ATI Card compatibility issues!

[Igninox]

Dear Square,

For a few patches now your code has decided to be incompatible with ATI cards resulting in framerate dropping on mor dhona, in large parties or when changing zones. It has now gone to the point that it is crashing my system! ONLY with FFXIV:ARR does my atikmdag.sys crash; this does not occur with ANY OTHER GAME! this is entirely unacceptable for a AAA game that never previously had any problems (been playing since beta) leading me to believe that somewhere along the line you broke something. Having waited patiently for you to fix said problems and not minding being occasionally logged out of the game I cant wait any longer. Please note that this is NOT a driver issue on my end, this error does not occur with any other game or program only now with FFXIV. furthermore this does not occur as far as I am aware with any of my friends using NVidia cards. Im not a particularly tech savvy person with regards to hardware but I understand software and this is clearly an issue your end that you have failed to resolve for multiple patches. This needs fixing now and instead of focussing on pushing new content (like other MMO Developers.... cough cough *pandas* cough cough) you should fix the issues you have created.

Kind Regards,

Nox

[Aegeis]

Out of sheer curiosity, what is the model graphics card?

[Raist]

It's not just FFXIV. There have been known issues with DX9 games and ATI/AMD cards since around the 7000 family came out. The problem does not exist for older cards. There is something going on that the vendor needs to address in their drivers/firmware for the affected models.

[Aegeis]

Ok, makes sense. I have an AMD Radeon HD 6670, so wanted to ask.

[Squa11_Leonhart]

this sounds like a bluescreen crash going by ops description, which would be down to unstable hardware...

usermode code cannot crash a system, and it if does it will explicitly state that the error occured while transitioning data from usermode to kernel mode (and would imply a driver bug).

[Athenial]

I get this often as well with fully updated drivers on my HD8970M (alienware laptop). Trying to report on AMDs forums but still waiting on registration email.

[Igninox]

Radeon R9 290.... Ive had the occasional bluescreen of atikmdag.sys crashing.... other than that lately im getting blackscreen which then recovers, once this happens however it will continuously happen. Multiple drivers installed and reinstalled have been to no avail. This is also a regular occurrence for other friends of mine using Radeon cards, however these errors only happen with FF. The older issues causing people to crash after teleporting around was due to memory leaks caused by LoD loads. I am also unwilling to blame ATI as these problems did not exist previously and only occurred after certain patches by SE notably the introduction of Hunts patch. furthermore it seems far fetched that it is a problem with drivers and or card when once again I play multiple games based on multiple platforms and none of them create the same errors or crashes; the fact that it is isolated to FFXIV leads me to believe there is a corruption in their code somewhere. The advice given by ATI is as follows and can be found at the link provided:

http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-arti...rmessages.aspx

How to troubleshoot “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered”, ATIKMDAG.sys type errors
Article Number: 27116
​​This article provides information on the possible causes an ATIKMDAG.sys type error may occur and how to troubleshoot the system to prevent the error from reoccurring.

Issue Description:
During startup or use of an application, (most commonly a game / video application) the system or application will freeze, crash or exit to the desktop / a blue screen (BSOD). Additionally, an error message appears stating that the “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered” and may reference one of the following driver files:
ATIKMDAG.sys
ATI2DVAG.sys
ATI2CQAG.dll
ATIVPK.sys
AMD2DVAG.sys
AMDKMDAG.sys
AMDVPK.sys


Issue Cause:
The issue occurs when the Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) feature available in Windows Vista® and Windows 7 detects that the graphics card (GPU) has not responded within a predetermined period of time and reinitializes it with the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) to prevent the need to reboot. There is no single cause for a TDR event to be triggered.
Additional Details about TDR events can be found on Microsoft’s website.

Troubleshooting:
There are several factors that can cause the TDR event to be triggered. The following troubleshooting steps can help rule out / resolve the cause of the issue:
Note! If you do not feel comfortable performing any of the steps provided in these instructions, you should have your system checked by an expert.

