Horrifying performance, graphics corruption?

from Stardock Forums

Issue description:

On my system (which is admittedly aging somewhat, but can run Supreme Commander pretty well) the beta chugs along to the point that units/demigods seem to "jump" from place to place, even at minimum/off-everything graphics. At slightly higher graphics, I see my control circle move forward while the displayed model of the Torchbearer stays where it is and later pops over to the correct location. (damage etc. do seem to respond to the correct location of the control circle) 

The units and demigods also appear to be one-coloured blobs that vaguely fill their outline. My Torchbearer, for example, is an orange shape in the Torchbearer outline, where you can sometimes see some of the textures. The AI demigods appear in what is presumably their player colour. (ie. purple, green, etc.)

Information resources:

My graphics driver is up to date. (I just patched it) 

I'll include the Dxdiag I made if someone tells me how. (near total tech noob here)

I'll include a screenschot if you think it'll help understand what I'm trying to say above. (and if someone tells me how to make and include it) 

And, of course, anything else that I can provide that'll help.

demigod
32,618 views 60 replies
Reply #1 from Demigod Forums Top

I'm going to guess with 98% certainty that you have geometric instancing turned off.

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Reply #3 from Demigod Forums Top

Yeah some Graphics cards need geometric instancing, I needed it will the Supcom engine, if it was off i'd get horribkle slow down and triangles and illumination changes on my screen.

Reply #4 from Demigod Forums Top

Post is fail. Give system specs.

Reply #5 from Demigod Forums Top

1. To get your system specs, open the start menu and select Run.  Simply type dxdiag in the box that appears and copy the System Information you get there.

 

2. Bugs should be posted in the beta forums.

Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top

For those raging on no system specs: I'm offering dxdiag aren't I? That'll contain all that info that I (as the aforementioned tech noob) don't know. Also, a little politeness goes a long way.

On the "geometric instancing": What is that and how do I do something about it? (tech noob)  

 As for cut/paste the dxdiag, its a huge amount of text, and I have no idea which part actually matters.

Reply #7 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Zaisha, reply 6
For those raging on no system specs: I'm offering dxdiag aren't I? That'll contain all that info that I (as the aforementioned tech noob) don't know. Also, a little politeness goes a long way.
On the "geometric instancing": What is that and how do I do something about it? (tech noob)  
 As for cut/paste the dxdiag, its a huge amount of text, and I have no idea which part actually matters.
End of Zaisha's quote

I would recommend you give at least the OS, processor, video card, and memory considering your problem.

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting SyxxByNyne, reply 7
I would recommend you give at least the OS, processor, video card, and memory considering your problem.
End of SyxxByNyne's quote

Will this bit do?:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/4/2008, 23:26:32
Machine name: P4GD
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp.080413-2111)
Language: Dutch (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MEDIONPC
System Model: MS-7091
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.20GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 393MB used, 2067MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

 

Reply #9 from Demigod Forums Top

You don't list your graphics card, and you only have 1 gig of ram.

You also have a single core processor, that P4 IS NOT 2 CPUs, it just has hyper threading.

 

Most important thing here is

#1. Graphics card

#2.  Processor

#3.  RAM

The processor is fine, but I can tell you already your graphics card isn't.

I can also see your lacking in RAM.

2 gigs is almost standard now a days for gaming.

 

Reply #10 from Demigod Forums Top

I agree with technoviking. 1 Gig of Ram is just way too little.

If you have anything under a Nvidia GeFORCE 8600 then chances are its going to lag and jump.

Im using a Nvidia GeFORE 8600 GTI Overclocked with about 3 Gigs of ram and i can play it at near max everything
and it still running smooth. Most of the rough spots are just to-be-fixed beta stuff.

You can get more ram and a good graphic card out of a total of maybe $200 - $300
and if it sounds like a lot, its not really compared to the high-end computers. Also your not buying it specifically for
Demigod, but future games as a whole. 

Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting technoViking, reply 9
The processor is fine, but I can tell you already your graphics card isn't.I can also see your lacking in RAM.2 gigs is almost standard now a days for gaming. 
End of technoViking's quote

Well, I'm not expecting high performance at high graphics. I'm also utterly uninterested in the machine eating stuff like FPSs. I'm just looking for reasonable performance at low-medium graphics, which is what I get on most newer games I play. (I mentioned SupCom as it shares an engine with this beta)

It's been stated that Demigod is developed for a wide range of machines, count me as a low/medium spec tester.

 

Reply #12 from Demigod Forums Top

Well you need to post your graphics card if you want us to help.

Reply #13 from Demigod Forums Top

Post the video section of the dxdiag as well.

