Video & Sound sluggish right from clean boot.

Please solve this issue!

Published on March 10, 2008 By Zyxpsilon In Bug Reports

Kay, i've tried. I've looked everywhere on this board and read plenty of threads - to no avail.

Here's what's happening.

Not even in the games yet... just clicking on the new game button and getting to pick options.

1- The galaxy spinner movie slowly tilts as it should BUT stops for a slight 0.005 second or somethin'. Restarts, and does it all over again.
2- Pick your civ screen. There's a ship at the bottom right. Even worst and obvious since the box is bigger. Terribly slugging too.
3- Same stuff happens on the other screens.
4- Music is also quite choppy and lags all the way to opening gameplay.

Mind you, i HAD a much better reaction overall before... smooth as a cricket and BANG (somewhere about when i upgraded to 1.80g, now that i can remember) these annoying lags began to creep in.

Here's the shorty summary of system specs with the debug.err relevant infos at the start - if that could help define what's really wrong or pin-point at THE solution;

***********
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: 3/10/2008, 01:44:57
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: ZYXPSILON
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Languages: French (Regional Setting: French)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
System Model: MS-6528
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1500MHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 325MB used, 1946MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 MX 4000
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0185&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_C1
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Samsung SyncMaster 750ST(T)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.7776
Driver Date: 7/16/2005 18:09:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: C-Media Wave Device
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_52801462&REV_10
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: cmaudio.sys
Provider: C-Media
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0643
Driver Date: 11/18/2002 16:51:40
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: Failed to find a device that can start with hardware vp mode. Trying sw vp.
Debug Message: Using software vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONMASKABLE
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1280 x 1024, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 1
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
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.......
---
All gameplay stuff after that last line above.
***********

I know it IS a very low-end PC... but since i could enjoy a reasonably fair start and early turns without any such lags - it now puzzles me that the thing started to act strangely. I don't mind the frame rates, nor the fact that i get no textures on ships. They simply never ticked this much before.

Oh, and i tried a LOT of many different things over the last few days and weeks;

- Anti-aliasing / Nope.
- Bump-Mapping off / Nope.
- Considerable number of clicks and re-sets on MANY performance lines and options / Nope.

- Verified, increased size, defragged, moved on another drive... the pagefile.sys / Nope.

- Checked drivers and codecs. / Nope.

- Uninstalled FFDSHOW, AC3FILTER, re-installed layers and other sound drivers including MP3 and WM9. / Nope.

- Accelerated, decelerated, combo-writes off, compatibility checks, N-Vidia tweaks and defaults, overclocks, etc. / Nope.

- Opened up the case, No dust, all cables nicely jammed where they should, Drives in good shape, full system grid complete and clean. / Nope.

- Rebooted in safe-mode, thorough verifications of the essential in XP. / Nope.

- Cleared memory slacks, fiddled with most core assets, managed off/on Anti-Virus & Firewall, closed other progs. /Nope

- Media Players, Codecs (sound or video), DirectX (I DO understand Shaders and the difference between 9 and 10!), OpenGL, what is it??

And, i'm still running in full-screen, using same resolution as desktop. 1280x1024. That's what it was, that's what it should be again.

So, believe me i thoroughly analysed everything i could on my system and, i CAN'T figure it out.

Thus, please help me.

(PS; Although this darn problem may be over soon, since i may find some cash before month's end and finally go to the store and buy a much better/recent/compatible video-card. And yet, i'd be turning this same issue over into a 512MB instead of a 128! I mean, there must be an explanation.)

- Zyxpsilon.

Comments

Zyxpsilon

on Mar 12, 2008

Hey, think i may have figured out this whole mess - somehow, maybe.

It seems this problem started to happen when i was trying to find some 'good' sharewares to do two different things; create the race movies in a reasonably powerful video editing program & starting the work on the X-Worlds modeling of ships through extensive 3D files (all of this from scratch) editing.

