Directx 9

[Nicholasfunstuff]

Now in the game you can change your graphics options. But I had trouble with Open GL because of a load screen staying there for ever, (The one when you go to a public ship and sometimes the load screen comes up and stays up) And I contacted Tech Support and they said switch to Directx 9. But when I am in the game it works but the color is different like when you shoot fire balls it is black not red, orange and so forth. Plus the ships damage thing when some one hits your ship it doesn't appear yellow but black. I am using a fast computer cost $1000. What should I do? I am using Windows XP.

[akamystic]

Originally Posted by Nicholasfunstuff

Now in the game you can change your graphics options. But I had trouble with Open GL because of a load screen staying there for ever, (The one when you go to a public ship and sometimes the load screen comes up and stays up) And I contacted Tech Support and they said switch to Directx 9. But when I am in the game it works but the color is different like when you shoot fire balls it is black not red, orange and so forth. Plus the ships damage thing when some one hits your ship it doesn't appear yellow but black. I am using a fast computer cost $1000. What should I do? I am using Windows XP.

What video card do you have and how much memory is on it? Do you have the most recent drivers for the card installed? This issue varies according to OS version, Directx version and Video card manufacturer.

[Nicholasfunstuff]

System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A00
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 1022MB RAM
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: RADEON X600 256MB HyperMemory
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: RADEON X600 PRO (0x5B62)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1152 x 864 (32 bit) (75Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6561 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)

And I don't know how to update it.

[akamystic]

First I'd check the Dell web site as they have specific drivers and updates for their PC's. When you login (you may need to register) to the Dell website it will ask you for your service tag and serial # so it can identify what model you have. I would not attempt downloading ATI drivers from a third party site as the card in your system is OEM for Dell.

Even with the latest drivers on my second PC the NVIDIA video card is still giving me issues and forces me to select Directx 9 instead of Open GL. This was not an issue or me (and others) prior to some of the most recent updates. Hopefully a fix will be rolled out soon to correct all video issues.

[Nicholasfunstuff]

ok thanks I see to it later.

[Edward Edgemenace]

For my ATI card, it was not beneficial to load the very latest drivers. Before 1/30/2009, I saw performance improvements from using DirectX 8/9 but since then, use OpenGL has worked better. With only 1 GB of memory that you have you are probably seeing most of the same game-slow-down issues that I do: playing for more than 2 hours without rebooting gets slow.

If you can upgrade to 4 GB of memory, you will be very pleased with the improvement.

[The Skirata Clan]

I am in Open GL right now. I had to lower everyhing in the graphics so that I won't lag in sea. I have a Mac and I don't see the option for such change.

My video card is Nvidia 1600? I think not really sure.

[swashbuckler II]

I got this same prob, For now, im dealing with it.

[MacIronhawk]

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

For my ATI card, it was not beneficial to load the very latest drivers. Before 1/30/2009, I saw performance improvements from using DirectX 8/9 but since then, use OpenGL has worked better. With only 1 GB of memory that you have you are probably seeing most of the same game-slow-down issues that I do: playing for more than 2 hours without rebooting gets slow.

If you can upgrade to 4 GB of memory, you will be very pleased with the improvement.

What's better graphics wise, OpenGL or DirectX9?

[Sven Niscadae]

Originally Posted by MacIronhawk

What's better graphics wise, OpenGL or DirectX9?

If the video card is up to snuff, then DirectX 9. My ATI RADEON X850 (256MB) runs the game great in DX9 (highest settings) but it was horrible in OpenGL. For me, OpenGL was choppy and didn't render as well, especially the water which looked like Jello. Choosing between OpenGL and DX9 also depends on your available RAM. I only have 1GB but it's insanely fast memory.

[Edward Edgemenace]

Originally Posted by MacIronhawk

What's better graphics wise, OpenGL or DirectX9?

That will depend on an almost infinite number of separate factors for your computer. When I last tried DirectX9 and DirectX8 in POTCO, they were very bad compared to OpenGL.

[akamystic]

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

That will depend on an almost infinite number of separate factors for your computer. When I last tried DirectX9 and DirectX8 in POTCO, they were very bad compared to OpenGL.

My PC with the 256 MEG NVIDIA card looks much better in open gl than directx....but can't run it in open gl with current issues. So, directx 9 it is...for now. As you stated....it all depends...many variables.

[MacIronhawk]

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

That will depend on an almost infinite number of separate factors for your computer. When I last tried DirectX9 and DirectX8 in POTCO, they were very bad compared to OpenGL.

I'm sticking with openGL then. Besides, I keep disconnecting for some reason anytime I try to log on and that started after I changed it from openGL to directx9.

Strange, I was off POTCO for a month around this time last year becasue I couldn't connect.

[Ghostcannon]

I have a DELL with an NVIDIA 86000 GS 256MB video card. At first I was using OpenGL, but I was experiencing lots of boots. I switched to Direct9x and not longer I get booted. Graphics settings were never changed, they were always "High" when I used OpenGL. I dont see anything differences in graphics after switching to Direct9x from OpenGL.