# Graphics card problem **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 8, 2006, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530 "2006-11-08T08:45:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/1 "2006-11-08T08:45:13Z")
my pc has the following specs Packard Bell, Intel Celeron 2.2 GHz 768 MB RAM Nvidia GeForce 6600GT I’m having trouble with some of the newr games I own - Civ iV, Neverwinter nights 2, Dark Messiah of Might and Magic, Vampire the Masquerade blood lines etc. I seem to have a rendering problem. when displaying text or graphics, random letters will be missing and will extend across a plane in a long line, the same for graphics, if displaying a humanoid figure there will be holes in it, the ‘missing’ pixels will be extended off on a random plane across the screen. I have just downloaded the most up to date driver for my graphics card, this has had no effect on the problem. Can anyone offer any suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/2 "2006-11-08T09:23:18Z")
Do you have an up-to-date version of DirectX too? ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/3 "2006-11-08T09:28:00Z")
i think im on 9.0C, where would I check? I can’t find it in my add/remove programs panel. ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/4 "2006-11-08T09:35:22Z")
[QUOTE=One And Only Wanderers] i think im on 9.0C, where would I check? I can’t find it in my add/remove programs panel. [/QUOTE] Start-\>Run; type in “dxdiag” and click OK. That brings up the DirectX diagnostic tool, which gives you a listing of all DirectX files and versions. Also has links to troubleshooters. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/5 "2006-11-08T09:48:57Z")
i definitely have 9.0C, test directdraw & test direct3d found no problems ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/6 "2006-11-08T10:00:20Z")
Have you tried reducing your hardware acceleration level? Many troubleshooters recommend trying that. To lower your graphics hardware acceleration setting: Open Display Properties in Control Panel. On the Settings tab, click Advanced. On the Troubleshooting tab, move the Hardware acceleration slider all the way to the left. Clear the Enable write combining check box, and then click OK. Click OK, and then restart your computer when you are prompted to do so. After doing that, increase the acceleration level one step at a time and see if that helps. ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/7 "2006-11-08T10:24:11Z")
I’ve made the changes, when I can retsart the PC I will see if this has helped. Thanks for all the input. ---
**Author:** ![Otara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a88e4f/32.png) [@Otara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otara)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/8 "2006-11-08T10:24:24Z")
Where did you get the latest driver from? Nvidia or Packard Bell? Id say use Nvidia myself. Sometimes the newest driver isnt the best as they’re buggy, going back a version or five is worth trying, particularly with older cards. Also using something like Driver Cleaner (use google) before installing the new drivers is worthwhile, to make sure the old drivers have been removed properly. Otara ---
**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/9 "2006-11-08T12:54:23Z")
changing the acceleration level etc seems to have done the trick. Thanks guys. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphics-card-problem/379530/10 "2006-11-08T17:30:53Z")
[QUOTE=One And Only Wanderers] changing the acceleration level etc seems to have done the trick. Thanks guys. [/QUOTE] What that means, though, is that your card is going on the blink. Now you’re making the CPU do what the GPU was meant to do, because the GPU is not working right. -FrL-