Re: "Could not intialize display hadrware" Error.

Do try the 1080P monitor. Also try setting a low resolution, like 1024x768 in the settings file. Are you sure your Xeon has 100% of its features supported by your motherboard? Is there a firmware update available for your MB? What exact MB are you using?

Barry,

I did end up trying quite a few things. I switched out my monitor with a 1080p monitor. Lowered resolution in the settings.txt; also tried lower the monitor resolution itself. Tried various different combinations of resolution; fullscreen; window state; monitor resolution, etc.

Absolutely nothing helped. The errors never changed.

Yes, the motherboard supports the CPU 100%; and has the latest firmware. I actually went through extensive pre-sale support with the manufacturer before picking the motherboard. Each component had to fit in appropriately with the other; this was very important for me due to the rendering software I use (which are far more picky & cumbersome then games are). I'm using the ASRock EP2C602-4L/D16 SSI EEB Server Motherboard with the Intel Xeon E5-2650 v2 X 2 CPU's. The rendering engines are extremely particular about the CPU features; so I had to spend a considerable amount of time with pre-sale support before selecting a motherboard.

I have a vast game library on my PC and so far only 2 games have failed to launch; one is Dead Space and the other is Dead Island Riptide. However, with Dead Island Riptide (which is Steam by the way), there is an extensive launch problem which is well documented & found across the Internet. Quite a few suffer from it and there's never been a cure found. People have paid over $40 for that game and Steam support or Deep Silver has never been able to solve those issues.

With Dead Space however, most people have been able to resolve their issues with the "settings.txt". I just don't understand where I'm stuck.

There is one other thing I will try today - time permitting - I will download & install Origin & Dead Space on a different PC. That one isn't configured for gaming; it's my wife's PC and is much less equipped handle gaming of any sort, however, I'm curious.

Do let me know if you have any other suggestions for me.

Thanks.

DOGGONE IT!

So I installed Origin & Dead Space on my wife's PC and it worked!! Just simply worked. I didn't even create Settings.txt or touch anything. This is a very basic Intel i5-4200U / Intel HD Graphics 4400, Windows 8.1 64-bit PC.

After running the game once, it created a Settings.txt; so I stole that file and replace my Settings.txt with the one created on my wife's PC. Still get the same errors on my PC. But works fine on hers.

I don't get it. I'm baffled.

Hmmm, it seems like your setup may be a little too specialised toward the hardcore workstation side of things. I know I said previously that the game will work on Xeon processors, but with a dual CPU setup I am not so sure. Let me see if I can find more on dual CPU compatibility...

Thanks Barry; I'm all out of ideas. Will look forward to your response.

Awesome, well done!

I think your process of disabling the second CPU is the only way you are going to be able to play DS1 and as you said its not that much hassle to turn the second CPU on and off.

I assume the extra work required to have a game function on the relatively niche segment of the market with dual physical CPUs was not deemed worth it for the number of users with this kind of setup.

I am glad I could point you in the right direction but you did all the leg work so kudos to you.

Happy gaming :0)