Topic: graphics problem with WAR

[Morphius DOH]

Last night my game started doing some really wacky graphic things, and the only way to get out of the game was to do a warm boot (reset) and it's just gotten worse. I've made sure all my drivers for my graphics card, XP drivers, sound card, and monitor are up to date.

The only other time that I noticed any odd about the graphics was when Patch 1.2 came out and seemed to make the opening sequence frame rate drop by quite a bit so that it became really jittery. If I do an Ctr+Esc which brings me back to my desktop, everything looks and runs as it should. All my drivers are up to date, ie XP updates, graphic card updates, ect.

I'm almost at the point where I'm thinking of re-installing the game, unless you guys have any other ideas. I do have a screenshot, but I don't know how or if I can post it on here.

[Sandman-XX]

I hate to say it, but your graphics card could be failing.  Try uninstalling, then reinstalling.  Your characters will stay on the server, just your local game settings will reset.
If not that, could be time to upgrade to Vista.

[Umbram]

Might think about downloading and running a 3d benchmark program to stress your graphics card a bit.  If that runs fine and other games run fine, then I wouldn't guess it would be your card failing.

That said, I'm no IT guru.

[Morphius DOH]

I hate to say it, but your graphics card could be failing.  Try uninstalling, then reinstalling.  Your characters will stay on the server, just your local game settings will reset.
If not that, could be time to upgrade to Vista.

I was afraid you'd say something like that. Maybe it's come loose, so I'll have my father reseat the card as well. I highly doubt it'd be dust or things of that nature because I just installed a Blu-Ray DVD drive a weeks ago.

I'm not too keen on the prospect of going to Vista, too many nightmares I've heard, and Windowa 7 coming out in about 18 months or so.

[Morphius DOH]

The card I'm using now is a GeForce 8600 GTS, which I haven't had for very long. What would you suggest taking into account performance and price?

[Woapalanne]

A screenshot of his issue

[Nattydread]

Update your drivers and hope for the best. but I would go with failing hardware most definitely.

[Morphius DOH]

Update your drivers and hope for the best. but I would go with failing hardware most definitely.

I'm starting to have similar issues in the POST and when it gets to the desktop. Should I just go out and buy the same one all over again or do you suggest others?

When you say hardware, are you thinking specifically the video card or could this possibly a RAM or motherboard issue? But, as I said, I'm leaning torward a video card problem, and yes, I have the latest drivers. The drivers were the first place I looked, then did a scan for disc errors, virus's, malware and spyware, and even did a defrag for good measure.

I'm lucky just getting here to post this btw.

[Thor]

I'd start by re-seating the card in the motherboard. Take it out and put it back in to make sure it's in there snug. If that doesn't do it, and the drivers haven't, then I'd say it's time for a new card. It "could" be your monitor, never know with this stuff. If you can, swap out the monitor and see if it matters.

[LatinKnight]

Hey Morph,

I have the same card and had the same issues. The patch has caused some issues for me(Not being able to load in), but what you are experiencing is not the game.

From what it looks like is that it is overheating. I just took apart my card last night too with the same issue. If you search the 8600GTS its got some MASSIVE overheating problems.

Here are a few things for your to do.
------------------------------------------

1) Begin by removing the graphic card from the board.

2) Grab a small x shape screwdriver and flip the card to see the back exposed.

3) You will see 4 small shiny screws that should have like a coil spring underneath.

4) remove the 4 screws, but careful since the heat sink and fan will fall right out.

Don't worry about unplugging the fan (Its a bitch to take off and you can break it.)

5) Get some cleanex or soft tissue paper and try to rub off any remaining thermal paste on the chip of the graphic card.

6) On the heat sink side it will be dry and hard (Like concrete drywall mud.) Here just try to scrape as much as u can to make it clean.

7) once both sides are clean just place a bit of thermal paste right dead center and reverse the instructions to put the heat sink back on.


I would suggest trying to find OCZ FREEZE Thermal Compound, instead of the normal compound as it contains no metal compounds and keeps its about 10 to 15 degrees cooler, than normal paste.

Also make sure that fan is clean on the heat sink. It gets clogged easily and will stop working.

By now the card should be cold so booting it back up with it should be no probs. It should now hover over 50 to 65 degrees celcius.

Hopefully the card is not completely damaged.
Let me know if you need help.

[Woapalanne]

I know they sell replacement fans that work a lot better than the one that came with the card.  For a cost of $15 you can cool that card a lot better. 

[LatinKnight]

best to take it apart and change the thermal paste. The problem with the 8600GTS was the fact that the board would loose contact with the fan. Hopefully he will get a chance to try this out first before buying a new fan. It still could be that he fried his card. 

[Morphius DOH]

I'd start by re-seating the card in the motherboard. Take it out and put it back in to make sure it's in there snug. If that doesn't do it, and the drivers haven't, then I'd say it's time for a new card. It "could" be your monitor, never know with this stuff. If you can, swap out the monitor and see if it matters.

The one I'm using now is the only one since my old monitor, which was less than a year old, wasn't DHCP Compatible for the new Blue-Ray DVD drive I bought so I sold it to recoup some of the money on the new monitor. I played some pretty heavy games on the old monitor so I'd think it would hold up just as good.

[Morphius DOH]

best to take it apart and change the thermal paste. The problem with the 8600GTS was the fact that the board would loose contact with the fan. Hopefully he will get a chance to try this out first before buying a new fan. It still could be that he fried his card. 

So you're saying to replace the original paste with the OCZ FREEZE as well?

[Morphius DOH]

The weird thing is that when I turned the computer on this morning it was doing the same thing, but after a few reboots it was fine and hasn't done anything like what was in those screenshots, then again I haven't run Warhammer yet today. I did try Tomb Raider Underworld for a bit, and nothing happened. *knock on wood*

Thanks for all the suggestions, and I'll show my father what you wrote, Lat. Lucky him, huh. LOL Pain in the ass when ya can't do stuff like that on your own and have nothing else to do. Are you sure about those temperatures, Lat, coz 50C = 122F just seems quite high, although my room is always in the 70's coz I leave my computer on all the time until I hit the sack.

Would you happen to know the brand name of the fan you were talking about, Woapa?

Feel free to add me to any messengers you use, I use Trillian so I'll have all my IM's coming through that.