Strange Rendering Errors

[Urwumpe]

Since a few days ago, I get some strange rendering errors, not only in Orbiter, but in everything which uses hardware acceleration except Windows itself. I am almost sure, that it must be a software problem, because the problem went away for a day, when I upgraded the Catalyst driver, but returned the next day.

In orbiter, it causes transparent holes in the vessel textures (but not in the planet textures), in Lock-On! It turns the whole screen into a jig-saw puzzle, in Tropico, it caused a regular pattern of mis-colored bars.

I don't know what causes this problem, except that a driver upgrade removed it for a short moment. I can't find any information in the web, as I also don't have any clue how to call that problem, maybe somebody knows the word I am missing?

 

[astrosammy]

Maybe completly removing the driver and then reinstalling it helps?

 

[cjp]

Is this driver-reinstalling repeatable? Can you re-install it again, and fix it again for a short amount of time? There must be something that triggers it to go wrong again. Maybe a reboot, or the start of a certain piece of software?

Do you have problems in both OpenGL and Direct3D, or in just one of them? Do you use Vista with those new desktop effects?

 

[Woo482]

what version do you have ? I have the latest of the Ati web site and mine runs ok

 

[Urwumpe]

Is this driver-reinstalling repeatable? Can you re-install it again, and fix it again for a short amount of time? There must be something that triggers it to go wrong again. Maybe a reboot, or the start of a certain piece of software?

Will test this, there is no new version of the driver around, I use 8.8 since the last weekend and updated from 8.7

Do you have problems in both OpenGL and Direct3D, or in just one of them? Do you use Vista with those new desktop effects?

Only Direct3D tested, but it also applies to 2D acceleration, as the error appears also when decoding movies with the WMP. I use Windows XP SP2, most special effects disabled.

EDIT: Also in OpenGL, when TuxRacer is still a OpenGL game.

 

[John_L]

It is possibly a hardware issue. Open the case and look at the dust situation. Many times, a dusty card will start operating funny when pushed (but not when rendering standard 2D stuff). The driver issue might have been just a fluke. Try removing the card, cleaning it if need be, and re-seating it.

 

[Woo482]

use this http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php and post how hot your gpu is and what card do you have ? I have a Ati HD 2900 Pro