Note:  RacerMate does not usually provide video card technical support.  If your system appears to meet our current minimum system requirement and you are encountering video problems,  please check for updated video drivers (these are usually found on the card manufacturers web site) and/or contact the card manufacturer for technical support before contacting RacerMate Technical Support.

Video Cards in Proprietary Computers, On-Board Video (Dell, Compaq, Gateway, etc.) - These PC builders typically install their video cards as an integral part of the computer’s motherboard. In certain low cost models, these cards are often limited in both the amounts of Video RAM and potential video driver updates. On-board video can often be disabled allowing the installation of newer, faster, third party video cards. In general, if the drivers are as new as possible, but the software fails to run, it’s time for a better video card or by attempting to run an older, more stable, video driver.

PCI bus video card - These cards insert into PCI slots on the computer’s motherboard. Pay close attention when buying a new, yet older PCI card as to whether the video chipset installed on these cards is still being supported by the manufacturer. A quick look on the makers web site may be all that is needed. These cards may no longer be in production and driver support has been, or may be scheduled for, cancellation.

AGP (Accelerated Graphics Port) video cards - AGP was introduced with the Pentium II computer and incorporates an AGP slot -- designed specifically for an AGP video card. AGP once provided the fastest video frame rates for the PC Gamer but is slowly being replaced with the even faster PCI Express cards. It should be noted that just because the PC states it has AGP video does NOT mean you have an AGP slot to plug in a newer, or different, AGP video card – because many don’t. With these, the AGP video is integrated with the main board (as was noted above in the Proprietary Computer section). You should check the PC motherboard documentation before you lay down your hard-earned cash for a new video card. These latter mentioned integrated AGP can only be upgraded to a newer and faster PCI card if the onboard video causes problems.

PCI Express - We have no reports, as of yet, but suffice it to say, if you’ve got a computer with a card of this type, you should not need to upgrade anytime in the foreseeable future.

So, can you use your current video card? – If your current video card meets our minimum system requirements as stated on the reverse, it will most likely run our software. If oddities in the graphics display occur, you should ALWAYS look to the video card manufacturer for newer video drivers (or even the last driver update they provided) before calling for service or before replacing the video card. Newer drivers are not always better, so sometimes you’ll find “rolling back” to an earlier driver will solve graphic problems. With the advent of RacerMate Real Course Video, a video card replacement should also have at least 256MB of memory.

*Known Video Card Issues for CompuTrainer 3D v3.0

• If you have trouble running CompuTrainer 3D v3.0 Software, set your Windows display properties to "(High Color) 16-bit".

• If you experience graphic anomalies such as flickering or shaking, try running the program in "full-screen mode" rather than a "window".  F12 on your computer keyboard will toggle between these two modes while on the Race Screen.  The software will remember the last setting used for future reference.  You should also check for newer video drivers for the video card found in your computer.  To determine the age of your existing drivers, run the DirectX Diagnostics program.

• Windows Vista™ may come with a function called Vista Aero™, which allows images to become transparent.  This feature needs to be disabled or it will cause graphic anomalies.

• CompuTrainer 3D version 3.0 requires a fairly current video card running drivers compatible with Microsoft DirectX 7.0 or higher.  For older video card users, like older 3DFX Voodoo or nVidia Riva TNT cards, we recommend these be replaced.  There are no known video drivers that can be made to work with any current gaming software, least of which, ours.

• If the software does anything out of the ordinary, please search for a solution in our software forum here.