I posted below a little over a week ago about the onset of some graphice problems running LoTR. I tentatively date the problems to early June when I think there was some type of code update added. Prior to that time, I'd had absolutely no problems at all running the game, nor any screen flickers, etc indicating any graphics problems.

The initial problems caused screen freezes, which I escaped from by using Task Manager to stop running the client. When I tried to reenter, I got the message that I didn't have DirectX 9.0c installed. Since it comes with the LoTR install disk that had to be wrong. A reboot seemed to correct the problem. Subsequently I encounted my first BSOD which indirectly told me it was an Nvidia driver problem. Went to their site, downloaded the latest driver, used the Add/Remove wizard to unisntall my earlier driver, installed the downloaded one, and bam - no entry at all to LoTR. OK, unistalled the download, used my recovery disk from Dell, reinstalled the original driver, and was able to log in, but with noticeable graphics issues.

I'm running a Dell XPS 400 purchased late 2006 just before Vista, and with a Nvidia 7900 GS card with 256Mb. I ran WoW with it for 4-5 months with NO problems whatsoever. I occasionally downloaded and ran beta clients for some MMOs under development, and NO problems with those either.

In one of the last few times I was actually able to log in to the Arkenstone server, in the OOC channel I asked if anyone else was having similar problems, and 4-5 people - all with Nvidia cards - told me they were experiencing similar problems. This is certainly a small sample, but the responses all came within 2 minutes of each other, thus leading me to think there's a conflict with the LoTR code, and perhaps specifically something added to the code in the last 2-3 weeks.

At this juncture, I eventually get the BSOD on every attempted log in. When logging in I used to be able to Esc immediately out of the Turbine display, and then the opening "movie" where Gandalf speaks. I can generally get to the Turbine display, and sometimes into Gandalf's speech, but Esc doesn't work, and then I get the screen freeze, and ultimately bounced to the blue screen.

The Windows explanation is less than helpful, and while it still points at Nvidia as the culprit, I don't think I believe that since I could log onto my son's WoW account and play with no graphics problems.

It appears there's something that Turbine has introduced thats causing a conflict. I have some confidence in Turbine, having been a player of Asheron's Call from Dec '99 retail until mid 2006. At this point I'm frustrated, however, because my initial 30 subscription expired early this month, and I'd signed up for a 90 day renewal. At present that renewal is totally useless since I cannot get in game, and my money has been collected and under their terms, cannot be refunded.

I went to their official website, but I'll be damned if I could find a way to post there. I'm registered - when I log in to the site, I'm welcomed by my screenname, but when I go to the forums to post about this issue, I cannot find a "new thread" button. Probably right in front of me. I sent an e-mail to them over the weekend, but haven't received a reply yet.

If others are having this same problem - an apparent conflict between LoTR and Nvidia graphics cards, I'd ask that you also e-mail Turbine, if you haven't do so already.

It is interesting, I tend to think it is a combination with that system. I have a Dell XPS400 and Nvidia 7900 GS. In early beta stages, I had the video card replaced as when I was playing LOTRO and DDO I would get texture shearing. All was fine afterwards and like you said never a problem with WOW. However with the previous card I did start to see problems in WOW just before I replaced it.

Fast forward 6 months and I starting to see the problem again in DDO and LOTRO, usually refreshing the video settings corrects the problems but not always. So is it a DirectX problem, Turbine problem, NVidia problem or Dell problem?

My suggestions to you are get the latest Dell drivers, firmware, the latest NVidia driver and check http://support.turbine.com for any Turbine related help they might have.

Thanks, Delmar. In my post I forgot to mention that I also went to Dell's drivers page and downloaded a more recent driver they had there. After Installshield did its trick, I went to run the downlaod, but got an error message stating there was no hardware to apply the driver to !! However, I think I also noted after the fact that there was mention of a requirement that you use the Run menu to direct the download to intereact with..something. I don't believe that I took that step, so I'll try tonight at home.

Maybe it is the driver, but as I noted I played WoW and several other MMOs (including Vanguard) and while I had lag problems at times (Vanguard !!!!) there were not "texture shearing" type problems. In LOTRO I was getting "speckled" paths running through the frames, and that before I just get complete screen freeze. As also noted, I yesterday went onto my son's account in WoW, and no problems were noted either in the Outlands, or in two of the major horde cities. My conclusion is that there is something inadvertent that Turbine laced into the code that is reacting badly with the Nvidia 79XX series. My fear is that Nvidia isn't going to react to this given their relative size, thus I'm going to have to depend upon Turbine.

Again, thanks for your time in responding.

You can't compre games when it comes to graphics because they use different engines, thus differnt use of the drivers.

That said, I'd suggest getting an older driver version. My last vid card was an Nvidia and I never ran the most recent version drivers. They always caused serious issues. Try one to three versions older than the current ones. You may try this with the Dell ones too if the Nvidia ones don't work.

Also because I'm unclear on your driver install process, let me outline the best way here.

Remove the driver in device manager and any management extras in Add/Remove progs.
Reboot.
Install new drver.
Reboot.
Configure/test.

Kostika,

Thanks for your reply. As an update I finally availed myself of Dell's tech support, and they were both quick and knowledgeable. To test my system, a reboot, and a couple of quick taps on the F12 key brought me to a system testing screen. Going to the bottom item (something like) video corruption, a quick test determined that the video card (Nvidia 7900 GS) was having an error trying to write to memory.

Dell sent out a "dispatch" order to an independent tech local to my area. The tech arrived two days later, with a replacement video card, installed and tested it, and I've been good to go since.

For those of you with a Dell system, having a similar problem, by all means contact Dell. I was very satisfied as they far surpassed what my expectations were.

Good to hear. Glad you're all sorted now.