Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem!

Xanderzone · 07-12-2008, 07:36 PM

Hey guys/gals at Tech Support, this is my first time on the site and I look forward to a fruitful future here...

Thanks for taking your time to read my post. I'm no expert with computers, so I can only hope that the information I provide you with is clear and helpful so that you can aid me with my problem.

My problem is this. I have recently bought a new XPS 420, and it would appear that there is something wrong with it. Its a pretty decent system - quad core, 3 gigs of RAM, HD 2600 XT graphics card. What I can't get my head round however, is what is causing me to have visual problems when I play games.

I pop in a game (such as Oblivion), and immediately you can notice the poor graphics. Looking into the distance is painful, as the visuals look blotchy, and the outlines of shapes are jagged and seem to move when you move forward. The problem isn't so evident when you're inside a dungeon or a house or a castle etc. but when you're outside and looking at things in the distance, thats when the problem really shows.

I'm certain that this shouldn't be the case, and upon investigating further, it seems that when you turn up the 'anti-aliasing' bar, this problem is reduced slightly. Not much, but there is clearly an improvement. I researched anti-aliasing on wikipedia and found that the problems I was experiencing were viewable in pictures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aliasing

In particular, there is a diamond shape which would best describe my problem - it says 'enlarged view' underneath. These are exactly the distorted kinds of visuals I have been experiencing. If you are familiar with what causes this distortion, Im guessing we're already 3/4 of the way into solving my problem.

Here are the things I have already done to try and solve the problem.

1) Updated Drivers
2) Called Dell Support (utterly useless!)
3) Swapped one 2600 XT for another (DELL sent me another).
4) Swapped monitors

None of these things helped.

It may also be worth mentioning that my brother's old computer which is now 3 years old looked better with Oblivion than my PC now.

I look forward to any help you can give me. Thanks!

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 09:41 AM

Welcome to tsf. This actually isn't a problem but just a setting. In oblivions settings , turn up the resolution to a higher setting or anti aliasing and that'll fix it.

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 06:56 PM

Hey! Thanks for replying. I've turned up the settings in each of my games (theyre now on full), but there are still jagged outlines of everything (especially trees/terrain). Is this normal? I see that you've got the same gpu as me so perhaps you can tell me if you notice anything similar. It's an alright card isn't it? Its the same for all games by the way (even world of warcraft). Surely if i have my settings on full, these jagged lines shouldnt be appearing, right? Thanks in advance.

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 06:58 PM

You even have the AA on? Take a screen shot of your games. Does your monitor max out at a low resolution?

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 06:59 PM

Also, if i figure out how to take screenshots, would it help if i uploaded a picture to show you just how bad the visuals are?

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 07:02 PM

Woah, thanks for replying so quickly! Yeah i have AA maxed out (8x).

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 07:03 PM

When In game press the " Print screen " key , over the delete and insert key. Then minimized the game. Go to start / programs / accesories / ms paint , And then hit ctrl + V keys. It will then paste the screen shot in the picture. Then save it as a jpeg file and upload it here.

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 07:05 PM

I'll get to it. Wish me luck!

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 08:09 PM

Ok, well I've got something... but I don't know how to upload the file (there's no attach button).

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 08:10 PM

Use the post reply button and not the quick reply. Or the go advanced button.

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 08:24 PM

I'm really appreciating all this help by the way.

When I try and attach the .BMP file (I cant do JPEG because Fraps won't let me) it says that there is an error. Any ideas?

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emosun

When In game press the " Print screen " key , over the delete and insert key. Then minimized the game. Go to start / programs / accesories / ms paint , And then hit ctrl + V keys. It will then paste the screen shot in the picture. Then save it as a jpeg file and upload it here.

Try that method and save it as a jpeg

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 08:29 PM

Here are the attachments (if they've worked that is).

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 08:31 PM

If you look at the tops of the trees, the outline is jagged. This outline moves when you move around so it looks as though the textures are sort of moving (if you know what I mean).

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 08:31 PM

Yes they have worked , what setting do you have the resolution on in the game? The screen caps appear to be at a very low resolution.

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 08:35 PM

At the moment its at 640x480

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 08:35 PM

It should be at 800x600 right?

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 08:40 PM

Wow , It should be way higher. Over 1024x768 at least.

Xanderzone · 07-13-2008, 08:44 PM

1024x768 is as high as I can go. Furthermore, when I try and play at this resolution the game 'lags' hugely and it is unplayable. This is strange.

**emosun** · 07-13-2008, 08:44 PM

Ok turn it to 1024x768 then turn the AA completely off.

