Windows 8 Graphics Issue Inventor 2013

[elho2]

Hello,

I recently installed Autodesk Inventor 2013 on a freshly installed windows 8 box. Though the installation was successful, I am unable to enable Shadows, Reflections, Ray Tracing, or Inventor Studio. When I try to enable Shadows, for example, I am prompted with:

"One or more visual effects in use are not suported by the current system graphics hardware. We strongly recommend running the Diagonstics check in applications option for detailed information. Would you like to run hardware Diagnostics now?"

When I press "Yes" the Diagnostics page pops up and reports the log file below. I have tried running the program in Win7 and Vista compatibility mode. I am running the program as an Administrator. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

*Note: I have also tried compatiblity mode and software graphics; neither fix the issue.

This Direct3D graphics driver is Microsoft WHQL certified
Graphics Hardware Description:
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti

Direct3D 10
Hardware Renderer

Graphics driver file nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um is version 9.18.0013.1070
Using Full optimization (this is the recommended setting)
The display is using 32-bit color

Inventor Version:

Build: 176, Release: 2013 SP1.1 - Date: Tue 10/03/2012
64-Bit Edition - 8192.00 GB

Loaded Inventor Add-Ins:

Routed Systems: Tube & Pipe
Inventor Fusion Change Manager
Fusion Freeform Edit Launcher
Mold Design
Inventor Studio
Design Accelerator
Frame Generator
BIM Exchange
Routed Systems: Cable & Harness
Drag & Drop Interoperability
Simulation: Stress Analysis

System Information:

Operating System: 64-bit Windows 8 Pro 64-bit (6.2, Build 9200) (9200.win8_gdr.121119-1606)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: GA-880GM-USB3
BIOS: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 925 Processor (4 CPUs), ~2.8GHz
System Memory: 8192MB RAM
Dedicated System Memory: 0MB
Shared System Memory: 3071MB
Dedicated Video Memory: 977MB
Page File: 1572MB used, 14808MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DxDiag Version: 6.02.9200.16384

Graphics Device Information:

DirectX Version: 11.0
Renderer: HAL
Adapter Description: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
DDI Version: 11
DDI Version Number: b
DxDiag WHQL Level: 0
Driver Signed Valid: True
Driver Signed: True
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce GTX 550 Ti
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Revision:
Vendor ID string: 0x000010de
Device ID string: 0x00001244
Graphics HW Memory: 4049 MB
Display Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
VendorID: 10de
DeviceID: 1244
SubSystemID: 519419da
Revision: a1

Graphics driver file: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver file version: 9.18.0013.1070
Driver Date: 12/3/2012 10:47:14
WHQL Level: 1

Inventor Graphics Device Information:

Graphics Hardware Description: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti
Hardware Library ID: Direct3D 10 \ 0x000010de \ 0x00001244
Direct3D Hardware ID: 10de \ 1244 \ 519419da \ a1

Inventor Options Information:

Options = 0x00000000
Warning Options = 0x00000000

Inventor Hardware Library Information:

HW Library Version = $Revision: #1 $
HW Library Date = $DateTime: 2012/01/16 14:29:46 $
HW Library OS Name = Windows 7 x64

Inventor Hardware Library Entry Information:

Autodesk Inventor Certification Status: Gold
Autodesk Inventor Tested Certification Status: Unknown
Graphics HW Vendor Supported for Autodesk Inventor: False
Hardware Library 2.0

Settings for optimized and conservative:
Workarounds: 0x00000000, 0x00000000
rating 4, optimization level 2
Texture Font Precision: 256

Display Information:

Back Buffer Format = DXGI_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM
Depth Stencil Buffer Format = DXGI_FORMAT_D24_UNORM_S8_UINT
Monochrome Bitmap Format = DXGI_FORMAT_A8_UNORM

Graphics driver log information:
Jan/19/2013-01:12:02: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.
Jan/19/2013-01:12:29: User changes the graphics driver manually: D3D10 -> D3D11.
Jan/19/2013-01:19:24: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.
Jan/19/2013-01:40:15: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.
Jan/19/2013-01:40:51: User changes the graphics driver manually: D3D10 -> D3D11.
Jan/19/2013-01:55:06: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.
Jan/19/2013-01:59:58: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.
Jan/19/2013-02:03:15: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.
Jan/19/2013-02:07:22: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.
Jan/19/2013-03:26:29: Fail to create D3D11 factory, We need to change it for current inventor session: D3D11 -> D3D10.

