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Graphics Troubleshooting Guide
xtern1ty
Member Posts: 796 Arc User
STO GRAPHICS TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
by XTERN1TY
by XTERN1TY
Fatal Error: Direct3D driver returned error code (D3DERR_IINVALIDCALL) while resetting the device...
Lagging screens into flickering screens into stuck screens into black screens into blue screens of death...
Sound familiar?
Graphics problems can cause much aggravation, at worst making the game unplayable. In this thread I will address the causes and provide ways to solve graphics issues.
Graphics issues occur mostly for 3 factors:
1) Improper Settings - The wrong game and graphics settings can make the difference between a smooth game experience and one riddled with flicker, pixellation and lag.
2) Software issues - The DirectX version, graphics driver(s) or other graphics related software are creating conflicts, which can become evident in a crash where a specific action or game file will trigger a render error. That can also happen due to...
3) Hardware issues - The physical graphics card or other graphics related PC components you have are either faulty, or not the right type for dealing with game graphics that place added strain on it. This can be true especially if you have an integrated gpu. A visible symptom of this is if your graphics card crashes at startup.
The following solutions are taken from my STO notebook, compiled from personal experience and experimentation, from conversations with technical staff and the input of players who have worked with graphics problems. Thank you.
WARNING: Testing or altering graphics settings, software or hardware may cause permanent damage to your computer. This is here to help YOU solve graphics issues, however use your own judgement accordingly, write down original settings and always have a backup before making any changes. The use of any methods stated in this guide are solely at your own risk.
Part 1: Checklist
Part 2: Settings
Part 3: Software issues
Part 4: Hardware issues
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Before starting any changes, verify the following:
- Check and make sure you meet the minimum requirments for STO, found here for Windows.
- Have you tried verifying the game files?
You can do this via the Options menu on the top right of the STO launcher. Once you select it and click OK, it will begin verifying files. What this does is check for missing files and mismatches in STO files downloaded to your computer.
- Have you restarted your computer since the latest STO patch? If not, try it.
- Have you tried running the game in safe mode?
Selecting this option via the Options menu at the top right of the launcher is similar to running your pc in safe mode. It reduces script and graphics incompatability problems and allows operation of STO for performance while maintaining as high quality as possible, useful for running the game lower end systems and computers that do not meet minimum requirements.
- Have you tried running the game as Admin?
If you have the priviledges for it, switch to administrator on your PC.
- Do you have any background programs running?
For example Xfire, Raptr, Skype,Team viewer, Avast, Antivirus, firewalls... If you do, close any unnecessary programs. Check your Security and Firewall settings to make sure they are not blocking STO and related programs.
- Are you receiving any error messages?
If you are, copy or better yet, screenshot it.
- Have you updated your drivers recently?
If not make sure your drivers and especially graphics card drivers are updated. For pro PC users, you can view all the drivers on your computer using a driver tool like Installed Drivers List from NirSoft.
* This is the updater for: Intel Drivers.
* This is the updater for: AMD drivers.
* Alternatively, you can also use a freeware driver updater tool like SlimDrivers from SlimWare Utilities.
- Have you updated DirectX recently? To check which version of DirectX you have installed: Follow these instructions from DirectX.
- You can obtain the latest DirectX or rollback to a previous version at: Microsoft's DirectX support page.
NOTE: Before making any settings changes, write down any original settings you change so you can revert them later if it does not resolve the problem. Settings changes are best done as Administrator on your PC.
Getting your game settings and PC graphics settings to work in harmony with the capabilities of your GPU (graphics card) is the key to a long term gameplay stability. Just because you can set all your settings to max, doesn't mean you should. Optimally adjusted, settings should maintain balance between performance and quality. If experiencing STO display quality problems:
- If experiencing difficulties running STO via Arc, you can close down Arc and start STO only by going to the STO installation folder and placing a shortcut to the STO launcher on your desktop or taskbar. This will launch STO directly without Arc and without making any installation changes.
- PC Graphics settings
1) Open Control Panel -> DirectX or equivalent main graphics center. For installed graphics cards, this can be the Control center of the graphics card software; once you identify the manufacturers of your GPU chipset (AMD or Intel, Radeon, EVGA...) you can find the settings panel for it.
