Recent updates have impacted my graphics

[TDeacon]

HTC,

I've just today logged on to play AH after about 6 months away from the game.  Apparently upgrades during that time have affected my graphics.  The good thing is that the frame rate numbers are better.  The bad thing is the appearance of all sorts of strange graphics artifacts, as in the image below, and as in a very screwed-up instrument panel on at least some of the planes (Hurricane II).  Please remind me as to what system information you would need to help with this problem, and how to extract it from Windows XP; I haven't posted something like this for years.  



MH

[The Fugitive]

Check here http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,342871.msg4526838.html#msg4526838 on how to post your Dxdiag (only the first third is needed!)

From the picture it looks like it may be a driver issue. I'm guessing you have an AMD video card.

[TDeacon]

Check here http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,342871.msg4526838.html#msg4526838 on how to post your Dxdiag (only the first third is needed!)

From the picture it looks like it may be a driver issue. I'm guessing you have an AMD video card.

Ex-Dell ATI Radeon 9800 Pro.  Same drivers as 6 months ago, which were the last decent drivers for this card, and they had been working fine.  

BTW, the problems don't seem to be there in the next terrain up today (ozkansas, after the reset).  I didn't reboot the PC, but did restart AH.  

[TDeacon]

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 4/28/2013, 23:01:16
       Machine name: HINDS-PC3
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.130307-0422)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
       System Model: Dimension 8300               
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A07
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
             Memory: 1024MB RAM
          Page File: 662MB used, 1798MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: RADEON 9800 SERIES
     Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
        Chip type: ATI Radeon Graphics Processor AGP (0x4E48)
         DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4E48&SUBSYS_10021002&REV_00
   Display Memory: 128.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (70Hz)
          Monitor: Dell 1726T-HS/D1025HT
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6764 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 12/20/2007 22:08:18, 272384 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 12/20/2007 22:53:20, 2843136 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-0D08-11CF-DE69-0830A1C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x1002
        Device ID: 0x4E48
        SubSys ID: 0x10021002
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Revision ID: 0x0000
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV8_B ModeWMV8_A ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_24D5&SUBSYS_01571028&REV_02
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: smwdm.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.3555 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 2/28/2003 09:17:18, 545024 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Analog Devices
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xB5B
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 8000, 48000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

[Bizman]

There was an issue some months ago with similar symptoms. IIRC the problem was an outdated computer. Can't remember if it was reported here or in the Hardware and Software section, unfortunately I don't have time right now to find it.

The last update raised the minimum video memory requirement to 256 mb, your card has only half of that. Same goes for RAM, you have one Gb while the min requirement is two. Look here: http://www.hitechcreations.com/Help-Section/Getting-Started/Aces-High-Min-Req.html

I very much recommend a newer computer. Good setups have been evaluated on the Hardware section almost every week, but if your budget is tight and AH the only game you're playing, look for an abandoned one used by a heavy gamer. The AH Classifieds forum might be one good source for such.

[Skuzzy]

I am surprised the game will run on that computer.

[olds442]

I am surprised the game will run on that computer.

And with 68 FPS, that shows how cheep you can buy a computer to run this game.