Matrox Triplehead and black screen

[grimnir69]

Just thought I'd post a short note on my problems and how I got it working. I am also writing a short bit about my fps problems, so that the publisher gets another bit of input.

I too have problems with starting up the game and I only get a black screen, although I can hear the sounds and the sounds from the menu, so apparently the game is loaded. Seems as if the game doesn't like the desktop resolution of 3840x1024. I tried adjusting the resolution to one single monitor and 1280x1024, which worked just fine. Loading the game worked just as it should.

Now here comes the funny part... The game actually allows me to choose a 3840x1024 resolution and I can run the game just fine at that resolution. It just doesn't like my desktop to run at that resolution. Weird...

Oh, and I am having terrible problems with the frame rate too, even at the lowest settings and resolutions and in the cut scenes too. Might be related to my MS FF wheel and the old library, but I haven't tried it yet.

I am seriously considering returning the game if no patch is released soon. It's a shame to see such an interesting game being released with so many problems. I've seen it quite a few times before and it can really destroy a games reputation.

Oh, and please don't tell me that the wheel is old, I already know that. It works just fine with all the other games I have bought up until now. I am not going to buy a new wheel just for this game...

My specs are:
WinXP SP2
2,40 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64
Matrox TripleHead2Go Analog version
Nvidia 7950GT 512 MB
2 GB RAM
Zalman Water cooling on cpu and gpu
Game installed on separate Seagate 250GB SATA Drive
MS FF wheel
TrackIR 3 Pro with VE

Nvidia 93.71 drivers installed, including Stereo drivers.

[SJ_INSTG8R]

Wouldnt be an IL-2 guy would ya?(the Triple-head/TrackIR had to make me ask even tho its been broken for awhile and Oleg has yet to comment/fix it)

While I have no real input on your problem, I can say even with my Rig which is purpose built for "simming"(see Sig for details) We are ALL basically in the same boat when it comes to poor performance at this point and I cant argue with your point about packing it in to save the hassle. You can find MANY posts by me here that I am "Bug Tracking" the heck out of this game because I see its potential as a "Quazi-Sim" Eden intended but its got a LONG way to go yet and I refuse to let it die because of these silly issues.

Im sure they are commited to fixing this game we will just have to be patient(tho your Triplehead Issue may end up way down the list, they have added alot of other "sim" elements so as far as Im concerned Triplehead SHOULD fall into that category as well)

[grimnir69]

Yep, I do have IL2 installed, although I mainly fly FS9. I actually have built a full panel simulating a SAAB 105, including most of the switches of that aircraft. I am also planning to add a iVibe seat soon, although I would like to modify that a bit.

I sincerely hope the publisher is working hard on fixing the performance issues as well as the most critical bugs. It's just so strange to see such an amazing game being packed with so many flaws. What happened with the beta testers, one might wonder...

And as always, when a game has a lot of problems, the publisher is completely silent. It would be nice to see that at least someone with some knowledge of what is happening behind the scenes would make a comment on what they are working on and let us know some kind of time frame.

Customers with problems always hate being kept in the dark, at least that's my experience. So strange that so few publishers understand this.

[Thany]

http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=574938 in the first post there's a solution for the MS wheel FPS drop, but as i understand you loose the FF.

[SJ_INSTG8R]

Thany that is thee most useful link I have seen so far(WHy the heck havent we got one of those here?)

It would be great to post that on the main page(that link)Would you mind posting it?(If not I will NP) mdr1

[SJ_INSTG8R]

Yep, I do have IL2 installed, although I mainly fly FS9. I actually have built a full panel simulating a SAAB 105, including most of the switches of that aircraft. I am also planning to add a iVibe seat soon, although I would like to modify that a bit.

I sincerely hope the publisher is working hard on fixing the performance issues as well as the most critical bugs. It's just so strange to see such an amazing game being packed with so many flaws. What happened with the beta testers, one might wonder...

And as always, when a game has a lot of problems, the publisher is completely silent. It would be nice to see that at least someone with some knowledge of what is happening behind the scenes would make a comment on what they are working on and let us know some kind of time frame.

Customers with problems always hate being kept in the dark, at least that's my experience. So strange that so few publishers understand this.

Scary aint it?
Sadly its becoming the "popular trend" with Devs. and Pubs. these days. The Difference is Atari is NOT EA or Ubi and dont have the "clout" to get away with it like they do. Atari NEEDS this game to be a success, so like you I have no idea how they have bungled this up, one issue after another and like you said are SILENT thru out.

[grimnir69]

I just wanted to quickly comment on the solution for the FF Wheel...

From what I understand this "solution" removes all Force Feedback support from the OS, which means you lose ALL FF from all games. Not something I am prepared to do for this game. The publisher/developer need to find their own solution. So, be careful with this.

[SJ_INSTG8R]

Yeah mate it aint ideal but at least "WE" as the community are doing "something" and apparently the US Forums are a heck of alot more organized OBVIOUSLY.

[grimnir69]

It just occured to me that I never thanked either of you for taking the time to reply. It's good to see that the Internet is still working as it did when it all started. People still gather together and try to help one another. :)

Still, this week has been a bit frustrating. I bought Ghost Recon Advanced Warfighter at the same time as TDU and that game doesn't even let me install, since the setup program conflicts with installshield. Took me an extra hour to figure out what caused the problems. Then, I installed TDU only to discover a whole new set of problems. It's just plain wrong that games are released without proper beta testing and before they are finished.

As it is, it seems as if there is a higher than 50% risk you will run into serious problems if you install this game. And if you do, you can't even uninstall it without messing up your computer, since it apparently removes your boot.ini file. And, as far as I have seen, the publisher hasn't warned anyone of this very serious bug. I really can't remember ever seeing a game with such serious bugs affecting so many users.

