Strange Graphics Issues ONLY While Running Second Instance

[Nerkahia]

Greetings,

I recently upgraded to an ASUS P5K3 Mobo and two ATI HD3850 video cards, updated all the drivers that i can think of, and am now experiencing bizarre video issues, ONLY when trying to run a second instance of EverQuest 1.

Text not present in mouse-over areas, random player models showing all or partially blank / black, inventory screen and guild management tool showing unpopulated, and many option tab buttons blank with no text. I can run either account by itself via WinEQ and everything is fine.

I've always used NVidia in the past, so I'm new to ATI and fear I've got some settings wrong. Hoping to find some help here if possible.

Sysinfo coming up.

Thanks!

[Nerkahia]

WinEQ 2 System Information
System:
-----------------------------------
Windows Version: Microsoft Windows XP/Service Pack 3/2600.xpsp.080413-2111
System Physical RAM: 2369/3071MB
Page File: 4286/4956MB
Virtual Memory: 771/2047MB (Extended: 0MB)
CPU 1: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz @ 3005MHz
CPU 2: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8400 @ 3.00GHz @ 3005MHz
CPU Affinity Mask: 1
Video 1: \\.\DISPLAY1/ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
Video 2: \\.\DISPLAY2/ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
Video 3: \\.\DISPLAY3/ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
Video 4: \\.\DISPLAY4/ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series
Video 5: \\.\DISPLAYV1/NetMeeting driver
Video 6: \\.\DISPLAYV2/RDPDD Chained DD
Monitor 1: \\.\DISPLAY1 (0,0,1440,900) (1440x900) PRIMARY
Sound: ?
DirectX: 4.09.00.0904
Internet Explorer: 7.0.5730.13
WinEQ: 2.15

Loaded Modules:
-----------------------------------
Module 0: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\eqgame.exe
Module 1: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntdll.dll
Module 2: C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll
Module 3: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\mss32.dll
Module 4: C:\WINDOWS\system32\USER32.dll
Module 5: C:\WINDOWS\system32\GDI32.dll
Module 6: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINMM.dll
Module 7: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ADVAPI32.dll
Module 8: C:\WINDOWS\system32\RPCRT4.dll
Module 9: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Secur32.dll
Module 10: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WSOCK32.dll
Module 11: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2_32.dll
Module 12: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll
Module 13: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2HELP.dll
Module 14: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DINPUT8.dll
Module 15: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3dx9_30.dll
Module 16: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WININET.dll
Module 17: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
Module 18: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Normaliz.dll
Module 19: C:\WINDOWS\system32\iertutil.dll
Module 20: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\xul.dll
Module 21: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\js3250.dll
Module 22: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\nspr4.dll
Module 23: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\MSVCR71.dll
Module 24: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\plc4.dll
Module 25: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\plds4.dll
Module 26: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
Module 27: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll
Module 28: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VERSION.dll
Module 29: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINSPOOL.DRV
Module 30: C:\WINDOWS\system32\comdlg32.dll
Module 31: C:\WINDOWS\system32\COMCTL32.dll
Module 32: C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMM32.dll
Module 33: C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.5512_x-ww_35d4ce83\comctl32.dll
Module 34: C:\WINDOWS\system32\uxtheme.dll
Module 35: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\EQPlayNice.dll
Module 36: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\Lavish.dll
Module 37: C:\WINDOWS\system32\iphlpapi.dll
Module 38: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSCTF.dll
Module 39: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2.dll
Module 40: C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSAPI.DLL
Module 41: C:\WINDOWS\system32\mswsock.dll
Module 42: C:\WINDOWS\system32\hnetcfg.dll
Module 43: C:\WINDOWS\System32\wshtcpip.dll
Module 44: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DNSAPI.dll
Module 45: C:\WINDOWS\System32\winrnr.dll
Module 46: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLDAP32.dll
Module 47: C:\WINDOWS\system32\rasadhlp.dll
Module 48: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-EQ.dll
Module 49: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSIMG32.dll
Module 50: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D9.dll
Module 51: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D8.dll
Module 52: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-DI8.dll
Module 53: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msctfime.ime
Module 54: C:\WINDOWS\system32\NTMARTA.DLL
Module 55: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SAMLIB.dll
Module 56: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\EQGraphicsDX9.DLL
Module 57: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
Module 58: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d8thk.dll
Module 59: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\dpvs.dll
Module 60: C:\WINDOWS\system32\HID.DLL
Module 61: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SETUPAPI.DLL
Module 62: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINTRUST.dll
Module 63: C:\WINDOWS\system32\CRYPT32.dll
Module 64: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSASN1.dll
Module 65: C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMAGEHLP.dll
Module 66: C:\WINDOWS\system32\mslbui.dll
Module 67: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSACM32.dll
Module 68: C:\WINDOWS\system32\wdmaud.drv
Module 69: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msacm32.drv
Module 70: C:\WINDOWS\system32\midimap.dll
Module 71: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DSOUND.DLL
Module 72: C:\WINDOWS\system32\KsUser.dll
Module 73: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest\eqmain.dll