[blair]

Installing software on a un-supported O/S will produce problems. If you search this user forum for "Windows 8", you will find a number of issues.

Possibly check the Nvidia web-site for lastest graphcs card drivers.

http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/ps/dl/item?siteID=123112&id=19048377&linkID=9240617

You best bet may be to dual-boot your machine or wait until a SP comes out for Win 8. The last time it was Vista and IV2009, I believe it was about two months for a SP to come out for full O/S compliance.

[L.van.Gorsel]

Hi Blair and elho2,

This hasn't anything to do with Windows 8. Although Win8 isn't officially supported jet, Inv. works just fine on it.

The problem is due to the fact you 'use' two GPU's. The GeForce GTX 550Ti should work just fine with Inv. BUT on your motherboard you have an integrated GPU: ATI Radeon HD 4250. The problem is: Inv. don't know which GPU to use.

The same problem occurs on computers which uses Intel CPU's with integrated HD GPU's. In that case, the Optimus driver don't work fine with both GPU's and Inv.

In your case, do you have an possibility to disable the integrated GPU (in BIOS)? Or can you choose in windows which GPU you want to use with your program?

If you'll be able to run Inv. solely with the GeForce GPU, it should work. When it isn't possible to turn of the integrated GPU, but you can setup the graphics settings to start Inv. with the GeForce GPU, you may experience a bad UI. (The quick access bar will show up almost white...).

I've addressed this problem already to Autodesk, and they are really looking in to it to fix this in cooperation with nVidia. So I hope (for both of us) the solution will come very soon. Till that time, I'm sorry, you can't do anything else on it...

Best regards,

Leander van Gorsel

[blair]

When out of the office I use a AlienWare Mx17 with both intergrated Intel GPU and Nvidia M680 GPU. I select the Nvidia GPU in the Nvidia control panel for use all the time.

[L.van.Gorsel]

Hi Blair,

Would you please post a diagnostics report from Inventor and a screenshot of your window with Inventor open? Please zoom in on a part (or assembly) so I can see the edge of an object. I want to know if your anti aliasing works...

Which graphics settings do you use in Inventor? Performance or Quality?

It is possible to open inventor and to work with it, but with 2 GPU's, all machine's I've seen has problems with it...

Thanks!

[blair]

Here you go:

This Direct3D graphics driver is Microsoft WHQL certified Graphics Hardware Description: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M

AIRViz Device Manager \ VirtualDeviceDx11 Feature Level 4_5 Performance Mode Hardware Renderer

Graphics driver file nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um is version 9.18.13.1090 Current optimization settings are not known The display is using 32-bit color

Inventor Version:

Build: 176, Release: 2013 SP1.1 - Date: Tue 10/03/2012       64-Bit Edition - 8192.00 GB

Loaded Inventor Add-Ins:

Assembly Bonus Tools Simulation: Dynamic Simulation Simulation: Frame Analysis iCopy

System Information:

Operating System:   64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate  (Build 7601) Service Pack 1 Language:    English System Manufacturer:   Alienware System Model:    M17xR4 BIOS:     InsydeH2O Version 03.72.24A09 Processor:    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3720QM CPU @ 2.60GHz (1 processor, 4 cores, Hyperthreading enabled) System Memory:    11.885 GB RAM

Graphics Device Information:

Renderer:    HAL Manufacturer:    NVIDIA Chip Type:    GeForce GTX 675M DAC Type:    Integrated RAMDAC Graphics HW Memory:   1.953 GB Display Mode:    1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60 Hz)

Graphics driver file:   nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um Driver file version:   9.18.13.1090 Driver Date:    29 December 2012 0:00:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)

Direct3D Graphics Device Information:

