1.52 set up new game crash

[Mavebe]

Hi people,

Hopefully somebody's able to help me out. Been having all known problems with Civ4. So far always been able to solve them and been playing the game rather smoothly.
Now with the 1.52 release, I'm can't set up a new game. When I do so, the game will stall after initialization. I'm left with a black screen and laptop will stall completely, only thing I can do is shut down laptop.
I'm still able to play saved games though.

Anybody familiar with this problem?

 

[Zydor]

The Pentium M has so far pulled you through, its an excellent cpu for graphics - has its limitations of course, its not going to compete with the top end cpus for desktops. Mobility Radeon graphics depend on the main cpu for crunching graphics data, it does not have a separate system aka video card to off load the graphics work - particularly the 3D graphics work which is many times more intense than 2D.

V1.52 placed more work on the graphics card to release main system RAM, as such, yours does not have one, that extra work pushed it over the edge. The graphics core of the 9200 has limitations in coping with 3D as you have already noticed, but it can run - just - as long as low texturs / lower res etc are used. You will run into problems as time goes on and you use larger Civ scenarios in Large / Huge maps.

The next Patch is due in about 2 weeks, given no last minute issues with testing etc. It willhave another significant improvement in memory use - plus all the usual ongoing fixes etc. That better use of memory will be important for you, so dont give up hope if the suggestions below dont work.

- They included a "memsaver" switch in V1.52, it turns off some memory changes that placed more load on Video Cards, and left them operating in system RAM.
Go to C:\Documents and Settings\New User\My Documents\My Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\CivilizationIV.ini
Open it with Notepad
Set the ini lines to the figure shown below (in ini file Figure 0 means "off", figure 1 means "on"). Back up ini file first so you can recover to start point if get confused.

- Your graphics drivers are Jan 2004, try a slightly older set - not latest and greatest, latter will have various functions in there that the 9200 knows nothing about.
http://www.omegadrivers.net/
Click ATI Radeon - Click sub menu Archive - Click sub menu Win 2K
Scroll down that page until you see Radeon Omega Drivers 2.5.97a (Catalyst 4.12) they are not the latest,but they are a very stable reliable set, and probably better for your older setup. If they dont work properly, try Radeon Omega Drivers 2.6.83 (Catalyst 5.11) at the top of the page. The Omega drivers have been very successfull for alot of people - particularly those with older graphics setups

There are a number of other things you can try at
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=3607616#post3607616 post 4
Doubtless some you have already applied / been through. however, check though them - its designed to reduce the loadon the graphics processing & cpu, the latter is important for you given the weak graphics (in 3D terms) that you have.

If still stuck, hang on for the next Patch. If after that, stillstuck, then need to look more seriously at a hradware upgrade.

Regards
Zy

 

[Mavebe]

Thanx for your tips Zy,
Been trying out an update of driver and also the 'memsaver' option. Almost looked like the problem was solved. Was able to set up 2 new games, after that same old problem again, even after rebooting and clearing the cash.
Will have another look at it this weekend, though I'm not too fond of downgrading my driver. Maybe I'll wait for the patch in 2 weeks before I do that. Till that time I still have 2 new games saved waiting to be played

I'll update you when I make some progress.

Regards,

Marcel

 

[Zydor]

Stick at it - what you found so far indicates the main issue. Dont think of it as a "downgrade" ref the driver. New is not always the best. New ones contain additional code for new features of newer boards, if your board does not use them, they are pointless for you. The added complexity in the code can cause issues even with old features. The 4.12 set had a very good rep in their day, around the time your card came out, its worth a shot.

Keep plugging away at reducing the memory/cpu load re cpu & graphics. For sure dont do anything drastic like new hardware yet - certainly not until the new patch is out, you are right on the edge of working, and the next Patch improvements may make the difference

One thing to remember when re-doing Civ Patch's the reload will reset the internal graphics and resolution options in the Civ IV Options Menu back to "High" etc, you need them at low / 1024x768. Nip back in and reset after Patching

Regards
Zy

 

[Mavebe]

Zy, I think I'm there!

Honestly I never expected the graphics to be the problem, since once playing, the game runs smoothly (videos included). And because I never had this problem before the 1.52 patch release.
Have been tweaking a little bit more and after setting all possible graphics to a minimum spec, I don't seem to have any problem what so ever setting up a new game.

Of course I do enjoy full graphics, so here's my trick After setting up the game in low specs, I save and close the game and restart in high graphics mode. Load the saved game and all goes well

Now I'm afraid to see what happens with the new patch LOL

Anyways, thanx a lot for your help!

Regards,

Marcel

 

[Zydor]

Nice One MaveBe

Keep in the back of your mind you have a 9200 - you have low end graphics, so the PC needs to be "tuned" very well - especially the graphics load when running 3D - to squeeze out of it all you can - every bit helps. You will get more and more into it, which will mean a greater load on the graphics with 3D as it has more work to do the more the game goes on. Eventually - bang. If that happens too often - and you know for certain its the graphics side (& not something else), well, time for an upgrade to stop the frustration - only you can say when that point is reached.

Happy World Domination

Regards
Zy