OV2 wrote:
So if I understand your first post correctly you cannot switch to Direct3D or OpenGL? Do other Direct3D Apps/Games run at all? S9X doesn't really require that much from D3D.
No, that's not it. I was unable to run it in Direct3D, and OpenGL's video quality isn't where I want it to be at all, so I'm running it in DirectDraw.
OV2 wrote:
VSync in DirectDraw may or may not work - in your case it obviously doesn't.
Obviously.

OV2 wrote:
Does switching to OGL give you any additional error messages?
No, but that has its own host of video problems.
Just for the record, I'm currently settled on v1.52 fix 4 (I understand it's no longer supported), which gives me a less significant screen tear than 1.53. I may try a few other v1.52's to see if the screen tearing can be neutralized, but I'm just happy the versions past 1.52 fix the sound emulation, being the audiophile I am.
UPDATE: I've tried every version of 1.52 I could find, and had to switch to DirectDraw on all of them. The only reasonable conclusion I can come to at this point is that my integrated graphics card sucks big floppy donkey dick.
When I run DX Diag it passes all tests (version 7, version 8, version 9), and spits this monster out at me for the graphics card:
[Intel (R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family]
And since it's integrated, I'm stuck with it until I can afford a new computer. So thanks you guys for trying to help, but this one's a non-starter.