Adapter Description:   Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 Vendor ID string:   0x00008086 Device ID string:   0x00000166 VendorID:    8086 DeviceID:    166 SubSystemID:    5511028 Revision:    9

Direct3D 10 / DXGI System Information:

Dedicated Video Memory:  1.953 GB Dedicated System Memory:  0 MB Shared System Memory:   2.000 GB

DxDiag System Information:

Operating System:   Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333) Language:    English (Regional Setting: English) System Manufacturer:   Alienware System Model:    M17xR4 BIOS:     InsydeH2O Version 03.72.24A09 Processor:    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3720QM CPU @ 2.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.6GHz System Memory:    12288MB RAM Page File:    3508MB used, 20830MB available DirectX Version:   DirectX 11 DxDiag Version:   6.01.7601.17514

DxDiag Graphics Device Information:

DirectX Version:   10.0 DDI Version:    11 DDI Version Number:   b DxDiag WHQL Level:   0 Driver Signed Valid:   True Driver Signed:    True Manufacturer:    Intel Corporation Chip Type:    Intel(R) HD Graphics Family DAC Type:    Internal Revision:     Graphics HW Memory:   4047 MB Display Mode:    1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Graphics driver file:   igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumd32,igd10umd32,igd10umd32 Driver file version:   9.17.0010.2867 Driver Date:    10/10/2012 01:22:32 WHQL Level:    1

Inventor Options Information:

Options = 0x00000000 Warning Options = 0x00000000

Graphics driver log information:

[L.van.Gorsel]

Thank you!

And indeed you've the same 'problem' as all others. You've bought a nice laptop / workstation with a 2Gb fast GPU. I don't know if this is your only workstation for Inventor or this actually is a 'gaming' laptop on which you installed Inventor to be able to use the nice GPU and RAM.

But as you can see in the diagnostics the Adapter Description on the Graphics Device information tells you Inv. is using the Intel HD4000 GPU for the main window. This works fine for small parts and assembly's but when you try to work with a big assembly it won't give you what you want.

It looks like you're using the performance setting on the hardware tab, and don't use the 'shaded with edges' option.

Using the performance setting with windows7 disables the anti aliasing. So you won't see any difference in the main window when Inventor is processing the Graphic data.

When you use the 'shaded with edges option' and the Quality setting (before opening any files), you'll notice the effect I'm showing in the movie you can find below.

The Quality setting is the setting you'll need to show some nice smooth graphics, and with this GPU you should be able to do that.... But unfortunately we don't have an solution for it at the moment. I hope Norbert Jeske from Autodesk will get, in a short time, some answers from nVidia about this problem.

Thanks.

Edited by
Discussion_Admin

[blair]

My system is using the Nvidia GPU, using Quality and Shaded:

This Direct3D graphics driver is Microsoft WHQL certified

Graphics Hardware Description:

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M

AIRViz Device Manager \ VirtualDeviceDx11

Feature Level 5_0

Quality Mode

Hardware Renderer

Graphics driver file nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um is version 9.18.13.1090

Current optimization settings are not known

The display is using 32-bit color

Inventor Version:

Build: 176, Release: 2013 SP1.1 - Date: Tue 10/03/2012      

64-Bit Edition - 8192.00 GB

Loaded Inventor Add-Ins:

Assembly Bonus Tools

Simulation: Dynamic Simulation

Simulation: Frame Analysis

iCopy

System Information:

Operating System:                          64-bit Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate  (Build 7601) Service Pack 1

Language:                                           English

System Manufacturer:                  Alienware

System Model:                                                 M17xR4

BIOS:                                                     InsydeH2O Version 03.72.24A09

Processor:                                           Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3720QM CPU @ 2.60GHz (1 processor, 4 cores, Hyperthreading enabled)

System Memory:                                             11.885 GB RAM

Graphics Device Information:

Renderer:                                           HAL

Manufacturer:                                  NVIDIA

Chip Type:                                           GeForce GTX 675M

DAC Type:                                           Integrated RAMDAC

Graphics HW Memory:                  1.953 GB

Display Mode:                                   1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60 Hz)

Graphics driver file:                         nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um

