Graphics Problem - Any Ideas?

[HSX]

Hey all. I wonder if any of you can help me, or are experiencing similar problems with the game.

It hard to describe accurately the problem I'm having - it seems like sometimes the game doesn't manage to render things fully. I've taken a few screenshots to help explain it better - the one of Queen Victoria is possibly the best although Roosevelt is a good grab too. The most irritating thing is that this isn't a consistent bug, it appears seemingly randomly. I have experienced a similar thing in Sid Meier's Pirates! too.

Some areas seem incorrectly textured; some have those weird plane things going on. The texture thing I've seen before in Grand Prix 4 as well...

My system is as follows:

• Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)
• 1600 megahertz Intel Pentium 4
• 1024 Megabytes Installed Memory
• NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT

Anything else you need, let me know and I'll provide the info if I can.

The images of the problem are at the following links:

1. http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/4491/17gg.jpg
2. http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6499/23vh.jpg
3. http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/729/32it.jpg
4. http://img524.imageshack.us/img524/392/40qg.jpg
5. http://img508.imageshack.us/img508/9553/50ea.jpg
6. http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/3268/62au.jpg

Any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

[AgentJones]

Looks like you need a new driver. Hit the link and download.

http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.98.html

 

[HSX]

I've got that driver already. I updated it as soon as it came out (November 28th I believe...)

 

[AgentJones]

Well, the card could be overheating. If your card has a temperture gauge in it, check the core temp after 10 minutes or so of playing Civ or another graphics intensive game. If it's 70*c or higher, it could be the problem.

If temps aren't the issue, try one of the older driver sets. The newest drivers aren't always the best for a particular card.
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp-2k_archive.html

Conversely, you can try Beta drivers. guru3d.com usually has the most up-to-date drivers. I'm currently using 83.10.

 

[HSX]

The problem occurs instantly - as in straight from opening the game.

Its temperature is usually at a pretty constant 56C no matter what.

I've tried a few drivers - can't remember which ones now, 71 or 73.something rings a bell. All have produced the same thing though. I may try out some Beta drivers. Thanks for the tip.

 

[AgentJones]

56C is okay for a 6600, so it's not overheating, at least not the core. If none of the drivers work it's probably something else with your card (like the onboard RAM). You might have to RMA it.

 

[Smidlee]

Well, the card could be overheating. If your card has a temperture gauge in it, check the core temp after 10 minutes or so of playing Civ or another graphics intensive game. If it's 70*c or higher, it could be the problem.

That odd since it's common for my GPU reads as high as 80*c at times yet it's a new card. it runs around 50*c idle. you think this is too high for 7800 gt card? It could be the gauge is off.

 

[Zydor]

Smidlee

Some temperature tests etc at Tom's Hardware may shed some light for you

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/12/09/seven_of_nvidia/page42.html

Regards
Zy

 

[AgentJones]

That odd since it's common for my GPU reads as high as 80*c at times yet it's a new card. it runs around 50*c idle. you think this is too high for 7800 gt card? It could be the gauge is off.

The 7800 runs hot, 80 isn't unusual. But I do worry about how such temps affect the core over long term. I'd at least make sure that I had plenty of ventilation in my case, as even if 80*c doesn't harm the GPU, that heat still has to go somewhere and I've lost a harddrive due sustained high-temps in the case.

Smidlee

Some temperature tests etc at Tom's Hardware may shed some light for you
...

Holy crap does that passive 6600 run hot!

 

[Zydor]

Gigabyte keep muttering about their 'passive cooling' due to noise reduction,

I would prefer to use XFX 6600's with the usual active fan because they are less likely to "melt" everything around them .....

Might save a fan on the card, but I bet the casing needs an additional fan to get rid of that excess heat anyway

 

[AgentJones]

Those case fans would keep the rest of the rig cool, but I'd be shocked if many of those cards were running two years after purchase.

 

[Smidlee]

Everything thing else including my CPU doesn't get any hotter than 50*c. ( I have one gauge that must be broken as it normally reads 125*c and a few times -125*c) I use speedfan program to increase my case fan to run a little faster on high demanding games like FEAR. (yet not too high since my card blow the air to the front while my case fan blows air toward the back.) I wonder also about the long term affect on a GPU. I figure BFG 7800 gt oc was a descent brand atleast keeping GPC cool but I never had a card run as hot as this one before.(first one that used two power connections also) Atleast my case has vents on the side panel to let air flow though easily.