Curse

Xx Citrus Spike Xx · Aug 28, 2008, 12:51 PM // 12:51

I have been playing guildwars a while now, but only recently uypdated to windows vista (say over the last 2 weeks) sp1 was installed yesterday and now when i play gw it seems to be pixelating from the centre of the screen, i took some screenshots to show.Within about 2 mins of playing the game it starts doing it whether i am ingame or the title screen, i would be very grateful for any ideas on what this could be , i have a theory that my graphics card is about to die on me but would like to make sure first.

My pc specs are:
Cpu: Amd Athlon 2500+ @1.8ghz (socket A)
Gfx: Xpertvision Geforce 6600 256mb Agp @(300/500) i`m using forceware 177.66 drivers.
Ram: 768mb 256mb x 3
OS: Windows vista home (sp1)
no sound as yet

afmart · Aug 28, 2008, 01:01 PM // 13:01

try change graphics settings, install new drivers, and in last resort uninstall SP1.
was everything running smooth before SP1? if not return to the previous OS

i tried vista for 1 month had to return to XP due to drivers issues and explorer always crashing

Xx Citrus Spike Xx · Aug 28, 2008, 01:15 PM // 13:15

ive just tried 3dmark 03 (benchmark utility) and it does it on that too, thx for your speedy response i will try nvidia drivers, ive tried 175.19 (puter was very sluggish with those) but seeing as my gfx card is getting on a bit now im not totally sure if they the right drivers, i have been on xpertvision`s site and all they can offer me is a manual for my card :/, can anyone recommend any nvidia drivers for a 6600, like you said if that dont work i will roll back sp1 (if i can :/)

moriz · Aug 28, 2008, 01:44 PM // 13:44

the 169.21 driver is stable for geforce 6600. give that a try.

Xx Citrus Spike Xx · Aug 28, 2008, 02:03 PM // 14:03

ok will do i unistalled sp1 , still had the problem , just unistalled my drivers so will try them . Thx.

CronkTheImpaler · Aug 28, 2008, 02:44 PM // 14:44

i had this same problem right down to the colors and it was my motherboard. its was like deja vu when i saw those screenies. i hope your issues clear up. good luck!!!!

Cronk

SkekSister · Aug 28, 2008, 03:01 PM // 15:01

Heh seen this kinda of thing a few times, though not in Guildwars. A vertex with some insane transform or positioned at infinity ...

As you say it's quite likely a problem with your GPU or graphics memory. Cards do tend to spack out like that when they are on the decline. However it could also be driver related.

Id try:

Swapping it out for a different card if possible and see if it persists.
Updating your gfx drivers, or if you are bang up to date, rolling back a version or two and trying those.
You could try updating you mobo BIOS/firmware.

If you are interested in your PC beyond gaming, I'd also suggest running memcheck and giving your rig a thrash with prime 95. They are both good means to determine if you have a hardware fault (Google em).

Good luck.

Tarun · Aug 28, 2008, 04:27 PM // 16:27

Do not uninstall Service Pack 1, that's not the source of the problem. In fact, reinstall it ASAP.

Lord Sojar · Aug 28, 2008, 08:41 PM // 20:41

God, your PC must hate you for putting Vista on it without even having 1GB of RAM. I think you just gave it a brain aneurysm.

And that is driver corruption. The new drivers should fix it. If not, please let us know.

Xx Citrus Spike Xx · Aug 28, 2008, 09:44 PM // 21:44

I did a reinstall, after i tried various things ,seeing as i only have a few items on my hdd i thought ok fresh install ,just loaded up gw spent about 2-3 mins walking back and forth and could see the beginnings of the problem again, i am currently installing sp1 again and will try the new drivers then let you know what happen .Thanks again everyone for your responses,really appreciate it.

Xx Citrus Spike Xx · Aug 28, 2008, 10:47 PM // 22:47

Hi again,just installed nvidia drivers 175.19 ,new ones i believe, and it still has the problem, so now i am starting to believe my gfx card is about to die, i will keep trying various ideas .

sleep for me now.

Quaker · Aug 29, 2008, 03:41 PM // 15:41

Those system specs are really low - any chance you could go back to XP? Like Rahja, I'm surprised that Vista would even install.

KZaske · Aug 30, 2008, 09:42 AM // 09:42

With your system specs, I am surprised Vista even runs. I would advise going back to XP and installing a 91 series driver. (I would never install anything higher with less than 1GB of RAM.) I really don't think you have enought RAM to run 169 properly. Any of the Nvidia drivers above 91 have the new control panel that really hogs a lot of memory.
If you are determined to stick with Vista, Reinstall it, install service pack 1 then install nothing higher than 169. Then pray.

Xx Citrus Spike Xx · Aug 30, 2008, 01:02 PM // 13:02

ok i will, try that, i still have my xp on another harddrive ,i tried it lastnight with the 169.21 drivers and it was still having the problem, so i will find sum old drivers and like you say hope it works... "i will never give up lol",but i have noticed the difference between OS xp loaded gw alot quicker and i had about 35 fps more :/.

EDIT:
Hi all again, ok i have tried new drivers and old on vista, new drivers and old on xp installed sp1 ands reinstalled , reinstalled vista and now i think i will clean the inch thick dust off my mobo , cpu h/f, gfx card and ram, wish me luck.

EDIT 2:
Ok, cleaned my computer, fitted it all back together, had it on its side and i noticed the fan on my gfx card was not spinning, , so i got a cpu fan off a old comp and fitted it to the top of the gfx card and plugged it in case fan lol, so far so good.............will give it a good test later. I`m crossing my fingers that is was only the card getting to hot....so if i dont post on here again today it works and thank you guys for all your imput.

Lord Sojar · Aug 30, 2008, 06:14 PM // 18:14

Post either way. It helps people know the thread is resolved and to what end. And if you had that much dust you probably had insane heat buildup. I would be surprised if your graphics card was severely damaged as a result.

Xx Citrus Spike Xx · Aug 31, 2008, 03:43 AM // 03:43

Ok guys been playing all evening and its good now, so looks like it was because the gfx card fan wasnt working (good job i noticed lol), thank you all tho, for your imput.