Double your Framerate for NVIDIA cards

flaeli · Nov 1, 2005

Here is something I did to double my framerate from a pathetic 10 fps to a playable 20 fps. Yes, I have a old card but I really want to play this game. Basically, you change your Pixel and Vortex shaders to version 1.1 instead of the default 3.0(I think).

See the attached screenshots for evidence if you don't believe me.

1. Download and install nVHardPage SE(google it, it should be quite easy to find)

2. Open nVHardPage SE, go under the Direct X Tab and change the Pixel/Vortex Shader to 1.1 by sliding the tab to the left.

3. Check the "Override Shaders" box below it.

Your results may vary due to your system specs. I am using a really old budget card(FX5200). Please try it out and let me know the results.

Subtestube · Nov 1, 2005

Just a note - this will probably not help people with NV4x series cards [much] (GeForce 6200 or higher). The FX 5xxx series cards had very poor DX 9.0 or higher shader performance, and hence dropping back to the 8.0 spec (shaders 1.1) will dramatically improve performance on FX series cards. As such, I can tell you now that your default is 2.0a, not 3.0. If it is defaulting to 3.0, there's something wrong, as the FX series cards can't actually do anything above 2.0a.

EDIT: I should say that I can't confirm that this won't help NV4x series cards, as I won't have the game until Thursday, and can't test for myself. It will of course get you at least some of a performance boost, as SM 1.1 doesn't support some of the longer, more complex shaders that I anticipate Civ IV uses. Forcing a lower shader model will reduce image quality.

If you are going to go down this road, I would also recommend using Rivatuner. It will perform in the same manner, but I personally find it a much more powerful tool. You can get it from www.guru3d.com.

t0mme · Nov 1, 2005

Rivatuner did the trick for my GeforceFX Go 5200 in my Toshiba Laptop. Might play with some other settings as well.

O, the graphical drawback is not in your face, ie. you'll hardly notice.

flaeli · Nov 1, 2005

Hey, how do I tweak RivaTuner? I am not too sure of which settings to change to get a performance boost without compromising too much of visual quality. I am not too good with all this technical stuff. The only thing I know how to change is the Shaders option.

Subtestube · Nov 1, 2005

In terms of Rivatuner, I wouldn't bother tweaking something unless you know what it does.

Fabius · Nov 1, 2005

Changing the shaders did the trick! I was trying everything to pretty much no avail, or I would change one set of problems (leaderfaces induced HUGE lag afterwards) for another (random crashes to desktop, waiting 2 minutes for my military advisor, etc.).

I have a GeForce FX5900 XT and my wife has a GeForce FX5600. Even with both of us on lowest video settings, hers was worse than mine, and mine was so bad I didn't enjoy playing any more. This morning I did the Riva Tuner and changed the shaders to 1.1.

Oh man the difference!

We now have all our graphics set to highest, with antialiasing and it's smooth as silk. That didn't just double our framerate, it sent it through the roof! Thanks for point me towards Riva Tuner.

And anyone else who has similar problems with the GeForce FX 5*** cards, try it! It doesn't hurt, and if it doesn't work, you're out nothing but a couple minutes to download. But if it does, it rules!

Hellbound · Nov 1, 2005

Whats the key or command to see my fps??

Cantankerous · Nov 1, 2005

I have a GeForce FX 5950 Ultra graphics card and my problems (i.e., crashing to desktop) seem to originate later in the course of a game.

I seem to be able to play the start of a game (standard size map, medium graphics quality, 7 civs) with no problem until most (or all) of the map is revealed. If I start clicking around the map looking at different areas (or if the game is cycling through my units that are in various places around the map in order to give them commands) the game seems to have an issue with crashing. Not every time, but quite often enough to be EXTREMELY annoying.

Now, I'm no expert with computers, but this SEEMS to indicate (at least in my layman observation) that there is an issue with the graphics card. Either the card is not powerful enough to "keep up" with the game, or there is some kind of compatibility issue between the the Nvidia card.

Has anyone else who uses an Nvidia card had similar issues?

Will using the Rivatuner utility correct this problem?

