Graphics Glitch

from GalCiv2 Forums

I'm Having an issue running Galciv2,  DA, and ToTa. I start up the game, and it runs fine for a little while seemlessly even but then suddenly the screen just like glitches out, the graphics begin to flicker and there are "residue" effects of any windows i had closed while this effect is occuring.

 

I run a Mobile Intel 965 Express graphics card(3 gigs RAM memory, 2 gig intel core2 duo etc etc), and i can easily run more hardware intensive program on it such as the Sims 2 and Bfme2 RotK. I tried updating my driver, and i downloaded the one intel told me to use for my chipset,  but as soon as i start up the .exe halfway through its like "Uhuh, sorry your trying to install the wrong driver." It ran on my Older desktop fine too considering it just had overall poorer specs.

 

I'd really appreciate some help, because i love this game. :)

5,470 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Sounds like your graphics chip and/or CPU is overheating.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

But Why only on this game? i mean the requirements are generally pretty low compared to the other games i run on it.

Is there anything i can do?

Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Make sure the fan on your graphics card is really running.  I had the same thing, and I found I could run with my case open with an external fan.  (i've since got a better card...)

 

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Please open your debug.err file in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem. The location you'll find the debug.err in varies depending on your game version:

Dread Lords, all versions:
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2

Dark Avatar 1.5-1.6 (non-Vista):
C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar

Dark Avatar 1.6+(Windows Vista), 1.7+(non-Vista):
My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar

Twilight of the Arnor:
My Documents\My Games\GC2TwilightArnor

Be sure to copy the debug immediately after the error occurs; if you start the game again, the debug will be erased and recreated for the new session.

Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Mmk Kryo.

 

Here you go thanks in Advance guys. :)

 

Debug Message:  Version v1.80g Dark Avatar last updated on: Wed Dec 19 15:10:23 2007

Debug Message:  Checking DX Version.

Debug Message:  *********DXDiag info follows.*********

System Info

Time: 9/28/2008, 15:46:53

DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Machine Name: NOTEBOOKNW

Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp.080413-2111)

Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.

System Model: Vostro 1400                     

BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A09

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU     T5670  @ 1.80GHz (2 CPUs)

Physical Memory: 3062MB RAM

Page File: 578MB used, 4368MB available

Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

 

 

Display Info

Display device 1:

Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1

Card Name: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Manufacturer: Intel Corporation

Chip Type: Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

DAC Type: Internal

Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2A02&SUBSYS_02271028&REV_0C

Display Memory: 384.0 MB

Current Display Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor

Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200

Driver Name: igxprd32.dll

Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4859

Driver Date: 9/23/2007 22:09:18

DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

 

 

 

Sound info

Sound device 1:

Description: SigmaTel Audio

Default Sound Playback

Default Voice Playback

Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7616&SUBSYS_10280227&REV_1002

Manufacturer ID: 1

Product ID: 100

Driver Name: sthda.sys

Provider: SigmaTel

Driver Version: 5.10.5515.0000

Driver Date: 3/30/2008 21:04:54

Type: WDM

Other Drivers:

Acceleration Level: 3

Cap Flags: 0

Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

 

 

 

Debug Message:  *********END dxdiag info.*********

Debug Message:  Entering WinMain

Debug Message:  ******* Starting Game Shell *******

Debug Message:  Going Fullscreen

Debug Message:  Preparing to change display settings.

Debug Message:  Using hardware vertex processing

Debug Message:  Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE

Debug Message:  Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1280 x 800, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 0

Debug Message:  Game Resolution: 1280 x 800

Debug Message:  Running fullscreen.

Debug Message:  HAL (hw vp): Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family

Debug Message:  D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT

Debug Message:  Refresh rate: 60

Debug Message:  Bit Depth: 32 bit.

Debug Message:  *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************

Debug Message:  A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.

Debug Message:  RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff

Debug Message:  Now Fullscreen

Debug Message:  Shell initialization complete

Debug Message:  GalCiv2 is activated.

Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****

Debug Message:  Timer Frequency is 0 369e99

Debug Message:  Initializing sound card.

Debug Message:  initailizing bink

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\sfx\*.wav

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Music\*.mp3

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Event Music\*.mp3

Debug Message:  Create setup screens.

Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.

Debug Message:  Clear influence.

Debug Message:  Clear up laws.

Debug Message:  Clear first time events.

Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.

Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.

Debug Message:  Set mouse.

Debug Message:  Set update timer.

Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.

Debug Message:  Killing ship styles:

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\NLW\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg

Debug Message:  Reading Star Names

Debug Message:  Reading Star Names... Done

Debug Message:  No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml

Debug Message:  TitleWnd: Quit Button.

Debug Message:  Posting WM_CLOSE message.

Debug Message:  WM_CLOSE message received.

Debug Message:  GameUninitialize start

Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy

Debug Message:  Killing threads.

Debug Message:  Kiling civs.

Debug Message:  Killing ships.

Debug Message:  Killing rallypoints.

Debug Message:  Killing misc objects.

Debug Message:  Killing stars.

Debug Message:  Killing anomalies.

Debug Message:  Killing asteroid fields.

Debug Message:  Killing asteroid field mining bases.

Debug Message:  Killing space resources.

Debug Message:  Killing colonies and planets.

Debug Message:  killing scenario.

Debug Message:  Clearing Turn Event Log

Debug Message:  Clear galaxy settings.

Debug Message:  Clear influence.

Debug Message:  Clear up laws.

Debug Message:  Clear first time events.

Debug Message:  Clear wonders and trade goods.

Debug Message:  Clear sector mapper.

Debug Message:  Clear data definitions.

Debug Message:  Killing ship styles:

Debug Message:  Killing Galaxy: Completed

Debug Message:  Shutting down sound system.

Debug Message:  Clearing sound and music handles.

Debug Message:  GameUninitialize end

Debug Message:  Device not cleared. 1 counts left.

Debug Message:  D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.

Debug Message:  Destroying Window.

Debug Message:  Main Shell terminating normally

 

Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Hm. Without a debug of actual play and potentially containing driver error messages, your drivers look like they should be new enough (probably not much better available if any). So I'd weigh in with the possible overheating comments. In that regard, do make sure that you've got the throttle option on in the game settings. You'd be surprised how graphically intensive the game actually is, despite appearances. Some laptops have been known to have overheating issues with GC2, particularly Macbook Pros.

Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Ah Thanks Kryo.

Frustrating thing is, It is indeed already on. =/

Is there anything else i could by chance do?

 

Thanks for all the help,

Schattey