Halo 1 & 2 for PC
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  • Subject: Odd discrepencies in graphics....
Subject: Odd discrepencies in graphics....
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Before anyone asks if I have an integrated chip, the answer is "not anymore". My new video card is a humble Nvidia Geforece FX 5500 series card, with 128MB capability. My problem with Halo is a few odd missing parts to the graphics. The most blaring problem is the Active Camoflauge...instead of making the user become semi-transparent, the shimmering distrotion that is supposed to come with it, the user becomes *completely* transparent. Light sources on the character still show up, but for almost all intents and purposes, the user of camo cannot be seen until they move *alot* or shoot. Other than that, the largest noticable difference comes on the Truth and Reconciliation: the Shuttle Bay doors always look liek they are closed, the shimmering field doesn't dissipate when they are turned off. Instead, only the edges shimmer, the bulk of the "door" is a flat, purple light. Other problems include Jackal's shields always being a greenish-white color, no matter if they are about to fail, or not. The same is true of stationary Covenant shields. The flashlight and shield meters aren't "smooth", the bars are a sort of pixelated line when recharging, or lowering on charge for that matter.

Other than that, there are also sound troubles on my game..ones that were not present when I used my computer's integrated card. In the opening scene of Halo, in the huge mustering bay where the Marines are preparing for the Covenant attack on the Autumn (where Johnson is giving his speech) the sound when using my nvidia card breaks, skips, and lags behind very badly, character's mouths do not move when they are speaking. The same happens in the end of the Maw, just before jumping the trench in the Warthog, and during the last mad dash to the Longsword fighter...any ideas? These problems with sound were not present with my Integrated card....I know it's a *video* card, but it seems to have a conflict...Any help would be greatly appreciated!

  • 04.07.2006 9:51 AM PDT
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Yeah, I have a Nvidia GeForce FX 5500 too. It's not that bad actually.

What OS are you using?

  • 04.07.2006 12:08 PM PDT
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Posted by: Master Kim
Yeah, I have a Nvidia GeForce FX 5500 too. It's not that bad actually.

What OS are you using?


Using XP Home Edition, perhaps I just overlooked something in setup, or installation? It's not a problem that affects the game's enjoyability, but I certainly would like to actually be able to see people when doing Phantom Slayer game-types...if you have a set-up that I can duplicate, and make it work, I'd appreciate it alot.

  • 04.07.2006 1:13 PM PDT
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your just used to having a horrible video card.

The person with camo is supposed to be pretty much completely clear. Only when they shoot can you really see them. thats pretty normal

  • 04.07.2006 1:23 PM PDT
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Posted by: TMH1988
your just used to having a horrible video card.

The person with camo is supposed to be pretty much completely clear. Only when they shoot can you really see them. thats pretty normal


All too true, integrated cards are...I'm not even gonna get into it. I just brought the point up because I wanted to see if I could get a little more out of the graphical experience. Halo is a great game regardless, even though I suck at multi-player...heh

Thanks, still, if anyone can help me with this problem, I would appreciate any advice!

  • 04.07.2006 1:28 PM PDT
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The camo bug is due to Nvidia's drivers. Not the cards fault, it could be worse. The 5500 isn't great, but its better than integrated. I have on in my other computer. You could try to over clock it, that would squeeze more out of it, but thats about it.

  • 04.07.2006 2:10 PM PDT
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Posted by: Chewy Gumball
The camo bug is due to Nvidia's drivers. Not the cards fault, it could be worse. The 5500 isn't great, but its better than integrated. I have on in my other computer. You could try to over clock it, that would squeeze more out of it, but thats about it.


that wouldn't do anything to improve graphics, simply increase the speed at which it processes the same images. the only way to improve the quality would be to get a better card, something with pixel shaders that actually worked.

  • 04.07.2006 5:10 PM PDT
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Another example is the teleporters. The green shimmer doesn't quite look the same as it does on Xbox. Aside from the camo effects I don't think it has anything to do with what graphics card you have. The port from Xbox to PC is to blame. Gearbox left out some textures. :P

  • 04.07.2006 5:45 PM PDT
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Overclocking can allow him to use more effects with acceptable FPS. Depending on how high you clock it, it can give you better graphics.

  • 04.07.2006 7:05 PM PDT
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Posted by: elmicker

that wouldn't do anything to improve graphics, simply increase the speed at which it processes the same images. the only way to improve the quality would be to get a better card, something with pixel shaders that actually worked.



Increasing the speed at which it processes it would result in better graphics (meaning you can turn up the settings higher). All better graphics cards do is process the images faster. Its not like they do it a completely different way or anything, you get the same image, just in different amounts of time. Ex - the 7800GTX is better than the 6800GT because it has a FASTER core clock speed, and FASTER memory speed, along with much better architecutre over all, resulting in its ability to produce images faster.

  • 04.07.2006 9:57 PM PDT
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not just that; the 7800gtx has double the number of pixel pipelines than the 6800gt, which means it can perform double the number of pixel shader operations per second, giving much better-looking effects especially with light. That's also why the camo will look so bad on an FX card, their pixel shaders were awful.

  • 04.08.2006 5:27 AM PDT