Author Topic: Strange FF7 Problem (Read 6004 times)

Renderguy · « **on:** 2003-01-03 22:42:45 »

When I run ff7 Strange bllack lines appear in a grid across the screen. For example ( cropped screenshot)

My specs are:
Pentium III 450 mhz MMX
Asus GeForce 4 Ti 4200
384 mb RAM
Windows 98 SE

FF7 is cofigured to run in 640x480 fullscreen, hardware accelerated with my GeForce 4.

Edit: The screenshot doesn't show. Ill try to fix it.

Aaron · « **Reply #1 on:** 2003-01-04 04:59:53 »

Make sure that FSAA is disabled.

If you have a Detonator 40 installed, right-click on the desktop and hit "Properties," go to the "Settings" tab, click on the "Advanced" button, click on the "GeForce4 Ti 4200" tab, and click on "Performance and Quality Settings."

Make sure Antialiasing and Anisotropic Filtering are both set to off.

(Your clicks may be a little different than mine to get to that configuration box - I'm running Windows XP.)

To get a Detonator 40, click here.

Renderguy · « **Reply #2 on:** 2003-01-04 18:07:19 »

Thanks Aaron. I had FSAA set to 2x.

Kailu_Lantis · « **Reply #3 on:** 2003-01-20 01:57:01 »

Hello everyone,

First of all, I'd like to express how glad I am this place exists. Being this my #1 post I thought I would give everyone a big THANKS for all the FFVII support and help gathered in these forums.

I recently tried to play FFVII on winXP and failed. After installing the patch version 1.02 and the Chocobo patch my gaming experience improved considerably, but I'm still having problems with Direct3D acceleration:

Whenever I enter a town or place (cave, bridge) the screen shows vertical color lines. I think this problem is the same or at least similar to Renderguy's. However, the music kind of "slows down" too. This change of pace is not constant though. It slows down for about 5 seconds, then changes back to normal for another 10 seconds and back to slow. My only guess is that the latter problem is directly associated with the former, since the music flows normally when i access the Menu, or run across the world map, and without the color lines as well.

The only place where the music slows down without the color lines present is during battle sequences. The graphics, characters' movements, and sounds are smooth and fast.

The following is what I have tried to fix the game without success:

Aaron · « **Reply #4 on:** 2003-01-20 04:44:02 »

Your card may be trying to do FSAA, which makes wierd lines on the backgrounds in FF7 and can slow things down. The instructions I gave above are only for nVidia cards running with Detonator 40 drivers.

But, thinking about it, I don't think an 8mb S3 Savage can do FSAA.

Soooo...
Maybe someone else has another idea.

Threesixty · « **Reply #5 on:** 2003-01-20 15:43:41 »

The only suggestion I can think of is in get a Nvidia card.... I think, Software mode is going to be the only thing that's going to work for you.

Aaron · « **Reply #6 on:** 2003-01-20 15:56:13 »

I've had the best luck with FF7/FF8 with a video card in the TNT2-Geforce2 range. You can find a TNT2 for around $25 if you look.

Nowever, its not a great card. Worked on all my games, though, until I got Neverwinter Nights. Can't do FSAA.

Everyone likes a GeForce2, and you can get one for $50 or less (depends on what kind...).

ficedula · « **Reply #7 on:** 2003-01-20 18:01:43 »

I used to play FF7/8 on a Savage4 - I found that different driver versions varied immensely in support for the FF games. For them, it wasn't necessarily the more recent versions that were best - it's worth trying older ones (I suppose they were released when FF7/8 had just come out, so the support for older games is best with them...). Anyway, it's worth a shot.

Kailu_Lantis · « **Reply #8 on:** 2003-01-21 20:22:38 »

Hello,

I think a new card would be the best option, but is it possible to switch cards for notebook computers? I also ignore if my card is integrated to the board. If I bought a new laptop, what card would you recommend? I need a reliable card for this type of games that require 3d acceleration. Also, I like to hook-up the puter to the TV via s-video to watch DVDs, so make sure your recommendation has full tv-out support.

Ficedula, I followed your advice and I totally screwed my display!

Thank god the "rollback driver" option exists.

Aaron · « **Reply #9 on:** 2003-01-21 23:48:50 »

Ah, so you have a laptop.

You can switch the card in some laptops, but that generally requires calling the manufacturer and asking what upgrades are available, and then sending it to them for the replacement.

As far as a card in a new laptop, for FF7/8 I think that you would have the best luck with a GeForce2 Go. A GeForce4 Go would also work, and that is one of the best graphics cards available in laptops right now.

A GeForce2 Go would be better if you want to pretty much play FF7/8. A GeForce4 Go would be better if you wanna play those games, and also have fast support for the games that are being released today. I don't expect there to be problems running FF7/8 on the GeForce4 Go, except maybe the Motion-Blur bug, which is limited to FF8 only (if anyone knows how to fix this, or has any ideas, I'd really love to hear from you!!!). I do not know if the GeForce4 Go or MX lines of cards are affected by this, but every recent ATI I have tried is.

ATI has some versions of Mobility Radeons that you can try. However, I like nVidia way more than I like ATI, so my recommendation is still a GeForce2/4 Go.

As far as video output goes, most laptops support that now, but I don't think its dependant on the graphics card. Try and find a laptop that has an S-Video output port, I don't think it'll be very hard to find.

Threesixty · « **Reply #10 on:** 2003-01-22 15:18:12 »

The motion blur bug got fixed on my PC.....it pauses, maybe a little (I think it's harddrive accessing) for about 1/4 of a second. But the blur effect moves fine. I think the drivers are getting better. I'm running a G2 on a Athlon 1.2 C. Nivida updated the drivers last month.

Aaron · « **Reply #11 on:** 2003-01-22 21:27:32 »

Yours used to bug, too? In my experience, its always seemed to work fine on a GeForce2.

Anyway, I'm running with the newest drivers and the bug is still there. Oh well...

Author Topic: Strange FF7 Problem (Read 6004 times)

Kailu_Lantis

Kailu_Lantis