Direct3D9:
-----------------------------------
Driver: ATI Radeon HD 3800 Series/ati2dvag.dll/6/14/10/6806
Adapter Display Mode: 1440x900 D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8
Game Display Mode: 1440x900 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN (Windowed)
Current Adapter: 0
Available Texture Memory: 989MB
Direct3D8:
-----------------------------------
Adapter Display Mode: 0x0 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN
Game Display Mode: 0x0 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN
Current Adapter: 0
Available Texture Memory: (not currently available)
DirectInput8:
-----------------------------------

EverQuest:
-----------------------------------
Profile 1: WinEQ 2.0 Default Profile
EQ Path: C:\Program Files\Sony\EverQuest
EQClient.ini: .\eqclient.ini
Patch: OFF Server Type: Normal Locale: us
Video Adapter: Application Controlled
Luclin models: 29 (+145 min RAM)
Texture Compression: ON (+0 min RAM)
MipMapping: ON (+4 min RAM)
Sound: ON (+22 min RAM)
Dynamic Lighting: ON (+4 min RAM)
Texture Caching: ON (+0 min RAM)
Texture Quality: 1. HIGH (+32 min RAM)
Calculated minimum RAM: 490MB (BASE+207MB)
Level of Detail: 1
MaxFPS: 100
Additional setting: VertexShaders=TRUE
Additional setting: 20PixelShaders=TRUE
Additional setting: 1xPixelShaders=TRUE

EQPlayNice:
-----------------------------------
EQPlayNice version: 1.22
EQ Version: eqgame.exe May 22 2008 00:01:49
Foreground
Mode: FPS Limiter
Max FPS: 40
Rendering: 1/1
Background
Mode: CPU Limiter
Max FPS: 30
Rendering: 1/30

[Nerkahia]

Just to update, and apologize I guess this should have been in other forum. The ATI Catalyst Control Center is NOT very self intuitive imho lol, I've been messing around with alot of the settings and believe I've finally got both cards Crossfiring correctly now.

I see much improved performance and can easily box two instances of EverQuest classic now but only by doing it without WinEQ. -Whenever I try with WinEQ, the first instance is fine but as soon as the second account gets logged in the graphics issues start up: Missing text, colors go all out of whack (alot of black and white) unable to see inventory icons... It even messes up graphics with unrelated programs like Explorer windows, Desktop, et c.

I really have enjoyed the product for the last few years, but guess I'll have to do without until I can find anymore tweaks to get it working.

[Lax]

Well, technically for multiple sessions of games, your multiple cards would probably better suit you without crossfire. Put one monitor on one card, one monitor on the other, and then play one session on one monitor, one session on the other (WinEQ 2 Pro provides an option for that in the Profile; you wouldn't be able to drag the 3D window to the other monitor because it would get software rendered and go much slower). This will mean their graphics rendering is independent of the other (and any potential bugs from crossfire are eliminated as well) -- kind of like dual core versus single core CPUs, this should be better suited for high performance in multiple applications. Crossfire is better suited for high performance in a single 3d app -- so when you want to run Crysis you put it in crossfire mode.

Disclaimer: I'm not basing this on any particular research or something that I've read that I can cite, but this is what my own knowledge and experience would tell me, and how I would expect it to work. I'm just saying I would try it if it were me, and I'm not saying you should pay for Pro just to try it and have it fail (which you could ask for a refund no questions asked within 14 days), but this is the best advice I know of for performance and quality across your multiple sessions of EQ.

[Nerkahia]

Hmmm interesting.

Thank you Lax, I may give that a shot.