EPSXE problems

Hi, I'm a new user by the name of Roger, and I recently started freaking out.

I downloaded the EPSXE and the various plug-ins on June, and have been playing with no problems until today, mainly with Final Fantasy IX.

I panicked at one point and downloaded the PEC, the Playstation Emulator Cheat, and later decided I didn't want it, because it made my sound very glitchy, but as a result, I needed to get another video plugin

The problem is, with each new plugin I've tried, it's actually gotten WORSE, so that the swirl effects are completely gone, and startup is a bit laggy, but with the first plugin set i had, there were no problems. I don't identify them because I quite honestly don't remember what they were; I just got them at a whim's notice.

So my question is this: which audio and video plugin should I use, or did I use?

Some info:
Graphics Card: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) 2 Duo CPU T5800 @2.00GHz 2.00GHz
3.00GB RAM

EPSXE version 1.7.0

That's all I think is relevant.. if there is any more, please let me know, as I am new to the EPSXE and its community. Thank You!
*edit - i think the video was an openGL, but which, I forget..both 2.9 and 1.76 in their current forms aren't giving me the same results as my original plugin