[SOLVED] 'Crysis: Warhead' causing screen oscillation

[Metallica93]

Here's a weird one. In trying to play the Crysis franchise for the first time, I can't get Crysis: Warhead to display properly. When you first launch the game, you receive a license error (because why fix your old games, EA?). I found a solution, included a launch option in Steam for DirectX9 (as these games appear to be less demanding than outright unoptimized), and then was finally able to get the game to start. Yay!

But then, as soon as I tried increasing the resolution to 1920x1080, the screen started to flicker/oscillate vertically. This happens with v-sync off or on. This only happens at 1080p and in full-screen mode. When I Alt+Tab out, the game displays fine (albeit, with the window's display information at the top). When I Alt+Enter back in, it starts up again.

Even weirder is that I thought I'd try to provide evidence, but, when reviewing the Bandicam footage, the in-game display appears just fine (i.e. zero oscillation). What could cause that?

Specs: Windows 10 Home (64-bit, ver. 1809), Ryzen 5 2600, Radeon RX 580 8GB Nitro+ Special Edition (drivers from this past December), 16GB of RAM, 1080p ViewSonic monitor.

 

[Lutfij]

We're currently on Windows 10 version 1909...you're a year behind o updates to OS. What is the make and model of your PSU and how old is the unit? You forgot to mention the make and model of your motherboard as well. Check and see which BIOS version you're currently on.

Watch the tone, this is a family friendly site.
Moderator
Lutfij

 

[Metallica93]

We're currently on Windows 10 version 1909...you're a year behind o updates to OS. What is the make and model of your PSU and how old is the unit? You forgot to mention the make and model of your motherboard as well. Check and see which BIOS version you're currently on.

Watch the tone, this is a family friendly site.
Moderator
Lutfij

Well, I'll be damned. Windows didn't do version updates automatically? As someone who works I.T., I'm rather at a loss for words. Wow. Appreciate that, lol.

I have a Seasonic Focus GX-750 that's only a year old. The motherboard is an M.S.I. X470 Gaming Plus. Interesting, my B.I.O.S. version (A.40) is from 6/28/2018, which isn't even listed on M.S.I.'s website from the list of versions available. The latest B.I.O.S. version is from 11/12/2019, but I don't think I've had issues that would warrant a flash.

Would you disagree?

 

[Metallica93]

Solution: I just removed the "-DX9" launch option from Steam and the screen oscillation finally went away. I have no idea how to use DirectX 9 with the game, sadly. It would probably run better given how unoptimized it is.