Graphical issues

[kimoi]

Details:
Sometimes when I start up the game, the graphics are all messed up. Usually it's just the standard textures popping out into infinity, but other times it's very bad. My usual fix is to try to shutdown the game and restart it. This often helps. This behavior stopped for a while, but it has gotten a lot worse recently. It's probably a coincidence, but after 1.20c came out, it seems to have ramped up in frequency. Sometimes it's not immediately after startup, but after a few minutes. If it stays ok for the first 5 minutes or so, then it'll be okay for the whole gaming session.

Sometimes the models don't load, sometimes the sky is in triangles. It's often different. Here are screenshots of the latest time.





Steps:
1. Start game.
2. Log in.
3. Choose character.
4. Graphics are messed up.

Frequency:
Often.

PC Manufacturer & Model Number:
Homebuiilt

OS:
Windows XP Pro

Graphics Card:
GeForce GTX 570
driver 285.58

ISP:
Leonet

Type of Internet Connection:
CATV

[Soukyuu]

You most likely have corrupted game data. Get a md5 filechecker (for example this one) and verify your files. I can't guarantee my files are 100% undamaged, but I didn't have any glitches so far.

Here is the list of checksums from my client: http://www.mediafire.com/?u6a6db0mtrn68pc

If the files come up as OK then you have some sort of hardware damage. Either you GPU (most likely) or RAM

OR, FFXIV is mutating into The World.

[Zenaku]

Seem like missing .dat files i would say try download new video drivers see if that helps if not re-download ffxiv.

[Coldfire]

Does this happen in other games with high graphical specs too? Looks like data loss while transfering from local memory to GPU memory.

[Kittra]

I noticed you listed your video card as a GeForce GTX 570. That wouldn't happen to be an MSI built card would it?

Just asking because I have the same issues with an MSI N570GTX. My solution to fix it was to shutdown my PC, pull the power cord out of the back, and wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in. Usually this would fix everything for at least a couple days, then I would have to repeat the process again.

[kimoi]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I was leaning towards it being GPU related since it is not something that always happens. I checked the dats anyway, and the checksums are a perfect match. Thanks for providing that, Soukyuu.

Does this happen in other games with high graphical specs too? Looks like data loss while transfering from local memory to GPU memory.

I don't really play many games on my computer besides this game. Do you or anyone have any suggestions for demos or something that might be demanding on my computer so I can try that? Or better yet, is there some sort of software test I can do to check the hardware?

I noticed you listed your video card as a GeForce GTX 570. That wouldn't happen to be an MSI built card would it?

Just asking because I have the same issues with an MSI N570GTX. My solution to fix it was to shutdown my PC, pull the power cord out of the back, and wait 30 seconds before plugging it back in. Usually this would fix everything for at least a couple days, then I would have to repeat the process again.

It's a Palit, but perhaps it may be the same kind of issue. It sometimes fixes itself if I reboot. I'll try letting it sit without power for longer.

[Soukyuu]

Do you or anyone have any suggestions for demos or something that might be demanding on my computer so I can try that? Or better yet, is there some sort of software test I can do to check the hardware?

OCCT is what I'm usually using. Beware though, it tests your hardware at max load, so if any component is faulty (CPU/GPU/PSU), it might die.

[Laraul]

Are the cards Factory Overclocked? If so, it has the potential of creating unintended side effects such as the one you are experiencing. I noticed that the Palit 570 listed on NVidia's page uses a memory clock speed 50Mhz higher than the one specified by NVidia. It's GPU is 18MHz higher also.

[kimoi]

My card reports as normal speeds. Well, for now, Kittra's solution seems to help. Guess I'll see what happens in the coming weeks.

Thanks to everyone who offered ideas.