2) Head to the Video/Game area of the GPU settings and find the 3D or game settings.
3) Activate buffering and vertical refresh options or set them to ON if not activated. Some settings may automatically state 'Use application settings' which means your STO settings will control them. That is as it should be. If not and that option is available on any of the settings, set it there.
4) Observe if there are any changes to game speed or quality.
- STO Graphics settings
If you have grainy or poor quality visuals:
1) Assuming you can see the game screen, open your Options screen -> Display tab.
2) Set the option for Monitor Vertical Sync to ON.
3) Head to the Graphics tab of the Options menu. Activate the sliders using the Use Sliders button. Set the left slider all the way to LOW then raise the left slider until the picture clears and is stable.
4) Synchronize the right slider at the lowest setting you can leave it that keeps clear visuals. Make sure options beneath the sliders are not touched, activating or changing them after using the sliders will override the slider settings. They should be in the low to medium setting automatically by adjusting the sliders.
5) If you have a multi-core processor, head to the Advanced tab of the Options menu. Set the option for Multi Core Rendering to ON.
6) Activate checkbox marked Auto Framerate Stabilizer to ON.
7) Click OK and re-open the game.
- If you experience flickering, freezing screens or black screens:
Do not panic and do not use haste. I know you're dying to get into the game, but major problems result when you do something in a rush, out of inexperience or without thinking ahead and making backup.
Behind a black screen, STO can actually be operational. You can test this for yourself if you have sound enabled. If the game loads and turns your screen black, but you hear the game theme and bleeps when you move your mouse, it means it's loaded but not displaying. You will need to nudge it in order to optimize settings on STO as above so it displays on its own at next startup.
Step 1- Get out of full screen mode by selecting windowed mode in the Options menu on the upper right of the STO launcher.
Step 2- If you have visibility, even slightly, follow the instructions above in the STO Graphics Settings section.
Step 3- If no visibility but game theme and bleeps are audible when moving mouse, try one or all of the following:
* minimizing and maximizing, then switching from windowed mode to full screen then back again using the icons in the upper right corner, which may or may not be visible, but can be operational even if you cannot see them. DO NOT click within 1/2 inch of the upper right side of game screen as the last icon is the close screen function, which exits the game; the first being minimize and the second, full screen maximize.
* if visibility comes and goes, you can use a period of clarity to take screenshots of the menu and therefore guide your mouse when the screen is dark to the Options -> Display tab. Switching the monitor, resolution or DirectX options can make the screen visible.
* if black screen persists on restart even if you set settings, follow the instructions in the Software issues section below.
Drivers are the programs that enable your hardware to work and should always be at their latest versions unless otherwise incompatible. DirectX is an independent controller composed of many dll's, aka scripts or pieces. The STO program is also composed of pieces. Like the wheels on a gear, sometimes the DirectX and STO pieces do not work together as they should and cause visible problems.
If you experience persisting black screen, STO crashes and/or DirectX errors at loadup, here are some things to try:
- update your graphics drivers. Instructions can be found in Part 1 above.
- update or rollback DirectX to a prior version. Instructions can be found in Part 1 above.
- follow the instuctions below to manually alter game settings for DirectX:
1) Make sure STO/Arc are not open then find and enter the game installation folder.
2) Head to Star Trek Online -> Live -> localdata folder and right click the Gameprefs.Pref file.
3) Select copy, then paste the file to 2 other seperate safe locations. One will be your backup, the other you will modify as follows...
4) Open the Gameprefs file with notepad and change the following entry
PrefEntry GfxSettings.DeviceType Direct3D11
to
PrefEntry GfxSettings.DeviceType Direct3D9
or vice versa. If the entry does not exist, or is blank, paste it in the De alphabetical category or under DefaultFov.
5) Save the changes then head to the location of the original gameprefs file and delete it.
6) Copy the modified Gameprefs.Pref file to the Star Trek Online -> Live -> localdata folder location.
7) Make sure the name of the file is the same as the original, then launch STO directly without Arc, from the installation folder icon. You can also place a shortcut to it on your desktop or taskbar.
