Video Card Crashing

from GalCiv2 Forums
Hello,

Since I've bought this game two weeks I have been having nothing but problems on my gaming system. The graphics card would always fail on me and any Direct3D functions would be disabled until I rebooted. When 1.1 was released it got even worse it would crash my card within seconds of starting the game. Here is the debug.err:

System Info
Time: 5/4/2006, 17:44:03
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: AOOOGAH-1
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: n/a
System Model: n/a
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.0
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.53GHz
Physical Memory: 1024MB RAM
Page File: 312MB used, 2664MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: RADEON 9800 PRO
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip Type: RADEON 9800 PRO AGP (0x4E48)
DAC Type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_00021002&REV_00
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Resolution: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6606
Driver Date: 3/21/2006 20:56:42
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: SB Audigy 2 ZS Audio [FF40]
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0004&SUBSYS_20021102&REV_04
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: ctaud2k.sys
Provider: Creative
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.1164
Driver Date: 12/8/2005 11:55:46
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0



Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_NONE
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): RADEON 9800 PRO
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 369e99
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No string tables in C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods/*.str
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Gfx\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Gfx\Race\*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\sfx\*.wav
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Event Music\*.mp3
Debug Message: Create setup screens.
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\Techs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\ShipComponents\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\ShipDefs\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\PlanetImprovements\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\TerrainColorSchemes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\PlanetDescriptions\*.xml
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for PirateShip. ***
Debug Message: Found existing ship type with class name: Ranger
*DEBUG ERROR: ***Unable to find required tech ImpossibleTech for Starbase. ***
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\ships\*.shipclass
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\Anomalies\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\Events\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\UPIssues\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\Invasion\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\PoliticalParties\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\StarTypes\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Dr. Yoshi\My Documents\My Games\GalCiv2\Mods\Data\StarbaseModules\*.xml
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Device lost

I have disabled fast writes and set my AGP slot to 4x for maximum stability but still no go.

Fortunately, my two year old laptop runs the game just fine, if a bit slowly, so I haven't been going through withdrawal at least . It runs on an nVidia GeForce FX Go5200 and other than being really slow in some places I haven't had any problems with it.
2,328 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Fast writes probably shouldn't be enabled anyways. Contrary to popular belief, they don't literally make the card faster (though they do improve stability on 9600s, and pretty much only 9600s).

I'd guess that this is a heat thing. My 9800 Pro seems to overheat pretty easily, and because of the crappyness of my case I have to crack open a side and point a fan in.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There is a new update available for the 9800 pro radeon on the microsoft update web site. Just give it try.

I never had problem with this card, it just kick ass even with only 128 mbs !!
Groupy 2 - Organize multiple applications into grouped tabs on your Windows desktop
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It seems that the game crashes quite often with the message

Debug Message: Error flipping back buffer to primary buffer.
Debug Message: Device lost

In debug.err, on my 9800 Pro

Usually after hitting the Next Turn button. The 3D stuff still works after such a crash though. Seems to happen more often since I installed the 6.4 driver for the card (latest driver).
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Try turning down the background star number to something like 250, and the nebula's down to 1 or 2 and see if that helps.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well I opened the case door like Crustacean suggested and it actually worked. I must have a heat problem. Guess it's time to invest in a case door with a fan slot or two.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Get some rounded Ide cables also if you have the flat ones in there, improves the airflow quite a bit...