CivAssist II 30-Oct-2016

ainwood · Jun 6, 2005

What size map are you playing on? It shouldn't take that long to load a save (without CivAssist). What else do you have running?
Do you have any spyware etc?

There is not a lot we can do about reducing the memory impact of CivAssist - its an issue with the way the .Net framework runs. However I run it fine on a Athlon XP2000 with 512 MB RAM - it does nothing to change the Civ load times at all (on standard maps). When you just start your PC, how much memory is being used?

vmxa · Jun 6, 2005

I would think only the hard drive speed wold matter and the memory. 512 is too low for XP, is just right for 98/ME. So if you have a 5400 rpm drive with no buffer, I can see a problem.

I run on a 10,000 rpm so access is not delayed.

NoMan · Jun 6, 2005

I'm not at home now and I'm not sure on the HD specs, probably 5400. I should clarify, the load times are from launching the Conquests program. Nothing else is running and I have XP-home (I didn't realize how crippled this is). I only use my PC for games and Quicken, I do all my work (at home) and Internet on my Mac.

vmxa · Jun 6, 2005

Those will also affect loading and launching of Civ. The size of the map and hence save also impacts load time. I would not open CAII, until after C3C was up with the save.

No sense in have two apps trying to access the same directory at the same time.

But yeah XP is not too easy on memory and civ uses about 400MB, so you will be doing a lot of swapping and with the save probably all on the same drive, you have contention.

I would strongly consider getting another 512, last I knew it was about 40 dollar, unless it is exotic.

NoMan · Jun 6, 2005

I understand the game size will affect loading speed. However I was comparing the same game before or after having run CivAssist II. CivAssist is not actually running at launch time. Also, the slowdown is system-wide, I notice it doing other things as well. Only a reboot returns things to normal. I don't believe I have spyware but how would I know? The task manager lists many processes which I don't recognize.

I'm running the disk defragmenter now. I'm not sure how to determine the specs of the PC. Is there some utility like "About this Mac/System Profiler"? From memory I think there are only 2 DIMM slots. I did confirm there is 512 MB Ram but I couldn't find the cpu speed or HD speed. I'll look into getting more memory but this is the first time I've noticed a problem.

Still would be interested if anyone else has noticed a problem.

vmxa · Jun 7, 2005

If this is a Mac, I can't say. If not run LavaSofts spy app. If windows, right click my computer for the system specs and drill down to find HD.

Memory is complicated and depends on motheboard and processor. Some times you have to replace two 256MB chips with 2 512MB. Some bays can handle mixed, some not.

Several mem companies can tell you what works for a given PC.

NoMan · Jun 7, 2005

It's a PC, I'm just used to the way Macs work and was asking if there is a comparable program. I did find it is a 2.4GHz P4 with a Maxtor drive. A Google search shows this model is 7200 rpm.

ainwood · Jun 7, 2005

I'm not convinced that HDD speed is really a factor. To help us diagnose the problem, can you please send screenshots similar to the attached to civassist@gotm.civfanatics.net ?

To get these (Presuming you're running windows XP)

Hit CTRL + ALT + Delete
This will bring-up the "Task Manager".

Choose the "processes" tab. Resize it so that everything fits-in and take a screenshot.

Choose the "Performance" tab. Take a screenshot of that, too.

If you're not sure how to take a screenshot, then its quite simple:
Click on the task manager to make it the "active" window. Hold down the 'ALT' key, then hit the "Print Scrn" button. That will take a screenshot of the active window, and put it on the clipboard.

Start mspaint.exe, and simply paste the image in.

This should help us see what's going on. Please do this when you think its running a bit sluggishly.

Perugia · Jun 7, 2005

I upgraded from CivAssist I yesterday. This version is even cooler. Thanks.

I have two queries /suggestions:

1) Can you include the turn number in the Alert screen as per CivAssist I, I find the turn number much more useful than the date when MMing ahead a few turns.

2) World Map View. How about adding a little axe icon option to indicate which tiles can be (re-)forested and chopped for 10 shields to save a lot of pen and paper work.

Denniz · Jun 7, 2005

Windows XP has a performance utility that can be used to diagnose things like this. It allows you to monitor and log performance metrics of all different kinds. It requires some understanding of what the metric are and what they mean but there are explanations available on the add dialog.