So, i went on a rampage to find and multi-install whatever needed to be tested and then make a final choice. Plenty of stuff got in&out of the PC while a bunch of reconfiguration of system settings & alterations to DLL layouts were done behind the curtains. As a result, DirectX was taxed out, files were packing the registry with tricky calls and still, hadn't determined what to use as definitive solution(s) which, in fact, became THE problem.

There is only one explanation. AFAIK, a combination of bad typos or improper values for my PC while i was installing FFDSHOW altered (screwed up - might be a better word in this case) some default XP settings (mostly for decoding vids or sounds), and fixed a few key things here & there as it thought should be best. Dunno exactly what or how, but it DID have an impact in a number of regular features of the OS... some processes started to slooooow down, DosBox (where the XCom games are installed) began to act very strangely. A gigantic wreck, i'd say.

I could always fix all by simply uninstalling FFDSHOW and be done with it, but even if i tried already... it WON'T correct the issue. More and worst problems creep up; the GC opening menu takes a looooong time to load while a bunch of ticks signal me the activity is flawed! Darn, keep it in.
Yup, i could do that and fix the issue with FFDSHOW as is.
But, there's a tough process ahead; knowing what to do, since the help file of that thing is not comprehensive enough & in fact, quite messy. Db gains, heck... just about 150++ different type of settings. Talk about trial & error attempts like an idiot who doesn't really know what he's doing.

Updated XP & Net Framework. I seriously think the Registry itself has been borked up over that run... through some previous panic steps!
At least, now, i've got a fair hint.

Still, it's strange. So, i'm sorry if i assumed DA was buggy and the direct cause of this problem - as the real culprit here truly is the driver behind the wheel and how he handles his own PC files & what he puts on his Hard-Drives.
Stupid me.

- Zyxpsilon.

Zyxpsilon

on Mar 21, 2008

Alrighty, guess i won't receive any comments or help about the above.

So lemme start another almost related subject on my very first BSOD that happened 30 minutes ago - i can proudly say that GC-DA is a steady solid code since this doesn't really happen often. I sure had a few glitches here & there but overall, it's performing as could be expected on the VERY low-end PC i'm stuck with... for now.

1) XP-events logging reported it as a gc2darkavatar.exe poking flaw at mem #0x001ab9de.

2) The debug.err file stopped at these last few lines;
------
...*
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: Begin
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: Eval
Debug Message: BuildShip: Cannot build ship type 13-Freighter M6 at Glob III - No open slots
Debug Message: Spectrum (22): Researching: Singularity Driver IV
------

While the usual config is simply just the same as before except for a small update to the C-Media sound driver and the very latest NVidia forceware (-9371, 10/2006!) like this shows you;

------
*
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: 3/21/2008, 19:56:51
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: ZYXPSILON
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.070227-2254)
Languages: French (Regional Setting: French)
System Manufacturer: MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
System Model: MS-6528
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1500MHz
Physical Memory: 512MB RAM
Page File: 343MB used, 1416MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS

Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce4 MX 4000
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0185&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_C1
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Samsung SyncMaster 750ST(T)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes

Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: C-Media Wave Device
Default Sound Playback
Default Voice Playback
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_52801462&REV_10
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: cmaudio.sys
Provider: C-Media
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0643
Driver Date: 11/18/2002 16:51:40
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: Failed to find a device that can start with hardware vp mode. Trying sw vp.
Debug Message: Using software vertex processing
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONMASKABLE
Debug Message: Attempting to create D3DDevice at resolution 1280 x 1024, Windowed: 0, Multisample: 1
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (sw vp): NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 4000
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
...*
---------

3) Mind you, lately i have noticed some slow-downs as compared to what i was truly enjoying a few weeks back. I seriously believe my system has been borked up by anything going from bad settings in XP, new updates to the OS by genuine MS uploads, FFDSHOW video decoders acting up on wrong configuration attempts by stupid'ol me, CPU overheating and - maybe, even the squeeky dinosaurus minimus Ge-Force MX4000 breathing its last gasp of speed clugs caused by intensive gaming session(s) -- recently.

