Should my laptop do better?

Snerk · Feb 15, 2006

I was just wondering if my laptop is preforming to its full potensial. As far as i can see i meet the recomended system requirements... however,
I get a slow game with annoying lag issues in late game when i play on a standard map or bigger. The first 2/3 of the game runs smoothly but from there on it gets wors and wors. A large and huge map is almost unplayable at the last hours of gameplay.
Anyway, Can someone with more experience than me, check my dxdiag (see below), post and tell me is you think my pc is preforming as it should.

Elu Venius · Feb 15, 2006

You need at least a gig of ram!

Then you'll be able to play, to your hearts content!

Snerk · Feb 18, 2006

So thats it? One guy telling me im basicly doomed to lag... :sad:

Can't someone with the know-how tell me if my laptop is preforming as it should? (see first post)

Sahkuhnder · Feb 18, 2006

There's nothing wrong with your laptop, but some more memory couldn't hurt.

Wait until the new patch comes out and that may help as well.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific but this game does make high demands of any computer system.

Snerk · Feb 18, 2006

hmm, Yes i would very much like to upgrade my memory to 1gig RAM.
Do you know if this is a complicated task. I know it would mean you would need access to the inner parts of my laptop so i definitly couldn't do it myself. But is it an easy thing for an proffesional to do. The laptop is bought from Dell so maybe they could do the upgrade. But maybe most important of all, how much does it cost... approxomatly?

Boris Badinov · Feb 18, 2006

OK, here's a problem, simular, in that it pertains to a laptop. Seems I can play all the single player games I want, but the problem happens with the scenarios like Revolutionary and Desert War. Seems I can load the mod and play for awhile, but after I save it and try to resume I get an error message saying I've run out of vedio memory.

Using a Toshiba satilite (4 months old), with latest intel video drivers, BIOS update, 1GB RAM, 128MB shared video memory

@ Sweetpete: Upgrading your memory for a laptop is even easier then for a system. First, check the specs for you laptop on the manufactures website. This will tell you what kind of memory to use. Second, buy the memory at any computer store, like Bestbuy, CompUSA or even local store (prices vary so look for good deals). Third turn off laptop, open the cover where your memory goes and install as per instructions. Of course you might just want to do this step first to see if there's room for a memory module first

.

robaughjr · Feb 18, 2006

sweetpete said:
hmm, Yes i would very much like to upgrade my memory to 1gig RAM.
Do you know if this is a complicated task. I know it would mean you would need access to the inner parts of my laptop so i definitly couldn't do it myself. But is it an easy thing for an proffesional to do. The laptop is bought from Dell so maybe they could do the upgrade. But maybe most important of all, how much does it cost... approxomatly?

It's actually much easier than you think. Just sliding a chip into a slot and locking it in place. I had never even seen the inside of a computer before I installed a 512mb stick. Go to your compter company's website and they usually have a step by step guide to installing a ram stick. As far as cost, a 512mb stick goes for around $50-$70, you'll have to shop around to find the best deal on an installation as this varies in different areas.

Dudy80 · Feb 19, 2006

Yes but you have to watch with laptops... There a whole different ballpark then desktops. You need to make sure that its not propritary and that there space avaible. Laptops have a reputation for being a pain to upgrade.

Russe · Feb 19, 2006

sweetpete,your graphics card is too weak and, unfortunately, it is not possible to upgrade it in a notebook. I dont think more ram will help much. Try to lower resolution and turn off antialiasing. You should also get the latest graphics drivers.

Snerk · Feb 19, 2006

Russe said:
sweetpete,your graphics card is too weak and, unfortunately, it is not possible to upgrade it in a notebook. I dont think more ram will help much. Try to lower resolution and turn off antialiasing. You should also get the latest graphics drivers.

I've downloaded and tried to install the latest display driver from ATI (catalyst control center 6.3) but the installation abortet due to an error message that occured at the end of the installation.
The error message: Video driver not found

Any suggestions on how to get the latest drivers installed?

Russe · Feb 20, 2006

You should remove old drivers first. Use this http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745#download.

Snerk · Feb 20, 2006

Russe said:
You should remove old drivers first. Use this http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=745#download.

I did that. I manually removed it from "add and remove programs".
And the second time i removed it with a driver remover tool.

Both times the error, Video driver not found, occured and the installation aborted at the very end.
Any ideas?

Russe · Feb 21, 2006

Well, im not sure what you'he downloaded since Catalyst 6.3 wasn't released yet. Try 6.2 from here http://www.station-drivers.com/page/atidriv%20mobility.htm

Snerk · Feb 21, 2006

I meant Catalyst control center 6.2... thats what i downloaded and what i couldn't install. Any ideas?

Russe · Feb 22, 2006

have you tried one from my previous post? Maybe you need mobility catalyst for your mobility X300.

Snerk · Feb 22, 2006

Russe said:
have you tried one from my previous post? Maybe you need mobility catalyst for your mobility X300.

Yes it worked! Atleast i think it worked. Brilliant, thank you.
But what was the difference between this one and the one i dowloaded from www.ati.com?
Do you know if there is any way i can check if my new driver is properly installed?
The dxdiag below is saved after i installed the new driver.

hamtastic · Feb 22, 2006

Boris,

My laptop did that for a while too - it was very irritating. I have no guarantee that this will work for you, but here's what I did that made it stop happening.

1. I reinstalled the driver for the graphics card. I don't think this is necessary, but what it will do is tell you what the optimal setting size is for your screen.

2. I set the screen size to that.

3. I changed the screen size within CIV4 to match that screen size.

4. I ran the game, and didn't encounter the annoying out of video memory problems any more. Hope that helps (if you're still looking at this thread).

Russe · Feb 24, 2006

sweetpete,

But what was the difference between this one and the one i dowloaded from www.ati.com?

Desktop drivers don't support mobile chipsets guess ( i don't know why is that, since there isn't much difference between desktop and mobile chipsets ).

Do you know if there is any way i can check if my new driver is properly installed?
The dxdiag below is saved after i installed the new driver.

Dxdiag shows the new version is installed, and if you have exactly followed instructions in Driver Cleaner's readme then you can be sure it is installed properly.

Boris Badinov · Feb 24, 2006

Hamtastic: :worship:

2. I set the screen size to that.

Hoo hoo, it worked. I never thought about increasing the resolution to make it work. How counter-intuitive is that. Originally I had it set to 1024x728, but I followed your suggestion and set it to 1440x900 and it worked fine, thanks a bunch!

Snerk · Feb 24, 2006

hamtastic said:
Boris,
1. I reinstalled the driver for the graphics card. I don't think this is necessary, but what it will do is tell you what the optimal setting size is for your screen.

How do I get it to tell me what the optimal setting size for my screen?

Should my laptop do better?

Smeghead

Chieftain

Smeghead

Delusions of grandeur

Smeghead

Pain is Inevitable Unhappiness is Optional

Warlord

Chieftain

Chieftain

Smeghead

Chieftain

Smeghead

Chieftain

Smeghead

Chieftain

Smeghead

Hamburglar

Chieftain

Pain is Inevitable Unhappiness is Optional

Smeghead

Similar threads