Civ likes to use the page file's virtual memory, heavily, and the page file can never be bigger than 4 gigs, doesn't matter how powerful your machine is. It's a limitation of the OS. Also one must beware of the Mhz myth especially with Intel chips. .
I do agree the myth is true when comparing amd but not dualcore, faster ghz means thats how civ runs , faster, just like with a mono.
Cedermill is top tier civ machine Period.
ITs secret is ample engine memory(L1/L2) to store huge amounts of tasks combined with these tasks the obsence ghz powered engine processes them fast .
A large holding space (L2 cache) is no good unless a massive ghz speed or 'dicer' calculates the received tasks and shreds/ performs the task fast! A Large L2 cache build on a rig with slow clock speed is something like a conveyer belt feeding a 'processing machine' amounts it can't handle being fed!. (THIS MEANS VIR MEM gets called into to ACTION-THUS we wait for it to get there "SLOW DOWNS"!)
AO a hefty 2048mb L2 cache will still 'back up' so to speak, if eqpt with a insifficant 3.87 or lower ghz prosessor. Thats when we get SLOW DOWN as it calls in the Virtual mem/page file
Civ interturns are uniquely taxxing process for any rig. quadcores were never optimized to handle the Civ turn processs as efficently as the old ghz heat seekers coulped with adequate L2 supplies like the Cedermill, even weaker Prescoot (Extreme Edition))
INtel cedermill, uses 2048 L2 on its 64 bit supported 3.6ghz(base -8ghz max)
'64'n, chipset. other pent4's were planted with the older clumsy 90nm
The inefficant power usage assumptions that go with record clocking of the 'Cedermill' compared to AMD or dualcore are BS
1. the Ceder goes to 4.6 without increasing the watts
2.. THe record amount of L2 for a mono is preventing more backlogs that heat up and dely the processes of interturn on massive data collection maps.
3. Corecell is a overclocker kit designed for Cedermill enhancment, powers performace effiency even more. THis peice of code lets high GHz get better performance and prevents heat caused malfunctions/deleys .
3. The smaller 64nm chip and new layout gives improves cooling as components are not situated as close
4. Overclocking preceident. That mean you can go higher then before try 6.0 to 7.ghz with a avg cooling system and corecell.
5. 64 bit supported mean unlike any other pentium4, you can plug in a few extra G sticks for 4 gigs of ram.
SO Heres how a Ceder will save Civ4: A G-card with a fast engine and fat ram supply working with the 2 gig ram eqpt to the rig, will hold back the graphic pig while the cedermill blazin 4-7ghz ) engine chops up data that the L2 processor memory lets in the doors and stores in unpredented amounts for a monocore. The newst quadcores have more L2 but less ghz speed,so its the perfect combo that makes the ceder truimph!. Again avoidin tedius vir mem call up
Last FACT civ3 or civ4 are mono application utilized games that need the best mono ever designed , that being the cede. I will prove all when the new patch releases and or when Im back from my next fly in work schedule, whichever.
*winks at garrmit* Thats right I know you see me lol can't wait to see ya there to.
Thats If IM shown the error in my ways. As well as you to I imagine. Sadly Thats more then can be said bout a few here. My fanclub, You see em showin some weird hatred to civ3 in debate, get pwned you know? Then won't leave you alone? 