Still, a BSOD is never fun to have and gives me the creeps.
Anyone would care to volunteer a thought or two?

- Zyxpsilon.

kryo

on Mar 22, 2008

If you're getting BSODs now, that tells you you've got a hardware or driver issue.... and if you've been having progressively more issues leading up to this point (while things were working fine previously with no changes since), then that would make me lean towards thinking you've got some failing hardware.

Zyxpsilon

on Mar 22, 2008

Entirely agreed. Shoots!
God help us all -- the twilight of hardware failures is upon my poor soul.
I've got some work to do now. Tks, kryo.

- Zyxpsilon.

Zyxpsilon

on Mar 22, 2008

OMG, i'm feeling soooooo gawdawful silly after what i just found out this afternoon.

Considering your advice, kryo, i went into the PC case to re-check everything once again... and, dunno why i couldn't notice it earlier two weeks back, the darn CPU fan was clugged with dust (and i mean a whole crazy thick bunch of those!). This supposedly power-chippy marvel by Intel was running shambles and has been for i can't exactly determine when. Some benchmarking and/or probing with tools splashed up some crazy 67C heat peeks to my face! While warning me about the issue. Yup, NOW i knew.

Pulled off the old tooth_brush (perfect at times), a glass of water (got me thirsty for more), a bunch of rags, knives & spoons at the ready, smiling, flashlight -- snapped the thing out of its locked position and performed a thorough clean up. I accidently broke the holding pins of the underlay but managed to fix this small mess with good'ol glue (must verify and monitor this during the next few days, one never know if that gelly stuff will stand.).

This baby is now purrrrring like a kitty - happy like hell. Plouck, and registering at 47C only, last i checked!

No more slow ships, bad sounds, strange ingame delays. Yeah!

Now, i can concentrate much better at my X-Worlds mod -- peace of mind, less worries, fast drawing mouses, filter plugins wildly applied to Icons & Queries. Efficiency conditions, a CPU clocking as it should.

Thanks a million, i owe you one.

- Zyxpsilon.

Zyxpsilon

on Mar 28, 2008

And the adventures continue...

After receiving the tax-return money, got me a 'better' Video-card yesterday and snapped it in. It's a simple low-range GE6200 (At 50$, here in Quebec it's a fair price) which nicely upgrades the old PC i own for now (until i find more cash to buy a much more recent system later this year, somehow!)

Kaboom, almost everything went awry after that. XP boot screen would freeze and i could only slip through from F8 safemode sessions. Bof, weirdo stuff and i was able to figure from the usual MSConfig ramble(s) *boot-reboot, check-recheck:)* that DHCP_service had beserked itself during the PNP_enumeration or even drivers layout auto-updates.
Otherwise, i filled up the normal boot processes, fired the thing back and ooooops... tadaam - got a surprisingly straight login, flawless. I suspect the 300PSU can't drive the Ethernet PCI while it must feed the newest AGP slot gizmo. Going MX4000 to the 6200 shouldn't seriously use that MUCH more watts, i thought.
May have to find some 400W+PSU to check this condition further.

As a result and with a relatively stable setup, i plunged into GC_DA and happily unchecked the darn Ships-Texturing box. Boooooom, wild and nuts - shoulda seen my grin. Clouds above my custom planets, superb shading upon orbital illumination by stars, even Tiny Logos on the slick constructor and others. Wooooowww, what have i missed all over these months!

I'd say that, for a few days, i've got some catching up to do to enjoy 'gameplay experiences' as they should have been for soooo long. I might even set aside any development work on the X-Worlds mod & GTeChnos utility for awhile. Until, i'm more familiar with the newly added features and what specific effects these could inspire me; modding supplemental stuff, that is.

In a nutshell -- Welcome to the Jungle, i've got what it takes (NOW) to pursue Ship(s) & Fleet(s) modeling even further. Quality and exact renderings... cuz, with the right PC hardware, one can delve deeper into creativity.

If you'd know me, you'd agree the 50$ on an old GeForce 6200 is really worth every darn nickels.

So long, my friend(s).

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