Driver file version:                           9.18.13.1090

Driver Date:                                        29 December 2012 0:00:00 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time)

Direct3D Graphics Device Information:

Adapter Description:                      NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M 

Vendor ID string:                              0x000010de

Device ID string:                               0x00001212

VendorID:                                           10de

DeviceID:                                             1212

SubSystemID:                                    5511028

Revision:                                              a1

Direct3D 10 / DXGI System Information:

Dedicated Video Memory:          1.953 GB

Dedicated System Memory:       0 MB

Shared System Memory:                              2.000 GB

DxDiag System Information:

Operating System:                          Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333)

Language:                                           English (Regional Setting: English)

System Manufacturer:                  Alienware

System Model:                                                 M17xR4

BIOS:                                                     InsydeH2O Version 03.72.24A09

Processor:                                           Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3720QM CPU @ 2.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~2.6GHz

System Memory:                                             12288MB RAM

Page File:                                             4413MB used, 19925MB available

DirectX Version:                               DirectX 11

DxDiag Version:                                6.01.7601.17514

DxDiag Graphics Device Information:

DirectX Version:                               10.0

DDI Version:                                       11

DDI Version Number:                     b

DxDiag WHQL Level:                       0

Driver Signed Valid:                         True

Driver Signed:                                    True

Manufacturer:                                  Intel Corporation

Chip Type:                                           Intel(R) HD Graphics Family

DAC Type:                                           Internal

Revision:                                             

Graphics HW Memory:                  4047 MB

Display Mode:                                   1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Graphics driver file:                         igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumd32,igd10umd32,igd10umd32

Driver file version:                           9.17.0010.2867

Driver Date:                                        10/10/2012 01:22:32

WHQL Level:                                      1

Inventor Options Information:

Options = 0x00000000

Warning Options = 0x00000000

Graphics driver log information:

[blair]

Looking at the first couple of lines of your system, it appears Inventor on your system is only using Direct 10. I suspect this could be your problem.

[L.van.Gorsel]

Hi Blair,

I know, it looks like Inv. is using your GTX 675M for rendering, GUI, and Graphics calculations, but when you look at your first post of the diagnostics, you'll see the Direct3D Grapics Device Information:

Direct3D Graphics Device Information: Adapter Description: Intel(R) HD Graphics 4000 Vendor ID string: 0x00008086 Device ID string: 0x00000166 VendorID: 8086 DeviceID: 166 SubSystemID: 5511028 Revision: 9 Direct3D 10 / DXGI System Information: Dedicated Video Memory: 1.953 GB Dedicated System Memory: 0 MB Shared System Memory: 2.000 GB

This indicates Inv. isn't working (completely) right with your nVidia GPU.

When you turn on shaded with edges, do you have the same performance as with 'only' shaded? For this kind of assembly (421 unique parts with 2398 occurences) you shouln't see any difference... 

Do you have also with 'shaded with edges' the problem of Anti Aliasing, which I showed in the video?

The system specs I've in my signature are from my 'working station'. But I also have an other laptop with an i7-3610QM (with Intel HD4000) CPU and a GTX650M GPU running on a dualboot of Windows 7 and Windows 8.

This system should be running with DirectX11. But on that machine I have these problems, because of the multi GPU...

The working station from with my signature specs is 3 years old, but performs better as some new official HP Z600 workstations with dual Xeon processors and a Quadro 4000 GPU card on it...

Btw, Direct3D11 is supported with some parts of Inv. 2012 and Inv. 2013. The main part of these versions still runs with Direct3D10.

[blair]

No difference, on the shaded with or without edge lines. My laptop is only used when I am out of the office.

My main system spec's are listed below in my post. This system is being replaced as well, as it's 3 1/2 years old. I used to run Dell Precision boxes with Quadro cards, back in Inventor's OpenGL days, but switch to a fast "gammer" cards with my last couple of boxes (both work and at home).

I don't have the problem that you show in your video.

[L.van.Gorsel]

Strange... so you are able to run Inv. on a system with a HD4000 GPU at your i7-3720QM CPU in combination with a nVidia GTX675M GPU without any Graphical problems?

