Guild Wars 2

The Black Screen issue. Seriously. When will this thing be fixed? I’ve owned this game for over a year now, played on multiple computers, seen patch after patch, and nothing has ever changed.
For those lucky enough not to have this problem, I’ll explain it.
I play the game. A random amount of time goes by. My screen suddenly goes black, and the audio goes to loop. I have to minimize, close the program, and restart. This can happen as few as twice in a day or as many as twenty times.
DON’T BLAME IT ON MY PC. The first computer I tried the game on, my custom built high end gaming rig (I don’t know the specs, my father built it for me, he’s a computer expert) plays literally EVERY other game I’ve ever played flawlessly. Games that require much more from a computer than this one.
When I switched over to my new Alienware gaming laptop, I continued to get the black screen issue. This has become a game breaker. It ruins my Dungeon experience, my pvp experience, and my story experience.
I love playing Guild Wars 2 so much. When I first started playing, it felt like an upgrade from other MMOs in almost every way.
But you know what? Those MMOs never black screened.
And now I find myself with no choice but to go back to them. Now I’m going to have to sink $15 a month again into another game, just to play an MMO that won’t crash on me.
Yes, I’m a little mad. I can admit that. But I’m mostly disappointed. This game is so well made. Hell, even the story was decent. Yet you cannot manage to fix one HUGE game-breaking bug.
And I know that Arenanet doesn’t really care about my dissatisfaction. I already payed the $60 dollars for the game. They got their money. But they could have gotten so much more from me, if they could have just fixed this. I am more than happy to spend extra money on games that I like. But they have to work.
So see you all.
Much love to you.
Maybe I’ll come back in a few months and things will have fixed. I’ll keep that hope in my heart.
But so long for now.

First off,
saying “I can play other games well” is never a reason another game should run as well. While some games use the same/ similar engines, most do not. I’ve not heard of any engine used by ANet for GW2 (exc havok for some small effects), which pretty much means you can’t compare it to any. A 2D chess game may run worse than G2 and FarCry 7 might run better.
Compare it to “I can use the train to go over 100 km/h, so I should be able to do the same with my bicycle”.

The blackscreen issue you explained, does indeed sound like an hardware issue. Surprisingly it also occurs with a second PC.
Still, as an “expert” in software and hardware issues, I’d recommend to completely uninstall and reinstall the game if you haven’t yet. If you have, you need to check your computer’s hardware.
Blackscreens with audio loops are rarer nowadays. Overheating CPUs usually results in automatic shutoff (not shutdown). Overheating GPUs may result in bluescreens or blackscreens. Same with Sound issues and drive issues (or bridge).
So if you’ve completely reinstalled your game already, please update your sound driver and GPU driver. If it still occurs, try to get tools to read your systems temperatures (CPU, GPU, Board, Drive).

For the GPU temperature I recommend MSI Afterburner, since it can display the values directly into the game.

You might also try to run window mode to bypass any screen issues.

What hardware do you use ? I remember for example that the combination of NVidia Drivers and SB-Life Soundcards have lead to many many black/bluescreen problems in the past in MMOs like Age of Conan or LotRO

I have the same issue, new gaming pc, checked for cooling, ram, power supply errors, rewrote windows, drivers and so on, everything works fine, still getting black screens in gw2, except I can’t even minimize them, I have to power-off my pc. I found, that turning postprocessing to low makes these black screens a lot less frequent, which is strange, because I have run other, much more demanding games on max settings and this doesn’t happen. Another strange thing – it never happens during WvW, or mass world boss events, I only get black screens when f.e. crafting in la or wandering through empty jumping puzzles, which doesn’t make any sense at all if that was a performance issue.

I recently bought the game, and I’m currently playing on my macbook pro until my pc get’s a new hd, and I’ve been experiencing this exact black screen issue as frequently as every 5-10 minutes. I’ve poured over suggestions for a fix (although most of them are for pc) though nothing has worked permanently, and due to the sheer number of people having this problem, on such a wide variety of different setups, I find it hard to believe it’s a hardware issue. It’s a real shame because I’m starting to regret my purchase of what would otherwise be a near flawless game.

By the way I’m open to suggestion and will try anything to fix this as I’m super keen to get into this game.

This one is probably very easy. If you’re on Vista, Win7, or Win8, it’s very possible that it’s Windows TDR ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff570088%28v=vs.85%29.aspx ). Personally, I feel that it’s the worst thing MS has done for gaming. The detection routines are WAY too aggressive. And Anet can not probably suggest this to you as it would make them liable for any problems that rose from it (I’ve been disabling it since MS implemented it and have had no adverse issues).

