Getting tearing in the game

[Squire]

I have a NVIDIA GTX 570 card and I am running WinXP. I am using 1680 x 1050 res on a 60Hz monitor. I have not had this problem before but now I get thin lines usually 2-3 close together and maybe 4-6 inches across the monitor. They appear randomly. I have reloaded the drivers and so far nothing works. Any advice as to what I might try? thank you. 

[Skuzzy]

Random artifacts are usually heat related, but could also be resource related.  A DXDIAG output might help.

I am really surprised the game would run under Windows XP given the resources needed to run the game.

[Squire]

Could not send it all because of the 12000 character limit.

-------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 10/21/2017, 18:56:08
       Machine name: GLENPC
   Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_qfe.130704-0421)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
       System Model: EP45C-UD3R
               BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU    Q9650  @ 3.00GHz (4 CPUs)
             Memory: 3454MB RAM
          Page File: 517MB used, 4820MB 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: The file nv4_disp.dll is not digitally signed, which means that it has not been tested by Microsoft's Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL).  You may be able to get a WHQL logo'd driver from the hardware manufacturer.
        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: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce GTX 570
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_1081&SUBSYS_15723842&REV_A1
   Display Memory: 1280.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: SyncMaster T220/T220G(Digital)
  Monitor Max Res: 1680,1050
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0013.6881 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 7/10/2016 17:25:41, 3433984 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: No
  WHQL Date Stamp: None
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 7/10/2016 17:25:50, 13375672 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-53C1-11CF-1341-7F3500C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x1081
        SubSys ID: 0x15723842
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Revision ID: 0x00A1
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) 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
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) 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: Sound Blaster Audigy
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0007&SUBSYS_100A1102&REV_00
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: P17.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0512 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 7/7/2005 01:14:30, 1389056 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: CREATIVE
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 63
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 63
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
            Description: Sound Blaster Audigy
  Default Sound Capture: Yes
  Default Voice Capture: Yes
            Driver Name: P17.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0512 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
          Date and Size: 7/7/2005 01:14:30, 1389056 bytes
              Cap Flags: 0x41
           Format Flags: 0xFFF

-----------
DirectMusic
-----------
        DLS Path: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\drivers\GM.DLS
     DLS Version: 1.00.0016.0002
    Acceleration: n/a
           Ports: Microsoft Synthesizer, Software (Not Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal, Default Port
                  Sound Blaster Audigy, Software (Kernel Mode), Output, DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft MIDI Mapper [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Creative SoundFont Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
                  Microsoft GS Wavetable SW Synth [Emulated], Hardware (Not Kernel Mode), Output, No DLS, Internal
        Registry: OK
     Test Result: Not run

-------------------
DirectInput Devices
-------------------
      Device Name: Mouse
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Keyboard
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: n/a
Vendor/Product ID: n/a
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: Microsoft® Comfort Mouse 4500
         Attached: 1
    Controller ID: 0x0
Vendor/Product ID: 0x045E, 0x076C
        FF Driver: n/a

      Device Name: CH Combatstick USB
         Attached: 1
 

[Bizman]

"Display Tab 1: The file nv4_disp.dll is not digitally signed" might have something to do with your issue. Then again, if you've been using the same set of drivers for a long time the issue might have occurred earlier. Yet the driver is of a couple of years later date than the end of XP support, so there may be a gap between generations problem as well. Mixing obsolete and current software in the OS/driver level doesn't sound a viable option to me.

If you can get another 4 GB of RAM that rig would easily run Win7 64 bit. That alone might give you much more playability. If you need your XP for some software, a pair of hard disk sleds might give you the option to change between OS'es at every boot. A dual boot would also be an option, but by experience I can tell it can be 50-50 to succeed.

Your CPU is better than mine and the motherboard a bit newer so old hardware is not an issue. XP is a bigger problem here. 

[wrench]

Squire consider trying AHIII Video Settings with a lower Video Resolution and/or Max Texture Size.

When running XP with my 1GB video card I had to do that to keep AHIII from going bonkers.

[Skuzzy]

Due to how Windows XP works, it takes twice the video memory resources Windows 7, and later, needs to run games.

You need to scale back the game in every area.  Resolution should not be higher than 1920x1080, and that is actually higher than what it should be.  Set the maximum texture size down to 1024.

Check every option to disable graphics options in Options->Graphic Detail.

Even with 4GB of system RAM, a Windows XP system will struggle to maintain stable and artifact free game play and your system has a rather odd number of 3.5GB.

[715]

I used to run AH3 under WinXP with 4GB RAM.  It worked, but there were problems.  I did not experience the tearing like the OP mentions, but from the air large swaths of forest would not render and on the ground lots of ground cover would be invisible, like parts of corn fields would not render.  Also, distant mountains would not render.  All of these seem to be symptoms of limited resources.  I installed an extra hard drive (SSD) and installed Win7 Home on it solely for AH3.  I also increased RAM to 8GB.  I triple boot Ubuntu, WinXP, and Win7 and it works fine.  Under Win7, and the extra RAM, I now have no problems with missing forests or corn and everything renders properly.  Frame rates are about the same as XP under some conditions and a bit better under other view conditions.  I keep XP for old software and hardware that would be incompatible with Win7.  The only drawback of this configuration is I am limited on upgrading the graphics card from my current HD7870.  If I installed a modern graphics card it would not have any XP driver available.

[Squire]

Looks like it was a heat issue. I vacced out all my intakes and made sure everything was unobstructed and so far so good. Thanks for the reply for some reason heat didn't occur to me (i'm getting older). Thx for all the other replies too fellas!