Wondering if anyone has come across this...

Ultraboy · 01-07-06, 07:45 AM

Just to forewarn, this is a tech question so if I'm posting in the wrong place feel free to harshly direct me to the right place.

This week I swapped my Radeon 9700 pro (128mb) with an All-in-Wonder 9800 (128mb), I know, not a big difference but it was free. So after I've done this I load up a couple of games and notice slightly better performance in some cases but when I get to SH3, it runs fine but there are little red dots appearing pretty much everywhere. On the crew, the boat, other ships, buildings etc. Doesn't affect the actual gameplay, it's just a pain in the you-know-what.

So after some googling, I'm fairly convinced that there is a physical problem with the card, until I notice someone is having the same problem with another game, F.E.A.R. As it happens, this is a game I have, so I load it up and sure enough, same problem. But in F.E.A.R. there is an option to "force DX8 shaders." Turning this on solved the problem in that game completely.

So my question is, since there is no such option in SH3, is there some way I can duplicate the process with a third-party program or other means? Or perhaps is there a different solution for SH3 that I have not come across/thought of?

I seek guidance because, though I was pretty knowedgeable about computers when I had my old Tandy 1000, I've since fallen off the technology wagon, and don't really have a clue anymore.

My specs:

ASUS P4PE mobo
Intel Pentium 4 - 2.4 gHz
1024mb PC2700 DDR RAM
ATI All-in-Wonder 9800 pro AGP (128mb)
Windows XP pro
...can't think of anything else that's relevant.

Das_Dutchman · 01-07-06, 07:55 AM

This might sound stupid, but are you using the latest Catalyst Drivers (5.13)?

Ultraboy · 01-07-06, 07:57 AM

I am, but I also did try rolling back to the previous ones. No difference unfortunatley.

Das_Dutchman · 01-07-06, 08:05 AM

Okay, what about case temperatures? Pixelated artifatcs are the cause of a.) an on it's way out g/card or b.) high temps due to overclocking and/or ambient temps.

Also, if you have Anti Antialising and Anisotropic Filtering on try putting it off (I doubt if this is the cause)

You can also try ATiTool - it has an artifact scanner and if it still shows the same results you might consider the probability of your g/card being kaput.

Hope this helps!

Ultraboy · 01-07-06, 08:11 AM

I should have mentioned I've ruled out a temperature problem, also AA and AF are currently set to "application-managed."

I'm currently downloading ATItool now.

Thanks for your help!

Ultraboy · 01-07-06, 10:01 AM

Well, I've been playing around with ATItool for a while, and I can't get it to go more than a second without finding errors, so I guess that settles it. I'm perfectly prepared to admit the card is fubar'd and go back to my trusty 9700, but I'm still disturbed that forcing DX8 shaders eliminated all the artifacts in F.E.A.R.

Oh well.

...

I've been up far too long to think about this anymore.

Mowgli · 01-07-06, 10:05 AM

Measles. No doubt about it. I had them when I was young. Red spots everywhere.

Just dont scratch them otherwise you will damage the screen and leave scars.

Ultraboy · 01-07-06, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mowgli

Just dont scratch them otherwise you will damage the screen and leave scars.

Now he tells me!

gdogghenrikson · 01-07-06, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultraboy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mowgli

Just dont scratch them otherwise you will damage the screen and leave scars.

Now he tells me!

:rotfl: :rotfl:

01-07-06, 07:45 AM	#1
Ultraboy Gunner Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Mysterious Canadas Posts: 99 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Wondering if anyone has come across this... Just to forewarn, this is a tech question so if I'm posting in the wrong place feel free to harshly direct me to the right place. This week I swapped my Radeon 9700 pro (128mb) with an All-in-Wonder 9800 (128mb), I know, not a big difference but it was free. So after I've done this I load up a couple of games and notice slightly better performance in some cases but when I get to SH3, it runs fine but there are little red dots appearing pretty much everywhere. On the crew, the boat, other ships, buildings etc. Doesn't affect the actual gameplay, it's just a pain in the you-know-what. So after some googling, I'm fairly convinced that there is a physical problem with the card, until I notice someone is having the same problem with another game, F.E.A.R. As it happens, this is a game I have, so I load it up and sure enough, same problem. But in F.E.A.R. there is an option to "force DX8 shaders." Turning this on solved the problem in that game completely. So my question is, since there is no such option in SH3, is there some way I can duplicate the process with a third-party program or other means? Or perhaps is there a different solution for SH3 that I have not come across/thought of? I seek guidance because, though I was pretty knowedgeable about computers when I had my old Tandy 1000, I've since fallen off the technology wagon, and don't really have a clue anymore. My specs: ASUS P4PE mobo Intel Pentium 4 - 2.4 gHz 1024mb PC2700 DDR RAM ATI All-in-Wonder 9800 pro AGP (128mb) Windows XP pro ...can't think of anything else that's relevant.

01-07-06, 10:05 AM	#7
Mowgli Sparks Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: South Wales Posts: 248 Downloads: 158 Uploads: 0	Measles Measles. No doubt about it. I had them when I was young. Red spots everywhere. Just dont scratch them otherwise you will damage the screen and leave scars. __________________ Now this is the Law of the Jungle -- as old and as true as the sky; And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper, but the Wolf that shall break it must die. As the creeper that girdles the tree-trunk the Law runneth forward and back -- For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

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01-07-06, 07:55 AM	#2
Das_Dutchman Nub Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 4 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	This might sound stupid, but are you using the latest Catalyst Drivers (5.13)?

01-07-06, 07:57 AM	#3
Ultraboy Gunner Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Mysterious Canadas Posts: 99 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	I am, but I also did try rolling back to the previous ones. No difference unfortunatley.

01-07-06, 08:05 AM	#4
Das_Dutchman Nub Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Africa Posts: 4 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Okay, what about case temperatures? Pixelated artifatcs are the cause of a.) an on it's way out g/card or b.) high temps due to overclocking and/or ambient temps. Also, if you have Anti Antialising and Anisotropic Filtering on try putting it off (I doubt if this is the cause) You can also try ATiTool - it has an artifact scanner and if it still shows the same results you might consider the probability of your g/card being kaput. Hope this helps!

01-07-06, 08:11 AM	#5
Ultraboy Gunner Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Mysterious Canadas Posts: 99 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	I should have mentioned I've ruled out a temperature problem, also AA and AF are currently set to "application-managed." I'm currently downloading ATItool now. Thanks for your help!

01-07-06, 10:01 AM	#6
Ultraboy Gunner Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: The Mysterious Canadas Posts: 99 Downloads: 20 Uploads: 0	Well, I've been playing around with ATItool for a while, and I can't get it to go more than a second without finding errors, so I guess that settles it. I'm perfectly prepared to admit the card is fubar'd and go back to my trusty 9700, but I'm still disturbed that forcing DX8 shaders eliminated all the artifacts in F.E.A.R. Oh well. ... I've been up far too long to think about this anymore.