Basically you want to set TdrLevel to 0. By default it is 3. Look at the registry keys section of the link I sent you. Make sure to restart after making the change. Aside from that, without knowing more about your system, not much I can suggest. But overly aggressive TDR is typically the culprit of black screens.

I should mention that when I used to get black screens in games, then disabled Tdr, suddenly the games were 100% playable. No crashes, no black screens, no weird stutters.

Spork.2375:

This one is probably very easy. If you’re on Vista, Win7, or Win8, it’s very possible that it’s Windows TDR ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff570088%28v=vs.85%29.aspx ). Personally, I feel that it’s the worst thing MS has done for gaming. The detection routines are WAY too aggressive. And Anet can not probably suggest this to you as it would make them liable for any problems that rose from it (I’ve been disabling it since MS implemented it and have had no adverse issues).

Basically you want to set TdrLevel to 0. By default it is 3. Look at the registry keys section of the link I sent you. Make sure to restart after making the change. Aside from that, without knowing more about your system, not much I can suggest. But overly aggressive TDR is typically the culprit of black screens.

I should mention that when I used to get black screens in games, then disabled Tdr, suddenly the games were 100% playable. No crashes, no black screens, no weird stutters.

I’ll try out this one and come back to this topic if I’ll get anymore black screens.

Aramil.9503:

So see you all.
Much love to you.
Maybe I’ll come back in a few months and things will have fixed. I’ll keep that hope in my heart.
But so long for now.

Came to help, stayed for the sh*tstorm.

For others with black screen issues:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/tech/Black-Screen-Issue-AMD-ATI
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/tech/Black-Screen-Issue-Nvidia/first#post3964
And please post in the right section: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/tech

OP needs to post his computer specs and verify that his video and audio drivers are up to date. This is an issue that was commonly solved by updating drivers for many people.

Having problems with low FPS to.
I have FX 6300.
Highest setting unplayable in lions arch 18-30FPS.
If i OC my CPU to 4,5GHz or more… does not effect on FPS.

If i lower some setting my fps grows to 40+ 50+

Does anyone have FX? It is great CPU….

Thanks for any help.

XFlyingBeeX.2836:

Having problems with low FPS to.
I have FX 6300.
Highest setting unplayable in lions arch 18-30FPS.
If i OC my CPU to 4,5GHz or more… does not effect on FPS.

If i lower some setting my fps grows to 40+ 50+

Does anyone have FX? It is great CPU….

Thanks for any help.

Your GPU is the bottleneck.

How to determine bottleneck (CPU, GPU):

1. If increasing CPU power (speed, better processor, etc.) doesn’t improve your FPS and lowering graphics options does improve your FPS – your GPU is the bottleneck.

2. If increasing GPU power (speed, better card, etc.) doesn’t improve your FPS and lowering graphics options has no effect – your CPU is the bottleneck.

Of course, both CPU and GPU can bottleneck if they aren’t very fast. In your case, it’s number 1.

FX-6300, great cpu…. Dunno on that one, but good for the price, perhaps. The issue with GW2 seems to be that it focuses more performance on single-thread performance, something that AMD simply cannot handle well, much less on a more budget-minded AMD cpu.

These were the days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GJKS7ekvJc

seekerking.2875:

Aramil.9503:

So see you all.
Much love to you.
Maybe I’ll come back in a few months and things will have fixed. I’ll keep that hope in my heart.
But so long for now.

Came to help, stayed for the sh*tstorm.

For others with black screen issues:
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/tech/Black-Screen-Issue-AMD-ATI
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/tech/Black-Screen-Issue-Nvidia/first#post3964
And please post in the right section: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/tech

This didn’t help for me, but Spork’s sulution seems to be working, at least for now. Played ~8 hours today, no black screens.

Aramil,

I must second you on that matter. It bothers see so many server-sided issues treated like a client’s blame.

Frustrating…

Spork.2375:

This one is probably very easy. If you’re on Vista, Win7, or Win8, it’s very possible that it’s Windows TDR ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff570088%28v=vs.85%29.aspx ). Personally, I feel that it’s the worst thing MS has done for gaming. The detection routines are WAY too aggressive. And Anet can not probably suggest this to you as it would make them liable for any problems that rose from it (I’ve been disabling it since MS implemented it and have had no adverse issues).

Basically you want to set TdrLevel to 0. By default it is 3. Look at the registry keys section of the link I sent you. Make sure to restart after making the change. Aside from that, without knowing more about your system, not much I can suggest. But overly aggressive TDR is typically the culprit of black screens.

I should mention that when I used to get black screens in games, then disabled Tdr, suddenly the games were 100% playable. No crashes, no black screens, no weird stutters.

