Graphics Issue

[mystaria2000]

No longer able to Run 2 instances of Everquest at the same time without severe lag.

All screens up to gameplay screen are befuddled (have to log in from memory of where buttons are.) even for just 1 character.

Occasionally all graphics except sky turn white (this includes NPC models, PC models, ground, and buildings.

Upon noticing these issues I already updated the Video Card drivers, ran windows update and did all updates there, relogged into WinEQ 2.0 numerous times, ran patcher through EQ, checked for a newer version of DirectX..

SySInfo.txt follows:
WinEQ 2 System Information
System:
-----------------------------------
Windows Version: Microsoft Windows XP/Service Pack 2/2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519
System Physical RAM: 188/447MB
Page File: 793/1057MB
Virtual Memory: 1925/2047MB (Extended: 0MB)
CPU 1: AMD Sempron(tm) 3000+ @ 1991MHz
CPU Affinity Mask: 1
Video 1: \\.\DISPLAY1/NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU
Video 2: \\.\DISPLAYV1/NetMeeting driver
Video 3: \\.\DISPLAYV2/RDPDD Chained DD
Monitor 1: \\.\DISPLAY1 (0,0,1024,768) (1024x768) PRIMARY
Sound: ¨
DirectX: 4.09.00.0904
Internet Explorer: 6.0.2900.2180
WinEQ: 2.13

Loaded Modules:
-----------------------------------
Module 0: c:\program files\everquest\eqgame.exe
Module 1: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ntdll.dll
Module 2: C:\WINDOWS\system32\kernel32.dll
Module 3: c:\program files\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\WSOCK32.dll
Module 10: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2_32.dll
Module 11: C:\WINDOWS\system32\msvcrt.dll
Module 12: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WS2HELP.dll
Module 13: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DINPUT8.dll
Module 14: C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMM32.dll
Module 15: c:\program files\everquest\DSETUP.dll
Module 16: C:\WINDOWS\system32\VERSION.dll
Module 17: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ole32.dll
Module 18: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHELL32.dll
Module 19: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SHLWAPI.dll
Module 20: C:\WINDOWS\WinSxS\x86_Microsoft.Windows.Common-Controls_6595b64144ccf1df_6.0.2600.2180_x-ww_a84f1ff9\comctl32.dll
Module 21: C:\WINDOWS\system32\comctl32.dll
Module 22: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2.dll
Module 23: C:\WINDOWS\Lavish.dll
Module 24: C:\WINDOWS\system32\PSAPI.DLL
Module 25: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-EQ.dll
Module 26: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSIMG32.dll
Module 27: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D9.dll
Module 28: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-D3D8.dll
Module 29: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\WinEQ2-DI8.dll
Module 30: C:\WINDOWS\system32\mswsock.dll
Module 31: C:\WINDOWS\system32\hnetcfg.dll
Module 32: C:\WINDOWS\System32\wshtcpip.dll
Module 33: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DNSAPI.dll
Module 34: C:\WINDOWS\System32\winrnr.dll
Module 35: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WLDAP32.dll
Module 36: C:\WINDOWS\system32\rasadhlp.dll
Module 37: C:\WINDOWS\system32\uxtheme.dll
Module 38: C:\Program Files\WinEQ2\EQPlayNice.dll
Module 39: C:\WINDOWS\system32\NTMARTA.DLL
Module 40: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SAMLIB.dll
Module 41: c:\program files\everquest\EQGraphicsDX9.DLL
Module 42: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d9.dll
Module 43: C:\WINDOWS\system32\d3d8thk.dll
Module 44: c:\program files\everquest\dpvs.dll
Module 45: c:\program files\everquest\eqmain.dll
Module 46: C:\WINDOWS\system32\HID.DLL
Module 47: C:\WINDOWS\system32\SETUPAPI.DLL
Module 48: C:\WINDOWS\system32\WINTRUST.dll
Module 49: C:\WINDOWS\system32\CRYPT32.dll
Module 50: C:\WINDOWS\system32\MSASN1.dll
Module 51: C:\WINDOWS\system32\IMAGEHLP.dll

Direct3D9:
-----------------------------------
Driver: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU/nv4_disp.dll/6/14/10/8195
Adapter Display Mode: 1024x768 D3DFMT_X8R8G8B8
Game Display Mode: 1024x768 D3DFMT_UNKNOWN (Windowed)
Current Adapter: 0
Available Texture Memory: 86MB
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\everquest
EQClient.ini: .\eqclient.ini
Patch: OFF Test Server: OFF Locale: us
Video Adapter: Application Controlled
Luclin models: 5 (+25 min RAM)
Texture Compression: ON (+0 min RAM)
Sound: ON (+22 min RAM)
Texture Quality: MEDIUM (+30 min RAM)
Calculated minimum RAM: 360MB (BASE+77MB)
Level of Detail: 0
MaxFPS: 100
Additional setting: VertexShaders=0
Additional setting: 20PixelShaders=TRUE
Additional setting: 1xPixelShaders=TRUE

EQPlayNice:
-----------------------------------
EQ Version: eqgame.exe Dec 14 2005 18:09:20
Foreground
Mode: FPS Limiter
Max FPS: 40
Rendering: 1/1
Background
Mode: CPU Limiter
Max FPS: 30
Rendering: 1/30

[Lax]

To be honest with you, if you were EVER able to run 2 instances of EQ on that machine any time after the Velious expansion (without missing textures or heavy lag), I would be surprised.

First of all, your system has 512MB of RAM. One session of EQ with all settings off takes no less than 300MB. Secondly, your video card is integrated into your motherboard, which means that any video RAM is subtracted from your system RAM, as it is "shared". This drops that 512MB down to roughly 448MB (512-64, with your shared memory set to 64MB, verified by the RAM indicated in the sysinfo.txt). Third, EQ is probably taking up more than half of your available video RAM just for one session, so even if you were able to load a second session, you WOULD see missing textures (usually all white).

I'd say your description of the problem is quite accurate and expected from your system. You can solve the lag problem by adding more system RAM. The problem with white textures could be solved after that by increasing the amount of memory shared by your integrated video, or purchasing a separate video card with more RAM and then cranking up the AGP Aperture (note: depending on your computer, you may not be able to purchase a separate video card, and even then you would need to know if you need a PCI, AGP or PCI-E card)

[mystaria2000]

Thanks for teh quick responce.

Before DOD this system ran 2 instances of Everquest with little to no noticable lag. The only exception to this was 1 instance would loose connection when I tried to zone both at the same time.

After contacting E-Machines tech support to get RAM specs so I could upgrade and being to the computer has different RAM then the specs say and they will charge $130+Shipping for 1GB of RAM I've decided to get my Frankenstein Running again.

What would be the Lowest amount of RAM you would suggest for a 1.7MHZ P3 with a 128MB G-Force FX PCI Video card?

It currently has 256MB PC 133 RAM and also before DOD ran 2 Instances of Everquest with some "dealable" lag, and No graphics issues.

[fearless]

DOD increased the memory usage fairly significantly, more so then DON or OOW or GOD for sure.

Personally I recommend people have about 500mb of RAM per session plus a little bit more for general system resources.