my driver(thats just impossible, no update in 4years) My video card suport up to 1280x1024 and its even limited 'cuz of my monitor that don't suport higher than that.
Maybe the problem is the refresh rate? Maybe FF7 don't suports refresh rate like 78hz?
I ain't a comp' pro but maybe that's the prob?

And for buying another video card, well I don't really have money for that a the moment, not even 20$...and I don't know where I can have an old one.
 

[Goku7]

A limitation, impossible, 'cuz the first time I've played FF7 I was able to play in 320x240. And I didn't update my driver(thats just impossible, no update in 4years) My video card suport up to 1280x1024 and its even limited 'cuz of my monitor that don't suport higher than that.
Maybe the problem is the refresh rate? Maybe FF7 don't suports refresh rate like 78hz?
I ain't a comp' pro but maybe that's the prob?

If that's the case, then its a VERY good chance that its due to some interaction between the video card drivers and the monitor drivers. You might want to change the monitor driver to "Plug and Play Monitor", and see if that gets you the resolution support back.

[Knightriders]

It's working but now, I can't use the zoom that I had with the driver of my video card And I can't select the exact refresh rate that I want.(I knew that it was going to do that but well...I'd like to have these options...)
Ain't there any tools that can do that? Or if I reinstall my driver it will let me now use the 320x240 resolution?

[Threesixty]

If it were me I'd go buy a 20 dollar TNT card.... OR go to some garage sales or something and look for an old Voodoo2 card for 50 cents.

[Knightriders]

Yeah, I'd like to do that but when you live in the middle of the forest...its not really that simple
Oh well, at least now I can play the game in every rez' (well, the ones that FF7 supports lol)
Thank y'all!