Grand Graphics Card Question Thread - pre-sales and demo only!

[unmerged(24064)]

Error


I have IBM R60e with Intel 945 chip integrated. I run C&C Generals smooth, so in advance i didn't considered that EU III would not run on my laptop. And, I installed it, and got the error: Failed to create a graphics device. Exiting. I can't get in the EU III menu, two .bik files do they job, i watched them, but when the second animation was over game sent me on desktop with that message.

Have the latest drivers for graphics, chipset and audio. So? What is the problem? Can I help developers to solve problem? I badly want to play EU III on my laptop, even that I have other system in house based on nVidia 6600, but... I just want it on laptop.

Thank you.

 

[The Boss]

The main problem is that the fan always runs at 100%. Actually the card doesn't support slowing down the fan. So even a silent cooler won't help much as it would have to run at 100% all the time.

Woah now thats bad I thought all modern graphic cards supported regulated fan speeds. I remember the standard fan on my card was low on noise in windows but when gaming it went to 100% so the sound was much louder. I bought the silent fan, even at 100% its like running it in regular windows so highly recommended.

 

[unmerged(64615)]

3) The problem with Intel cards is a hardware issue shared by games such as Civ IV and Half Life 2.

Actually I can play CIV IV without any issue on my laptop (Intel GMA950), but not EUIII. Of course, that was only after Firaxis patched Civ IV, out of the box Civ IV had some of the same issues.

This gives me hope that Paradox can do the same.

Neumannium

 

[Sinbuster]

Video Card Questions

Hey everyone. I've just returned from the middle east and have been itching to play some EUIII. Right now I'm just staring at my CE box and dreaming of the computer that will run it. I've spent a lot of time over the last few weeks reading about video cards and if it's not too much trouble, could someone answer a few questions for me?

Allow me to theorize what my computer will be for the sake of clarity:
Core 2 Duo (2.4 Ghz or so) w/ Vista (maybe a quad core when I win the lotto)
2 GB RAM (at least)
512 MB Video Card (at least)
I'm not a first-person shooter fanatic but I want my card (and computer) to last for at least a few years of gaming.

1. This is a great site for checking video cards. Too bad they don't ship to Canada. Is there a Canadian equivalent I can find, or maybe a US website that does ship here?

2. Currently there are only two cards that are dx 10 compliant (nvidia 8800's) and according to rumour the ati r600 (when it comes out). I've read that dx 10 will be the foundation for most future games (3D ones anyway). Question is, is it worth buying one of these? Right now I'm leaning toward the 8800 GTS because it is dx 10 compliant but isn't astronomically expensive.

Would you recommend I:
a) Buy a cheaper dx 9 card and upgrade later when the bugs are worked out on the dx 10's?
b) Wait until the r600 release date and buy an 8800 when it invariably drops in price? Or maybe the r600?
c) Buy an 8800 now because it saves buying a dx 9 card now and a dx 10 later?

3. What's the deal with all these manufacturers building the same video cards? BFG, XFX, Saphire, Biostar, etc., etc. Some have fans, some don't. Some have lifetime warrenties, others don't. I've read the reviews from customers on the website above but I can't differentiate between all these companies? Are there any you would recommend?

4. If I decide on a dx 9 card, what's the best I can get? The 7950 GT (512MB) seems to have some good reviews and it's (cough, cough) affordable.

That's all for now. Hope that's not to OT (if it is please just send me a PM). I just want to make sure I'm ready for any and all 3D games that come out in the near future - you know, SC II, HOI III, and all that .

 

[unmerged(66643)]

Hi, I know next to noting about hardware so I feel that I need some verification on this. I have one of those Intel cards that don't work and it seems that my computer only supports PCI and PCI-E x1. I don't have to have the best graphics I just want to play the game so I was wondering if this card will do. http://www.hisdigital.com/html/product_ov.php?id=239&view=yes

I know it is now the latest model but I found it at a price I am willing to pay and all the other card I have found demand PCI-E x16.

 

[unmerged(54584)]

I've got a question!!!!!!

Someone offered a link to Newegg and I bought the Geforce 7300GT card. It works...sort of. But it locks my computer up with serious lag when I try to play movies and videos. So, On one hand, I can now play EU#, on the other hand....my system can't play video clips anymore. When I try to download the drivers from the nvidia site, it installs, but then cancels' installation with the message that my system is not operating Windows XP Professional edition. But.....I do have XP...

What to do?
Thanks
-yc

 

[DSYoungEsq]

Actually I can play CIV IV without any issue on my laptop (Intel GMA950), but not EUIII. Of course, that was only after Firaxis patched Civ IV, out of the box Civ IV had some of the same issues.

This gives me hope that Paradox can do the same.

Neumannium

Yes, I also can play Civ IV with no trouble on my Intel graphics desktop Dell. And a number of other games that have much better graphics than the ones I've seen posted from EU3.

Oh well. <sigh>

 

[unmerged(66511)]

It's really a joke to see such a graphic requirement for this type of game, plus, the screenshots ain't even justifying.