I asume you'r using the default settings of nVidia controlpanel, you have the latest driver installed, running Inv. in Quality setting and with 'shaded with edged' setting on.

Would you mind to post another screenshot zoomed in on some edges of a part / assembly? (With 'shaded with edges' on) I'm curious to see how your AA looks like....

Thanks.

[blair]

By default within the Nvidia Control Panel, you do need to change from the default GPU to the hi-performance GPU. Changing this made a large difference in performance, both in the Windows Performance Rating, Inventor and Showcase.

[elho2]

After selecting my GeForce GTX 550 Ti as the primary PhysX processor, adding a custom program settings for Inventor under the 'Manage 3D Settings' Pane, enabling 'Prefer Maximum Performance' and enabling quality rendering in Inventor I have been able to enable ray-tracing, shadows, and reflections.

The only thing that I am unable to enable now is Inventor Studio. I will try to re-install the Inventor Studio Add on when I can.

Anyone else experiencing pefomance increases after fixing the nvidia settings?

Anyone been able to enable Inventor Studio?

[L.van.Gorsel]

Blair:

Thanks for your post. It indeed looks like you're Anti Aliasing is good. Still I believe Inv. is doing a part of the job on your HD4000 GPU, and a part on the nVidia GPU, but I'm not sure about that.

I'll ask Norbert from Autodesk how to find out which parts of Inv. uses which GPU.

Attached a file with an example of a big assembly running on my laptop with the specs of my signature.

Tonight I'll post an example of a lot smaller assembly on my other laptop. To show the difference between Inv. forced running completely on the Intel GPU vs. automatic settings -> inv. runs on HD4000 and GTX650m vs. forced running Inv. on GTX650M.

As you can see in the Diagnostics data in the attached file the DxDiag Graphics Device is also the GTX 280M. (of course, because there is only one GPU in that system...)

But in your system the DxDiag Graphics Device is the Intel GPU... Despite of you forced Inv. running on the GTX675M.

I'll get back to you.

elho2:

As far as I know, PhysX processor has noting to do with Inv. so changing that setting shouldn't make any difference... Would you please also post a screenshot (zoomed in on some edges) and diagnostics report showing your nVidia settings and Inventor settings (in a word file). 

Thanks.

[blair]

I see that you are only getting a Feature Level of 4.1 on your system and I am getting a 5.0 with mine. This might have something to do with it as well as Inventor will "drop" certain items.

[L.van.Gorsel]

Hi Blair,

Nope, this hasn't anything to do with it... lvl. 4_1, 4_5, and 5_0 gives you all the same features. Look at this page: Enhanced Visualization System and Graphics Requirements scroll down and open the last procedure.

Btw, the pdf file shows you an assembly of 100k occurrences with 10K unique parts. With quality setting. It's a perfect smooth picture without any problems. The problems I have (and many other people) are on the other laptop with dual GPU.

I don't have enough time tonight to make and post a pdf with data from the other laptop, I will do that another time. But dual GPU gives problems to everybody I've seen, spoke to, read from. And it doesn't matter of the GPU is from nVidia or from ATI. These cards are just fine to work with. The problem is in the addressing the Graphics data from Inventor to this GPU. Somehow some data or all Graphic data goes to the Integrated Intel HD GPU on the CPU.

As soon as I've spoken to Norbert, I'll let you know.

All the best.

[blair]

Not a problem, most of my work is done with a desk-top and I only use the laptop when out of the office. More for demonstration work with customers.

I know when I first got the laptop last spring, I was disappointed with the performance until I changed the default adapter in the Nvidia control panel. Then the performance really picked up over the default Intel GPU. Maybe they default to the slower GPU to increase battery life...

[blair]

You should be addressing this problem with the Beta website. I am unable to discuss 2014 Beta on this open forum due to the Non-Disclosure agreement.

[L.van.Gorsel]

You're right Blair, I didn't notice I used Inv. 2104 Beta while making the previous screencapture. Now I've made a new screencapture with Inv. 2013 forcing the nVidia GPU to be used. As you can see I've a problem with the Anti Aliasing and with the UI graphics. Screencaputre Anti Aliasing problem