Can i load 2 diffrent civ4 and play multi on 2 monitors with one pc?

[Cidbeme]

So... heres a puzzler question for you... i just now have set up my Hdtv as my second monitor in hopes that I can start 2 diffrent civ 4 applications at the same time so a friend and i can play multi player mode. So with that information how can i get one of the games to load on one screen and then get it to load on the other... i am kicking a few ideas around and trying a few things ... well if you know the solution and can get it to me b4 i figure it out id be most gratious... im trying to get it so i can have one play on one screen and the other on the other screen while still playing the game on the same computer am i dreaming is that possible to do
I already have my desktop set 2 monitors
is it at all possible to load this game in a windowed mode if so i couldnt find it on the option pages

 

[lymond]

No computer expert, but I highly doubt it. Probably some techy wizardry to pull that off. However, you could simply play Hot Seat on the big HDTV.

As for windowed mode, go to your BTS config file and find the line for "fullscreen mode". Change it to "0" to automatically load as window, or choose "ask" to prompt you for the option. Note that the screen mouse scroll does not work in windowed mode. However, you can use the cursor on the mini-map to get around. It's a bit awkward at first but is actually almost even better once you get used to it.

 

[luke2345]

you could just get a new computer

 

[backthief]

Yes you can!

Theres a software called Sandboxie. It allows you to open multiple instances of the same .exe file.

( its also used to a lot of hacking in MMOs..... )

http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=291417&stc=1&d=1306796278

 

[backthief]

Oh, by doing it, your computer will be using significantly more RAM, CPU and a lot of video card memory. Dont try with any ordinary PC or you wont have a good performance.

 

[backthief]

3 Civs! And so it goes...4,5, 6....

http://forums.civfanatics.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=291419&stc=1&d=1306796819

 

[thebird]

If you don't want to modify the config file, there is an option ingame for it.

From the main menu, click "Advanced", "Options", then the "Graphics" tab. Uncheck the Full-screen mode" box, you will need to restart for it to change to windowed mode.

 

[1stcontact2035]

You'd have to make very sure that you're running a top of the line multi-core processor, and that Civ4 is going to be utilizing all the cores (I know that a lot of times games won't use more than one or two cores of a multi-core processor without some tweaking). And I'm not even sure if 8 gigs of ram would work for this unless you're not going to be playing on anything substantial in terms of mods and maps. Just fair warning, though it sounds like a cool idea.

 

[Abegweit]

@1stcontact20

Civ4 is not multi-threaded so it doesn't take advantage of a multiple cores at all. However, if you are running multiple instances of the game, each one basically get its own core to run on. Furthermore each instance of CIV will not use more than 2 Gig of memory. Thus the rule of thumb would be 2 Gig + 1 core for each instance of the game. A 64-bit OS is definitely needed for this.

Two instances of CIV would run adequately on a 4 gig, dual-core processor. A third core and another gig of memory for the OS would be useful but not essential. Anything beyond that would be overkill.

An 8 GB quad-core processor should support 4 instances of the game quite adequately.

 

[1stcontact2035]

I don't quite get it, though. I run a quad core with 3 gigs of memory on 64 bit Windows... and yet on some heftier mods/maps I still get crashes due to inadequate memory. I even have 1 gig of video memory, plus a psychotic amount of cached HD memory. Technically if CIV should only use 2 gigs of memory, max, then this should not happen, unless of course my inkling is correct that some of the mods have built in changes to the core code that make the game use more memory and sometimes use multiple cores. I figure having two extra gigs of ram would be necessary to do this from my experience since the 1 extra gig of ram to play just one instance of CIV doesn't cut it. Heck, its possible that the 8 gigs might be necessary just to play two instances of CIV... though if just playing non-modded CIV its possible you could get away with 6 gigs.

 

[Abegweit]

Mods can't change the limit and the OS doesn't change the limit. Only the exe can do that and we don't have access to the exe.

More importantly, it makes no difference how much memory you have in your computer at all. Civ4 has a limit of 2Gig of memory addressability and that's all there is to it. In fact, that's the limit even if you have less than 2Gig of memory. In that case, Windows will supplement with hard disk space. The program will run slower but it will run... until you hit the 2Gig limit.

Then it crashes.

 

[1stcontact2035]

Ah... so when a game crashes, its not that my computer lacks sufficient memory but that Civ4 lacks sufficient memory? So it would be a waste of effort to purchase more memory if my game crashes, since the problem is that I'm probably playing a mod and/or map that maxes out the allocated space for Civ4's memory.

Great, back to Civ5, I guess.

