artifacts, please help

[jonybiskit]

I'm not even sure if they can really be defined as artifacts, but thats kinda what they seem like to me. it happens in tf2 during most particle related effect explosions bullets hitting rocks blood, etc, sometimes it just seems to happen... What I see is a quick blocky flash, usually black but sometimes it's just a few blocky splots of some random colors in the area. First of all i should say that it started happening when I couldn't access the internet, I assumed that was probably just a random hardware malfunction in my motherboard, I wasn't here when the dell guy fixed it, but i think he just put in a new motherboard, I watched some tf2 demos when the internet was out and saw some blocky stuff, but just disregarded it, but now it's getting worse. One theory is that a power outage may have caused my power supply some problems, however I do use a serge protector... Another theory is that my computer maybe overheating, however i've had it for a while now and have played it longer hours then recently with out anything like this.. can a computer suddenly have heat issues??

[morphine]

Code: Select all

//  _______________
// |      NET      |
//  ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
rate                    "40000" // Max bytes/sec the host can receive data.

cl_cmdrate              "66"    // Number of command pakets sent to the server per second.

cl_interp               "0.0152"  // Interpolate x seconds from game (0.02 = 20ms)

cl_lagcompensation      "1"     // Perform server side lag compensation of weapon firing events.

cl_updaterate           "66"    // Number of packets per second you are requesting from the server.

cl_smooth               "0"     // If set to 1 attempts to smooth the view after prediction errors.

cl_smoothtime           "0.01"  // Time over which to smooth the view after prediction errors if cl_smooth is enabled.

cl_interp_threadmodeticks "0"     // Additional interpolation ticks to use when interpolating with threaded engine mode set.

cl_pred_optimize        "2"     // Optimize for not copying data if didn't receive a network update (1), and also for not repredicting if there were no errors (2)

cl_interp_ratio         "1"     // Sets the interpolation amount (final amount is cl_interp_ratio / cl_updaterate).

cl_lagcomp_errorcheck "1"

cl_resend "6"

cl_timeout "30"

cl_allowdownload "0"

cl_allowupload "0"




mat_picmip -10
r_lod 0
mat_parallaxmap 1
mp_usehwmmodels -1
mp_usehwmvcds -1
cl_new_impact_effects 0
mat_specular 1
mat_motion_blur_forward_enabled 0
mat_motion_blur_strength 0
mp_decals "4096"
cl_ragdoll_collide "1"
cl_c4dynamiclight "1"
r_propsmaxdist "5000"
r_rainradius "2500"
r_rainsplashpercentage "100"
r_avglight "3"
r_decals "4096"
r_DispFullRadius "1000"
r_DispRadius "1000"
r_maxmodeldecal "100"
voice_dsound "1"
jpeg_quality "100"
r_threaded_particles 1
r_threaded_client_shadow_manager 1
cl_threaded_bone_setup 1
cl_threaded_client_leaf_system 1
r_threaded_renderables 1
mem_max_heapsize 3072
echo Custom config loaded


