Legit Reviews

Okay I have just re-built and re-installed my new system using Win XP Pro SP2. All seems to be okay except for the fact that I seem to have video graphics problems. Initially I noticed this when playing BF1942. during game play I get image break-up on the screen. This is lines that appear for a second or two and also parts of the screen flicker. I have also noticed this now when I run the Futuremark 3D benchmark although not as bad. I think I have all the latest drivers and am stumped as to why this is happening.

Any suggestions on what to look for would be very much appreciated.

Here's the specs:

Case - Coolermaster Centurion 5 Black/Blue
Mobo - ASUS A8V Deluxe
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3500
Mem - 1GB (2 x 512MB Corsair XMS TWINX XLPT DDR400)
Vid - Nvidia GeForce 6800GT
HD - 2 x Maxtor 80GB SATA 7200 RPM
DVD - Lite On 16x +/- RW Dual Layer
CD - Lite On 52x32x52 CD-RW

WHat you are describing, to me, sounds like v-sync. What happens, is when a vidcards draws a "frame", it gets buffered in local memory, usually up to 3 frames together. When needed, they get shipped out to the monitor, but what happens if the card is not finished drawing that full frame in the buffer? well, you get "graphical tearing". which sounds alot like the symptoms you are describing.
There are two ways to deal with this issue. ONe is to enable v-sync, which will come at a performance loss, as the vidcard will always wait for a full frame to be drawn before displaying it, and quite obviously, this can lead to further slowdowns. The second way is to just deal with it. You'll notice that it should be worst when you are panning the landscape with your view, or moving up or down the 3-d field of vision.
V-synce will lower the number of displayed frame to be epual to your refresh rate, but sometimes waiting for the full frame to be drawn will casue stalls as the frame is completed, and backing up the flow of data across the vidcard. most gamers will not play with this on, and those that do only do so when they have a top-of-the-line card that will not be so negatively affected.
You've got a kick-ass sytem there...unfortunately you are just going to have to deal with it, most likely.

So your saying that if I turn on v-sync the problem should go away but I will have lower frame rates?

Would this be something to try to see if indeed this is the issue?

Rogermoss,

what driver version are you using?

Nvidia has 66.93 for download here & this version is the latest from Nvidia...

Here are some beta drivers that are floating around the net that you can try out... They are only 3 days old.
Forceware 67.66 BETA

If those don't work check out this one by DNA. These are pretty awesome drivers:
DNA-Force 1.1.7180 - Based on the ForceWare 71.80 Release
Grab them here
They are about 18mb...

its reversable so yeah try it out see if thats the issue, you might also want to take a look at what voltage your running to you AGP port. Whe overclocking you some times get artifacts like what you discribed because of low voltage.

Apoptosis wrote:Rogermoss,

what driver version are you using?

I am using the 66.93 version at the moment. I had thought about trying a beta version and appreciate the links.

Will let you know how it goes.

Voltages look okay in an idle state but I do not know how they are when I am in game. I had thought about this possibility although I am running a 450W supply. I am try to run the secondary power cable to the graphics card on an unused set of leads.

nVidia recommends 480w for an ultra, maybe the GT too. If you have not already tried, you can try turning on v-sync, and if the problems goes away, then yes, you either have to deal with it, or get lowered framerates. I only notice it being a problem in HL2..no other game is affected as of yet that i have.

Well I updated my Nvidia drivers from 66.93 to the beta 71.25 and hey presto the video flickering problems have gone.

I still get the odd flicker but I used to get that with my old GeForce FX 5700.

Thanks to all for your help and advice.

I am moving back to the US this summer and have to buy a new power supply with a higher output rating as the one I am currently using is not multi voltage and I think may be struggling.

Glad the 71.25 driver helped you out. You should try that DNA 71.80 driver though too. If you play HL2 the differences are shocking. About a 15-20% FPS performance gain while actually seeing more detail in the game.

If I may ask why are you in the UK? Not too many people get to live in a different country and come back! ;)

I do play HL2 and Counter-Stirke source so I would like to try the other drivers. I will look for the download.

My living in London is due to my wife who works for the US State department and was offered a posting here. We will have been here for three years after coming back this summer.

I am originally from the UK and moved to the states in 1983. It was wierd coming back after living for almost 20 years in the states.

Sounds like you guys should have an interesting life working with the state department and all! I'm sure it would be weird to leave the country you were born in and then return to live there 20 years later. It was weird coming back to America after spending a few weeks in Asia, so I couldn't imagine spending 20 years in one country and going back to another!

Let us know if you try out the other drivers and if they work!

I have just downloaded the driver and will try later tonight. I will let you know how it goes.

I have just tried to play CS Source but the updates are huge and the server must be busy because it is telling me it will finish in 465 minutes - I don't think so. Will have to try later when their servers are not so busy.

Thanks again for all your help and advice - hope I can return the favour.

Well the video problems returned even after trying the new drivers. As an experiment I re-installed my old GeForce FX 5700. Using the 66.93 Nvidia released drivers I put it to the test.

There were absolutley no artifact problems in any of my games or running the FutureMark 3D Mark benchmark.

I re-installed the 6800GT and the problems returned. I called the shop where I purchased this and took my PC in for them to look at. They agreed that the graphics card was at fault and replaced it.

I am now running the replacement 6800GT at the speed of an Ultra with no video artifact breakups.

Thanks again for all your help.

Glad to hear it all worked out!

Good news man, also nice to hear of a shop that honered warranties. Seems like the small ones have problems with that sort of thing some times.