Graphics Display Problems

[Biggeorge 0]

After several weeks running ok graphically, all of a sudden I am  getting the yellow lines and "ghosting",  when I am scrolling.  The attached picture shows the yellow lines, they seem to be a repeat of the edge line over and over.  The ghosting is a repeat of the back edge of the view over and over but is more elusive and difficult to capture. 

 

I suspect it is related to a plugin I downloaded that mentioned needing hardware rendering (which I have always turned on) but since I tend to add several plugins at a time, I'm not sure which and can't find it again while searching. 

I'm running Windows 7 64 bit on a 4 processor AMD 10 w/6 Gig RAM and a Radeon graphics processor.   

 

Thanks for all you do, you make SC4 a much richer experience.

[Biggeorge 0]

I'm running SC4 version 1.1.64.0.

[d_b_h 10]

I'm running a system similar to yours. I also used to have these problems - I think it's something with the AMD software/hardware, as I didn't have any problems on my old computer which had a nvidia GPU.

 

I found a very strange way to solve it. When I'm in the game I'll simply press Alt+tab to switch back to the desktop. Then I re-enter the game and - voila! - all the glitches are gone!

 

I have no idea why this works, but it does. For me, anyway.

[GeometryMath Algebra 614]

Can you tell exactly what kind of Radeon graphics card do you have? Integrated or dedicated? If integrated, there will be a lot of graphical glitches. (see ) But if possible, try to set the graphics (or if possible, game) to Application Controlled mode. (And BTW, use the edit button rather than double posting in 6 minutes)

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Instead of using ALT+TAB twice to take you out of and back to the game, try pressing the 'g' key twice.  Causes a screen redraw.

 

FYI my radeon 3000 chip set went out of support on Linux, and I am now using the default Xorg driver with a DVI monitor.  Works just fine.

[Biggeorge 0]

My graphics card is an integrated Radeon HD 7660G.  It all worked fine until this past weekend. 

 

Redrawing the screen clears the problem temporarily but it recurs quickly when I scroll again. 

 

I have a feeling something I downloaded is overloading the graphics card.  I'll probably start removing some of the suspect plugins until the problem clears up.  I'm started getting more than my share of CTDs lately, too, often when I simply try to zoom out using the mouse wheel.  I know there is a lot of experience on these forums and appreciate the help.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

CTD on zoom?  Are you zooming with the mouse wheel?  If so, start using the numeric keys 1-6.  There are only 6 levels with the POV at 1 being the most distant.  Using the wheel can easily overload the capacity of this legacy game to complete the required redraws and confuse the daylights out of it.  It punishes the user by quitting (not an admirable piece of programming, by the way.  Programs must not crash no matter how abused.).  The game does not have a free camera.

 

The same applies to trying to scroll too quickly, but the yellow streaks are definitely something funny going on between your GPU and your screen.  If you want to move quickly across the city, try clicking on the mini-image in the GUI.  Left-click in the visible screen will also centre that point for you.

 

Now, about plugins:  Do you test each one before adding it?  If I don't have explicit trust in the creator, I test each and every one separately and never add a group of plugins all at once.  A sandbox region can be very useful for this, especially if you have a built-up city you don't mind destroying in the sandbox.  Here is an image of my current sandbox city:

I've been using this most lately to test NAM 31. I've also tested some new plugins from new lot creators here.