Hey spork do you mind giving a step by step on how to do this?

sirmount.3864:

Spork.2375:

This one is probably very easy. If you’re on Vista, Win7, or Win8, it’s very possible that it’s Windows TDR ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff570088%28v=vs.85%29.aspx ). Personally, I feel that it’s the worst thing MS has done for gaming. The detection routines are WAY too aggressive. And Anet can not probably suggest this to you as it would make them liable for any problems that rose from it (I’ve been disabling it since MS implemented it and have had no adverse issues).

Basically you want to set TdrLevel to 0. By default it is 3. Look at the registry keys section of the link I sent you. Make sure to restart after making the change. Aside from that, without knowing more about your system, not much I can suggest. But overly aggressive TDR is typically the culprit of black screens.

I should mention that when I used to get black screens in games, then disabled Tdr, suddenly the games were 100% playable. No crashes, no black screens, no weird stutters.

Hey spork do you mind giving a step by step on how to do this?

Start -> regedit
go to this path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
look if there is a value
TdrLevel
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff569918(v=vs.85).aspx
if there is, change it’s value to 0, if there isn’t, push right mouse button on graphic drivers new -> DWORD value, call it TdrLevel, set it’s value to 0. Done.
Take note, that this could actually make you unable to quit black screen, without manual pover-off, I did it only because I couldn’t quit my black screens anyways.

Seveleniumus.5973:

sirmount.3864:

Spork.2375:

This one is probably very easy. If you’re on Vista, Win7, or Win8, it’s very possible that it’s Windows TDR ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff570088%28v=vs.85%29.aspx ). Personally, I feel that it’s the worst thing MS has done for gaming. The detection routines are WAY too aggressive. And Anet can not probably suggest this to you as it would make them liable for any problems that rose from it (I’ve been disabling it since MS implemented it and have had no adverse issues).

Basically you want to set TdrLevel to 0. By default it is 3. Look at the registry keys section of the link I sent you. Make sure to restart after making the change. Aside from that, without knowing more about your system, not much I can suggest. But overly aggressive TDR is typically the culprit of black screens.

I should mention that when I used to get black screens in games, then disabled Tdr, suddenly the games were 100% playable. No crashes, no black screens, no weird stutters.

Hey spork do you mind giving a step by step on how to do this?

Start -> regedit
go to this path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
look if there is a value
TdrLevel
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff569918(v=vs.85).aspx
if there is, change it’s value to 0, if there isn’t, push right mouse button on graphic drivers new -> DWORD value, call it TdrLevel, set it’s value to 0. Done.
Take note, that this could actually make you unable to quit black screen, without manual pover-off, I did it only because I couldn’t quit my black screens anyways.

I tried this and it still hasn’t fixed my black screen issues :/

Seveleniumus.5973:

sirmount.3864:

Spork.2375:

This one is probably very easy. If you’re on Vista, Win7, or Win8, it’s very possible that it’s Windows TDR ( http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff570088%28v=vs.85%29.aspx ). Personally, I feel that it’s the worst thing MS has done for gaming. The detection routines are WAY too aggressive. And Anet can not probably suggest this to you as it would make them liable for any problems that rose from it (I’ve been disabling it since MS implemented it and have had no adverse issues).

Basically you want to set TdrLevel to 0. By default it is 3. Look at the registry keys section of the link I sent you. Make sure to restart after making the change. Aside from that, without knowing more about your system, not much I can suggest. But overly aggressive TDR is typically the culprit of black screens.

I should mention that when I used to get black screens in games, then disabled Tdr, suddenly the games were 100% playable. No crashes, no black screens, no weird stutters.

Hey spork do you mind giving a step by step on how to do this?

Start -> regedit
go to this path HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers
look if there is a value
TdrLevel
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/ff569918(v=vs.85).aspx
if there is, change it’s value to 0, if there isn’t, push right mouse button on graphic drivers new -> DWORD value, call it TdrLevel, set it’s value to 0. Done.
Take note, that this could actually make you unable to quit black screen, without manual pover-off, I did it only because I couldn’t quit my black screens anyways.

Thanks for the help! But unfortunately it still did not help with the black screen problem

almost everyone who is having problems seems to be direct x related.

type dxdiag in your search window in the start menu, then hit enter.
the direct x diagnostic too window will pop up.

click on save info and you will get your dxdiag.txt file.

open it.

in the display drivers section d3d9 overlay should say “supported” next to it.

if it says “not supported” then thats your problem.

re install directX.

NeedCoffee.1402:

almost everyone who is having problems seems to be direct x related.

type dxdiag in your search window in the start menu, then hit enter.
the direct x diagnostic too window will pop up.

click on save info and you will get your dxdiag.txt file.

open it.

in the display drivers section d3d9 overlay should say “supported” next to it.

if it says “not supported” then thats your problem.

re install directX.

