AMD64, AMD64FX, and AMD64X2 Processor BUG FIX

[Lempereur1]

It appears that a large percentage of users reporting problems with Distant Guns have a Processor from the AMD64 family of processors.

It seems that there is a timing problem between the Processor and The latest WINDOWS XP2 SDK (Software development kit) of which we use in developing Distant Guns. While this bug is not ours, we believe it is responsible for a large portion of reported problems, especially in the campaign game.

Here is the link to the AMD site and the setup file to update your AMD 64, AMD64FX or AMD64 X2 processor.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/utilities/Setup.exe (http://www.amd.com/us-en/assets/content_type/utilities/Setup.exe)

You also need to update the AMD Drivers for Win XP
It appears that you may have to update the AMD 64 Processor direvers as well. This should be done as a general rule anyway....

AMD64 & AMD 64FX
AMD Athlon™ 64/FX Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon 64/FX processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...1_9706,00.html
Look down the page for WIn XP driver 1.3.2



AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._13118,00.html
Look down the page for 1.3.2.16
IF you ae not sure if you have one of these, right click on the MYCOMPUTER icon on your desktop, select properties and your processor will be listed in the lower right-hand corner.

This fix from AMD was just recently released.


Again, we would like to point out that this is not our BUG, but we have been tagged for alot of its results.

[mbv]

Sorry, before I go messing up my system and processor (I have a single core AMD 64 3700+) I will need a lot more explanation about EXACTLY what this upgrade will do and why you consider it such a wonderfix for the campaign bugs. Simply posting a link and expecting us all to blindly have faith and add this to our systems is not good enough.

Have you seen a major improvement in stabilising the campaign bugs at your end after applying this to your own computers ?

Tell us more !

[Commodore Rob]

I have an AMD 64 4400 and I do not seem to have any problem at all

[KGB]

My opinion, is that Dual-Core optimizer have no interactions with single core processor systems like my AMD 3500+.

[Calvin]

I have a single core processor AMD 64 3.5 processor and the update fixed my low frame rate issue with Distant Guns. I checked all of my other games and they are getting a few more FPS now as well. The update is listed on the AMD support website in the download sections of all of the 64 bit processor models so there is obviosuly something to it.
Use it or don't use it as you like, but it has given me good results.

-Calvin

[Calvin]

Just an FYI however, my campaign issues are no differrent. I have had a couple of crashes in the campaign, but never in any of the battles.

-Calvin

[Grouchy]

I own a AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor and installed the file, regrettable my russian campaign game problems were not solved.

Did send a dxdiag and 2 gamelogs off to support, maybe it will help.

[Daedalus]

I use a AMD 64 4800+ X2 and I had the fix installed before I loaded the demo.
I did not see any of the issues that some here have had.
But I did not check and load the fix on my brothers system and he has a X2 also.
And after I got the video working from his Wide-Screen monitor, we had some of the problems come up that some here had.
I loaded the fix but it did not seem to help. So I uninstalled the game and did a reinstall and it seems to be working fine.
I do not know if this will help all with the problem but you might try to do this and put the new AMD driver in and reinstall the game and see if it helps.

I will post if anything else comes up now that he is running the game and we will see if it has worked, but it looks like it did so far.

[timetraveller]

Just some detective work on this AMD patch.

http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_9706,00.html

AMD Dual-Core Optimizer - The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer can help improve some PC gaming video performance by compensating for those applications that bypass the Windows API for timing by directly using the RDTSC (Read Time Stamp Counter) instruction. Applications that rely on RDTSC do not benefit from the logic in the operating system to properly account for the affect of power management mechanisms on the rate at which a processor core's Time Stamp Counter (TSC) is incremented. The AMD Dual-Core Optimizer helps to correct the resulting video performance effects or other incorrect timing effects that these applications may experience on dual-core processor systems, by periodically adjusting the core time-stamp-counters, so that they are synchronized.

TT

[Jim Cobb]

Accelerated game time still crashed with an AMD XP 2800+,

[Zouave]

Thought this had done the trick for me -- I played through a full day and two battles without a hitch, but then the game crashed to a black screen when trying to reorganize my Vladisvostok fleet on day 2.

[PJJ]

I already had this optimizer installed before I bought Distant Guns. I still get the black screen crash in the campaign, so I doubt my X2 processor is the problem. Or if it is, then this is the first time I'm having problems with a dual core processor, and I've had it for several months already. I can even play quite old games with my PC with no issues, so I wonder what's causing all this trouble with Distant Guns. Very frustrating, because I really like the game and the historical period and would love to be able to play the campaign. :cry:

[mbv]

So according to Timetraveller's research this upgrade is really only meant for, and of potential benefit to, dual core processors. As mine is single core I am not bothering with this upgrade. Also the upgrade is clearly not fixing any of the campaign bug issues judging by the feedback so far.

