Zaisha Zaisha

Horrifying performance, graphics corruption?

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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
32,623 views 60 replies
Reply #26 from Demigod Forums Top

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.
End of quote

It works for me in the way that print screen normally does. hit print screen, open your preferred photo editor, make a new image of the same size as your screen resolution, and paste. It should put the screenie right there, then just save it and post it. All in all, that's a very odd bug, and I'm sure a screenie would help. I hope this will let you get one.

Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top

Well, I've managed to make a screenshot that I hope shows pretty clearly whats going on. About the only thing that isn't in there is the "after image" effect.

Here goes:

 The screenshot

 

Btw: Thanks for the assist xthetenth

Fences - Organize your desktop icons today!
Reply #28 from Demigod Forums Top

Daaaaaayum, that's odd as hell. It looks like the sins mod I'm working on, but demigod actually has textures. Wow.

Oh, and you're welcome.

Reply #29 from Demigod Forums Top

Zaisha, I would look at texture quality settings in your graphic control panel first. Set them all to normal and check the game again.

Reply #30 from Demigod Forums Top

Zaisha, I would look at texture quality settings in your graphic control panel first. Set them all to normal and check the game again.
End of quote

also try enabling all the settings you turned off one by one and then as a group. They may be causing a problem.

Reply #31 from Demigod Forums Top

I'm getting terrible performance as well, like 1-2 fps.

I'm running an AMD Athlon 3200+ CPU, 2 Gigs of RAM, and an ATI X800 XL video card. I have a friend witha similar system, except he is running an Nvidia GeForce 7600 series video card. He is encounter no performance issues. I updated my video card drivers last night, as well as set the video card driver settings to performance modes. I'm still suffering terrible performance issues.

I haven't tried geometric instancing yet, but I'll turn it on now and see what happens.

Reply #33 from Demigod Forums Top

This is very odd, the cards aren't the same generation, so it probably isn't that (although they are both ati, so it can't be ruled out either). I wonder if your settings are the problem? Try with all effects disabled and then enable them one by one. Maybe that'll work, and it's probably the best thing you can do on your own to try and troubleshoot that.

Reply #34 from Demigod Forums Top

I set Demigod to the lowest possible resolution (1024x768) With all other settings set to off/low. Performance is still aweful at 1-2 fps. From what I see reading other posts, the video cards that I and the OP are running are just not up to snuff for the beta. It seems like most people here are running Nvidia 8800/8600-level cards. I've never played SupCom or Sins on my system, so I can't compare performance. Though technically both of those games are supposed to run fine on my rig. I suppose the OP and I will have to wait for the next beta build and/or upgrade our video cards/systems?

Reply #35 from Demigod Forums Top

Isn't the X800 cards the same ones that had trouble with Bioshock? It might just be an architecture issue.

Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top

Do you think the game might just have trouble with ATI graphics cards in general? It seems like all the people with problems who've posted here all have ATI...however it seems like the nvidia cards are doing fine...(downloading the game right now so I dont know for sure, but methinks my 8800gt will do fine)

Reply #37 from Demigod Forums Top

Quoting Zaisha, reply 2
Well, I've managed to make a screenshot that I hope shows pretty clearly whats going on. About the only thing that isn't in there is the "after image" effect.
Here goes:
 The screenshot
 
Btw: Thanks for the assist xthetenth
End of Zaisha's quote

That looks like a Direct 3d error to me mate,, remember that from years ago when i tried to play a game which required "Direct 3d" and i didn't had the right videocard,, it looked like that lol.

Reply #38 from Demigod Forums Top

Maybe it's a problem with the ATI X??? series, i have the exact same problem on a laptop with a Mobility X700. (single-core centrino, 2 gb ram)

Reply #39 from Demigod Forums Top

Ah, now I remember. The X series have a wierd SM2.0 and doesn't support SM3. Maybe Demigod is using SM3 shaders without checking for their presence. It isn't until the X1000 series that SM3 support is available; neither X300, X400, X700, X800 have the model even though they are DX9.

Reply #40 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting NwExilon, reply 4
Zaisha, I would look at texture quality settings in your graphic control panel first. Set them all to normal and check the game again.
End of NwExilon's quote

I've tried twiddeling with the texture setting, individually and in a group, and this does not seem to make any difference in the colours issue.

Strangely enough, it does not seem to make any appreciable difference in how fast the game progresses (and how fast the graphics display/update), not even when all textures etc. are set to high. The only thing that changes (apart from the actually visible textures being prettier, naturally) is that the floor bugs out too on high.

As seen here.

 

Reply #41 from Demigod Forums Top

That is sooooo awesome looking. I think NwExilon's got it, but how the hell is a card DX9 if it doesn't support SM3?

Reply #42 from Demigod Forums Top

Because ATI used SM2.0b instead. The reason why their attempt flew for a while is the X800 series were a step up over the GF6 series.

Reply #43 from Demigod Forums Top

Wow, that's insane and incredibly annoying at the same time. I just could've sworn you needed SM3 support for DX9. Odd.

Reply #44 from Demigod Forums Top

How come SupCom didn't need it then? I thought they'd optimise the performance...

Reply #45 from Demigod Forums Top

Because SupCom only used SM2 shaders.

Reply #46 from Demigod Forums Top

I have exactly the same problem here, just been directed from my thread about the same problem and it does seem to be our range of cards. I think all we can do is wait for a SD official to tell us the bad news :P

Reply #47 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting Renius01, reply 21
I have exactly the same problem here, just been directed from my thread about the same problem and it does seem to be our range of cards. I think all we can do is wait for a SD official to tell us the bad news
End of Renius01's quote

Personally I'm hoping for an "Ah, so this is the problem, yes we've heard of that before. We have good hopes for resolving this in a future build"

Hey, I can always hope. And SD and GPG employ some very talented and experienced people.

Reply #48 from Demigod Forums Top

Because ATI used SM2.0b instead. The reason why their attempt flew for a while is the X800 series were a step up over the GF6 series.
End of quote

Performance-wise, yes, but as I recall the Geforce6 series does have actual DX 9.0c support (while as has been said, the Radeon X0 series is only 9.0b).

One of the GPG guys would need to confirm whether they plan to implement PS2.0 back-compatibility, but judging by the reports (issues on x0 cards from low end to high), it looks like a Geforce 6 or Radeon x1 is going to be the min.

Reply #50 from Demigod Forums Top

You have a PCI-e slot? Nice, that's a really good card even if I would lean towards the 8800 GT (I loves mine soooo much).