If the issue occurs only when using a specific application, it may have known issues or corrupt files
Contact the application’s manufacturer for further information or for possible software patches

Perform a clean installation of the application

Microsoft DirectX® files may be outdated or corrupt
Reinstall Microsoft DirectX or install the latest version
Microsoft Article 179113 provides instructions for downloading /installing the latest Microsoft DirectX version

The motherboard’s BIOS / chipset drivers may be outdated
Check the motherboard manufacturer’s website for available BIOS / chipset driver updates
Refer to the update’s release notes to determine if it has a fix for your specific issue

The operating system may require a service pack update
Refer to the following Microsoft pages for instructions on downloading / installing the latest service packs:

Windows Vista: Microsoft Article 935791

Windows 7: Windows 7 Updates

Several known issues in Windows Vista may be related to the issue
Refer to the applicable Microsoft article(s) to obtain any necessary hotfix downloads:
The Flight Simulator X game display flickers and become corrupted on a Windows Vista-based computer that is connected to more than one monitor
The enhanced video renderer (EVR) sends the EC_DISPLAY_CHANGED event when you play a video stream in Windows Vista
An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista
Virtual address space usage in Windows Vista game development
Error message is displayed when installing a new hardware device on a system running Windows Vista
Graphics performance can be improved in certain multiple-GPU scenarios on a Windows Vista-based computer
A WHQL test does not finish successfully on a Windows Vista-based computer that has multiple display adapters in an LDA configuration
A reliability and performance update is available for Windows Vista SP1-based computers
You receive a "STOP 0x0000010E" or "STOP 0x000000C1" error message on a Windows Vista-based computer or on a Windows Server 2008-based computer
Description of the Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 hotfix that resolves certain system and application crashes on computers that have multi-core processors
A graphics card is not removed from the display settings on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1 if you unplug the card while the computer is asleep or in hibernation
Stop error on a Windows Vista Service Pack 1-based or Windows Server 2008-based computer that has an integrated graphics adapter and a discrete graphics adapter: "Stop 0x00000018"

The operating system may have corrupt system / registry files
Try cleaning the operating system’s registry
Perform a clean install of the operating system
Note! Performing a clean installation of the operating system will erase all data on the hard drive. Ensure all important data is backed up before performing this action

The graphics card drivers may have known issues or corrupt files
Refer to Article 20870 for instructions on downloading / installing the latest drivers for your graphics card
Refer to the drivers release notes to determine if there is a fix for your specific issue

An overclocked processor (CPU), graphics card or memory can cause system instability
Run all hardware components at their default settings
Refer to the motherboard’s manual for instructions on how to set hardware to default settings

An inadequate or defective power supply (PSU) can prevent the processor / graphics card from functioning properly
Refer to Article GPU-104 for instructions on how to determine if the PSU is inadequate or defective

The CPU and / or GPU may be overheating
Check the operating temperature of the CPU or GPU through the motherboard’s BIOS
Refer to the motherboard manual for instructions
Ensure the temperature does not exceed the maximum operating temperature of the product
Refer to the AMD Products Resource Center to determine the maximum operating temperature of any AMD CPU
Contact the graphics card manufacturer to determine the maximum operating temperature of the GPU

AMD ​Partners
If the hardware is above its maximum operating temperature:
Ensure an AMD approved heatsink/fan (HSF) is being used with the processor
Ensure the HSF unit is properly installed on the processor
Ensure the bottom of the HSF is leveled on the top of the processor
Ensure a proper amount of thermal grease is installed between the HSF and processor
Ensure that the fan on the graphics card and processor’s heat sink is connected correctly and that it is spinning when the system is powered on
Check whether there are any loose cables stopping the fan(s) from spinning or blocking the air flow within the system case
Verify that the airflow within the system case is circulating correctly
Air should flow in from the front of the case and out through the back of the case