 

[NP300]

More importantly, it makes no difference how much memory you have in your computer at all. Civ4 has a limit of 2Gig of memory addressability and that's all there is to it. In fact, that's the limit even if you have less than 2Gig of memory.

That's not entirely correct. In 64-bit Windows Vista and 64-bit Windows 7, Civ4 can address 4 GB of memory. In 32-bit versions of Windows, it can address 3 GB with special settings.

 

[Abegweit]

Really? 32-bit Windows programs (like Civ4 and Civ5) can access 2GB under normal settings and 3GB with special settings. As I understand it, Civ4 uses normal settings and Civ5 enables specials.

A 32-bit program is limited to 4GB of memory -- by definition. I think you need to explain why you have this notion that it is possible, under ANY settings, that none of this address space is used by the OS. After all, the OS does have to run and it does need memory space within the process.

And what do you think is different between 64-bit XP and 64-bit Vista? The limitations for 32 bit processes are exactly the same in both cases.

 

[avw94]

LAN with two computers

 

[Dhoomstriker]

So, ummm, how does input work with Sandboxie? I mean, you probably only have 1 keyboard and 1 mouse, right?

Would players just have to take turns sitting in the same chair such that they'd each take a turn at the keyboard and mouse?

If yes, then it sounds like using the Multiplayer -> Hot Seat mode would work better, as you'd only have 1 instance of the game running on your CPU and RAM instead of 2 instances of the game running.

 

[mintegar]

Really? 32-bit Windows programs (like Civ4 and Civ5) can access 2GB under normal settings and 3GB with special settings. As I understand it, Civ4 uses normal settings and Civ5 enables specials.

Vanilla Civ4 by default wasn't "large address aware", so it's limited to 2GB. But you can use some tool to change/patch that.
BTS shipped with /LARGEADDRESAWARE setting already enabled.

A 32-bit program is limited to 4GB of memory -- by definition. I think you need to explain why you have this notion that it is possible, under ANY settings, that none of this address space is used by the OS. After all, the OS does have to run and it does need memory space within the process.

As i understand it, only a small part of the OS needs to get loaded in the 32b process. Just some Dlls which hook it up with the rest of the system, and somehow give the app access to all the 32-bit libs it needs while it's actually running on 64b system.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa384274(v=vs.85).aspx
(WOW64 Implementation Details)


I think if you test it out, with a 32Bit program which tries to alloc as much memory as possible that you'll get most of the 4GB (provided that the 64B OS you run that test on has >= 6GB).

See e.g. the following blog post which says as much:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/oldnewthing/archive/2005/06/01/423817.aspx

And what do you think is different between 64-bit XP and 64-bit Vista? The limitations for 32 bit processes are exactly the same in both cases.

Yes, they are the same in that regard, i think.

 

[elz17]

So, ummm, how does input work with Sandboxie? I mean, you probably only have 1 keyboard and 1 mouse, right?

Would players just have to take turns sitting in the same chair such that they'd each take a turn at the keyboard and mouse?

If yes, then it sounds like using the Multiplayer -> Hot Seat mode would work better, as you'd only have 1 instance of the game running on your CPU and RAM instead of 2 instances of the game running.

This is really the catchpoint of this thread. People got sidetracked so quickly spruiking multiple instances and hardware specs they forgot to address the problem of multiple inputs controlling seperate interfaces. I am yet to locate a normal PC that can accomdate such a set up.

Bottom line is - if you don't want to be taking turns - get two computers. Otherwise you might as well just play hot seat and take turns as Dhoomstriker mentions.

 

[Lemon Merchant]

Mods can't change the limit and the OS doesn't change the limit. Only the exe can do that and we don't have access to the exe.

More importantly, it makes no difference how much memory you have in your computer at all. Civ4 has a limit of 2Gig of memory addressability and that's all there is to it. In fact, that's the limit even if you have less than 2Gig of memory. In that case, Windows will supplement with hard disk space. The program will run slower but it will run... until you hit the 2Gig limit.

Then it crashes.

As mentioned, BTS is "Large Address Aware", and it can use a larger amount of memory in a 64 bit OS.

In a 32 bit OS, the maximum available RAM is 4 GB, less the OS overhead, so typically < 3.3GB. A typical 32 bit program can access only 2 GB, (and you are correct on that point). The OS will use the rest for itself. With a 64 bit OS, the system will allow 4 GB for BTS (I have yet to see it use that much), and if you have more memory, say 8 GB, the OS will park all of its' DLLs and such above the 4 GB limit - allowing the full 4 GB for BTS.