^autoexec.cfg^


unbindall
bind "0" "slot10"
bind "1" "slot1"
bind "2" "slot2"
bind "3" "slot3"
bind "4" "slot4"
bind "5" "slot5"
bind "6" "slot6"
bind "7" "slot7"
bind "8" "slot8"
bind "9" "slot9"
bind "a" "+moveleft"
bind "b" "lastdisguise"
bind "c" "voice_menu_3"
bind "d" "+moveright"
bind "e" "voicemenu 0 0"
bind "f" "fovchange"
bind "g" "taunt"
bind "i" "showmapinfo"
bind "m" "open_charinfo_direct"
bind "q" "slot3"
bind "r" "+reload"
bind "s" "+back"
bind "t" "explode"
bind "u" "say_team"
bind "w" "+forward"
bind "x" "voice_menu_2"
bind "y" "say"
bind "z" "voice_menu_1"
bind "'" "+moveup"
bind "`" "toggleconsole"
bind "," "changeclass"
bind "." "changeteam"
bind "/" "+movedown"
bind "-" "disguiseteam"
bind "SPACE" "+jump"
bind "TAB" "+showscores"
bind "ESCAPE" "cancelselect"
bind "INS" "+klook"
bind "END" "centerview"
bind "PGUP" "+lookup"
bind "PGDN" "+lookdown"
bind "PAUSE" "pause"
bind "ALT" "+strafe"
bind "CTRL" "+duck"
bind "F1" "+showroundinfo"
bind "F3" "askconnect_accept"
bind "F5" "screenshot"
bind "F10" "quit prompt"
bind "MOUSE1" "+attack"
bind "MOUSE2" "lastinv"
bind "MOUSE3" "+attack2"
bind "MOUSE5" "+voicerecord"
bind "MWHEELUP" "wep1"
bind "MWHEELDOWN" "wep2"
cl_flipviewmodels "0"
cl_rumblescale "1.0"
cl_debugrumble "0"
cl_thirdperson "0"
cl_team "default"
cl_class "default"
hud_takesshots "0"
cl_showhelp "1"
hud_draw_fixed_reticle "0"
hud_achievement_description "1"
hud_achievement_count "8"
cl_chatfilters "31"
cc_linger_time "1.0"
cc_predisplay_time "0.25"
cc_subtitles "0"
cc_lang ""
crosshair "1"
cl_observercrosshair "1"
g15_update_msec "250"
cam_snapto "0"
cam_ideallag "4.0"
cam_idealdelta "4.0"
cam_idealyaw "0"
cam_idealpitch "0"
cam_idealdist "150"
cam_idealdistright "0"
cam_idealdistup "0"
cam_collision "1"
c_maxpitch "90"
c_minpitch "0"
c_maxyaw "135"
c_minyaw "-135"
c_maxdistance "200"
c_mindistance "30"
c_orthowidth "100"
c_orthoheight "100"
joy_name "joystick"
joy_advanced "0"
joy_advaxisx "0"
joy_advaxisy "0"
joy_advaxisz "0"
joy_advaxisr "0"
joy_advaxisu "0"
joy_advaxisv "0"
joy_forwardthreshold "0.15"
joy_sidethreshold "0.15"
joy_pitchthreshold "0.15"
joy_yawthreshold "0.15"
joy_forwardsensitivity "-1"
joy_sidesensitivity "1"
joy_pitchsensitivity "1"
joy_yawsensitivity "-1"
joy_response_move "1"
joy_response_look "0"
joy_lowend "1"
joy_lowmap "1"
joy_accelscale "0.6"
joy_accelmax "1.0"
joy_autoaimdampenrange "0"
joy_autoaimdampen "0"
joy_diagonalpov "0"
joy_display_input "0"
joy_wingmanwarrior_turnhack "0"
joy_inverty "0"
joy_movement_stick "0"
joy_xcontroller_cfg_loaded "0"
lookspring "0"
lookstrafe "0"
joystick "0"
m_pitch "0.022"
m_filter "0"
sensitivity "1.250000"
m_side "0.8"
m_yaw "0.022"
m_forward "1"
m_customaccel "0"
m_customaccel_scale "0.04"
m_customaccel_max "0"
m_customaccel_exponent "1"
m_mouseaccel1 "0"
m_mouseaccel2 "0"
m_mousespeed "1"
cl_mouselook "1"
cl_idealpitchscale "0.8"
net_scale "5"
net_graphpos "1"
net_graphsolid "1"
net_graphtext "1"
net_graphmsecs "400"
net_graphshowlatency "1"
net_graphshowinterp "1"
net_graph "1"
net_graphheight "64"
net_graphproportionalfont "1"
viewmodel_fov "90"
mat_software_aa_strength "0.000000"
mat_software_aa_quality "0"
mat_software_aa_edge_threshold "1.0"
mat_software_aa_blur_one_pixel_lines "0.5"
mat_software_aa_tap_offset "1.0"
mat_software_aa_strength_vgui "1.000000"
r_drawviewmodel "0"
voice_modenable "1"
hud_fastswitch "1"
cl_playerspraydisable "0"
muzzleflash_light "1"
hud_classautokill "1"
overview_health "1"
overview_names "1"
overview_tracks "1"
overview_locked "1"
overview_alpha "1.0"
spec_scoreboard "0"
cl_spec_mode "6"
cl_disablehtmlmotd "0"
tf_chargedfriends ""
cl_autorezoom "1"
tf_remember_activeweapon "0"