Hey Paradox! just want to let you know, both HOI2 and Vicky are still gonna be providing me the de-stressing factor on my lappy with only a X300.

Feels sucky after much anticipation of EU3 and realized my lappy lacks the juice. Total dissapointment

Thanks for hearing my rants.

 

[Samefar]

I get an error whilst trying to run the game:

Error. Failed in creating a graphics device. Exiting

I guess this is because my laptop's graphics card is outdated?

 

[unmerged(64615)]

I get an error whilst trying to run the game:

Error. Failed in creating a graphics device. Exiting

I guess this is because my laptop's graphics card is outdated?

This is due to the Intel graphics chip in your laptop.

Paradox is working on a fix. There's no guarantee, but maybe it will work with the next patch.

At least that's what I'm hoping.

Neumannium

 

[unmerged(18151)]

This is unbelievable. Much more graphically sophisticated games run on my computer (6 MONTHS OLD) than EU3. It's a freaking strategy game.

The fact that they programmed the graphics so that a quarter of their market would be alienated indicates that the company is incompetent or didn't spend enough time on the game.

Either way, I want a refund.

 

[unmerged(66720)]

How about my computer though

Here is my computer information. I recently bought a Hp Pavilion with the a graphic set up of Intel Graphic accelerator 3000 and a duel Core 2 processor e6300. I can get the whole preview movie thing when I try to enter the game but as soon as it trys to go into the start menu of the main game it crashes and claims that I failed to create a graphic card device. I'm not sure what all this means. Does it mean that my brand new computer that I just bought thats seems to be pretty up to date does not have the right graphic card for this game. Or am i missing a step in the downloading process. Please help because i'm completely lost as i thought through the games specs that my computer would be able to take this game.

 

[Machiavellian]

I have a Intel(R) 82915g/Gv/910GL express chipset family. Plenty of Ram and all the other good stuff. I can run Civ4 perfectly fine on my computer.

What I am having is that when I load EUIII, once it finishes the opening introduction the game closes and I get a little error message that states: Failed to create graphics device. Exiting.

It sounds like other people have had a similar problem. Is there a way around this? Is there anyway that I can fix this or am I just out of luck in this department. I hope there is a fix, i've been looking forward to EUIII for a long time.

 

[jdrou]

I recently bought a Hp Pavilion with the a graphic set up of Intel Graphic accelerator 3000 and a duel Core 2 processor e6300.

I believe the GMA 3000 should be good enough to run the game (although it might be slow). Does it have dedicated video memory or only shared with the main memory? How much main memory do you have? If it doesn't have 128MB of dedicated video memory the demo probably won't run but the full game with 1.1 patch might.

 

[jdrou]

I have a Intel(R) 82915g/Gv/910GL express chipset family.

Intel 900-series video chips currently do not work with EU3. This might change in a future patch from Paradox or new driver from Intel. (Note that this is not the only game with problems using these chips; see Intel's website for compatibility notes.)

 

[Machiavellian]

Yes, i've looked into all that, as well as read the rest of this help section.

One of the games that wasn't supposed to work was CIV IV, which i've had no trouble with running. If the graphics weren't running smoothly, I could understand, but the fact that it will not even attempt to enter the game gives me some pause.


It seems as if this might be a possible fix. My computer has all the other requirements and it would be a huge shame if I couldn't play the game just because it's using the Intel card. Is there some way we might have any information as to whether this has the potential to change or not? if not, i'd like to return the game before it's too late, however if a fix is being worked on and may be coming soon i'll stick it out for now.

I've not had this problem with several high end graphics games which work fine on my computer.

 

[unmerged(64338)]

A comment, a link, a reply and a question...

The comment: No offense here, but if you have Intel Integrated Graphics 900, 915, 945 or 950, you do NOT have a graphics card at all. These are purely marketing terms for the graphics that came with your system. A graphics card is a seperate item that you purchase to upgrade your Graphics capabilities from... wait for it... Intel Integrated Graphics. They never used to market the craptasic graphics capability that came with your computer, but now they do, which makes things even more confusing. Basically, if you can't play Game-X with your Intel Integrated graphics, its because you don't have a graphics card at all. If there is blame to be had, it should be placed solely on Intel, for marketing substandard graphics as if they were capable graphics cards.

Ok, now the link. If you'd like to learn something about notebook graphics, ESPECIALLY if you are thinking of buying a notebook anytime in the near future, I strongly recommend reading this guide.

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3056&guide=Graphics+Card+Guide+2006

Note that notebook graphics are, in general, not upgradeable, so if you choose wrong when you buy, its tough sledding for the life of the PC. One or two exceptions to the rule though.

Now, the reply for Sinbuster... Personally I think it is a complete and total rip off to spend $400 for a 8800. By the time you need the capability of this card, you will probably be wanting an entire new system. Heres a good link:

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/01/15/how-200-goes-a-lot-further/

As for your question about manufacturers, my though is most manufacturers of an identical spec card are going to deliver roughly, but not exactly equal performance. So does it matter which manufacturer you choose? Well, heres my story...