8) If STO loads and is playable, but you alter game settings and STO does not function properly next time, repeat option #6.
9) If STO loads and is playable but you experience no sound, open the launcher and head to the Options menu, then type the following in the command bar, save and launch STO:
-ignorex64check
That will reactivate sound, but will cause lag on some lower end systems. If you experience that, I recommend you run STO with sound off for best performance or upgrade your RAM/GPU/PSU as per the next section.
Sometimes, software problems can push older hardware past its capabilities. Other times, software problems are merely a symptom of underlying hardware faults. Thus crashes and black screens sometimes arise from either improperly installed hardware or old/faulty PC components. These are the most frequent hardware related problems that can happen and how to resolve them:
- Memory
Symptom: Slow processes, sluggish operation, low Windows RAM score.
Solution: Clear temp and cache files, remove any unnecessary programs. You can use a junk file and cache cleaner like Privacy Eraser. Use portable versions of programs whenever possible. Utilize flashdrive/portable HD drives to add non-system related programs while keeping the HD as free as possible. Do not use your computer's HD for permanent file storage and leave your computer simple, as close to original as possible. If your RAM is 2GB or below and you have room to expand, add/replace RAM memory cards to double capacity and keep doubling until maxed. Re-run the Windows Index Score after adding memory.
- Overheating
Symptom: lag, freezing screens, mouse moves slowly.
Solution: Check to make sure vents, internal components and fans are free of dust; GPU/CPU/HD are not excessively hot or past 45° Celsius, which signals overheating; 60° Celsius being the maximum you should run at. Most CPU's will start to limit speeds to reduce heat, an effect called throttling, at 65° to 75°C. The optimal running temperature should be 15-35° Celsius. The higher room temperature, the greater your operational temperature will be. Each 1°C rise in room temperature corresponds to roughly 1.5° rise in CPU temperature. For computers with temperature sensors, you can find freeware to monitor core temperatures like Wise System Monitor.
Add fans if needed and clean your PSU and computer vents at least once every 6 months to maintain optimal air circulation. Good flow and ventilation helps maintain lower temperatures, especially useful in tropical locations.
- GPU (Graphical Processing Unit)
Symptom: Wep pages heavily pixellate, graphics becomes fuzzy, STO freezes, software and/or computer crashes.
Solution: Check if you have an integrated GPU. If you do, add an independent GPU. They can be relatively cheap and often far better than integrated in quality and performance. Some things to remember when replacing a GPU:
* Make sure your GPU is the right type for your motherboard (PETA or SATA).
* Verify your motherboard has the right PCI expansion slot.
* The higher the memory, the better your GPU will perform.
* Get the GPU with the highest DirectX compatability you can afford.
* Fanless GPU's with a heatsink cooling system are more energy efficient and longer lasting than those with integrated fans, as they can operate without a fan; though some allow the addition of a fan for added cooling.
* Remove older independent GPU's when possible or after installation of the new, be sure to check bios to deactivate your integrated GPU.
- PSU (Power Supply Unit)
Symptom: Crashing, missing blocks on the hard drive, frequent blue screens when running graphics-intensive programs, other persistent problems.
Solution: Make sure your PSU vents and fan are free of obstructions and dust. A running program consumes energy. The more graphics-intensive it is, the more the GPU has to work and the greater energy flows through the power supply. Older and low quality power supplies are not built to withstand heavy loads and can crash, spark or overheat when strained, sometimes resulting in damage to other components. It is recommended to replace the power supply when replacing a GPU. Especially if it is the original that came with the computer, is less than 400W, you play STO and experience persistent crashes in times of strain like during battle. Some things to remember when replacing a PSU:
- Add the wattage consumption of your pc components (HD, GPU, DVD ROM, CPU, etc...) to determine the required wattage of your PSU.
- Higher PSU wattage does not mean higher automatic consumption. A PSU will only consume as much power as components tell it to, regardless of wattage.
- Do not buy a PSU or any other pc component based solely on brand, but on quality of construction. It is what makes certain brands are more reliable than others. Avoid in-store purchases as those in stock at retailers often are of inferior quality and more expensive.