tf_remember_lastswitched "0"
cl_autoreload "0"
fov_desired "90"
cl_hud_minmode "0"
tf_particles_disable_weather "0"
hud_achievement_count_engineer "3"
tf_hud_num_building_alert_beeps "2"
cl_crosshair_red "255.000000"
cl_crosshair_green "0.000000"
cl_crosshair_blue "255.000000"
cl_crosshair_file "crosshair7"
cl_crosshair_scale "25"
tf_build_menu_controller_mode "0"
tf_disguise_menu_controller_mode "0"
tf_weapon_select_demo_start_delay "1.0"
tf_weapon_select_demo_time "0.5"
tf_colorblindassist "0"
tf_medigun_autoheal "1"
cl_crosshaircolor "0"
cl_dynamiccrosshair "1"
cl_scalecrosshair "1"
cl_crosshairalpha "200"
cl_showbackpackrarities "0"
cl_spec_carrieditems "1"
cl_use_tournament_specgui "0"
ifm_steadycam_rotaterate "60"
ifm_steadycam_zoomspeed "1.0"
ifm_steadycam_zoomdamp "0.95"
ifm_steadycam_armspeed "0.5"
ifm_steadycam_rotatedamp "0.95"
ifm_steadycam_mousefactor "1.0"
ifm_steadycam_mousepower "1.0"
ifm_steadycam_2dspringconstant "33.0"
ifm_steadycam_2ddragconstant "11.0"
ifm_steadycam_noise "0.0"
ifm_steadycam_sensitivity "1.0"
r_eyegloss "1"
vgui_message_dialog_modal "1"
commentary_firstrun "0"
scene_showfaceto "0"
ai_report_task_timings_on_limit "0"
ai_think_limit_label "0"
npc_height_adjust "1"
sv_pvsskipanimation "1"
scene_showlook "0"
scene_showmoveto "0"
scene_showunlock "0"
commentary "0"
xbox_throttlebias "100"
xbox_throttlespoof "200"
xbox_autothrottle "1"
func_break_max_pieces "15"
suitvolume "0.25"
option_duck_method "1"
sk_autoaim_mode "1"
sv_noclipaccelerate "5"
sv_noclipspeed "5"
sv_specaccelerate "5"
sv_specspeed "3"
sv_specnoclip "1"
sv_skyname "sky_hydro_01"
sv_backspeed "0.6"
bugreporter_uploadasync "0"
cl_cmdrate "66"
cl_updaterate "66"
closecaption "0"
skill "1"
net_maxroutable "1260"
cl_allowupload "0"
name "calamitous  lookin"
password "theone"
sv_unlockedchapters "99"
tv_nochat "0"
cl_showpluginmessages "1"
cl_timeout "30"
cl_logofile "materials/vgui/logos/koth_viaduct0000.vtf"
cl_soundfile "sound/player/jingle.wav"
cl_forcepreload "0"
cl_allowdownload "0"
cl_downloadfilter "all"
con_enable "1"
r_eyemove "1"
r_eyeshift_x "0"
r_eyeshift_y "0"
r_eyeshift_z "0"
r_eyesize "0"
r_ambientboost "1"
r_ambientmin "0.3"
r_ambientfactor "5"
r_drawmodelstatsoverlaymin "0.1"
r_drawmodelstatsoverlaymax "1.5"
mp_decals "200.000000"
sv_logsdir "logs"
sv_logfile "1"
sv_logflush "0"
sv_logecho "1"
sv_log_onefile "0"
sv_logbans "0"
sv_voiceenable "1"
sv_forcepreload "0"
snd_legacy_surround "0"
snd_pitchquality "1"
volume "0.100000"
snd_musicvolume "0.110000"
snd_mixahead "0.1"
adsp_debug "0"
snd_ducktovolume "0.55"
snd_duckerattacktime "0.5"
snd_duckerreleasetime "2.5"
snd_duckerthreshold "0.15"
dsp_slow_cpu "0"
dsp_volume "1.0"
dsp_enhance_stereo "0"
voice_scale "1"
voice_enable "1"
voice_forcemicrecord "1"
budget_bargraph_background_alpha "128"
budget_peaks_window "30"
budget_averages_window "30"
budget_show_peaks "1"
budget_show_averages "0"
budget_show_history "1"
budget_history_numsamplesvisible "100"
budget_history_range_ms "66.666666667"
budget_panel_bottom_of_history_fraction ".25"
budget_bargraph_range_ms "16.6666666667"
budget_background_alpha "128"
budget_panel_x "0"
budget_panel_y "50"
budget_panel_width "512"
budget_panel_height "384"
texture_budget_panel_x "0"
texture_budget_panel_y "450"
texture_budget_panel_width "512"
texture_budget_panel_height "284"
texture_budget_panel_bottom_of_history_fraction ".25"
texture_budget_background_alpha "128"
vprof_graphwidth "512"
vprof_graphheight "256"
vprof_verbose "1"
vprof_unaccounted_limit "0.3"
vprof_warningmsec "10"
mat_monitorgamma_tv_enabled "0"
mat_queue_mode "-1"
joy_wingmanwarrior_centerhack "0"
joy_axisbutton_threshold "0.3"



