Screen Fuzziness

from Stardock Forums
I have my display set to 4:3 ration and on suggested resolution, yet when I load the game I get tons of flickering lines running through like it is in wrong resolution.
I have read the readme files few times and looked around this forum but haven't found anything to fix the problem. I have a Geforce 2 mx video card.
It does run properly if I use the windowed mode patch or version, but not any other way. Any suggestions??
546 views 18 replies
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Upgrade your drivers (Detonator) and check you DirectX version.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Plus keep in mind that LCD screens are designed to work best at ONE SPECIFIC resolution, and I doubt that 1024x768 (GalCiv's locked res) is your monitor's native resolution.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
To clarify a little: When you run the windowed version, your monitor is staying at its native resolution (probably 1280x1024 if it's around a 17" monitor?) and displaying galciv at 1024x768 in a window, and that's why it looks right.

When you run the full screen version of GalCiv, it's forcing your monitor to a non-native resolution, and that's why it might not look as good.

Hopefully they'll find a way to implement resolution options in the game, but I don't think it's an easy thing to do.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok, now I am at least starting to understand a little. Yes it is a 17" monitor. I have updated my drivers and have Directx 9.x. Is their anyway to change the resolution on the monitor itself, or should I run windows at the stated native resolution per the monitors manual? I am currently using 1028X768. Should I change this to 1280X1024 if that is what the manual sayas is the native res.?
Again, thank you both for your help and suggestions. :)
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Yes, I think things overall will look better if you set your monitor to use the native resolution. Will this help GalCiv? I doubt it. Unless Brad and his team decide to implement resolution changing in the game, you're going to be better off using the windowed version.

But definitely make sure you're running your monitor at the native res. What kind of monitor is it?
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
I've given up on SDC for the forums and gone strictly to the web-based. :(

But yeah, the flickering thing shouldn't be happening regardless of res. Not sure about that one. :(
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I can't say for certain if Windows has correctly identified my monitor as I am not at home right now. I will check when I get home. The monitor is a Gvision L7eh. It has 4 display modes but none of them are 1028X768. Also, I only have the geforce 2 mx but I can't imagine that that is the problem as this is not a FPS or RTS but I could be wrong.
The flickering has hapened with other games before, but fixing the resolution has usually fixed the problem, so
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I can't say for certain if Windows has correctly identified my monitor as I am not at home right now. I will check when I get home. The monitor is a Gvision L7eh. It has 4 display modes but none of them are 1028X768. Also, I only have the geforce 2 mx but I can't imagine that that is the problem as this is not a FPS or RTS but I could be wrong.
The flickering has hapened with other games before, but fixing the resolution has usually fixed the problem, so I am beggining to think that since I can't change the games resolution that this may be the reason.
As alway, thanks for all the help.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Holy crap, Starvald...what have you done to your system!

And now you've got noodlearm double-posting! :)

Ok noodlearm, a quick Google shows your monitor does have a default resolution of 1280x1024, so I'd switch to that. It should improve clarity/reduce fuzzy edges on EVERYTHING you do: Windows, games, etc. Again, I can't say for sure it will make your full screen GalCiv look right, but it's worth a shot. I doubt it since starting GalCiv is just going to put you in 1024x768 again.

And as Starvald pointed out, you may want to install the .inf for the monitor (you probably got that on a CD with the monitor?)

One other thought: If all else fails, try setting your resolution to 1024x768 and 16-bit color (what I believe GalCiv runs at) and then try the full screen version.

Good luck!

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
Yep, mine also. And apparantly we were posting at same time as I am above and below your post. Anyway, The monitor is not new, but it is of coure Plug n' Play and I do believe it was recognized but not certain. Wouldn't this alone fix the .ini file. Also, you are correct, it is analog.

THX again and hope it doesn't double post
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Starvald,

Just a thought: You're not double-clicking on that submit button when you post, are you? :)
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
You've made this thread almost twice as long as it should be, dammit! :)
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
Starvald, THANK YOU. I was so bent up on trying to fix it through driver updates or display properties that I never thought to even use the auto-tune on the monitor. Once you mentioned the pixel clock I just used the menus on the monitor itself and auto-tuned it. Worked perfect.

Thanks everyone for all the time and help!