Alternate pixel center disable NFS Porsche Unleashed

bbone · Jan 31, 2009, 09:54 PM

On nVidia graphic cards, there is a VERY strong font corruption in EA game NFS Porsche Unleashed, even in the latest v3.5 witch run fine on Windows 2000 and/or Windows XP:

Same problems with NFS Porsche Unleashed experienced ATI users, however ATI quickly added DirectX settings to counter this problem:

If you in DirectX compatibility settings _DISABLE_ the Alternate pixel center, the corruption goes away like a miracle on ATI cards.

Now the question is - how to change this for nVidia drivers, so nVidia users can enjoy nice graphic once again in NFS PU?

PS. one user suggested that "That and changing dx7z file with one from nfs:MCO, fixed up tha problems."
NFS: Porsche Unleashed on Radeon in winXp? - Page 2
First at all, what is meant by the NFS:MCO (so I know where to get dx7z.dll to try) and second - will it fix this display corruption on nVidia card?
I already saw a patch to the dx7z.dll in order to let it show only 32bit resolutions, so users can choose higher resolutions before they run out of the list, but that it is. The patch is there:
Resolution Patch - NFS Tuning Forum

If you are feeling a little adventurous, you can in hex editor (I use XVI32, patch autor recommend HxD - http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/ ) find in the file Porsche.exe this: 10 68 E0 01 00 00 68 80 02 (there instances) and this is specification of the game menu resolution and depth. The first 10 is depth - 10 equals 16 bit, changing it to 20 give you 32 bit in menu.
You get a bit better lens flare effects as well, as nicer textures a BIT.

If you really want to push things, then resolution is E0 01 = 1E0 = 480 height, 80 02 = 280 = 640 width. So you can change them to like 800 x 600 or even higher, however the game then crash on DX Z buffer error, as you already tried to render 3D graphic into 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768 screen with Z buffer for only 640 x 480

Head to registers where is register settings Thrash Resolution and value is 640x480

Quess, what that can be... However I did not tried that much, as the fonts is what is bugging me, so...

If someone know, how to change the nVidia driver settings to disable the alternate pixel center - or alternative name nVidia function - just let me know, please. Also I looking to be able test dx7z.dll library from the NFS Motor City Online. EA shut down the game in 2003, so, please, help me out there. Thanks!

bbone · Feb 1, 2009, 11:29 AM

On Intel 945GM integrated chipset are the same letters just beautifull:

...

bbone · Feb 3, 2009, 12:02 AM

I looked on the net for a dx7z.dll and found one. The original from NFS PU is 155 648 bytes long, this one is 110 592 bytes long. Game works as before, no improve. It would be interesting to measure FPS difference, if any, but that it is. No fix.

nVidia 5600XP Detonators 45.28 8x AF:

nVidia 5600XP Detonators 45.28 4x AA:

...sadly, 4x AA in 1280x1024 32bit is on 5600XT not a solution for speed reasons - and I hate blurry AA anyway. I want sharp, straight edges

Jan 31, 2009, 09:54 PM	#1
bbone DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	Alternate pixel center disable NFS Porsche Unleashed On nVidia graphic cards, there is a VERY strong font corruption in EA game NFS Porsche Unleashed, even in the latest v3.5 witch run fine on Windows 2000 and/or Windows XP: Same problems with NFS Porsche Unleashed experienced ATI users, however ATI quickly added DirectX settings to counter this problem: If you in DirectX compatibility settings _DISABLE_ the Alternate pixel center, the corruption goes away like a miracle on ATI cards. Now the question is - how to change this for nVidia drivers, so nVidia users can enjoy nice graphic once again in NFS PU? PS. one user suggested that "That and changing dx7z file with one from nfs:MCO, fixed up tha problems." NFS: Porsche Unleashed on Radeon in winXp? - Page 2 First at all, what is meant by the NFS:MCO (so I know where to get dx7z.dll to try) and second - will it fix this display corruption on nVidia card? I already saw a patch to the dx7z.dll in order to let it show only 32bit resolutions, so users can choose higher resolutions before they run out of the list, but that it is. The patch is there: Resolution Patch - NFS Tuning Forum If you are feeling a little adventurous, you can in hex editor (I use XVI32, patch autor recommend HxD - http://mh-nexus.de/en/hxd/ ) find in the file Porsche.exe this: 10 68 E0 01 00 00 68 80 02 (there instances) and this is specification of the game menu resolution and depth. The first 10 is depth - 10 equals 16 bit, changing it to 20 give you 32 bit in menu. You get a bit better lens flare effects as well, as nicer textures a BIT. If you really want to push things, then resolution is E0 01 = 1E0 = 480 height, 80 02 = 280 = 640 width. So you can change them to like 800 x 600 or even higher, however the game then crash on DX Z buffer error, as you already tried to render 3D graphic into 800 x 600 or 1024 x 768 screen with Z buffer for only 640 x 480 Head to registers where is register settings Thrash Resolution and value is 640x480 Quess, what that can be... However I did not tried that much, as the fonts is what is bugging me, so... If someone know, how to change the nVidia driver settings to disable the alternate pixel center - or alternative name nVidia function - just let me know, please. Also I looking to be able test dx7z.dll library from the NFS Motor City Online. EA shut down the game in 2003, so, please, help me out there. Thanks! Last edited by bbone; Feb 3, 2009 at 10:50 AM.

Feb 1, 2009, 11:29 AM	Thread Starter #2
bbone DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	Re: Alternate pixel center disable NFS Porsche Unleashed On Intel 945GM integrated chipset are the same letters just beautifull: ...

Feb 3, 2009, 12:02 AM	Thread Starter #3
bbone DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 15 Rep Power: 0	Re: Alternate pixel center disable NFS Porsche Unleashed I looked on the net for a dx7z.dll and found one. The original from NFS PU is 155 648 bytes long, this one is 110 592 bytes long. Game works as before, no improve. It would be interesting to measure FPS difference, if any, but that it is. No fix. nVidia 5600XP Detonators 45.28 8x AF: nVidia 5600XP Detonators 45.28 4x AA: ...sadly, 4x AA in 1280x1024 32bit is on 5600XT not a solution for speed reasons - and I hate blurry AA anyway. I want sharp, straight edges