My Friend's game is loading with black terrain, and we can't figure out why. We've updated drivers for the Vid card and we update Windows. The only possible problem coudl be the integrated graphics, but my other friend has that, and they work like a charm so idk. If anyone has had this problem and knows how to fix it lmk.
black terrain
- Thread starter wright100
- Start date
wright100 said:
DXdiag file of your friends computer thats has black terrain please.
also:
DXdiag file of your other friends computer too. I would like to compare the two. If the hardware is alike maybee you have a miracle cure that will help all below spec peops play the game
anyways:
More info is required.
Kilgore Trout
Chieftain
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2006
- Messages
- 1
My machine can't be obsolete already, can it? This Vaio was supposed to be designed for video editing, and it's not even two years old.
I am getting the same black terrain as everyone else - and the intro movie stitters.
I am getting the same black terrain as everyone else - and the intro movie stitters.
Zydor
Emperor
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,120
Its not somuch "obsolete" as not designed to run 3D graphics in games. The latter needs hardware T&Lsupport so that the video card processor is able tohelp the cpuprocess the very large amounts of data needed in the short time that 3D needs. An IGP (integrated graphics) is on board video with no separate videoprocessor, there the program relies on the cpu alone, the latter causes issues to say the least.
You can also see the effect on main system RAM, on board graphics "steals" its RAM from the main system RAM - you have 446Mb available instead of 512Mb. The 64Mb shortfall is the amount taken by the IGP. The latest Intel Extreme Series of on board chips has its own dedicated RAM, and a certain amount of dedicated processing (sort of, it relies on the PCI-e bus), net effect is the 945 and above will run it.
Bottom line, its unlikely you will run the game satisfactorily as your hardware does not support it.
Read through this link and the follow on links inside it, it will help you get the most out of what you have, worth a shot, but I doubt in the end it will run satisfactorily. I dont know if that laptop will take a card, if not - and a memory boast to 1Gb does not help (might not without a graphics card) - then its a PC/Latop upgrade if the info in the link below does not work.
Certainly the first thing is to try upgarding the graphics driver as yours is Jun 2003.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=154317
Regards
Zy
You can also see the effect on main system RAM, on board graphics "steals" its RAM from the main system RAM - you have 446Mb available instead of 512Mb. The 64Mb shortfall is the amount taken by the IGP. The latest Intel Extreme Series of on board chips has its own dedicated RAM, and a certain amount of dedicated processing (sort of, it relies on the PCI-e bus), net effect is the 945 and above will run it.
Bottom line, its unlikely you will run the game satisfactorily as your hardware does not support it.
Read through this link and the follow on links inside it, it will help you get the most out of what you have, worth a shot, but I doubt in the end it will run satisfactorily. I dont know if that laptop will take a card, if not - and a memory boast to 1Gb does not help (might not without a graphics card) - then its a PC/Latop upgrade if the info in the link below does not work.
Certainly the first thing is to try upgarding the graphics driver as yours is Jun 2003.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=154317
Regards
Zy
Dear All, I'm getting exactly the same problem, just masses of black terrain.
If I can get my dxdiag on show could somebody please help me? I'd be most grateful.
View attachment Tim's DxDiag.txt
If I can get my dxdiag on show could somebody please help me? I'd be most grateful.
View attachment Tim's DxDiag.txt
Zydor
Emperor
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,120
Timbolina
Look 2 posts up - same issue with a different chip
The game does not support IGPs, and you have 256Mb main RAM (the game needs 512Mb to run - but upgrade ram will not work on yours as you have an IGP).
Sorry , but it will not run on that hardware ...
Minimum specs for the game:
http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/support_msr.htm
Regards
Zy
Look 2 posts up - same issue with a different chip
The game does not support IGPs, and you have 256Mb main RAM (the game needs 512Mb to run - but upgrade ram will not work on yours as you have an IGP).
Sorry , but it will not run on that hardware ...
Minimum specs for the game:
http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/support_msr.htm
Regards
Zy
Swiss_Mercenary
Chieftain
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2006
- Messages
- 3
I have the black terrain problem too, on checking it turns out that my laptop does not have a powerful enough graphics card (32MB and no T&L). So I thought I would turn off the fog of war, that way I could still play.
I followed the instructions posted in these boards (mapvisible=1 on starting techs), but I still have black terrain even though I see the whole map.
Now I do not have the money to go out and buy myself a new laptop and the graphics card is integrated so is there a way to get the map back or am I SOL?
Thanks.
(Civ IV & 1.52 update by the way.)
I followed the instructions posted in these boards (mapvisible=1 on starting techs), but I still have black terrain even though I see the whole map.
Now I do not have the money to go out and buy myself a new laptop and the graphics card is integrated so is there a way to get the map back or am I SOL?
Thanks.
(Civ IV & 1.52 update by the way.)
Zanmato
King
Timbolina said:So excuse me for being stupid, but what would I need to buy to get the game working? Would I need to buy a whole new system?
And, what's an IGP?
IGP: Integrated Graphic Port. Meaning the graphics uses the system RAM.
Odds are you will have to get a PCI, PCI-e or AGP graphic card to get the game going. These cards have their own RAM for processing graphics. If your system is a couple of years old, you won't have a PCI-e slot since it's fairly new.
If your motherboard has a brown slot usually located below the CPU if it's a tower, you have a AGP slot.
Usually there is 5 PCI slots next to that, where internal modems, sound cards, etc, slot in. PCI graphic cards can also go in there. You can't miss them as they are aligned in a array.
What exactly is that statement based on? Where is the official source that says this? The MSR you link toZydor said:
ListsZydor said:
An IGP based on Geforce 4 MX440 meets T&L and "GeForce 2 or better".
There have been reports of people running CivIV successfully with IGP solutions using current drivers, provided that they have HW support for T&L.
It might be worth trying to reduce details and increase the DMA frame buffer aperture size (to 64MB at least). Also, it's a good idea to check that "MemSaver = 0" is in CivilizationIV.ini.
I understand what you're trying to say, MX440 will not run larger maps with full details and getting something like GeForce 7300 GS, 6600 or Radeon X600 XT, X1300 will work much better. But if there is really an official document from Firaxis stating that IGPs are not supported, then I'd like to see it.
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