SolidWorks viewport graphics glitches / artefacts 1

[driesvervoort]

Hello,

I'm using SolidWorks 2011 Standard on Windows XP 32 bit.
I'm having weird graphical glitches in my SolidWorks viewport lately. I've already gotten them three times this week.
I have added an image (screenshot) so you can see what I am talking about.

I used to be an avid gamer and I remember seeing such things on failing graphic cards or healthy graphic cards with bad drivers.
But my workstation now has a Quadro FX1700 with a certified driver from SolidWorks (version 6.14.11.9754), suitable for my workstation (HP xw4600).

Is my graphic card failing? Is this rather a SolidWorks glitch? Or could overall system setup (OS, hardware, combo...) be the culprit?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

P.S.
System specs:
* Hewlett-Packard HP xw4600 Workstation
* Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E8500 @ 3.16GHz
* 2,98 GB RAM (total accessible in Windows 32 bit, 4 GB installed)

greetings,
Dries

 

[Eltron]

Yuck. Does this happen on a specific model? During a specific operation? I had something similar happen when my GC crapped out a year or two ago. One thing you can try is to dump the SW driver and go with the latest Quadro driver.

Dan

http://www.eltronresearch.com

Dan's Blog

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Yes, it could be a failing card. Have you tried removing, cleaning and reseating the card?

You could also try deleting the driver and re-installing. You may even have to use a driver cleaner utility like

http://www.drivercleaner.net/

or

http://www.guru3d.com/category/driversweeper/

 

[driesvervoort]

@Eltron: The problem doesn't seem to be related to any specific model, although it only occurs in more complex assemblies (NOT anything too fancy with 100s of parts and subassemblies, though).
I've already rolled back the driver to a generic quadro version and did a thorough registry clean. I haven't had the glitch since.
But the glitch is too random so I don't really know how to evoke it deliberately.
I didn't mention this from the start but my workstation is really sluggish as well. Opening assemblies and drawings and especially saving them takes up a lot of time (much more than on my coworkers' workstations, which are pretty much identical, with the exception that they run on a Core 2 Quad CPU (RAM, GC, OS are the same).
Also, when I ran into the glitch for the first time I tried rebuilding (Ctrl+Q). The killed SolidWorks and it quit without popping any error.
I think it might be a combination of things: bad GC (driver) and too low memory. When I open the Windows task manager during intense SolidWorks moments SW's memory allocation easily soares to above 2000MB. On a system that can only access 2.98GB that seems to be pushing it.

greetings,
Dries

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

Time to upgrade to an x64 system.

 

[driesvervoort]

@CorBlimeyLimey:

Can you call our IT administrator, please!?

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

It might be better to send him to this forum.

You appear to have the /3GB switch enabled ... do you have the /USERVA=2900 (or similar) also enabled?

 

[driesvervoort]

@CorBlimeyLimey:

"You appear to have the /3GB switch enabled"
Indeed, I have the 3GB switch enabled.

"do you have the /USERVA=2900 (or similar) also enabled?"
I was not familiar with that particular switch (never heard of it). But I just checked the boot.ini of the Windows bootloader and it says "/userva=2800". What does this doe exactly?

P.S.
Full boot.ini contents:

"
[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional 3Gb Enabled" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /3Gb /userva=2800
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
"

greetings,
Dries

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

The /userva switch fine tunes (reduces) the /3GB to the value shown. So in your case instead of the full 3072MB (3GB), has been cut-back to 2800MB. This is done to help when some systems do not play well with the /3GB switch.

Download the 3gb_switch_part_one,_two,_&_three.pdf from

http://kcswug.com/documents/articles/

for more details.

 

[driesvervoort]

@CorBlimeyLimey:

Thank you for the insight provided by that document!

Another question:
Would Windows 7 64 bit with SolidWorks 2011 64 bit on top of it solve most of my problems?

greetings,
Dries

 

[CorBlimeyLimey]

I don't know what "most of your problems" are, but if you are currently running out of RAM, a x64 system with more RAM would definitely improve performance. (NOTE: The /3GB switch should not be used with x64 systems).

An x64 system would not directly decrease the graphics problems, but having more available RAM may help.

 

[StefanHamminga]

Could all be related (I feel like House now)...
The image looks like artifacting (see gamers who overclock their videocard memory) and CPU could be thermal throttling. Do you have some temperature tools installed? If not, install them and look at them when this is occuring. I've seen a bad case fan cause similar trouble. If temp or doubt is high run the case open for a while.

Stefan Hamminga
EngIT Solutions
CSWP/Mechanical designer
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