How do you go about installing this, because that d3d9 overlay isn’t supported.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Install that, just verify in dxdiag readout that the D3D9 states that it is unsupported.

Example:
http://www.simplifiedstyle.com/d3d9overlay.jpg

sobe.4157:

FX-6300, great cpu…. Dunno on that one, but good for the price, perhaps. The issue with GW2 seems to be that it focuses more performance on single-thread performance, something that AMD simply cannot handle well, much less on a more budget-minded AMD cpu.

These were the days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GJKS7ekvJc

I know that AMD CPu are poor in single thread perfromance.
Torchlight II use 1 core and my FX beats i5 3570 by huge margin….

I know that you will show cinebench R15 (single core operformance), but believe me that benchmark is not good.

abomally.2694:

XFlyingBeeX.2836:

Having problems with low FPS to.
I have FX 6300.
Highest setting unplayable in lions arch 18-30FPS.
If i OC my CPU to 4,5GHz or more… does not effect on FPS.

If i lower some setting my fps grows to 40+ 50+

Does anyone have FX? It is great CPU….

Thanks for any help.

Your GPU is the bottleneck.

How to determine bottleneck (CPU, GPU):

1. If increasing CPU power (speed, better processor, etc.) doesn’t improve your FPS and lowering graphics options does improve your FPS – your GPU is the bottleneck.

2. If increasing GPU power (speed, better card, etc.) doesn’t improve your FPS and lowering graphics options has no effect – your CPU is the bottleneck.

Of course, both CPU and GPU can bottleneck if they aren’t very fast. In your case, it’s number 1.

Okay i found out this.
I give everything to MAX except animation (low) and shader (low)

minimum: 27
average: 35
max:45
Lions arch.

sobe.4157:

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=35

Install that, just verify in dxdiag readout that the D3D9 states that it is unsupported.

Example:
http://www.simplifiedstyle.com/d3d9overlay.jpg

I did it and it still shows my D3D9 unsupported.

I hope GW2 will get CPU optimization for at least 6 cores . We are in 2013 … not in 2004….

My problem is that randomly my monitor will lose it’s connection. I have a dual monitor setup that this happens occasionally. I wouldn’t say frequently even, just occasionally. I’ll be playing and my monitors will blank out for a few seconds and come right back on just as if I went behind both of them and unplugged them quickly.

No TDR messages or driver recovery message
Nothing in Windows event log
Game doesn’t crash for me

Just a blank screen for a few seconds, definitely mimicking the monitors losing connection to the video card.

This only happens in GW2. I have over 30 other games installed that run flawlessly.

I’ve run furmark, 3dmark and prime95 for burn in. I’ve even run prime95 while playing GW2 even to test it.

i5 3570k @ stock
GTX 760 @ stock
8GB DDR3

This is frustrating and I think it’s a GW2/Driver combination issue…but who knows.

That should be drivers with your GPU.

try this :

azizul.8469:

try this :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkfIFP0g2xY

http://www.tweakhound.com/2013/07/15/bad-tweak-core-parking/

It’s a bad tweak, do not suggest it please. It doesn’t really help. Placebo effect is strong with this one.

Spork.2375:

azizul.8469:

try this :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkfIFP0g2xY

http://www.tweakhound.com/2013/07/15/bad-tweak-core-parking/

It’s a bad tweak, do not suggest it please. It doesn’t really help. Placebo effect is strong with this one.

Don’t believe everything you read on the internet :p I learned not to even trust TweakHound after their description of HPET and also calling it a “bad tweak” (both were wrong)…

The only reason that tweak is bad is because it affects mobile device battery life (only slightly at that). If you need all the battery power you can get, then yeah, don’t mess with core parking. Otherwise, it has had some proven good effects on performance.

Edit: Even his reasoning for it being a bad tweak holds little ground:

“IMHO this tweak is completely useless.
This tweak can also be detrimental for laptop users who do not understand the impact this can have on battery life.”

I don’t care about his opinion, I want facts… I think it’s pretty common knowledge that stopping CPU cores from powering down will increase power usage slightly.

For al lthose with performance issues, If u have Reflections : All, ur oding it wrong. Turn Reflections to : Terrain and Sky.

GW2 rendered reflections on all water, even that below the map, hence why it hits performance so hard. So its not worth it.

Just had black screen yesterday, seems that TdrLevel wasn’t the case after all ;(
The pattern still ensues – I usually get black screens in low population zones or while crafting in cities, I don’t believe I have gotten it even once during WvW zerg clashes or during big world boss fights, which doesn’t make any sense to me.

Just putt you character limit to low or lowest … it solved my problem.
Everything else is on max except shadows and shader, because GPU limit .