A long time ago I bought a PNY graphics card for no reason other than it was what was in stock in the store at the time, for the best price of that card spec. I had the card at least 2 years, when one day, playing Might and Magic 7, I believe, my screen went dark. Turned off the computer, popped out the graphics card, turned it back on and had functioning graphics again, so something went bad with the card. Went to PNYs website, sent an email about my problem. The tech told me to ship them the card, so I did... a few days later I get a package back in the mail. Did they fix my card? No. They weren't even making that card anymore (obsolete) and instead they just sent me a FX 5600 Ultra, which was BETTER than the card I sent them, and this was without me ever filling out the warranty info (I still had the info that came with the card but I never registered it). So yeah, I'd say the price of the card and the warranty are both worth checking into (THANKS PNY!)

Which brings me to my question: If I didn't put you to sleep yet, you noticed I said FX 5600 Ultra, which may be getting a little long in the tooth, but still meets the required specs for EU3. However, I'm having the same exact problem mentioned here.

The FX5600 card I have, is experiencing the exact same problem as was experienced with the demo, described in this post:

http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/showpost.php?p=6406995&postcount=23

The game is running for me, but the graphics are messed up.
When the game loads there are lots of green and purple pixels appearing on the graphics and this is the case throughout the loading screen, main menu, country screen and when the game begins.

During the game the water is complete fuzz while other parts of the screen have the same type of pixellation as describe above.

I was told to update my drivers which I did, but that hasn't helped at all.

I have changed the settings somewhat, but am not sure what will help and what won't.

I took a screenshot with print screen and when I look at it on photoshop everything is perfect - its just not this way when playing the game.

I have a GeForce FX5600 128mb ram card.

Any suggestions?

The solution for the game to work, is to run the game in windowed mode, but I'd rather be able to have the option to play it in full mode too.
I believe some person who had a FX5600 used the recommended settings.txt and it solved his problems (possibly the same problems) but unfortunately they haven't solved mine.

I'm just wondering if MrT or anybody else knows if this problem can be fixed or if there is any other news at all.

Cheers,

noddy102

So, since I can be equally tech illiterate sometimes:

QUESTION: Uh, ummm... so... how exactly do I run the game in windowed mode? o Is this the only "fix" atm?

Hopefully, Paradox can solve this pixilating problem with the 5600s (and yes I have the latest drivers as well), but until then, it'd be nice to not have to steal my wife's computer to play EU3, because she gets a bit grouchy if hog her PC and block her from playing Oblivion on our more capable computer.

Thanks

 

[unmerged(66739)]

Why can't I colony province 632 - Sumbawa and 1236 - Rabaul??
They don't have harbor?
Someone like me??

I try many counrties but no one can colony on these two provinces.
It's a BUG?
Please help me,thanks.

 

[Armfeldt]

Too many pages, can't bother to read through them all, so dunno if this has been posted/proposed earlier.

Anyway, there is something called Oldblivion which does the following:

How does oldblivion work?
Oldblivion attaches to Oblivion and applies certain non-permanent patches to it. This means that once you exit the game these patches will vanish as they are only done in RAM. Some of these patches are for making sure that Oblivion doesn't crash when run on hardware which lacks certain new functionality. It also changes the shaders used by Oblivion from pixel shader 2.0 and vertex shader 2.0 into pixel shader 1.1 and vertex shader 1.1.


This might be something that can be used to create a programme package that enables eu3 to be played on old systems, IF there are any skilled and dedicated programmers around.

 

[unmerged(31031)]

ATI Radeon X1300 Series --

I've got ERROR message when I Tried to run the Demo

ERROR: 128MB of video memory is necessary to run this game!



My video card has 512Mb RAM, I´ve installed the lastest drivers.

Does anybody knows what´s the problem?

Will the game run properly with the patch 1.1 on my PC?

This is the DXDIAG for more information:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/1/2007, 10:22:26
Machine name: JAVIER01
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp.050928-1517)
Language: Spanish (Regional Setting: Spanish)
System Manufacturer: FUJITSU SIEMENS
System Model: P5SD2-FM
BIOS: BIOS Date: 04/19/06 17:46:43 Ver: 08.00.12
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 3.40GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1278MB RAM
Page File: 417MB used, 2636MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Radeon X1300 Series
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: Radeon X1300 Series (0x7187)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_7187&SUBSYS_0920174B&REV_00
Display Memory: 512.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: SyncMaster 901N
Monitor Max Res: 1280,1024
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6626 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 6/16/2006 21:10:02, 258048 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: no disponible
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 6/16/2006 21:09:48, 1611776 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-32C7-11CF-196D-2A29A1C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x7187
SubSys ID: 0x0920174B
Revision ID: 0x0000
Revision ID: 0x0000
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
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
{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


Thanks in advance for your cooperation
PD: I apologize for my English