Would the problem "simply" be corrected with a more powerful graphics card?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

flaeli · Nov 1, 2005

Download this program called FRAPS. It enables you to measure the framerate for games and videos.

Subtestube · Nov 1, 2005

Cantankerous - what drivers are you running. You could
a) Try newer drivers if you're not up to date, or
b) Try older drivers if you are.
It may help.

Ruffin · Nov 2, 2005

Using geForce Fx 5500. Tried this, lowering to 1.3 and it washed out the game. Everything was grey and most of the detail lost. It did speed everything up considerably, but made the game nearly as unplayable as the slow framerate. Is there a trick to it to keep that from happening?

I'm getting enough speed to play, but patiently. Anything to hurry it up would be an improvement and any help appreciated.

TheBarnacle · Nov 2, 2005

i did try the rav utility and forced it to 1.1. it DID SEEM TO HELP!!! but i emphasize, it helped.

what it did:

- made gameplay faster. particularly in early game. i was able to play on a 'big' map (not huge) and it was running pretty smooth. i even bumped it up to "high" graphics settings to test.

what it did NOT do:

- still had some chop/slowness as the game progressed. leading me to think this is less than a video card/driver issue???
- did NOT help with choppiness of opening video. that still doesn't play right.

it's worth noting that before i made this change, i played on a small map, and there was virtually NO problem. the wonder vids even played fine.

is this a memory problem? might i fix this with more RAM?

fyi:

i did set my page file to min = max at around 1.5gb (which did NOT seem to help in and of itself). and i'm using an fx5200.

userlain · Nov 3, 2005

Wow this works awesome!

We put in an extra 512MB of system ram and a 256MB geForce FX5500 into my brother's computer, used this tweak, and it SCREAMS!!!

Thanks a bunch man!!1

HankSSSI · Nov 3, 2005

Yep, highly recommended!! I have a geforce 5200 fx and this tweak greatly improved performance. It works!

Arkayne · Nov 3, 2005

Cantankerous said:
I have a GeForce FX 5950 Ultra graphics card and my problems (i.e., crashing to desktop) seem to originate later in the course of a game.

I seem to be able to play the start of a game (standard size map, medium graphics quality, 7 civs) with no problem until most (or all) of the map is revealed. If I start clicking around the map looking at different areas (or if the game is cycling through my units that are in various places around the map in order to give them commands) the game seems to have an issue with crashing. Not every time, but quite often enough to be EXTREMELY annoying.

Now, I'm no expert with computers, but this SEEMS to indicate (at least in my layman observation) that there is an issue with the graphics card. Either the card is not powerful enough to "keep up" with the game, or there is some kind of compatibility issue between the the Nvidia card.

Has anyone else who uses an Nvidia card had similar issues?

Will using the Rivatuner utility correct this problem?

Would the problem "simply" be corrected with a more powerful graphics card?

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

I have this EXACT same problem.

Conroe · Nov 3, 2005

So, what are your framerates?

zsc · Nov 3, 2005

Used the tool, game has been running alright. A lag here and there...but much better than before. Mod, please make this a sticky, or add this info to the fix it list.

Arkayne · Nov 3, 2005

Conroe said:
So, what are your framerates?

Don't know - I don't have FRAPs installed. Maybe I missed it but does Civ4 have a built-in FPS counter?

Luticus · Nov 3, 2005

I'm having massive slowdowns with my GeForce FX5200, so this thread is a sign of hope for me. I downloaded rivatuner but I can't for the life of me figure out where to change the shaders to 1.1. Maybe I'm dense, but could someone help me out by describing exactly where the option is?

Thanks in advance...

Arkayne · Nov 3, 2005

Luticus said:
I'm having massive slowdowns with my GeForce FX5200, so this thread is a sign of hope for me. I downloaded rivatuner but I can't for the life of me figure out where to change the shaders to 1.1. Maybe I'm dense, but could someone help me out by describing exactly where the option is?

Thanks in advance...

Click on the direct x tab at the top, then scroll down the window a bit.

It doesn't look like the window scrolls, but you'll notice the scroll bars on the right side. It does a sort of "scroll by page" thing instead of smooth scrolling.

Double your Framerate for NVIDIA cards

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