The game Oblivion (PC) issues with my AMD rig (7800gtx).

[videopho]

Played in-door it ran fine, averages about 40-50fps (using FRAPS) with 1680x1050 res and HDR on. Then things got interesting once I got outdoors. One moment it looks fantastic then it looks like foggy around the landscape (day time) then the lagging comes and goes as long as I stay outdoors with averages drop to around as low as in the teens fps. At one time it gave me a BSOD (plus an instant reboot) and another a couple of freezes that I had to reboot my AMD rig. Driver used is unsigned 84.21 x64 bit version. I have had no problems playing other FPS such as F/C, HL2:LC or FEAR using the same exact driver. What's going on here? Either game's bugs or driver bugs or both?

 

[DaveyTN]

There is a new NVidia driver out there that is supposed to help with the performance of Oblivion. It is driver 84.25.

 

[Continuity28]

Here's my experience:
(See my specs in my signature)

I was running at 1600x1200 + HDR, no Bloom, no self shadows, no shadow filtering, everything else turned all the way up except for grass distance which was at halfway. Now, indoors everything was fine, FPS was nice, and the game was stable as far I can tell. I was going a bit slow, taking in the sights, looting etc... you know how it is. Having fun.

Then I went outside... Well the FPS was a little lower, but still very playable... looked pretty good, although the hills in the distance were a bit blurred. No big deal. So I ran over the pier, and around the rocks gathering mushrooms and such... After a little while, my computer locked up completely, without giving an error message.

I know for sure it's not overheating components or a power issue, so don't bring that up in my case. Also, this is a fresh reinstall, so there's no spyware and such... basically this isn't user error. I'm using the drivers ForceWare 84.25 BETA, and haven't tried any others yet, although others on the official forums still have crashing issues seemingly with every driver. I think the game is bugged.

 

[rise]

theres some game bugginess, like the error on exit, but i've never had a full crash, bsod or game freeze. i use 84.20beta (same as 84.21 official i believe).

OP have you looked around the official forums for any x64 bit problems? i don't remember seeing any, but i wasn't looking just a thought.

 

[videopho]

I know for sure it's not overheating components or a power issue, so don't bring that up in my case. Also, this is a fresh reinstall, so there's no spyware and such... basically this isn't user error. I'm using the drivers ForceWare 84.25 BETA, and haven't tried any others yet, although others on the official forums still have crashing issues seemingly with every driver. I think the game is bugged


I second that. When I experienced either BSOD or freezes I was barely minutes into the game. What I'd say for now is my rig is not at fault but I have not tried other driver as some suggested and tweak it a bit more to make the game more playable.
I checked the OS forum and there was no one posted x64 related issue as far as the game of Oblivion.

 

[starwars7]

yeah, I've been reading up over on the elder scrolls forum and there are just a lot of different problems going on with the game itself. it is probably the most sophisitcated game ever made, so it was inevitable that there would be problems.

HOWEVER, it seems clear to me that they went ahead and tested the hell out of the XBOX 360 between November and March to make sure that work work, but they PURPOSEFULLY spent less time on the PC version. Figuring they could just patch it.

Not too psyched if that is true, but I don't see how the 360 version could work so wel and the PC not, unless it was true. Fortunately, in the end they will get it working with a patch and we will all be happy

 

[jlmadyson]

Originally posted by: starwars7
yeah, I've been reading up over on the elder scrolls forum and there are just a lot of different problems going on with the game itself. it is probably the most sophisitcated game ever made, so it was inevitable that there would be problems.

HOWEVER, it seems clear to me that they went ahead and tested the hell out of the XBOX 360 between November and March to make sure that work work, but they PURPOSEFULLY spent less time on the PC version. Figuring they could just patch it.

Not too psyched if that is true, but I don't see how the 360 version could work so wel and the PC not, unless it was true. Fortunately, in the end they will get it working with a patch and we will all be happy

I have the 360 version and yet to notice any major issues, every once and awhile a hiccup but nothing more.

 

[Polish3d]

I'm still just pissed about the graphics being cut back so much. Even gamespot wouldn't give them a 10 on graphics. HL2, BF2 and Far Cry all got 10s IIRC

 

[Continuity28]

Originally posted by: Frackal
I'm still just pissed about the graphics being cut back so much. Even gamespot wouldn't give them a 10 on graphics. HL2, BF2 and Far Cry all got 10s IIRC

Hmm, it looks okay to me... I just wished I hadn't crashed once already... otherwise it seems pretty good so far.

Here's a screenshot I took... it looks better in motion mind you.

 

[Polish3d]

The graphics aren't bad but there certainly isn't anything "next gen" about them, other than the richness of the forests

 

[Polish3d]

And the people's faces look like ass

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Frackal
And the people's faces look like ass

Ok I can understand the faces comment, but in general don't you like the graphics? :Q
Have you tried the tweaks and mods that give a much higher LOD in the game?

 

[Polish3d]

The graphics are fine. There are certain isolated parts I find impressive, but generally I was not blown away at all, mostly disappointed. It doesn't look nearly as good as the E3 videos and they didn't even bother to allow AA+HDR.