[Lempereur1]

Ths may solve the accelerator crashes


It appears that you may have to update the AMD 64 Processor direvers as well. This should be done as a general rule anyway....

AMD64 & AMD 64FX
AMD Athlon™ 64/FX Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon 64/FX processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_9706,00.html
Look down the page for WIn XP driver 1.3.2



AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_13118,00.html
Look down the page for 1.3.2.16

[Lempereur1]

Jim:

Your AMD 2800 is an AMD64.

[mbv]

Not necessarily, there was a Socket A AMD Athlon XP 2800+ (non 64). He needs to check in Control Panel/System.

[Lempereur1]

Would he be considered a Semperon?

If so, he needs to update his drivers...
We think this is what is causing Accelerator crashes...
It appears that you may have to update the AMD 64 Processor direvers as well. This should be done as a general rule anyway....

AMD64 & AMD 64FX
AMD Athlon™ 64/FX Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon 64/FX processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/...1_9706,00.html (http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_9706,00.html)
Look down the page for WIn XP driver 1.3.2



AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2.16 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Athlon™ 64 X2 Dual Core processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions.
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/..._13118,00.html (http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/TechnicalResources/0,,30_182_871_13118,00.html)
Look down the page for 1.3.2.16
AMD Sempron™ Processor Driver for Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 Version (x86 and x64 exe) 1.3.2 - Allows the system to automatically adjust the CPU speed, voltage and power combination that match the instantaneous user performance need. Download this Setup Installation program (EXE) to automatically update all the files necessary for installation. This package is recommended for users whom desire a graphical user interface for installation. This .EXE driver is a user friendly localized software installation of the driver designed for end-users. This driver supports AMD Sempron™ processors on Windows XP SP2, Windows 2003 SP1 x84 and x64 Editions.

[mbv]

I don't think he is Sempron either, just plain vanilla AMD Athlon XP 2800+ socket A

[Daedalus]

Guys if he has a Socket A type Chip then he is not part of this upgrade.
As I read the upgrade on the AMD Site it is for the newer X2 and 64,FX only.
The older Socket A type is not one of them.

[WallysWorld]

Daedalus is correct because I had that exact same chip in my old PC.

[Redwolf]

Sorry, before I go messing up my system and processor (I have a single core AMD 64 3700+) I will need a lot more explanation about EXACTLY what this upgrade will do and why you consider it such a wonderfix for the campaign bugs. Simply posting a link and expecting us all to blindly have faith and add this to our systems is not good enough.

Have you seen a major improvement in stabilising the campaign bugs at your end after applying this to your own computers ?

Tell us more !

This is "cool-and'quiet", a technology that allows the OS to detect that your computer is mostly idle and then underclock and undervolt it, in a misguided attempt to save power and heat.

This is tricky to get right and AMD's update corrects some mistakes that MS made in their driver for cool-n-quiet.

The better solution by far is to deactivate cool-n-quiet entirely. You do that in the BIOS.

The savings from cool-n-quiet are really not that great and not worth the trouble. AMD64 processors already take up a lot less power (and produce less heat) when they are idle, even at the same clockspeed and voltage. So if the CPU is idle you have low power anyway and if the CPU is busy you want the best speed, but c'n'q often has a slight delay/hickup getting there.


I have an AMD 64 4400 and I do not seem to have any problem at all


Many system already disable cool-n-quiet in their BIOS as delivered and leave it to the consumer to get into trouble, for the reasons stated above.


My opinion, is that Dual-Core optimizer have no interactions with single core processor systems like my AMD 3500+.


This has nothing to do with dual-cores. Dual-cores had a different problem with Windows' scheduler (the OS part that decides which program runs on which core) for which you can download a different patch from AMD.

[Daedalus]

On this post, Cool and Quite does not need to be installed. In fact if you game at all you do not want it loaded. Turn it off in the Bios. AMD has a write up about this on there Site.

Now with the drivers for the AMD Chips. AMD put out new drivers for there Duel Core and some Single core Chips,and they did this as windows and some of the chipset MicroCode was not quite right and was and is causing CTDs and other type of errors on programs and games.

The specs are at AMD and you can read about them, and they are not hard to understand.
As to we being asked to load these drivers there is a reason, They bring the systems up to the standard that is being used in the Program apps that are used to make the games.
If they do not match the timing and other things that are in the games then one will or could see issues and crashes.
This issue was ongoing before the game DG came out , but not to long before.
If you have an AMD chip it would be to your advantage to go to the AMD forum and read up on the problems that have come about and what the fixes do to help.