Failing Hardware (processor, graphics card, motherboard and / or memory) can cause system instability
If possible, try testing the hardware in another system to determine if the issue follows the hardware

Run a memory test to determine the stability of the memory
The following third party utility will test your memory for errors: Memtest86
If using multiple memory modules
Test each memory module individually in the system, referring to the motherboard’s manual to determine which slot(s) can be used for single memory setup
Verify that each module is identified at the correct size and speed
Contact the memory and / or motherboard manufacturer for more comprehensive troubleshooting instructions

Replace the hardware

[Athenial]

Ive gone ahead and did an ingame report to SE to see what they say, if anything

[Squa11_Leonhart]

Radeon R9 290.... Ive had the occasional bluescreen of atikmdag.sys crashing.... other than that lately im getting blackscreen which then recovers, once this happens however it will continuously happen. Multiple drivers installed and reinstalled have been to no avail. This is also a regular occurrence for other friends of mine using Radeon cards, however these errors only happen with FF. The older issues causing people to crash after teleporting around was due to memory leaks caused by LoD loads. I am also unwilling to blame ATI as these problems did not exist previously and only occurred after certain patches by SE notably the introduction of Hunts patch. furthermore it seems far fetched that it is a problem with drivers and or card when once again I play multiple games based on multiple platforms and none of them create the same errors or crashes; the fact that it is isolated to FFXIV leads me to believe there is a corruption in their code somewhere. The advice given by ATI is as follows and can be found at the link provided:

http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-arti...rmessages.aspx

How to troubleshoot “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered”, ATIKMDAG.sys type errors
Article Number: 27116
​​This article provides information on the possible causes an ATIKMDAG.sys type error may occur and how to troubleshoot the system to prevent the error from reoccurring.

Issue Description:
During startup or use of an application, (most commonly a game / video application) the system or application will freeze, crash or exit to the desktop / a blue screen (BSOD). Additionally, an error message appears stating that the “Display driver stopped responding and has recovered” and may reference one of the following driver files:
ATIKMDAG.sys
ATI2DVAG.sys
ATI2CQAG.dll
ATIVPK.sys
AMD2DVAG.sys
AMDKMDAG.sys
AMDVPK.sys


Issue Cause:
The issue occurs when the Timeout Detection and Recovery (TDR) feature available in Windows Vista® and Windows 7 detects that the graphics card (GPU) has not responded within a predetermined period of time and reinitializes it with the Windows Display Driver Model (WDDM) to prevent the need to reboot. There is no single cause for a TDR event to be triggered.
Additional Details about TDR events can be found on Microsoft’s website.

Troubleshooting:
There are several factors that can cause the TDR event to be triggered. The following troubleshooting steps can help rule out / resolve the cause of the issue:
Note! If you do not feel comfortable performing any of the steps provided in these instructions, you should have your system checked by an expert.

If the issue occurs only when using a specific application, it may have known issues or corrupt files
Contact the application’s manufacturer for further information or for possible software patches

Perform a clean installation of the application

Microsoft DirectX® files may be outdated or corrupt
Reinstall Microsoft DirectX or install the latest version
Microsoft Article 179113 provides instructions for downloading /installing the latest Microsoft DirectX version

The motherboard’s BIOS / chipset drivers may be outdated
Check the motherboard manufacturer’s website for available BIOS / chipset driver updates
Refer to the update’s release notes to determine if it has a fix for your specific issue

The operating system may require a service pack update
Refer to the following Microsoft pages for instructions on downloading / installing the latest service packs:

Windows Vista: Microsoft Article 935791

Windows 7: Windows 7 Updates

Several known issues in Windows Vista may be related to the issue
Refer to the applicable Microsoft article(s) to obtain any necessary hotfix downloads:
The Flight Simulator X game display flickers and become corrupted on a Windows Vista-based computer that is connected to more than one monitor
The enhanced video renderer (EVR) sends the EC_DISPLAY_CHANGED event when you play a video stream in Windows Vista
An update is available that improves the compatibility and reliability of Windows Vista
Virtual address space usage in Windows Vista game development
Error message is displayed when installing a new hardware device on a system running Windows Vista
Graphics performance can be improved in certain multiple-GPU scenarios on a Windows Vista-based computer
A WHQL test does not finish successfully on a Windows Vista-based computer that has multiple display adapters in an LDA configuration
A reliability and performance update is available for Windows Vista SP1-based computers
You receive a "STOP 0x0000010E" or "STOP 0x000000C1" error message on a Windows Vista-based computer or on a Windows Server 2008-based computer
Description of the Windows Vista or Windows Server 2008 hotfix that resolves certain system and application crashes on computers that have multi-core processors
A graphics card is not removed from the display settings on a computer that is running Windows Server 2008 or Windows Vista SP1 if you unplug the card while the computer is asleep or in hibernation
Stop error on a Windows Vista Service Pack 1-based or Windows Server 2008-based computer that has an integrated graphics adapter and a discrete graphics adapter: "Stop 0x00000018"

The operating system may have corrupt system / registry files
Try cleaning the operating system’s registry
Perform a clean install of the operating system
Note! Performing a clean installation of the operating system will erase all data on the hard drive. Ensure all important data is backed up before performing this action

The graphics card drivers may have known issues or corrupt files
Refer to Article 20870 for instructions on downloading / installing the latest drivers for your graphics card
Refer to the drivers release notes to determine if there is a fix for your specific issue

An overclocked processor (CPU), graphics card or memory can cause system instability
Run all hardware components at their default settings
Refer to the motherboard’s manual for instructions on how to set hardware to default settings

An inadequate or defective power supply (PSU) can prevent the processor / graphics card from functioning properly
Refer to Article GPU-104 for instructions on how to determine if the PSU is inadequate or defective

The CPU and / or GPU may be overheating
Check the operating temperature of the CPU or GPU through the motherboard’s BIOS
Refer to the motherboard manual for instructions
Ensure the temperature does not exceed the maximum operating temperature of the product
Refer to the AMD Products Resource Center to determine the maximum operating temperature of any AMD CPU
Contact the graphics card manufacturer to determine the maximum operating temperature of the GPU

AMD ​Partners
If the hardware is above its maximum operating temperature:
Ensure an AMD approved heatsink/fan (HSF) is being used with the processor
Ensure the HSF unit is properly installed on the processor
Ensure the bottom of the HSF is leveled on the top of the processor
Ensure a proper amount of thermal grease is installed between the HSF and processor
Ensure that the fan on the graphics card and processor’s heat sink is connected correctly and that it is spinning when the system is powered on
Check whether there are any loose cables stopping the fan(s) from spinning or blocking the air flow within the system case
Verify that the airflow within the system case is circulating correctly
Air should flow in from the front of the case and out through the back of the case

Failing Hardware (processor, graphics card, motherboard and / or memory) can cause system instability
If possible, try testing the hardware in another system to determine if the issue follows the hardware

Run a memory test to determine the stability of the memory
The following third party utility will test your memory for errors: Memtest86
If using multiple memory modules
Test each memory module individually in the system, referring to the motherboard’s manual to determine which slot(s) can be used for single memory setup
Verify that each module is identified at the correct size and speed
Contact the memory and / or motherboard manufacturer for more comprehensive troubleshooting instructions

Replace the hardware

Yeah, no, sorry.

User mode code cannot crash the operating system.

[Lazykitty]

Quite similar problem here. XFX HD7970. At first it was like once a month and then became more and more often. Now I can only play long enough to land 1 fish before I get a black screen and a funny robotic squealing sound which shuts my display down. Computer stays running but I have to restart via power button. Pushing the restart button does not work. This happens with BF3 as well, minutes into the game.