Thinking about a new graphic card....

Hi everyone!

I'm thinking about getting a new G-card because when I'm playing Civ4, I am getting major lag problems. From the ancient age to before the rennaisance age playing in Epic on Normal size land, it was perfect. But from there on, it lags like a mother ****er. Just scrolling will make the game stop for 1+ minute. When I load, it's is a little slow (which i am fine with) but once the game opens up, it takes even more time before i can click anything. It lasgs sooo bad that I cant even play it anymore. I just want to see WHAT THE MODERN AGE IS LIKE!!!

I currently use a 128mb RADEON 9800 Pro. Which graphic card is the weakest that can get you through the entire game at HIGH graphics? I dont want to spend too much but I want to actually enjoy this game. Any advice on cards would be appreciated.

I dont think its a game/patch problem...?... because the game works perfectly through the beginning ages. The game never crashes or shutdowns my computer as other people here have experienced (i'm deeply sorry for them). So I think a new graphic card would solve the problem?

Thank you all very much for your help.
Henry

Could you please post your Dxdiag - helps to work out what wouldbe ok for your setup

Start button - click- select run - type dxdiag - press enter - wait a min- select "save all information" - post usinf the 'go advanced ' button below

EDIT: Have you loaded Patch version 1.52 yet ? If not do so - its a must have patch. Do it before deciding on a card, it was a major change. Alsothere may be other things in the dxdiag that may help

Regards
Zy

Thanks! The Dxdiag is attached.

Yes I do have the latest patch 1.52

ArmyOfOne said:

Thanks! The Dxdiag is attached.

Yes I do have the latest patch 1.52

Click to expand...

your chipset driver in not loaded right. AGP port shows n/a.

Find the manufacturer of the MB or computer and get an updated chipset driver.

Your card is more than enough to play this game. I would increase memory to 1 gig before changing out the card. My card is not as fast as yours and plays this game well.

Ok I downloaded the latest drivers from Nvidia.... still the same.... HORRIBLE LAG.... unplayable.

I'm starting to think its the game itself.... Even after a restart, the game is still the same. I've run other games more demanding ok so I dont think its my system?

Army

Did you check the AGP setting in the bios - it may be set to off - look at Neon's comment. AGP not being available will have a major effect on true 3D games - and Civ IV is a true 3D game from bottom up. If you have checked the bios you need to chase up as suggested via motherboard manufacturer - its likely you will have to update the chip drivers as mentioned in Neon's post above

Many games are following the Civ IV route and coding from bottom up as a true 3D game - you will start having problems with others in future without enabling the AGP

Regards
Zy

Ok,

Even after updating from NVidia, the AGP Texture Accel. says "Not Available"

But this is odd... if you say it wont work with future games.... how come I played FEAR, DOOM3, Gothic series without any major lag problems? I didnt turn any settings down, the graphic settings were medium or higher.

So how can Civ4 lag sooo badly?

ArmyOfOne said:

Ok,

Even after updating from NVidia, the AGP Texture Accel. says "Not Available"

But this is odd... if you say it wont work with future games.... how come I played FEAR, DOOM3, Gothic series without any major lag problems? I didnt turn any settings down, the graphic settings were medium or higher.

So how can Civ4 lag sooo badly?

Click to expand...

Please list the brand name, make and model number of your computer.

If there is none, then the brand name, make and model number of your Mother Board.

I bought a custom-made computer from Ibuypower.com

The motherboard is the: Abit NF7-S

http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/drivers.php?categories=1&model=6

Did you download and install the chipset driver from this page?

If not, then thats the one you want.

If so, then the driver did not take.

Run dxdiag again this time on general tab make sure the check for whql is box is not checked.

install them again.

Neon Deon said:

http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/drivers.php?categories=1&model=6

Did you download and install the chipset driver from this page?

If not, then thats the one you want.

If so, then the driver did not take.

Run dxdiag again this time on general tab make sure the check for whql is box is not checked.

install them again.

Click to expand...

Tried everything you said. No improvement. The AGP Texture Accel. still says N/A

ArmyOfOne said:

Tried everything you said. No improvement. The AGP Texture Accel. still says N/A

Click to expand...

right click on desktop, properties, settings,advanced,smartcart.

what does it say on the tab.

off?

if so bump it to 4x see if it sticks.

Ok I tried to do that but nowhere do I see "smartcart"

Here's a picture of my Settings and Advanced window. This forum allows only 500kb for attachments so i had to shrink the pic for you.

Well thats wacked.

Reboot the computer. while it is starting up hold down the delete key and bios should come up.

Go into advanced chipset features and find the settings for
agp pci bridge control.

Inside that setting should be listed agp mode.

set it to 4x. save and start computer.

Go back into dxdiag and verify that agp is enabled. check display setting to see if it is also switched on there just in case something weird happened.

Good Luck

Well, my BIOS must be different from your BIOS...here's what the menu is under Advanced Chipset Features:

Memory Timing: By SPD
System BIOS Cachable: Enabled
Video Ram Cachable: Enabled
AGP Aperture Size: 256M
FSB Spread Spectrum: 0.50%
AGP Spread Spectrum: 0.50%
CPU Thermal-Throttling: 50.0%
Enhanced PCI Performance: Disabled
CPU Disconnect Function: Enabled
AGP Data Transfer Rate: Auto
AGP Fast Write Capability: Enabled

Now I went and checked every one of these options and in "AGP Data Transfer Rate" there were choices for: 4x, Auto, 8x

I went and changed it from Auto to 4x.

Saved, booted... and still.... No change. The AGP texture Accel is still NA. And still there is no "Smartcart" under advanced settings.

????? ahhhhhhhh!!!

ArmyOfOne said:

Well, my BIOS must be different from your BIOS...here's what the menu is under Advanced Chipset Features:

Memory Timing: By SPD
System BIOS Cachable: Enabled
Video Ram Cachable: Enabled
AGP Aperture Size: 256M
FSB Spread Spectrum: 0.50%
AGP Spread Spectrum: 0.50%
CPU Thermal-Throttling: 50.0%
Enhanced PCI Performance: Disabled
CPU Disconnect Function: Enabled
AGP Data Transfer Rate: Auto
AGP Fast Write Capability: Enabled

Now I went and checked every one of these options and in "AGP Data Transfer Rate" there were choices for: 4x, Auto, 8x

I went and changed it from Auto to 4x.

Saved, booted... and still.... No change. The AGP texture Accel is still NA. And still there is no "Smartcart" under advanced settings.

????? ahhhhhhhh!!!

Click to expand...

EEK!

Go to ati site and download the latest radeon driver they have.

Also get the ati driver cleaner too.

use driver cleaner first then install the newest driver.

This should give you access to smartgart.

Run diag after the driver is loaded tho just to see if the new one picked up agp.