Can’t get Reflex XTR to run.

[jforkner]

Since I installed a new video card (ATI Radeon X1900GT) in my computer, Reflex gives me the following error message and will not run---it ran before. Computer is a Dell 8400 with 2GB RAM, running XP Pro. The message states the program can’t find a Direct-3D driver. When I select the OK button, the program aborts. I’ve removed and reinstalled the program twice, with the same results.

Initial response from Reflex told me to update DirectX and the video drivers; but I’m running the latest video drivers for the card, and the latest version of DirectX (version 9.0c). When I run DXDIAG, everything indicates “No Problem.” Since I made the initial contact with Reflex, their support/response has been stalled.

Any ideas or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Jack

[Travis22304]

Try updating/re-installing the driver of the graphics card...because I believe that the graphics card does support direct3D...I think...Here, go to your start menu, go to RUN, then type dxdiag a white box should pop up with several tabs, if it doesn't, just say yes to "find WHQL settings" click on the Display tab...look near the bottom for Direct 3D and make sure it is enabled...

[jforkner]

Thanks for trying, Travis.

The latest drivers for the card have been installed and DXDIAG indicates everything, including Direct3D, is working.

I’ll keep fussing with it.

Thanks again.


Jack

[wsn]

Try reducing the desktop resolution to 1024x768 just to see what happens.

[Travis22304]

Yeah, 1920x1200 is a lot for resolution...are you using an LCD screen? If so, I would suggest going with 1280x1024x32...That should work with your powerfull PC...Or you could try rolling back the driver...On my GPU, the latest driver lags my sim significantly...and slows down my CPU...try that and tell me what happens...(my driver is version 7/1/2004 and it works great!) To roll back the driver, right click My Computer go to Properties when a window pops-up, go to the Hardware tab. Then Divice Manager when another window pops-up, find your graphics card, it should be in the Display Adapter by default right click it, go to properties and click the roll-back driver...You can do this as many times as needed to find one that works...some of the newer PC's don't have device manager. So if your's doesn't, right click the desktop...go to properties, settings, then Advanced. Click on the adapter tab, and then properties where your GPU is located when ANOTHER window pops-up, go to the driver tab...click Roll-Back driver...wait for it, then it will ask you to restart... ^.^ Try it out and get back to me on that!

[jforkner]

The computer is used primarily for photo editing, hence the high resolution. I’m displaying on a 24” Samsung LCD. The resolution, however, is the problem. According to Reflex:

“The trouble is here:

Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1200 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Not enough video memory for that size of resolution. Sounds stupid but this is the result of rather complicated video memory mapping. Please lower your desktop resolution to 1024x768 to get it started. Once the Reflex starts, you can reset your desktop resolution and tell the Reflex to run in full screen 1280x1024x32 or larger. Try various settings until it get's too slow.”

That fixed the startup problem. Once the program was running, I changed the resolution back to 1920 x 1200 and Reflex continued to run. But then the USB interface didn’t work and my transmitter wouldn’t communicate with the computer.

When I closed the program, and tried to restart it, I got the same error message. There’s no way I will leave the resolution set at 1024 x 768. And changing the resolution every time I want to use Reflex will become a real nuisance. So I’ll have to come up with an alternative. Perhaps I’ll try it on my laptop.

Thanks for the advice, guys.


Jack

[HankF]

Where do you find LCD displays with that kind of native resolution (1920x1200)?

[Malc C]

Its a wide screen format, for example

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0002YL5YE

I would of thought Dell would of made sure that the graphics card fitted to the PC would have enough video memory to display an image on the supplied monitor at max resolution.

Will it run at that resolution whith a colour depth of 16bit rather than 32bit ?

Edit - juts re-read the first post and see that its a card you've added. Did you add this at the same time as purchasing the widescreen monitor, or did your old card drive the monitor at the sam resolution ?

[HankF]

That's the maximum supported resolution, not the native resolution which I'll bet is 1365x768 (WGA). My projector which has a native resolution of 1024x768 will support 1600x1200 by interpolation.

Hank

[wsn]

http://monitor.samsung.de/article.asp?artid=C244C6C0-077C-4B95-9589-1B586C94056E&show=specs

[Malc C]

Ok so now we've all seen some nice wide screen monitors, what's the resolve for this guys problem... would it be as simple as installing a graphics card with 512MB RAM onboard ??

[wsn]

512 MB will work or switching to NVidia. Reflex talks to DirectX, DirectX talks to the driver and if the driver can't provide what DirectX needs, this error message is the result. But this is already handled by regular support email contact.

[HankF]

Sorry, I stand corrected. That's a beautiful display! Thanks Malc & Wolfgang.
I seem to be getting behind times.

