hd5770 installed, but having issue on splash screens

[RAF74_Murdock]

Hey. I'm around, but having significant issues in IL2 with splashscreen distortions. It's to the point where if I join a DF server or online COOP, I see absolute garbage and don't see my mouse pointer. Once "in-sim" it usually clears up. I'm relatively sure it's the HD5770 drivers and not the ultrapack2.0 itself, but in case anyone has heard of anyone else having issues like this, please advise. It basically seems to mess up the fonts entirely. As in the splashscreens, they are used so heavily, that is when it starts to go fubar on me. Hopefully I'll fix this soon. Offline, it usually does not keep me from getting into the mission and flying. Once in-sim it seems to clear up 80% or more of the time.

[RAF74_Drummer]

Sorry Mate. I've not heard of this issue.

[RAF74_Murdock]

Found reference to it at least...

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/2903997/Searchpage/1/Main/302149/Words/font+distortion/Search/true/Re_Has_anyone_tried_the_ATI_9_.html#Post2903997

I'll have to find some older opengl drivers and put them into my root IL2 folder to bypass my system ones.

[RAF74_Murdock]

Well, using older atiogl drivers did not work. In fact it makes it run at 1fps. I'll have to test using directX settings in IL2 for when I fly online. Anyone else here fly in directX mode in IL2? Just wondering what the major differences are graphic quality wise. I would have 'thought' directX would have been the primary driver oleg had programmed against throughout, but I recall opengl was better overall with it.

[RAF74_Bimmer]

Never heard of that problem specifically, but it sure sounds like a driver issue. You should be fine running in DirectX as far as frame rates, but you won't be able to run Perfect mode.

[RAF74_Murdock]

I read further in the simhq thread, and it may be related to setting landscape to Perfect which I have done recently with this newer card in place.

http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/2903997/3.html

I'll try and turn that down for online play, and see if it clears the corruption issue. It is mentioned in the thread that the corruption may be related to hardware shaders, which apparently are only used in Perfect video mode for landscape.

Sidenote:
Also, when I tried putting older catalyst (ati) ogl drivers in the il2 root, I think i only copied over the catalyst 9.3 atioglxx.dll and not the atiogl.dll as well. So maybe that will help as well. I'll try that if turning landscape to Excellent does not get me up and running online.

[RAF74_Stew]

S! Murdock

Just saw this after I had ordered an HD 5770! I'm looking to you to work the kinks out of this, ok? :)

Hope you get it working in short order. Other than the IL-2 issue, are you happy with the card?

[RAF74_Murdock]

Yes, I'm extremely happy with it. I was able to change over to DirectX mode, and keep landscape settings at 'Excellent' as opposed to 'Perfect', and it's working fine. I just could not get the using older catalyst ati ogl drivers in the IL2 root directory method to work properly. I have always flown in the past on Excellent/High mode, so I don't really have any perceptible loss in quality overall; and of course no skips or lagging. Running very fast. I try and stay away from staring at FPS or doing 3dmark testing, as I'd rather just enjoy it without fps fever. I can tell a marked difference overall though, across the board on all of the different high end games I play. Empire: Total War, Unreal III, Lock-On Flaming Cliffs, Flight Sim X, and other high end graphic settings games. All run very smooth now at high or highest settings.

[RAF74_Murdock]

One hint, if you have issues installing your HD5770's catalyst control manager in Vista 64bit, or Win7 64bit, there is a command line method described here:

http://www.superwasp.net/weblog/2008/11/ati-catalyst-install-manager-has.htm

I had to use that install method when attempting to install catalyst 9.12. Other then that installation issue, and the IL2 font issue (again, fixed by switching over to directx mode) I've had no major issues with the hd5770 and I am enjoying it very much. I'm sure each person's experience may differ slightly, but overall, I think its a rock solid card for the money.

I also mention, you check after installation that you have the latest bios for your card applied, and that your shader levels are 800. SOME Hd5770, in particular the saphire radeon vaporx model (which I bought of course) had 5750 bios installed! which was keeping the shaders to ~700. This issue, and the program used to check on it, is described here -

http://www.techpowerup.com/111186/Sapphire_HD_5770_BIOS_Botchup_Leaves_Users_with_Ju st_720_Stream_Processors.html

You likely will not have any of these problems, but just in case...


Here is the GPU-Z program they mention in that article above. It is a very nice app to check your card temp and processor speed and capabilities. As well as it shows what bios is loaded...

http://www.techpowerup.com/gpuz/

[RAF74_Stew]

Fantastic info, Murdock. Thanks!

Got the card tonight and will be working on my build this weekend. Will let you know how it goes.