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting kryo, reply 13
Post the video section of the dxdiag as well.
End of kryo's quote

That's this bit, right?:

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: MEDION RADEON X740XL
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: MEDION RADEON X740XL (0x5E4B)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5E4B&SUBSYS_17801462&REV_00
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (70Hz)
          Monitor: SyncMaster 193T/197T/191Tplus,SyncMaster Magic CX900T
  Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6844 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 8/1/2008 06:32:35, 311296 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n.v.t.
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 8/1/2008 08:38:20, 3266560 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-1D0B-11CF-6E6D-8A37A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x5E4B
        SubSys ID: 0x17801462
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_B ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                   {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

 

 Edit: Eh, weird stuff with the forum code.

Reply #15 from Demigod Forums Top

1) The card is DX9 compliant so it should be able to run the game.

2) It's probably a graphics card setting. Go into CCC and fiddle around with them.

Reply #16 from Demigod Forums Top

That's a lot of frowny faces! I don't have any idea why it wouldn't work, that's very odd. Do you notice any graphical bugs in other games?

Reply #17 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Zogish, reply 10
I agree with technoviking. 1 Gig of Ram is just way too little.If you have anything under a Nvidia GeFORCE 8600 then chances are its going to lag and jump.Im using a Nvidia GeFORE 8600 GTI Overclocked with about 3 Gigs of ram and i can play it at near max everythingand it still running smooth. Most of the rough spots are just to-be-fixed beta stuff.
End of Zogish's quote

Did you mean 8600gts?

I've got a 8600gts (256mb) and was wondering how my card would run this game. Visually, the game looks great but I was worried that my gpu would choke on it. Will I be able to run it in at least medium settings?

Reply #18 from Demigod Forums Top

Meh, I've got the quadro cousin of that and it runs fine, most settings on high. I do have 3 gigs of ram, but yeah, I don't think the quadro is as good.

Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting NwExilon, reply 15
It's probably a graphics card setting. Go into CCC and fiddle around with them.
End of NwExilon's quote

Eh, what is "CCC"? I've probably used it before, but I don't recall the abbreviation.

 

As to graphical bugs in other games, not really. The only problem on that front I've recently had was when one game mysteriously upgraded the driver version requirement during a patch. And that was solved by getting a new driver.

 

Reply #20 from Demigod Forums Top

People saying you need an 8600 are kidding. My friend's 8600GT is running it at 1280x1024 on medium fidelity.

Heck, my 8500GT is running it at 1024x768 (don't laugh) and medium fidelity without any chugging.

Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top

ATI Radeon X740 XL 128MiB

Think you're going to struggle in beta 1 with that. The retail verasion, after some more support added, likely to be better. Sup Com would probably not have worked for you when it was in beta. In any event it isn't a very good gaming card so will definitely need further driver optimisation before it's going to work to its capacity.

Reply #22 from Demigod Forums Top

I run it on my 7950 just fine.

It should also run fine on a Geforce 6 series card just fine too.

If there's graphics corruption, it's something else, something video related anyway.

Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top

Hmm, I figured out it was the Catalyst Control Console NwExilon was talking about and tried the "geometric instancing" thing, but that didn't help.

Strangely, when I tried a much higher resolution setting (1280 x 1024) it ran a bit smoother (though not much). Kind of counter-intuitive, but it might have been because it's my native setting and cards typically work a bit more efficiently at that.

Anything I can do to help find out what kind (if any) of graphics corruption is happening, Frogboy?

 

Reply #24 from Demigod Forums Top

That's very odd. Do you have a screenshot?

Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting xthetenth, reply 24
That's very odd. Do you have a screenshot?
End of xthetenth's quote

Unfortunately I don't know how to make a screenshot in the beta. I've tried the print screen button on my keyboard, (that works in some games) but that doesnt seem to do the trick here. I'd also need somewhere to upload it etc.

The graphical corruption on the Demigods appears to be rather extreme team colours, the skin is still visible underneath, but almost completely drowned out by an orange/purple/etc. overlay. My own team's troops and buildings appear propely with full normal colours, but those of the enemy are completely black. (to the point where I can't see the normal textures underneath)

The choppy performance is somewhat odd, since the actual action appears to take place at a pretty high speed, it's just the models of the units that don't move. For instance, my demigod's actual model is often still on the other side of the arena from where my "selection circle" is, if I move my demigod from one side to the other quickly. This "after image" effect also applies to other demigods, soldiers etc. I should note that the effect is fairly minor at the start of a game, and gets worse quickly as it progresses and more units (and graphics workload) appear on the screen.