Graphics Glitch Makes Game Unplayable

[Malikai]

I started a ticket over at Paradox support and they kicked me over here. So can anyone help?

The conversation so far:

Me: When I load the game, the map does not render correctly. It is filled with many black or darkened pixelated blocks scattered roughly evenly around the map. For some reason this also slows down map scrolling speed and zooming to the point where the game is unplayable.
My graphics card drivers are up to date and my graphics card (Nvidia GeForce GT 650M, has 2GB) so that should not be the source of my problem.

Paradox Reply:
Could you please send me your dxdiag so I can have a look at your computer?

Attach the text file in a reply to me.

I attached the dxdiag and sent it back View attachment DxDiag.txt

Paradox Reply:
Please try verifying the integrity of your game cache.

My response:
The check window says that "All files successfully validated" but the map still does not render correctly and when I loaded the game the first time after I verified the integrity of the game cache the game crashed while loading. After that first time the game loaded correctly but the map has the same rendering problem.

Paradox Reply:
Please write this in the forum instead where the developers will see your comment. You can find the forum here: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?679-Crusader-Kings-II-Tech-Support
You'll need to log in and have the game registered to your user to view and post in this sub-forum.

Register the game here: http://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/mygames.php

I can only help you if a solution already exists, on the forum the developers can see your issue and fix the bug instead.

So here I am.
Thanks in advance

 

[Malikai]

bump...

 

[AndrewT]

Sorry, I don't know how I missed this thread.

Your problem is, I believe, that you have one of those dual video setups, and the game is running on the weaker Intel card. Your dxdiag only shows an Intel HD4000, whereas you say above you have an nVidia 650m.

Those setups have a way of forcing any given program to run on the video card of choice, so you need to tell it to use the nVidia for ck2.exe .

 

[Malikai]

I changed the default graphics card setting on the nVidia control panel, but I still have the same problem.

 

[AndrewT]

Does dxdiag.txt now show the nVidia card?

 

[Malikai]

No, I tried disabling the Intel HD4000 to force the nVidia to be used, but that just blacked out my screen, so now I've re enabled it

 

[AndrewT]

Something's wrong in there then. I've never personally seen one of those dual graphics machines, but I know they can be switched.

I do see where was a known problem with some of them, where the switching didn't work. There was a Bios update that fixed it, so check with HP for that, I'd say.

Also I see this review
http://www.cnet.com.au/hp-pavilion-dv7-7008tx-339340803.htm

Most frustrating is how HP has set up Nvidia's drivers: with next to no options showing, and only limited 3D settings changeable. You can't even replace it with a proper version from Nvidia's site, as the graphics maker is dragging its heels on posting a GeForce 6xx series compatible driver.

So overall I'd visit the HP update site and look for all updates they might have for you, for the video, the bios, and the other hardware drivers (including motherboard).

 

[Malikai]

While I will look into that, I should say that my current BIOS is dated to 6/19/2012, which means that CK2 ran properly on my computer for more than 6 months before developing this glitch in March, after I had some graphical problems with "League of Legends" and the GoT mod. I have no idea how any of this may be related, but I had no problem before then with my current BIOS.

Edit: updated my BIOS and any other updates I could find, but the glitch is still there. As none of my other games have been acting up, are you sure the problem is nVidia Optimus not transferring to the nVidia card?

 

[AndrewT]

Well no, I'm not sure, especially as you now say you used to not have the problem - we didn't know that before. But on the other hand there's no known game problem like this either - you're the only one reporting it at present, so suspicion falls on your setup in some way.

Does Optimus tell you which card is in use at any time? Can you run the game and alt-tab out and confirm? Or run the game in Windows mode and confirm? I see some laptops have a LED that lights up when nVidia is in use. Does dxdiag.txt now mention the nVidia card and driver?

Here is the latest driver from that nVida card BTW
http://www.geforce.com/drivers/results/59645

You might visit this link
http://www.howtogeek.com/136123/htg-explains-what-you-need-to-know-about-nvidia-optimus/
and confirm that you are correctly setting it to use nVidia for ck2.exe .

 

[Malikai]

After updating the BIOS and developing the same kind of glitch as CK2 in Victoria 2, I kept messing around with Optimus settings and after counter-intuitively disabling the nVidia card as the default somehow fixed the problem. So thanks for the help.

 

[AndrewT]

Excellent, great to hear! I hope you enjoy the game now.