So, Atari, please let us know what is happening! Fix it or let me know if I should return it. As it is, it's a complete waste of money.

[SJ_INSTG8R]

Think nothing of it! Im only hear to help and help get all the bugs sussed out ASAP. I can play the game just fine considering but Im just a "Troubleshooter at Heart" and will always try my best to sort out anyone. :salut2:

[grimnir69]

I just realised that I really don't need to change resolutions at startup. after having experimented a bit more, it works like this.

I can start the game at higher widescreen resolutions, although the nVidia 93.71 driver bug occasionally gives me some anomalies that are not related to temperature or any other hardware problem. Adjusting the display settings in TDU seems to reset the drivers.

I choose to run the game at 2400x600 since it seems most reliable to do so. Also I choose 2x AA and no HDR, obviously.

The intro movie is completely black. However, if I wait a while, the menus are loaded just as they should, spreading across the three monitors.

I too was having serious problems with the frame rates, as mentioned above, but I realised that they were related to having the Microsoft FF USB wheel connected. Disconnected, I get quite decent frame rates.

The TrackIR, though, isn't working as smoothly as expected. It works, but it seems as if it skips a few degrees, when I move my head, which makes it seem as if it moves 3 degrees at a time.

[TDU-RAZOR]

i currently have a standard dell widescreen monitor which has a native screen rex of 1680x1050

triplehead to go supports 3 screens with max rez of 1280x1024 each.. (i think)

so if i got another 2 of my current monitor and lowered the screen res to 1280x1024 on them all would triplehead to go work on them or have the monitors GOT TO BE MAX REZ OF 1280X1024 - NATIVE REZ ???

[grimnir69]

I may be wrong here, but I think this is more a feature of Windows that requires you to have the same resolution on all monitors. Anyhow, I am quite certain that you need to have all three monitors set to the same resolution.

So, to get to your question, the maximum width seems to be 3840, so you would have to set it at that. However, your graphics card is also important and you need to check the compatibility below.

http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/gxm/support/th2go/digital/compatibility.php

It might be a good idea to contact Matrox as well.

Good luck!
Roger

[TDU-RAZOR]

i know my card is supported, i know the max res for triplehead is 3x 1280x1024. But my current monitor goes higher, now i can lower the rez. but the graphics arent as sharp or as cystal clear.

so instead of selling this one can i just buy 2 more widescreens and lower the rez on em all to 1280x1024 and use the triplehead box ?

i dont want to spend 500 quid on 2 more widescreens if i cant do it...

[grimnir69]

Although I haven't tried it, I would guess that it is possible, but not without an annoying distortion of the image.

It's too bad Matrox removed their forums, but I'd suggest you try the Widescreen Gaming forum instead. http://www.widescreengamingforum.com

A good thread that may help you is http://www.widescreengamingforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=95295#95295

It seems as if you can get a 16:10 ratio with the digital edition of the TH2GO, although you will have to use 3840x800.

You could set the monitors to 16:9 ratio on the analogue version and get distorted image at 3840x720.

Another solution is to add another graphics card and SoftTH (http://www.kegetys.net/SoftTH/), but it is not quite as easy to use. However, it supports combinations of different resolutions on the monitors.

[TDU-RAZOR]

i got reponse from matrox about it via email:


That is correct. If you are planning on using displays that are larger than 19”, it will work, but you will have to lower its resolution to match what is compatible (maximum 1280x1024 per display for 3 monitors). Also keep in mind that all panels must be in ANALOG (VGA) mode and running at the SAME resolution, refresh rate, and aspect ratio.

[grimnir69]

Good. However, I noticed that they didn't mention any stretching or different aspect ratios. Reading at the Widescreen Gaming forum makes it seem likely that you will experience problems with stretching, unless you use the digital version.

[TDU-RAZOR]

well no problem there then i just get digital version - i was wanting that anyways as i currently use digital connection

[TDU-RAZOR]

Good. However, I noticed that they didn't mentopn any stretching or different aspect ratios. Reading at the Widescreen Gaming forum makes it seem likely that you will experience problems with stretching, unless you use the digital version.

you got me curious now, so i sent another email asking em lolblue:
let you know what they say...

[desrat]

EDITED : nvm posted above

[TDU-RAZOR]

Good. However, I noticed that they didn't mention any stretching or different aspect ratios. Reading at the Widescreen Gaming forum makes it seem likely that you will experience problems with stretching, unless you use the digital version.

here fella i asked em about what you had to say and heres they response

Image quality will always be best when running your monitors at their native resolutions. Therefore downgrading your resolution at any degree will ultimately result in a loss of image quality. With that being said, when downgrading your monitors to adhere to the resolution limitations, stretching of the image will occur. The amount of stretching will depend on 2 things; 1) the amount of the degradation. The more you degrade your resolution, the more stretching will occur, and 2) changing the aspect ratio (using widescreen monitors and changing its aspect ratio to 4:3).

If choosing to use large monitors, it is recommended that its native resolutions not be too much larger than the maximum resolution of our GXM products. Furthermore, we also recommend that if you choose to downgrade your resolution, do it without changing the aspect ratio.

In regards to digital versus analog, image quality is always better in digital when using graphically demanding applications. However, that does not mean that stretching will not occur when using the digital edition of the TripleHead2Go. The same symptoms will occur but the image may look better when in digital versus analog.

I suggest that you try it out. Remember that you are entitled to a 30-day return policy if you purchase via our online store at www.shopmatrox.com. During that time, you can test it out to see if it will perform to your expectations with the option to return it should it not.

Please note that the analog edition of the TripleHead2Go is available for purchase, but the digital one is only scheduled to be released in Q2, sometime in June or July,’07.