07-12-2008, 07:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Hey guys/gals at Tech Support, this is my first time on the site and I look forward to a fruitful future here... Thanks for taking your time to read my post. I'm no expert with computers, so I can only hope that the information I provide you with is clear and helpful so that you can aid me with my problem. My problem is this. I have recently bought a new XPS 420, and it would appear that there is something wrong with it. Its a pretty decent system - quad core, 3 gigs of RAM, HD 2600 XT graphics card. What I can't get my head round however, is what is causing me to have visual problems when I play games. I pop in a game (such as Oblivion), and immediately you can notice the poor graphics. Looking into the distance is painful, as the visuals look blotchy, and the outlines of shapes are jagged and seem to move when you move forward. The problem isn't so evident when you're inside a dungeon or a house or a castle etc. but when you're outside and looking at things in the distance, thats when the problem really shows. I'm certain that this shouldn't be the case, and upon investigating further, it seems that when you turn up the 'anti-aliasing' bar, this problem is reduced slightly. Not much, but there is clearly an improvement. I researched anti-aliasing on wikipedia and found that the problems I was experiencing were viewable in pictures. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-aliasing In particular, there is a diamond shape which would best describe my problem - it says 'enlarged view' underneath. These are exactly the distorted kinds of visuals I have been experiencing. If you are familiar with what causes this distortion, Im guessing we're already 3/4 of the way into solving my problem. Here are the things I have already done to try and solve the problem. 1) Updated Drivers 2) Called Dell Support (utterly useless!) 3) Swapped one 2600 XT for another (DELL sent me another). 4) Swapped monitors None of these things helped. It may also be worth mentioning that my brother's old computer which is now 3 years old looked better with Oblivion than my PC now. I look forward to any help you can give me. Thanks!

07-13-2008, 09:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,096 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Welcome to tsf. This actually isn't a problem but just a setting. In oblivions settings , turn up the resolution to a higher setting or anti aliasing and that'll fix it. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list Last edited by emosun; 07-13-2008 at 09:43 AM.

07-13-2008, 06:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Hey! Thanks for replying. I've turned up the settings in each of my games (theyre now on full), but there are still jagged outlines of everything (especially trees/terrain). Is this normal? I see that you've got the same gpu as me so perhaps you can tell me if you notice anything similar. It's an alright card isn't it? Its the same for all games by the way (even world of warcraft). Surely if i have my settings on full, these jagged lines shouldnt be appearing, right? Thanks in advance.

07-13-2008, 06:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,096 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! You even have the AA on? Take a screen shot of your games. Does your monitor max out at a low resolution? __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

07-13-2008, 06:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Also, if i figure out how to take screenshots, would it help if i uploaded a picture to show you just how bad the visuals are?

07-13-2008, 07:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Woah, thanks for replying so quickly! Yeah i have AA maxed out (8x).

07-13-2008, 07:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,096 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! When In game press the " Print screen " key , over the delete and insert key. Then minimized the game. Go to start / programs / accesories / ms paint , And then hit ctrl + V keys. It will then paste the screen shot in the picture. Then save it as a jpeg file and upload it here. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

07-13-2008, 07:05 PM	#8 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! I'll get to it. Wish me luck!

07-13-2008, 08:09 PM	#9 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Ok, well I've got something... but I don't know how to upload the file (there's no attach button).

07-13-2008, 08:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,096 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Use the post reply button and not the quick reply. Or the go advanced button. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list Last edited by emosun; 07-13-2008 at 08:15 PM.

07-13-2008, 08:24 PM	#11 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! I'm really appreciating all this help by the way. When I try and attach the .BMP file (I cant do JPEG because Fraps won't let me) it says that there is an error. Any ideas?

07-13-2008, 08:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! If you look at the tops of the trees, the outline is jagged. This outline moves when you move around so it looks as though the textures are sort of moving (if you know what I mean).

07-13-2008, 08:31 PM	#15 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,096 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Yes they have worked , what setting do you have the resolution on in the game? The screen caps appear to be at a very low resolution. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

07-13-2008, 08:35 PM	#16 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! At the moment its at 640x480

07-13-2008, 08:35 PM	#17 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! It should be at 800x600 right?

07-13-2008, 08:40 PM	#18 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,096 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Wow , It should be way higher. Over 1024x768 at least. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list

07-13-2008, 08:44 PM	#19 (permalink)
Xanderzone Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 22 OS: Vista	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! 1024x768 is as high as I can go. Furthermore, when I try and play at this resolution the game 'lags' hugely and it is unplayable. This is strange.

07-13-2008, 08:44 PM	#20 (permalink)
emosun Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: usa Posts: 7,096 OS: xp pro sp2 My System	Re: Jagged lines, lines moving, visual problem! Ok turn it to 1024x768 then turn the AA completely off. __________________ Gpu Benchmarks Cpu-Z Power supply information and selection Gpu-Z Video card quick list