- Not all the energy drawn by the power supply from your wall outlet will be used by components. A percentage of the power is lost as heat. Ineficcient PSU's lose more energy this way. That is the basis of the Bronze Star energy efficiency rating, indicating 80% + of the energy is being used; from white to bronze, silver and lastly, gold with a 90% + efficiency rating.
- PSU's come with 3 cooling systems: Fanless, ball bearing fans and sleeve bearing fans, in order of quality. Ball bearing fan PSU's are less noisy, reliable and longer lasting than those with sleeve bearing fans.
- The amount of airflow determines the speed of a fan, measured in Cubic Feet per Minute (CFM). 70 CFM is the baseline for speed, and it should preferably be variable. The bigger a PSU fan size, the less noise it will make at higher speeds.
- Active PFC PSU's are better than Passive PFC ones, as they automatically handle voltage supply and current ripples with no need to switch the button. Active PFC PSU's are power supplies that do not have the little red switch on the back.
- PSU longevity is measured in hour ratings called MTBF. The higher the better. Regardless of numbers, a good quality PSU should survive at least 5-10 years of regular use. The more you use your computer and run programs, the less it will last.
- For a detailed explaination of power supplies, including photos to identify connector plugs, visit Hardware Secrets. Modular connector PSU's feature detachable wires and are better, but costlier than those with non-detachable wires.
- Contact
If unable to solve your issue, you can post a thread in the relevant support section of the forum or contact technical support.
If you find this guide helpful, feel free to add your own tips and info that may serve useful. If you are knowledgeable in technical details, builds or other information and like to help others or have need of help, we welcome you to join our live in-game information and teaming channel. You can contact us by typing the following in your chat:
/channel_join XTERN1TY
Happy Travels!
Here's a screenshot of what I see: http://i.imgur.com/LWBjyqs.jpg. This only appears if I zoom all the way out, and look at my character from a specific angle. Additionally, it doesn't appear immediately, it kind of fades into view.
Aside from this, the game appears normal - the character creator, character select screen, the load screens, and even the UI once in the game all load and look fine - it's only when I'm loaded into the game that I see this.
I've tried:
- Re-check files in launcher
- Re-install the game
- Bypass Arc
- Run in safe mode
- Modified nearly every graphics and display setting in the game with no change
- Tried both DX11 and DX9, including forcing the setting in the prefs file
- All of the troubleshooting in this post
- and forcing graphics settings through the nVidia control panel
System specs:
Intel Core i5-2500k @ 4.2Ghz
EVGA GTX 770 4GB
8GB RAM
Windows 7 x64
All of my drivers are up to date (and are not beta drivers).
Any ideas?
- For issues like Kendlima's, if game is fuzzy but menus appear clear, turn on monitor vertical sync in the in-game Options -> Display menu and adjust the quality sliders until it clears and you reach a balance of optimal functionality with least lag as described in the guide.
- For issues like thecase81's, yes I do have ideas because I've seen that happen more than once or twice. In fact, if you go to the fed mission Treasure Trading Station I believe (correct me if it's the wrong one), that effect is so apparent, unless you zoom the camera all the way in, objects and walls are entirely invisible.
It may be a variety of factors, your guess is as good as mine but if I were to pick favorites it would either be a problem with game camera settings or a bad render effect which happens with lower quality graphics cards; perhaps a bit of both.
If anyone else has seen this happen and knows something more, feel free to share.
By all appearances (been investigating/ranting on about this for a little bit now so I think I can field this one) its a graphics bug (started for me and others with S10.) You can reinstall the game if you like (arc, steam, doesn't make a difference), tweak all the settings, and update every concievable driver you can get your hands on and it won't fix the framerate slowdowns (such as you're seeing on Risa).
This particular one is on cryptic.
Notable missions: Apex [AEI], Gemini [SSF], Trident [AEI], Evolution's Smile [SSF], Transcendence
Looking for something new to play? I've started building Foundry missions again in visual novel form!
Yeah, I figured as much. And of course, Cryptic doesn't seem to be looking after it properly. Whatever patch they made didn't work.