Artifacts - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

dantes

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

19 Aug 2006 at 16:21 - 1

I've recently started playing Guild Wars on a new system. It's a Shuttle ss59g. However ingame I get artifacts tearing up the screen. The specs of the machine are 512mb Ram, Pentium 4, GeForce 6600. It's three months old.

Looking through the threads I've seen other people have had similar problems with other graphics cards.

Options I've tried are downloading DirectX9, checking for overclocking, checking for overheating, checking the card is inserted correctly. Fiddling with the configuration options both ingame and out.

Please tell me if there is anything else I can try or a driver that I may be missing? thank you

Also I'm not very technically minded so please dumb it down for me

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

19 Aug 2006 at 21:27 - 2

@ Causation - What has adding extra RAM got to do with his problem?
extra memory is a good move, but it's not remotely connected to his problem.

As your running a shuttle pc the most likely cause is overheating or driver related(I know you said you had tested for overheating, but what did you use?).

Ok, check for dust inside your case, especially on your graphics card fan, download http://www.drivercleaner.net/ run this, there is a free version, this will remove the graphics driver fully from your pc(make sure to only remove display driver though).

Download the latest forceware driver from http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_91.31.html

Follow the instructions. reboot pc when prompted.

Try this first, if it doesnt correct the problem, come back and ask me for more advice

dantes

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

20 Aug 2006 at 09:22 - 3

Thank you for helping me on this.

Downloaded the driver but it made no difference.

The insides are definitetly clean.

Someone else checked the fan ond overheating for me and I took their word for it, but how can I double check myself?

Again thank you!

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

20 Aug 2006 at 11:59 - 4

Well, as its pretty new, i cant see it being clogged with dust,, but to check you'll need to open the case and plysically look at the fan on you 6600

dantes

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

21 Aug 2006 at 08:14 - 5

Its spanking clean inside.

I turned down all the quality options in Guild Wars, that gave me a few extra mins of gameplay before the artifacts reappeared, they were also less extreme.

Also tried letting the system cool down for an hour and then playing, but it made no difference.

Does this sound like the symptons for overheating?

coolsti

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Denmark

21 Aug 2006 at 08:22 - 6

I found on the internet that most people download and run the 3DMark06 test to check to see if their video card functions well without creating artifacts. Have you tried this? It would give you an independent (from GW) way to find out if your card is failing.

At least the free-version of this software lets you run a series of tests, which do not take very long. Seems from the internet searches, that the last test called Deep Freeze is the one that causes artifacts to appear in such cards as the 7900GT when there are problems.

Might be interesting for you to try.

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

21 Aug 2006 at 12:17 - 7

Does this also happen when playing other games?, if so then your graphics card could well be faulty, meaning you would need to RMA(send it back) the card.

As it's new there should be no problem doing this, though it will cause a delay in you playing again.

I can't think of any other reason why it's artifacting as it is.

Meols Green

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

21 Aug 2006 at 15:15 - 8

Download a program called "Everest" (Google it)

This program is the best analysis tool i have ever seen for computers, it tells you EVERYTHING in your computer...including temperatures, if there are sensors inside the computer (which is likely)

Download it, find your temperatures when idle (doing nothing on the computer, running nothing except this program) and when stressed (when playing guild wars, or other games) and post them here... then we can tell you if overheating is the cause

2ndName

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2006

21 Aug 2006 at 18:46 - 9

Yeah, usually artifacts appears when your Video Card is dying. Have you checked your video card for blown caps? Do install Aquamark or 3dMark to test your video card.

gabrial heart

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Las Vegas

Beautiful Peoples Club [LIPO]

Mo/Me

21 Aug 2006 at 18:54 - 10

Doesn't this model come with SiS integrated graphics system? Did you put a new card in? If so did you turn off the integrated video in the bios?

ducktape

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

W/R

21 Aug 2006 at 19:08 - 11

Hey there dantes,

You wanted to know if there's a way to check for overheating instead of just taking someone else's word for it, here's what you can do:

Open the side of your computer case
Grab a fan from somewhere in your house
Put the fan right next to the open side of your computer and point it at your video card
Play GW or run Aquamark or 3dMark and see if the artifacts appear. If they still show up with the fan blowing right on your video card, then you are not overheating, and your card is probably damaged and you should exchange it for a new one.

