Very strange problem when gaming!

I'm having a very weird gaming problem! Well, it might not be that weird.

I find it very difficult to focus on video games on my PC, something about them makes it very difficult to watch the screen, it makes my eyes ache.

I'm not sure whether this is a problem with my GPU or my monitor, or I have the wrong settings, or my eyes are just getting too old.

Here's a couple of things I've noticed:

When playing Tropico 4 (a fairly graphically demanding game, for those who aren't familiar with it) I've noticed that when I zoomed in to look at the detail, the moving parts of the scene (shadows, people, animals, etc) tend to move rather jerkily. This might be just the way the game is, but I suspect otherwise. When playing the game generally and not focusing in on the detail, it is very tiring on the eyes.


I noticed when I played Medal of Honor Airborne for the first time on my machine for the first time that the game was very blurry and difficult to watch. I managed to play through it without too much discomfort, but the blur was still there.

Returning to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. Shadow of Chernobyl after not having played it in a while, I find it very difficult to focus on. I'm quite sure that I didn't have this problem when I last played the game.

N.B. When playing Tropico, occasionally my GPU has a little glitch, the screen is filled with monochrome lines for a minute or two until the GPU recovers. I assume this is because the card is being overtaxed.

Generally, when using the computer, my eyes get tired very quickly, and I frequently suffer from eye-strain. This is a relatively new phenomenon. My monitor has also been displaying ('scuse the pun) some odd symptoms too, such as faint vertical bands of shadow which pulse across the screen. This is noticeable when gaming (playing S.T.A.L.K.E.R. & Minecraft) and also when the computer is idling with a dark desktop background or when browsing the web.

I'd really like some advice on this, folks. Check my spec to see what video card I have, plus I have a spare monitor which I can try if any of you think it might be the monitor which is at fault.

Hello Grant

First, go online an search for the most recent graphics driver for your GPU. Keep in mind it may be that your card cannot handle those games. Your driver should be here: ATI Radeon
Don't install it yet!

Remove your current driver, and then install the new one. If there is an option to 'custom install' and to 'clean install', choose them.

Aside from that, see if you can lower graphics settings inside the game. Make sure the games are updated

Thanks for the tips DustSailor! I'll update my graphics driver and post back.

I've tried lowering the graphics settings in the game, and also changing the settings of the GPU to enhance performance. Nothing makes any difference. All my games are updated and patched to the latest version. :)

I guess its working?

I'm afraid not! I don't see much change, at least!

What I might try is switch my monitor for the spare, see how that affects it. :)

Hi Grant,

look in your device manager and see if there are any drivers that need updating. It should have a sign next to such a driver. Aside from that, about all I can say is make sure you have all windows updates installed. I;m not sure what else I know to do.

I get what's going on here! Eureka moment.

Running games at 1920 x 1080 resolution is a bit too much for my poor old Radeon HD 5670! So, I should upgrade my graphics card and all should be hunky-dory.

Am I right?

P.S. I know that sounds a bit obsessive, upgrading a video card, just so I can crank my game up to max resolution, but I really hate playing games at low-res! It does my head in to no small extent.

Interestingly enough though, I switched my monitor for an 18.5 inch widescreen and ran the game again, in 1360 x 768, the native resolution of the monitor. I still had that same problem with the lack of focus (almost a lag) when moving in the game.

D'you think upgrading the video card would help? I've a mind to up it to an HD 6750.

when i can no longer play games at their highest settings i get a new graphics card. however my latest gpu a xfx 6950 2gb (£230 in uk) and it only JUST plays BF3 maxed out, had to lower AA a smidge but had me worried id need a new card under my new rule before i even played a game with it lol.

badger906 said:

when i can no longer play games at their highest settings i get a new graphics card. however my latest gpu a xfx 6950 2gb (£230 in uk) and it only JUST plays BF3 maxed out, had to lower AA a smidge but had me worried id need a new card under my new rule before i even played a game with it lol.

As they say in my country (well, they don't, it's just me that say it these days): jings michty, help ma boab! Wow! I hope I don't come across that problem, I'm a bit of a perfectionist. I just ordered an Asus HD 6770 (£80 / $126) so I could crank S.T.A.L.K.E.R. up to the max. Hopefully it should work! I can always dial down the textures a bit. I think it's since I installed 'complete overhaul' mods on two of the S.T.A.L.K.E.R. games, the textures are absolutely delectable, but it might be a wee bit too much for my poor old GPU.

I'm not much of a gamer, S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is probably the newest game I'd play, being more of fan of the oldies. Battlefield is outa my league! BF3 looks really graphically demanding!