Crocodile Clips
Simple Simulation Software
Are you having graphics card issues with Crocodile Technology 3D?
Update your drivers
We use a system called OpenGL for our 3D graphics. This is an industry standard, and is already available on most computers purchased within the last four years.
However, you'll need to make sure that you have the correct graphics card drivers to be installed on your computer. The graphics card is a piece of hardware - already inside your computer - which handles the display, and the drivers are the software programs that it runs when doing this.
Most problems viewing 3D graphics, including performance issues, are caused by having no OpenGL drivers installed for your computer's graphics card. You can't get OpenGL drivers separately: it has to be supported by your graphics card drivers.
Most manufacturers let you download the latest graphics card driver software free of charge from their websites, and this should include OpenGL drivers. When updating your graphics card drivers, it is important that you use the software that is specifically designed for your graphics card.
Some common manufacturers are:
Crocodile Technology 3D on Laptops
If you want to run Crocodile Technology 3D on a laptop, you most likely have to use drivers supplied by the manufacturer of your laptop (Dell, HP, Acer, etc) instead of those by the manufacturer of your graphics chip. Visit their websites for more information.
Omega Drivers have unofficial drivers for ATI and NVidia cards. Some people have found these drivers to be the only way to get a recent driver for their laptop. Unfortunately, Crocodile Clips can take no responsiblity for any problems you may have if you use these drivers, as we've not developed them or tested them.
Using multiple monitors
Some users may also experience OpenGL problems when using multiple monitors or a projector if the display is set to be spread across both devices. To avoid this, set up both devices to show the same view.
Very old Intel and ATI Rage chips
Older Intel chipsets, and some very old ATI Rage chips will give unaccepabtly poor performance with Crocodile Technology 3D. The program will run, but adding more than a few parts will make the software unusable.
Intel integrated graphics chips
Some customers have reported issues with motherboards using Intel chipsets and integrated Intel graphics capability on Windows platforms.
If you are using one of these and are experiencing problems then you will need to adjust the hardware acceleration slider. This is available by right-clicking on the desktop, choosing 'Display Properties', then
clicking the Settings tab, and then the Advanced button on this tab, and then the Troubleshooting tab that appears. Move the slider to the left until it is positioned one notch from the left end of the scale. This
should resolve any problems you may be having.
Alternatively you may wish to consider upgrading to a non-integrated graphics card on the same motherboard. Please note that this is one situation where updating to the latest drivers will not currently fix
the problem.
Motherboards with the following chipsets and integrated graphics capabilities are known to have problems that are fixed by moving the hardware acceleration slider are
- Intel 865G chipset with Intel 82865G Graphics Controller
- Intel 945G chipset with Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Some older Intel-based motherboards with integrated graphics capabilities may show visual artefacts in the 3D spaces available in CT3D. Unfortunately there is no workaround for this other than to upgrade to a non-integrated graphics card. This is a known issue for the following:
- Intel 815G chipset with Intel 82815G Graphics Controller
If all else fails
If updating your graphics card drivers didn't help but you think your graphics card should be able to run Crocodile Technology 3D, please contact our technical support, including your graphics card type and model.