Cannot render layout in Construct 2

Somehow I cannot see what's in my layouts in Construct 2. Everything else works; I can add objects to the layout etc., but I don't see them. If I open any windows over my layout, the image of the window can be seen in the layout after I close it. Any ideas? Version is r206, and I have updated my gfx drivers and reinstalled C2.

This type of issue is typically a graphics driver problem. You could try beta drivers if any are available, or maybe give the r211 beta a spin in case we already fixed some related issue.

Yeah, I had my suspicion, so I tried installing new drivers. I'm using a Dell Latitude E6540, so I'm unable to install other drivers than those on Dell's website, which are not the latest ones. Will see if I can install them manually somehow, and just ignore the warning. If not I'll need to wait for Dell to update with new drivers.

This type of issue is typically a graphics driver problem. You could try beta drivers if any are available, or maybe give the r211 beta a spin in case we already fixed some related issue.

I've managed to update my drivers, and I have also installed the r211 beta, but the error is still there. If I remove my GFX drivers it works though, but then again the display looks bad in general. Have tried different GFX drivers, roll back etc.

Specs: INTEL HD graphics 4600.

janlindso - I think that proves it's a graphics driver issue, I think you will need to contact Intel about it.

Ashley Yeah, my conclusion as well. Any info about the Construct 2 software that may come in handy when I contact them? Any specific technology that is special for this software that might cause the problem?

Not really, it just uses OpenGL to render the layout view.

janlindso - I think that proves it's a graphics driver issue, I think you will need to contact Intel about it.

Hi Ashley,

this graphicdriver issues seem to happen very often with Construct2 while its not happening with other softwares, could you maybe make a list of graphicscards that has problems with construct or tell us the reason for construct making so many failures with some older graphicscards so we could inform ourselves which hardware is good to use with construct?

I would like to buy a new notebook in the near future but i would hate it if when a bug is happening your answer will be "get new graphicscarddrivers" or "seems to be a problem with gfx" and there will be no new drivers.

You can read that "This type of issue is typically a graphics driver problem." way to often in my opinion. Im having Intel gfx in my current notebook, the driver didnt change since over two years but construct2 was introducing new bugs in this time that supposed to be graphic driver issues, same for a AMD graphics card in desktop pc.

There wont be new drivers for both gfx cards in the future i think, so i have to buy new hardware, but i would really like to buy something "stable" for the next years. Can you help with this decission Ashley?

fldr - we can't test every device in existence. The problem is always with the graphics driver so it's not our fault and is almost impossible to do anything about - check our extensive blogging on the subject through our blog archives for more information. We have proven that this type of error is the fault of the graphics driver time and time and time again, they really make crap drivers.

oh sorry, i didnt want to say its your fault!

i just thaught theres maybe a "higher" reason for that gfx bugs we users dont know, like problems with the framework your using to program construct2 or something like this, so we could inform ourselves elsewhere which gfx cards are good to use.

What graphicscard would you buy with small budget and if you had to use it for the next two years? Dont worry, i wont come back and say screw you if it wasnt the wright choice but i think or hope you have a little bit more insight on this then me or the hardware vendor.

oh sorry, i didnt want to say its your fault!

i just thaught theres maybe a "higher" reason for that gfx bugs we users dont know, like problems with the framework your using to program construct2 or something like this, so we could inform ourselves elsewhere which gfx cards are good to use.

What graphicscard would you buy with small budget and if you had to use it for the next two years? Dont worry, i wont come back and say screw you if it wasnt the wright choice but i think or hope you have a little bit more insight on this then me or the hardware vendor.

just go with a current gen dedicated card. 90% of the people I see with any driver issues are using old cards and/or integrated ones.

Laptops are hard to do anything about, and the only thing I can suggest on laptops(and tablets) is to not buy cheap.

A high initial cost usually lasts much longer and has more supported technologies down the road. You buy cheap, and you get stuck in a frequent upgrade path continuously buying cheap and potentially problematic devices. These companies honestly WANT you to buy the cheaper devices because they get your hard earned money MUCH more frequently than the people who buy a more expensive device.

Cards I recommend on a budget:

Nvidia

gtx 960

750ti

AMD

R7 260x or better

More or less I wouldn't spend less than $100 on a gpu if I were you.

Take what I say with a grain of salt though. I tend to build the polar opposite of a budget pc and pay little attention to a vast majority of the gpu's out there... there may be much cheaper options that are still viable but I tend to be VERY picky about my parts.

As for intel integrated, I guess I wouldn't go below HD4000 and iris pro 6200

i just thaught theres maybe a "higher" reason for that gfx bugs we users dont know, like problems with the framework your using to program construct2 or something like this

We don't use any framework, we code with OpenGL directly. I guess the "higher" reason is OpenGL is kind of a mess, the API is an early 90s design that has aged badly against modern tech. The new generation of graphics APIs like Vulkan, DX12, Metal etc. are all redesigned to work better with modern hardware and allow the drivers to be much simpler, so I guess that might go some way to helping, but that will probably take a few years to start having an impact...

[quote:wmnhdbsy]What graphicscard would you buy with small budget and if you had to use it for the next two years?

In my experience, just in terms of driver quality, Intel are definitely the worst. AMD and nVidia are both far better, but I think nVidia are slightly better than AMD. So get something with a discrete nVidia GPU if you can.

Thank you both!

Ashley

It seems like my gfx card doesn't support all extensions in OpenGL 4.4, and 4.5. Some of these version used in Construct 2 I guess then?

janlindso - no, Construct 2 is written against a base of OpenGL 1.1, with all other features optional add-ons! Certainly nothing as high as OpenGL 4!