I was looking for a game that looked next-gen and this really isn't it. Many of the textures are terrible

 

[Polish3d]

It was billed as true 'next gen' graphics but it doesn't have anything new or all that impressive

And it seems like they realized 4 months before release they couldn't run it on anything so they just cut the graphics down fairly sloppily.

I'm watching the E3 videos and they are quite different

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Frackal
The graphics are fine. There are certain isolated parts I find impressive, but generally I was not blown away at all, mostly disappointed. It doesn't look nearly as good as the E3 videos and they didn't even bother to allow AA+HDR.

I was looking for a game that looked next-gen and this really isn't it. Many of the textures are terrible

Well if you ask me they are next gen graphics.. Look at the detail of the models, look at the statues inside the city and how the light reallistically falls in them, look at the outside vegetation after the tweaks and many more..
Name ONE GAME that has similar graphics today in that extent.. Christ m8 if you don't like these graphics then I don't know what it can amaze you..
Game looks fantastic in both outside and inside areas..
I found myself so amazed by the graphics only by the first Unreal back in the days and Far Cry..

P.S No offence right? We are making a conversation, not trying to bash you or anything..

 

[Polish3d]

No definitely no offense.

The forests are impressive, as are the rats and other animals... but the textures in the towns and on buildings are usually pretty awful, as are the characters. It isn't congruent either, some things are beautifully mapped, others look like something out of quake 2. I think they were sloppy with it for whatever reason.

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Frackal
No definitely no offense.

The forests are impressive, as are the rats and other animals... but the textures in the towns and on buildings are usually pretty awful, as are the characters. It isn't congruent either, some things are beautifully mapped, others look like something out of quake 2. I think they were sloppy with it for whatever reason.

Well imagine that we are talkin about a huge world with myriads of different textures, so give them the benefit of the doubt..
Overall though I would say it's a magnificent game.. An RPG with this kind of graphics is TOO MUCH if you ask me.. Anyway cheers :beer:

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: videopho
....Driver used is unsigned 84.21 x64 bit version...

I know that Win x64 has come a long way, but that is still honestly my first guess here. From looking at your sig, it looks like you have a few rigs you could try this out on. Maybe Install Oblivion on one of these and compare your results.

 

[videopho]

Originally posted by: nitromullet

Originally posted by: videopho
....Driver used is unsigned 84.21 x64 bit version...

I know that Win x64 has come a long way, but that is still honestly my first guess here. From looking at your sig, it looks like you have a few rigs you could try this out on. Maybe Install Oblivion on one of these and compare your results.

I have two rigs, one is Dell(my simulation and work related system) and AMD is for mostly FPS and now RPG, my first crack at it. AMD is my gaming rig and it's got best stuffs in there. I can run FEAR, HL2 like dreams why not Oblivion? It's not that it's crashed and burned so badly, but I'd expect Oblivion to fare as well as other games I have played, no more and no less.

 

[Continuity28]

Hey videopho, try this:

Set "Max frames to render ahead" to 0 instead of the default of 3. You'll need either CoolBits or NVTweak to get to this setting which pops up under "Additional Direct3D settings" in the forceware control panel.

Doing this has increased my performance and I haven't crashed again yet... I'll let you know if I do. I suggest you try it anyways and see what results you get.

 

[moonboy403]

Originally posted by: Frackal
No definitely no offense.

The forests are impressive, as are the rats and other animals... but the textures in the towns and on buildings are usually pretty awful, as are the characters. It isn't congruent either, some things are beautifully mapped, others look like something out of quake 2. I think they were sloppy with it for whatever reason.

did you try maxing out all the setting AND the tweaks?

 

[videopho]

Thanks I got coolbits and set it to 0 will game tonight and repost my results with frame rate and any other issues that may arise. Should I try bloom or hdr? I've been selecting hdr.


The forests are impressive, as are the rats and other animals... but the textures in the towns and on buildings are usually pretty awful, as are the characters. It isn't congruent either, some things are beautifully mapped, others look like something out of quake 2. I think they were sloppy with it for whatever reason.


There is defintely something wrong with the settins there I must say. Mine look as good as any other games such as HL2:LC. Definitely better than FEAR in structures wise.

 

[allies]

I get crashes constantly in Oblivion... I crashed about 4 times trying to exit the sewers. Now I've crashed 2 or 3 times outdoors. I'm runnin prime to make sure my OC is stable. This is starting to piss me off... could be my drivers

xtremeg 84.20

probably gonna try some different drivers if i'm prime stable

 

[videopho]

I just changed "Max frames to render ahead" to 0 instead of the default of 3 and it did improve somewhat but the game went blank (dark) trying to exit. This game reminds me of HL2 when it first got released in 11/04: full of bugs.

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: allies
I get crashes constantly in Oblivion... I crashed about 4 times trying to exit the sewers. Now I've crashed 2 or 3 times outdoors. I'm runnin prime to make sure my OC is stable. This is starting to piss me off... could be my drivers

xtremeg 84.20

probably gonna try some different drivers if i'm prime stable

I'm starting to get crashes a lot too. Didnt before though, not sure whats going on