Using nvidia graphics options crashes SH3

[MRV]

Anyone knows something about the following problem:

I'm used to launch SH3 via d3d9.dll-File in 1280x1024 mode with enabled antialiasing and AF in my nvidia graphics options. But since I upgraded from XP 64bit to Win7 doing so gives me a black screen on SH3 startup with no main manu loading at all.

SH3 works perfectly when letting the application decide everything in nvidia options, but then there is no AA in the game. My Suspicion is that in nvidia user config there is a setting SH3 doesn't like very much.

Anyone has an idea which one this setting could be?

My System:
Phenom II X4 920
4 Gigs of RAM
nvidia GF 9800GT
Win7 Pro 64bit
SH3 1.4b with GWX 3.0 and SH3 Commander

[Marko_Ramius]

Hi MRV

Did you installed DirectX on your windows 7 install ?

Cause in this new OS, there is directX, but ver. 11, so a game which need some directx9 files to work properly, will not work as expected or won't work at all.

So, you must download from microsoft, the directx redist. Search a file called : " directx_aug2009_redist.exe". This contains all the necessary files for many games/applications. Don't be afraid for your 7 install, it won't brake anything.

Maybe this is not the exact solution for you, but just in case ..

[She-Wolf]

also MRV, if you cannot run it at all in 64 bit W7 - just get black screen and music after intro movie, go to Documents folder and find SH3 , open cfg and edit main via notepad to change the resolution from whatever it is to 1024 x 786. Save it and come out, and then see if that works. It did for me and I had tried EVERYTHING, including the direct x download. I am on a widescreen monitor and tried all the resolutions I thought it ought to work at, but 1024 x 786 was the one. Oh, and if you have nHancer, it won't work if you enable the global compatibility tag and have AA set to anything other than the default it wants, which is the one that includes Fallout and Oblivion. This is my experience.

Downside though, although I installed GWX3 it does not seem to have worked and the game plays in vanilla - but at least it plays!

[MRV]

After some trial and error work, I found out its Antialiasing...as soon as I try to enable AA in the Graphics Settings SH3 misses any visible output, although I hear the main manu music after a short time....so I think its just video not working....

Downloading DX from Microsoft unfortunately didnt change anything...damn, I can't play that game without AA. :-?

Meanwhile I found out that it works with only 2x AA...for 10 Minutes of playing, then the machine freezes and I have to do a hard reset....

[She-Wolf]

MRV, you can play the game with AA enabled. I am doing just that in Windows 7 64 bit using Geforce 7600.
Suggest you download the latest nHancer, which is an nvidia card graphics tweaker, (you will need the latest geforce drivers to use it). On the Profile tab for that .exe you can set the profile to AA and AF settings. Have a play with it and see what works for you. Mine has AAx16s and AF16x

[MRV]

OK, I juft found out that this black screen problem is only present when playing in 4x AA Mode, everything runs fine with 8x AA, which my Computer can take.

So far so good, the only problem still there now are the guarranteed freezes after 5 - 30 Minutes....

[She-Wolf]

Can I ask if you are playing with mods (specifically GSX3)? I ask because on my system, although GWX3 is installed, the game runs as if it isn't, so is in the original version. I don't mind as I can still run GWX3 on my other computer, but I wondered if anyone else had the same problem, or is it just my system.

[danurve]

The things we do to our machines to play this damn game. :hmmm:

MRV this might be a shot in the dark but after you launch the game hit [Ctrl+Shift+Esc] and find sh3.exe - go to affinity and try setting to a single core.

[MRV]

SH3 is the only game that gives me any problems on Win7, 10 Years old OFP runs without problems for example.... -.-

@ danurve

OK I try, I hope the three others wont die of boredom.....

[MRV]

Nothing....I think I hereby have to temporarily end my virtual existance as a uboat commander until the release of SH5. I reinstalled, nothing. I tried the affinity thing, nothing. I played around with nvidia settings, nothing.

@She-Wolf:
I run SH3 with GWX 3.0 as well as the compatible version of SH4 Effects, SH3 Commander and a few sound and lighting modivications I did myself.


When I upgraded to Win7, I just reinstalled vanilla SH3 and copied the old SH3 folder which version ran perfectly with WinXP 64bit, into the new one, keeping all mods and patches. Meanwhile, I also tried to reinstall everything with no result.