^config.cfg^

I should also add that I am running in dx 8 and -sw -noborder -height 780 -width 1920

[jonybiskit]

I took out some of the graphics stuff in my autoexec.cfg it seems to be helping a lot... i'll come back if i run into any other problems...

[morphine]

still getting a problem..

Code: Select all

mat_parallaxmap 1
mp_usehwmmodels 0
mp_usehwmvcds 0
cl_new_impact_effects 0
mat_specular 1
mat_motion_blur_forward_enabled 0
mat_motion_blur_strength 0
cl_ragdoll_collide "1"
r_propsmaxdist "5000"
r_avglight "3"
voice_dsound "1"
r_threaded_particles 1
r_threaded_client_shadow_manager 1
cl_threaded_bone_setup 1
cl_threaded_client_leaf_system 1
r_threaded_renderables 1
mem_max_heapsize "1863.68"
echo Custom config loaded

thats my current config

[morphine]

What do you have overclocked in your system, if at all?

Most of the time, graphics corruption means:
- Graphics card's memory is shot. RMA time.
- If the graphics card is overclocked, there's too much of it. Do less.
- Main RAM shot or too overclocked. However, corrupted textures wouldn't be the only issue.

One other thing to check: graphics card overheating (namely the GPU RAM).

[Welch]

Hate to point out the obvious... Drivers? If he really did throw in a new motherboard, perhaps he just let it run off the old drivers that were installed and somehow it causes some issues *shrug* Try using Drivercleaner to remove ALL drivers that you arent using for your video card. Then restart, and install the newest updated drivers. Bare in mind sometimes these updated drivers cause issues with older games, usually end up getting worked out later. ALSO check to see if the motherboard you have has an IGP (integrated graphics) if it does you will want to go into your BIOS and disable it, assuming your using a add in card.

Your power supply could also being going out, which could explain the continually degrading issue. If you have another power supply in the house that you know is good and has plenty of power (a good 12v rail specifically) give it a go if you can't figure anything out.

Your running DX8 mode? It is possible that some of the shader effects you have turned on in the game don't display properly in DX8 mode... Run that sucker in DX9 if you can and you should see a big difference. Also.. is that DX8 or DX8.1, quite a difference in shadowing effects between the two.

As Morphine said, with those blotchy articles its possible your Ram or GPU ram is failing, the best way to tell is to try out other games and visual things that use a high number of textures and bitmaps that will use nearly all memory addresses of your card, run something like a benchmarking tool that is meant to really stress your video card. If you notice articles on that then you may very well have a hardware issue. If this ONLY happens in TF2 then its likely a software issue or even a corrupt install of the game.

How is your performance in TF2 and other games, is it what you would expect of your hardware?

OK..... and last, score on Everest Home or Ultimate (even the demo if you have to) and go to Computer>Sensor. It should list out all of your systems temperatures. Report those temps at Idle when you first boot your system, then list the temperatures while you have been gaming for an hour or more. This will give us some idea about where your starting at for temps and how much the game is heating up your processor/nb/gpu.

[Meadows]

Hate to point out the obvious... Drivers? If he really did throw in a new motherboard, perhaps he just let it run off the old drivers that were installed and somehow it causes some issues *shrug* Try using Drivercleaner to remove ALL drivers that you arent using for your video card.

That's not going to help.

My idea is also ruined videomemory of some sort, but I don't really suspect main RAM. While the odd combination of strained RAM + flaky PCIe can result in non-working integrated NICs, you would also see randomly stopping services, hanging or just BSODs altogether. A simple drawing mistake is very likely the VRAM, and if other settings don't help (for example, try the game's default settings) then you might need to borrow a videocard to make sure, or even buy a new one.

[Welch]

I don't see why you would say that it would not help to check the drivers, I did not mean to say it was obviously the issue, only that it should be checked first. Makes sense to check the obvious before taking any drastic measures like buying a new card. I'm assuming he at least has checked them. Corrupt drivers can easily cause "Artifacts", especially if its just in certain types of animations like flashing lights.

Before throwing in another card though, id make sure everything else tests out OK. Wouldn't want to burrow a friends card only to have it damaged if it were say a bad PSU. You never know what it could be. I've been lucky in the past to have issue like that not be related to hardware problems (Usually BIOS settings or software installs being corrupt), hopefully the same goes for you

[Richie_G]

I'd suspect the video RAM above all else too; found out the hard way with my 9800XT. I now regularly inspect the graphics card for build up of dust blocking the air vents. I think cooked video RAM is one of the most common causes of failure, at least from my experience with mine and other people I know.