It sounds like you are overheating, the shuttle case is very small so the heat can build up quickly and make your card start acting weird. When you turned down the video options in GW to the low settings, that makes your card do less work and generate less heat, which is probably why you were able to play longer on the low settings and have less severe artifacts.

If it does turn out that you are overheating, you can have a professional remove the fan on your 6600 and redo the thermal compound and put the fan back on, sometimes that's all it takes. If that ends up not helping, you'll have to add more fans to your case or get watercooling for your system.

coolsti

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Denmark

22 Aug 2006 at 06:22 - 12

Quote:

Originally Posted by ducktape

Hey there dantes,
If it does turn out that you are overheating, you can have a professional remove the fan on your 6600 and redo the thermal compound and put the fan back on, sometimes that's all it takes. If that ends up not helping, you'll have to add more fans to your case or get watercooling for your system.

This is good advice if the problem is overheating. But if you are not so queasy messing around with the insides of your computer, you probably could exchange the fan for a better one yourself. Take a look on the internet at what Zalman and Arctic Cooling have to offer. I am sure they give also good instructions on what to do to exchange your fan for theirs.

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

22 Aug 2006 at 15:22 - 13

Guys, as the graphics card and shuttle is only 3 months old, advising him to change the cooler on his 6600 is a very bad idea, as the card is still under warranty, obviously there is something wrong here, and if he did decide to have the cooler replaced it would void the warranty and make the card un-RMA-able(new word

).

Best thing to do is either return the pc to where it was purchased from and let them have a look at it, or at least the graphics card, as i'm pretty certain that's the problem.

dantes

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

22 Aug 2006 at 15:29 - 14

Thanks for the advice guys, I downloaded everest and discovered this :

CPU Speed:
CPU Clock 3016.86 MHz (original: 3000 MHz)
CPU Multiplier 15.0x
CPU FSB 201.12 MHz (original: 200 MHz)
Memory Bus 201.12 MHz

I'm guessing this may be the problem. Would downloading a new BIOS be the solution. I know nothing about BIOS though and I really do not want to do anything that may cause more harm.

What do you think?

Also I do appreciate the advice, there's no one else I can really ask!

dantes

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

22 Aug 2006 at 15:30 - 15

Oh and Guild Wars so far is the only game Ive had problems with. However apart from Civ 4 its also the most recent one. I'm guessing that would make a difference as well.

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

22 Aug 2006 at 16:28 - 16

Dantes, no all that you have posted there is the FSB(front side Bus) and processor speed, there will always be a little difference from the speed and actual speed, there is nothing wrong there, and no need to do a bios update.

In everest what we/you are looking for is the Sensor tab, this will display approximate temps of motherboard, cpu, gpu and hard drive, it's those temps that we need.

Expand Computer and click on sensor, post what temps are there, and we'll take it from there.

coolsti

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jul 2005

Denmark

23 Aug 2006 at 08:37 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by cannonfodder

Guys, as the graphics card and shuttle is only 3 months old, advising him to change the cooler on his 6600 is a very bad idea, as the card is still under warranty, obviously there is something wrong here, and if he did decide to have the cooler replaced it would void the warranty and make the card un-RMA-able(new word

).

Best thing to do is either return the pc to where it was purchased from and let them have a look at it, or at least the graphics card, as i'm pretty certain that's the problem.

Yes, indeed, exchanging the cooling fan will void any warranty, so this should not be done if you are for any reason thinking that the card will or should be returned/exchanged.

But yes, indeed, it seems that most card manufacturers are slapping noisey, lousey cooling fans on their otherwise high quality products.

It is a decision that you need to make, and it comes with risks, here meaning that you cannot exchange the card if something otherwise goes wrong within the warranty period.

