Thanks for the help Everybody!

[Northghost]

Hi there,

I have a similar problem with the Need for Speed Underground game as was posted here previously. There was no real solution to the problem maybe because the poster never did include their specs despite many helpful members asking for them...

OK, my problem: when I load NFS-U I get all the splash screen graphics with no problems but the menu within is unreadable...it looks like blocks and symbols and although I know they are words they are not at all readable. It's like the overlaying sub menu is being viewed through a plastic screen...

My computer specs are:

Windows XP Pro (Clean Install)
AMD Althlon 1800+ 1.5ghz, 37gig HD
384 mgs ram
Nvidia TNT 2 model 64 (latest drivers installed 12/17/03)
Realtec Audio ac97 sound card (latest drivers Installed
Via chip set (latest drivers installed)
Gigabyte-GA- 7ZXE motherboard

Any advice including recommending better hardware for my system (for trouble free occasional gaming) would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Northghost

[tony_j15]

I'd say yout vid card is gettin too old. How much money you got? For 100 you can get a Radeon 9600.

Northghost, YGPM about your mobo, not related to your gfx problem though.

[John Prophet]

got direct-x 9b?

also, maybe you could do the configurations at www.blackviper.com for the "xp services"....thats a good way to turn off some of the junk stuff thats running by default in an xp install...unneeded resource hog stuff like "portable media seriel number" "wireless zero configuration" 'indexing" "gates spy-o-matic" and that sort of stuff. (hehe, j/k on the last 1)

JP

[Brainchild]

Northghost I had a similar probem and it turned out that when I set all the regional settings in the control panell it straightened up.
Mine was on Win98,but It's sure worth a look.

Good Luck

[eagle1]

Try to update to DirectX 9
Try to update your video card drivers.

I think that your video card is too old to handle the game.
I think NFS U uses some of DirectX9 and DirectX8 effects and stuff and since your card is not even directX8 compliant, I think you will have a lot of trouble running that game.

Have you checked the compatibility list of the game to see if your video card is listed?
If it is listed as compatible, it has to be a driver problem or something related.

If it is not there, you have to upgrade your video card or return the game.

[Northghost]

Hey everybody thanks for all the quick replies! Awesome! Much appreciated!

John Prophet: Sorry I forgot...I do have direct x9 installed as well. I've also been to the blackviper site before and disabled all those useless services. Thanks for the suggestions.

Brainchild: I'll have a look at my regional settings to see if that clears it up. Thanks.

Eagle1/TonyJ15: Thanks for the advice on my "old" video card...I'll have to check into getting a new one for sure...love those new games. I didn't realize that my VC was not direct x8 compliant though.

Ok...now that I know that I have an "Old" VC does anyone have any suggestions for a decent new one not over 100$? Or is the radeon 9600 a good choice?

Thanks again for all your help.

Northghost

[Northghost]

Hey everybody thanks for all the quick replies! Awesome! Much appreciated!

John Prophet: Sorry I forgot...I do have direct x9 installed as well. I've also been to the blackviper site before and disabled all those useless services. Thanks for the suggestions.

Brainchild: I'll have a look at my regional settings to see if that clears it up. Thanks.

Eagle1/TonyJ15: Thanks for the advice on my "old" video card...I'll have to check into getting a new one for sure...love those new games. I didn't realize that my VidC was not direct x8 compliant though.

Evilrick: Not sure what you are saying...maybe it's because your evil...

Ok...now that I know that I have an "Old" VidC does anyone have any suggestions for a decent new one not over 100$? Or is the radeon 9600 a good choice?

Thanks again for all your help.

Northghost

[tony_j15]

Thanks for the advice on my "old" video card...I'll have to check into getting a new one for sure...love those new games. I didn't realize that my VidC was not direct x8 compliant though.

Its not even DX7 compliant. The tnt is a Direct X6 card. Scary, huh?

does anyone have any suggestions for a decent new one not over 100$? Or is the radeon 9600 a good choice?

The 9600 can be had for that price and will do you fine for a long time.

[HeadBand]

for about 60 bucks you could get a radeon 9200