Hank

[jforkner]

The monitor in question is a Samsung 244T (http://samsung.com/Products/Monitor/LCD_Digital/LS24BRBABXAA.asp?page=Specifications) with a native resolution of 1920 x 1200. I did purchase the ATI card at the same time as the monitor; and except for Reflex, everything runs great---in fact everything runs better than before (Dell 128K X300 card and Sony CRT). The 256K on the video card is more than adequate for everything else I do (mostly Photoshop CS).

The interesting thing is that Reflex runs fine on my Dell laptop with a Centrino CPU and an ATI card with 64K memory. So it’s not just the amount of memory on the card. Wolfgang explains it as a memory mapping issue.

At this point I’m unwilling to purchase another card with more memory or another brand of card just to get the program to run on my desktop. I’ll just have to use my laptop when I want to fly indoors.


Jack

[wsn]

Everything else runs perfect because everything else doesn't have to calculate 1920x1200x32 60 times per second. Reduce your desktop resolution one or two steps and it will run. Your catalyst profile setting even allows to run a different profile when starting the Reflex.

[jforkner]

Actually I had to step the res down five steps (to 1280x1024) to get the program to run. The problem with doing that is all my desktop icons get rearranged to fit the new desktop size every time I change it. Granted, this is only an inconvenience; but one I not willing to deal with.

And while I’m not a computer programmer (and so a little naive), I am curious about a couple of things. First, why does Reflex have to process every pixel 60 times a second? I don’t play any games on my system, but it will play a high-definition DVD full-screen without a hitch. There may be no connection here, but it would seem that a similar technology would be at work here.

The second question is why my laptop running at 1680x1050x32 with 64K memory works fine? That’s roughly only 25% fewer pixels than my desktop with 75% less memory. I’m sure it’s more complicated than that, but I’m just not getting the picture (so to speak).

But since the program works on my laptop, I’m good with using it for my simulation practice. It’s just frustrating that my state-of-the-art desktop won’t run the program without downgrading the video portion.

However I would suggest some notation on the Reflex website that states the maximum resolution/memory requirements for running the program.


Jack

[Malc C]

Jack,

You've rasied some good points there. I'm not 100% sure, but displaying video from a DVD is different to an application as there is a compression factor involved with the codec used. Most compression codecs compare what has changed between the current frame and the last and just process that, rather than totally redrawing the complete frame. Also most video codec (mpeg etc) simply display 25 still images in 1 second (for PAL anyway). Whilst the photoreal background in XTR is really just a large image, I suspect that it has to re-draw the screen every frame due to the motion of the model and its position in relation to the collision detection associated with the image, maybe Wolfgang could confirm this or explain it better without giving away the secrets to the way XTR works.

The reason it may work on the laptop with less memory may be down to the graphics chip the laptop uses. Wolfgang has already stated how the driver communicates with direct X, maybe the chipset in the laptop can give DirectX what it wants where as the ATI card can't ??

I'm not sure what the answer will be to get Reflex running at the max resolution on your monitor. It would be interesting to see if any of the other simulators can run at similar resolutions without getting the error. Try the G3 demo download or Clearview and see how it compares

[HankF]

Does your photo editor have a full screen mode where you can set the maximum resolution to 1920x1200 or must it run in a window? If you can set the screen resolution in the program, you don't need to have that kind of resolution for your desktop.

Hank

[wsn]

A dvd is just a lovely application streaming data from a carrier to video memory, that would work with a lot less memory. The sim - well, all of them - has to calculate a lot AND do this in a very short time. The way the helicopter will fly in a few seconds is not known to the video memory and it doesn't know how the sun reflects on the wing in the next 10th of a second. All that gives you the optical impression of a fluent picture.

Your card can do this not only 60 times a second but roughly 350 times a second. To display one frame NOW, we have to calculate the next frame at the same time and we have to memorise the last frame in order to remember what we could ignore for the next frame. 30 frames per second would be alright but still the picture has to be calculated. A DVD would look nice at 25 but a calculated picture would not. The dvd data is streaming from a carrier so we know what the next pixel will be - we don't know that in a calculating sim.

You were asking for advice and you got it. You may not like the result but that's how it is. If I could define the QS directives at ATI, I would be happy to do it but I can't. Reflex can do it as you have seen on your notebook and the only explanaton left is obvious. I am running 1900x1200 on an iMac but I got the right video card for the resolution. If I would see a chance to change Reflex to make it work on your system, I would do it right away - but I can't.

One more thing you could try - only 20 minutes: You driver seems to be Catalyst 6.7. You could install 6.8 from here https://support.ati.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=894&task=knowledge&folderID=27 and hope they don't have the bug in this one too.

[jforkner]

I remain appreciative for all your input, Wolfgang. And only regret that my combination of desktop hardware is incompatible with using Reflex effectively. Nevertheless, I do have a workaround---my laptop. In fact, I just shut down the laptop after running the program and crashing helicopters too many times.

Thanks again for all the information and assistance.


Jack