Random crashes in Gridania

Moved from:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/19174-Random-crashes-in-Gridania

Platform: Windows 7 64-bit
ISP: Qwest
Type of Internet Connection: Fiber
Internet Connection Speed: 40Mbit
Date & Time: 08/01/2011 10:00 AM Mountain
Frequency: Often
Character Name: Coors Light
Race: Lala
World: Lindblum
Class/Skill Rank: THM 49
Physical Level: 50
Area and Coordinates: Gridania 4,6
Party or Solo: Solo
NPC Name: N/A
Monster Name: N/A
In-Game Time: ~1:00
Steps:
1. Just running through Gridania often causes Nvidia Direct X error with nvlddmkm causing game to crash.

The error is Unable to detect DirectX device. The program has shut down. Happened again at 6,4 in Gridania.

Only happens in Gridania and nowhere else. Running nvidia GTS 360M graphics on Asus G60JX laptop with latest patches to Windows 7 Enterprise 64-bit and latest nvidia drivers for 360M card.

Ohh and I did try a complete uninstall and reinstall from DVD.

Normally I would say it sounds like a problem with the laptop's GPU. But I know how buggy gridania is at the moment and that lots of people have crashes there.
If it happens too often you might want to check if your GPU gets too hot maybe.

I'd love to blame it on the GPU. But in that I can run around Ul'Dah for hours and hours but get to Gridania and crash in 5 minutes I think it is the zone and not the PC.

I've run into the same problem, also using the same laptop . There's a workaround, but it sucks: Set all your graphical settings to the lowest possible.

So far almost everyone who I've told this solution managed to solve the problem, ihope it works for you:

My friends and I had the exact same problem (Usually around Gridania) until we tried this:

Go to FFXIV Config and set the following:

-Video Settings

Multisampling-> 2x MSAA
General Drawing Quality -> Standard
Background Drawing Quality-> High

-Graphics

Texture Quality -> Standard
Texture Filtering-> Standard

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After doing this the Directx Error never appeared again. It's not really a matter of lowering the graphic quality.
My friend's computer has that exact configuration and he even had the Multisampling off (meaning it was lower than what I listed) after he put it on 2x the problem was fixed.

Try it, the Standard quality textures are almost the exact same as the High ones, you will basically notice the Item/skill icons being less defined.

If it fixes your problem reply here so other players will know if it might work for them.

Thanks Ashgarth I'll give it a try. Interestingly those are SIGNIFICANTLY higher settings than what I was running. I had everything set at Low or 2 below standard.

One interesting note. If I leave the map open (so it is covering the entire screen) I can run all over Gridania without issue. I find that very odd. Obviously hard to get around without bumping into things but it works.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Coors

Thanks Ashgarth I'll give it a try. Interestingly those are SIGNIFICANTLY higher settings than what I was running. I had everything set at Low or 2 below standard.

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¿Did it work? If your PC cant handle the settings on standard leave them as they were but keep the Multisampling at 2x MSAA