If the fan is just noisy or inefficient for the card, it may not help to RMA it. You probably will just get another card with the same noisy or inefficient fan. In this case you might want to go the other route and mod the card yourself, with a much better fan. I am considering doing this with my 7900GT. I won't do it yet, because of the warranty, and because I read that Arctic Cooling may be coming out with a passive solution for this card in a number of months. Passive solution = no fan noise at all, and that may be a risk I would be willing to take.

dantes

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

23 Aug 2006 at 08:47 - 18

Sensor Properties:
Sensor Type ITE IT8712F (ISA 290h)

Temperatures:
Motherboard 47 °C (117 °F)
CPU 44 °C (111 °F)
Aux 37 °C (99 °F)
Maxtor 6V160E0 36 °C (97 °F)

Cooling Fans:
CPU 1110 RPM
Chassis 4219 RPM

Voltage Values:
CPU Core 1.20 V
+2.5 V 1.47 V
+3.3 V 3.23 V
+5 V 4.92 V
+12 V 11.46 V
+5 V Standby 5.03 V
Debug Info F 4C 14 FF
Debug Info T 37 47 44
Debug Info V 4B 5C CA B7 B3 39 A4 (F7)

Ok here are the readings from the report.

Meols Green

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jun 2006

23 Aug 2006 at 12:08 - 19

Was that idle? My temps look like that under stress, sometimes the cpu can go much higher depending on what game (it differes from GW to oblivion lol)

The Chassis fan looks like its high speed, i dont think any of my fans reach that (unless it combines all active fans aside from the cpu, making mine reach 6000rpm combined)

Heres my reading for comparason:

Temperatures
Motherboard 33 °C (91 °F)
CPU 43 °C (109 °F)
Maxtor 6Y120L0 28 °C (82 °F)

Cooling Fans
CPU 3462 RPM
Power Supply 2083 RPM

Voltage Values
CPU Core 1.60 V
+3.3 V 3.39 V
+5 V 5.00 V
+12 V 11.97 V

im no whizz with voltages, but our cpu ones seem to differ a fair bit... i dont know if that may be a cause, or maybe just because of different CPUs, someone will have to confirm this for me xD

cannonfodder

Tech Monkeh Mod

Join Date: May 2005

Good Old North East of England

Mo/Me

23 Aug 2006 at 14:37 - 20

Dantes, those temps look normal to me, guy's you have to remember thats an intel chip in there, and most of the time the temps can cook eggs

I have to say dantes, it looks as though your card could be faulty, it may be time to return it for a replacement.

gabrial heart

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Las Vegas

Beautiful Peoples Club [LIPO]

Mo/Me

23 Aug 2006 at 16:47 - 21

A couple things before you send back the card. First you don't have a gpu temp shown and artifacts are going to come directly from the card and overheating, if it is a heat issue at all. Secondly, that machine I believe comes with integrated graphics as I mentioned before, have you tried disabling the on-board graphics? If you're running a 400 watt supply or lower having the on-board and the card running could cause an instance with wattage/power consumption as well. I'd check out those things first before going though a week of downtime.

chessyang

Not far from Elite

Join Date: Apr 2006

Florida

W/

23 Aug 2006 at 19:07 - 22

dantes,

just some ideals from me....

was the artifacts after an update? (ex. 8/17 update)
sorry didn't see it but have you reinstalled the game? (just saying maybe it will decompress the file again)
had a chance to test if more memory could help?
does it artifact in "window" mode? (non full screen)

dantes

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: May 2005

24 Aug 2006 at 11:42 - 23

Ok heres what Ive tried:

Put an external fan on it- no difference
Reinstalled the game this morning- still same problem
I don't know how to find the GPU temp-sorry

The integrated card is definetly been switched off
The wattage power is 200 watt supply as it is a mini case- could that be the problem?
I had problems with it the moment I installed Guild Wars which was a while ago so I know that updates didn't cause it.

This is the only game I have artifacts with, also I don't know how to definetly prove that the graphic card is faulty. However the system is newer than I thought its actually only a month old so I should be able to get a new card without any problems.

Is there anything else I can do before I start crying?

gabrial heart

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2006

Las Vegas

Beautiful Peoples Club [LIPO]

Mo/Me

24 Aug 2006 at 13:59 - 24

Well it sounds as though your going to have to go back to the man on this one. I never seen even a mini running on such a low supply with a video card that demands at the very least a 300 watt supply, unless it's a laptop model. Regardless though if the machine came preconfigured as is, I'm sure they did the leg-work before selling it to people (one would hope anyway). I'd just contact them and let them know the problem and arrange a return if neccessary.