Graphic Problems?
 

Please help!
I just bought SH4 and I'm having graphic issues (I think...). Installation went fine and I start playing the game, every time about 5 minutes into the game it freezes. What happens is this: the screen freezes still with no distortions in the picture and I get either a random group of noises out of my speakers or the repeating of the last sound I made in the game (i.e. firing the deck AA guns).

This is what I have: Gateway computer
Intel Pentium 4, 3.20 GHz, 1022 GB RAM, Windows XP Svc Pack 2.
Nvidia (PNY) GeForce 6000 (AGP) graphics card, DirectX 9.0c, Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS sound card.

I can play GR: Advance Warfighter (I) without any problems as well as SH3.
Can anyone help?

Thanks! :arrgh!:

I Had kidda the same prob w/ my laptop. Turns out the video card was overheating (7900gtx Go).
Are all your drivers up to date?

Also, it looks like your going to have a hard time w/ the specs you have, your Ram and video card are not really enough.

Drivers/Info
 

Thanks for the info. You mean graphics drivers who all my drivers? I did try getting the latest update on my card and it didn't change anything. I ran a utility to see if my card was to snuff for this game it cleared without any problems...I was thinking there was a corrupt file in the installation or like you said it was overheating...need a bigger motor/fan?

Not a bad idea to check for updates on all drivers. Defanatly sound and video card.
As for my problem w/ overheating, I actually had to RMA the card. When I got the new one in, just to be safe, I went and got a usb laptop cooler. Im at work right now, and cant remember what I got, but is was less than $30 Im sure

Update
 

I updated all my drivers and I'm still having the same issue...only now I can play a little longer before it locks up. I also contact support at UBisoft and was told to change certain graphic settings in the game (lowering them of course) which didn't work. I hope the next game they make doesn't requiring upgrading your computer with hundreds of dollars...

You need a better graphics card . Cannot make it any clearer than that .

It would be wise to get a newer card.

Hell, my 7900 was doing great on full settings in the stock game and even with previous iterations of the TM mod for quite some time now but since the LBO mod was put into TM I get occasional freeze-ups usually when I move my scope around in heavy seas with an Nvidia driver error.

If nobody else is having the same problems with the LBO mod, then I'll likely get a new power supply and if that doesn't work maybe put the PCI slot cooler fan that's been sitting around underneath my video card.

A newer graphics card will help but also reduce the sound acceleration for your sound card. Your first post you said you are getting repeat sounds. I often find sound cards can create issues for these games.

You might want to check your power supply too. Gateways sometimes come with some awefully small wattage power supplies in their desktops (my friends Pentium 4 Gateway came with a 190W power supply, and this was a full tower!), and as the system ages the power supplies get less effective, and once the power supply heats up (demanding game, more demand for power) it may just simply be unable to maintain correct voltages.

And the unfortunate fact, as mentioned above, is your GeForce 6000 (haven't heard of a 6000 before...is it slower than a 6200?) may just not be quite enough (min requirements for SH4 ask for a 6200 and up, and this is "minimum"). Fortunately you can still get decent AGP video cards (7600GT is pretty fast and cheap and available in AGP). To further add...1GB RAM will get you by, but isnt really enough for gaming with, especially if your video card uses some of your system memory (Turbocache).

Did nVidia ever release a GeForce 6000 card? I thought the lowest was 6100 or such...

6100 was the lowest I've ever seen and that was usually integrated stuff.

I believe he is talking laptop. Its a 6000 "series" card.

You have a low end video card and 1GIG of RAM. Silent Hunter 4 is a resource hungry game. You really need at least a mid range video card and preferably 2 GIGs of RAM to run it well.

I couldn't play it with a 6600 pny AGP. Upgraded to 7950 which i lucked out and stumbled upon.

typo
 

sorry for all the confusion..typo..I have a 6600.