Graphical Errors w/GW (Vista)

FantomFang

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

24 Sep 2008 at 20:06 - 1
Hey all, just wondering if anyone could assist me on a certain problem I have with Guild Wars.

System specs are below, but I'm going to state my problem first so that it doesn't get bogged down underneath all of the system specs (which are quite full, just in case)

The issue with the computer is twofold.

1) Consistent graphics flicker. Appears in explorables and in town, and does not seem to be linked to any specific behavior in the game. Can be seen as a quick flash on the screen, usually repeatedly until I go away from the area that is causing it

2) Black screen. Specifically linked primarily with the skills (K) tab, and the tabs that can be opened with it, and secondarily linked to the merchant tab. This manifests itself as my game will seem to freeze for 1-2 seconds, go to a black screen for 2-4 seconds, and then revert back to normal. Sometimes this occurs in rapid succession, usually ending when I close the aforementioned tabs, sometimes before. Sometimes it completely freezes my game, forcing me to Windows + Right Click + Close.

I already run the game at the minimum graphical settings, and don't see a difference between that and max. Also, I run my computer on its natural resolution, that is the highest it will support (1366 by 768).

So I guess the question is, does anyone have any idea to resolve this issue? Well, thanks for any help in advance, and have a nice day.

ACER Aspire 6920
http://us.acer.com/public/page9.do?sp=page4&dau34.oid=37461&UserCtxParam=0&G roupCtxParam=0&dctx1=25&CountryISOCtxParam=US&Lang uageISOCtxParam=en&ctx3=-1&ctx4=United+States&crc=4165979425

Summary
Quote:
Operating System
...Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium , Service Pack 1
Processor
...Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83GHz
System Memory
...3072 MB
Hard Drive
...WDC WD3200BEVT-22ZCT0, 298.09 GB
...Memorex TRAVELDRIVE 005B USB Device, 7.68 GB
Video
...Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
Network
...Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller
...Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
...Agere Systems HDA Modem
BIOS Version
...V1.05
Battery
...4400mAh, Lion
Processor
Quote:
Processor
...Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83GHz
Bus Speed
...668 MHz
Cores
...2
Multimedia
Quote:
Video Device
Device Name
...Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
Total Available Graphics Memory
...358 MB
System Video Memory
...128 MB
Memory
Quote:
Current Memory Size
...3072 MB
Supported Maximum Memory Size
...4096 MB
Memory Type
...DDR2
Slot 1 Installed Size
...1024 MB
Slot 2 Installed Size
...2048 MB
And if it matters...Network
Quote:
Atheros AR8121/AR8113/AR8114 PCI-E Ethernet Controller
Driver Version
...1.0.0.35
MAC Address
...00:A01:A3:AE:5F
Intel(R) Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
Driver Version
...11.5.0.32
MAC Address
...00:1D:E0:9C:48:71
Agere Systems HDA Modem
Driver Version
...2.1.87.0
Heh, if you got to here reading it all, congratulations! Hope I formatted it well enough that it wasn't too much of a headache

moriz

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

24 Sep 2008 at 21:03 - 2
Quote:
Mobile Intel(R) 965 Express Chipset Family
there's your problem. the 965 express series use the GMA X3x00 series integrated graphics, which are not completely support by GW.

to make matters worse, i believe there's a set of drivers for that chip that are buggy, with problems sounding exactly like the ones you are describing.

install the latest drivers. if you already have them, and don't help, roll back to earlier drivers until the problems disappear.

EDIT: and um... that's a laptop. you can't upgrade the graphics on those.

-rightuos-

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Apr 2008

24 Sep 2008 at 22:06 - 3
If it doesn't already have the Nvidia geforce 9600M GS, that is the best upgrade available for that top.

FantomFang

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

24 Sep 2008 at 22:40 - 4
hmm, yeah, wouldn't surprise me if it was the card. Had problems with it before I updated the drivers (primary reason I did so actually, had the same issue with Civ4).

Quaker

Quaker

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Aug 2005

Canada

Brothers Disgruntled

24 Sep 2008 at 22:48 - 5
Well, be sure to tell us what "card" you get.

FantomFang

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Feb 2006

24 Sep 2008 at 23:15 - 6
heh yea, I'm a moron. But I did take the time to actually check the Intel website, and found out that there were several driver updates that I've missed b/c Windows Update is teh fail. On first glance I don't notice the issues anymore, but I really won't know until I get more empirical evidence! Guess I better go gather that!