Check it out, it might help you figure out where the bottleneck is at.

Edit: If you don't have the Admin tools menu option, You can find it on the Control Panel. (Start->Setting->Control Panel... )

vmxa · Jun 7, 2005

I don't think he will find ADM tools from the program menu. YOu have to move it there, I suspect. It is normally found via the Control Panel, Performance and Maint.

Well I am talking about XP PRO, so I am not sure about Home.

Edit sorry I now see you mentioned that.

CJNyfalt · Jun 8, 2005

CivAssist II is great stuff. I like it a lot.
I have some suggestions which I feel could improve it even more:
- If it is possible, it would be nice to see the settings and seed used to produce a random map.
- A warning when a city has a net negative cash-flow would be nice.

Ginger_Ale · Jun 8, 2005

CJNyfalt: I second your first one. Sort of like a mini SeedBeast (ainwood's current program that does that) inside of CA2. Your first one is already in there. Go to the Economy tab and it shows "Net Gain". It is your gold that you aren't spending on science / luxuries - (corruption + maintenance).

CJNyfalt · Jun 8, 2005

Ginger_Ale said:
Go to the Economy tab and it shows "Net Gain". It is your gold that you aren't spending on science / luxuries - (corruption + maintenance).

I know it is there, and I find it most useful. It is just that I tend to play at a quick pace, not stopping to examine each screen in every detail each turn. I find it useful to see a message in the warning window when a city is showing economic loss.

EDIT: BTW, thanks for the tip about SeedBeast.

NoMan · Jun 8, 2005

I was hoping to post Task Manager screen shots before and after a CivAssist-caused slowdown but instead I was unable to reproduce the problem :confused:

I played a game while running CivAssist and didn't observe any problems. I guess this points to whatever the problem was being specific to my system. I guess that's why I didn't see anyone else having a similar problem. If it comes up again I'll use some of your suggestions and try to diagnose it.

Doc Tsiolkovski · Jun 9, 2005

Maybe I'm too dumb, but I cannot find any info on the AI Culture...any help?

And, a completely minor issue (but should be easy to fix, that's why I mention it):

If a Wonder/Improvement requires a Small/Great Wonder as prerequiste, CivAssist II doesn't check, and lists that structure as recommendation for several invalid cities.

For example, in the RAR mod you can build a Forbidden Gardens Small Wonder (obviously requiring the FP). And CAII, while notifying about the lacking Temple for a Cath, does indeed recommend 5 cities for that one.

Papafish34 · Jun 9, 2005

Hi Ainwood,

Well the .1980's build of Civassist II is giving me grief in Win98. If I open CAII first then CIII, CIII crashes & freezes during start up requiring a reboot. Reverse it and CAII opens correctly, but will not update nor will it allow you to manually do anything after the hide command is given the first time. In fact it is requiring me to CTRL-ALT-DEL and select end task to get out of it. Then when I exit CIII after such an event I have to do a reboot to get back my menu/task bar/systray at the bottom of my screen.

Could this be an insufficient RAM issue on the dinosaur of a PC that I have? (PIII 500mHz, 192 MB ram) any ideas besides a new PC?

I did not have these problems with the 1970's build.

Trying to upload save

Edit: these problems occured both before and after installing the new .NET service pack for win98

ainwood · Jun 10, 2005

@Papafish: You're very brave playing a huge world on a PIII 500 MHz, with only 182 MB RAM! A huge world can be fairly slow on my machine (Athlon 64 3000; 512 MB RAM).

I fear that you are short on memory, and even on processor power. Have you tried smaller map suizes?

Papafish34 · Jun 10, 2005

That's what I was afraid of...I'll try a smaller map and see what I can do. Decided to go huge as a test before jumping difficulties again. I also used the 1970's build to finish out my last game which was standard map size not the present huge one. Thanks for the feedback, I'll let you know what I find.

Papafish34 · Jun 10, 2005

@Ainwood

Well tried the following game, same result. Didn't mention it before but the CAII button is blue not brown/tan like in previous build. If this is just RAM/power issue can I still find 1970's build? Worked & had more features than CAI (which I have reloaded in the interm)

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