Should I run FFXI under Virtual PC's Windows XP mode?

[Nameless]

Hello all, recently downed FFXI on my new PC.

Windows 7 64
Intel i5-2500K
HIS HD 6950 (BIO flashed to 6970)
4.00 GB RAM
750w PSU

At first I regedited the game to 1440x900 screen resolution and 2880x1800 background resolution, everything uncompressed, MIP at 3, smooth animation, weather effect, shadow effect, foot step etc etc. It worked good until it starts to freeze on me when I engage. The FPS is good, but the game would just freeze when too much is going on (not necessarily when alot of ppl cuz it never freezes in lower jeuno, but freezes in Xarcabard in snow weather when I engage). The game freezes and the only thing I can do is to restart my computer, no sound relooping either.

I did a few researches, updated all drivers including motherboard, flashed the graphic card back, etc etc and nothing worked as I still experience some freeze. Then I tuned down the graphic, making the background resolution 1440x900 like my screen resolution and downloaded some of the older version of DirectX (6 to 8 ) and the problem went away last night.

I don't know if it is the tuning down the graphic or the old DirectX download helped, but my question is wouldn't my computer be capable of running the game under 2880x1800? And I came across Virtual PC windows XP mode today and wonder why no one ever mentioned running the game under that program under windows 7 since the game is so incompatible.

I benchmarked my computer with Furmark and had no problem no freeze at all so it shouldn't be a graphic card defect problem. And when it freezes, my computer is usually still on so it shouldn't be a PSU problem.

Any suggestion on running the game under virtual PC would be great as I am very unfamiliar with the program, and do I need to reinstall everything under that program? how does it work?

Thank you.

[Isiolia]

Windows 7's XP virtual machine doesn't do 3D graphics. It's intended more for business apps.

You might have better luck with a different VM...but honestly, there aren't many compatibility issues with 7. I wouldn't entirely rule out an issue with your card, especially given that you're not running it stock. I was able to run plenty of stuff with my 6870 overclocked by a fair margin...but it also bluescreened FFXI a few times, which never happened after putting it back closer to stock.

[Nameless]

Ahh I see.

As I was replying to you while running ffxi on the background, the computer froze again. And I noticed that the mouse arrow became real big like i was running under 600x400 or something. So as you said, it might really be the graphic card..... How do I test it tho, it ran perfectly with furmark stress test. Could it possibly be the monitor? My monitor is real old and it is x32 color 75 refresh rate. Also, if I am going to replace my current graphic card, would you recommand a place to buy 6950? I use gigabyte p67a-UD4-B3 mother board, so I don't know if other manufacturer would fit. And since I have two of the same cards, should I run crossfire? and will the bad card affect the performance?

Thanks.

[Bloodfire]

If FFXI is the only game you will play on your new PC, then stick with w/e video card you have, as long as it is not an integrated one. You will be fine with a 1GB ATI or nvidia card.

I wouldn't go fancy on a video card unless you plan on doing more serious gaming on the PC. If so, I suggest tossing in another 2 GB of memory. Also, if you are gonna do VMs One: don't go above 1 VM with only 4 GB of memory, and two: use virtualbox(free) or vmware(pay), don't touch virtual PC, imo.

[Nameless]

Also, the white flashing problem that happens only inside jeuno rent-a-room is still not going away. I wonder if I need to reinstall FFXI or is that a graphic card issue. It only happens in that zone. The flashing is only occasionally, but enough that gets you annoying. I heard that PSU might casue freeze, is there a way to test my PSU?

Thank you.

[Isiolia]

Can you flash your card back to stock and see if you still have issues?

[dejet]

new drivers tend to screw with FFXI, no clue why but I had to roll back my drivers to get it to work. id just keep trying different drivers really. Some work some dont.

[Seanr]

you shouldn't run ffxi at all...

[Nameless]

Yes, I did try to flash my card back and it didn't work either, still freeze the one time I tried so I BIOed right back to 6970. It is just weird, Furmark test went perfectly fine no spike no nothing, I let it run burn in test for over 12 hours and nothing wrong happened either. I am starting to think it is the game, but why would the game make the whole CPU freeze tho...

[Nameless]

The ATI driver that came with the computer was 11.2, and I updated it to 11.3 without uninstall 11.2. I uninstalled 11.3, uninstalled 11.2, and reinstalled 11.3 last night and so far so good but there is still flash in rent-a-room. I will keep you updated, maybe I should rollback the driver to 11.2?

[dejet]

cant hurt to try. Could always go back to 11.3. try it and see what happens.

[Nameless]

Do you know a good game demo that I can download to test the graphic card? I want to see if it really is just FFXI.

[madmartin]

Hello all, recently downed FFXI on my new PC.

Windows 7 64
Intel i5-2500K
HIS HD 6950 (BIO flashed to 6970)
4.00 GB RAM
750w PSU

At first I regedited the game to 1440x900 screen resolution and 2880x1800 background resolution, everything uncompressed, MIP at 3, smooth animation, weather effect, shadow effect, foot step etc etc. It worked good until it starts to freeze on me when I engage. The FPS is good, but the game would just freeze when too much is going on (not necessarily when alot of ppl cuz it never freezes in lower jeuno, but freezes in Xarcabard in snow weather when I engage). The game freezes and the only thing I can do is to restart my computer, no sound relooping either.

I did a few researches, updated all drivers including motherboard, flashed the graphic card back, etc etc and nothing worked as I still experience some freeze. Then I tuned down the graphic, making the background resolution 1440x900 like my screen resolution and downloaded some of the older version of DirectX (6 to 8 ) and the problem went away last night.

I don't know if it is the tuning down the graphic or the old DirectX download helped, but my question is wouldn't my computer be capable of running the game under 2880x1800? And I came across Virtual PC windows XP mode today and wonder why no one ever mentioned running the game under that program under windows 7 since the game is so incompatible.

I benchmarked my computer with Furmark and had no problem no freeze at all so it shouldn't be a graphic card defect problem. And when it freezes, my computer is usually still on so it shouldn't be a PSU problem.

Any suggestion on running the game under virtual PC would be great as I am very unfamiliar with the program, and do I need to reinstall everything under that program? how does it work?

Thank you.

i know this thread is a bit old but just came across it after i reinstalled ffxi with virtually the same setup and seemingly having exactly the same problem. mine is a complete hard lockup, have to hold power for 5 secs. also seems to happen after an hour of play almost to the exact minute highly doubt its the 6950 as have been playing far more demanding games for the last few weeks, with no issues. anyone eles having this issue? ill play some different games tommorow just incase

[Bluedemon]

I'm having the same problem with my PC freezing and I have the same video card. From what I understand it's the newer card using DirectX11 which is trying to emulate the DirectX9 that FFXI runs on that's causing these problems (or something of that nature - I'm not really a techie by any means). Has anyone found a solution to the problem yet?