can my computer run civ4?

[Veqryn]

ok, I'm planning on buying Civilization 4, plus its expansions, and I'm wondering if my computer can run it (decently well)

Dell 8200 Laptop (from september 2001) with:
1.7 ghz pentium 4 processor mobile
512 mb ram (sd133) (1gb page file)
geforce4, 440 Go, 64mb ram

anything else that needs mentioning?

thanks,
veqryn

 

[Cutlass]

You can. but only if you set all the graphics options to minimums. and at that it'll be fairly slow.

 

[ggganz]

Civ4 doesn't need a very good proccessor, but yours is below recommended. Also, the Graphics card is kinda pitiful.

 

[T.A JONES]

I wouldn't. Even the best games running that slow arn't worth the bother.

 

[grommit5]

I would think standard and smaller maps with the graphics turned down should run ok. Beyond that you are most likely going to have problems.

 

[J-man]

I have a computer that has somewhat lower specs then yours and it runs civ, but not fast. You need to set all the graphics setting to minimum and perhaps you need to edit the init files to, I know had to. I also recommend to switch off programs that run in the background.

 

[r_rolo1]

A question: how much free space you have in your hard disk? Civ + BtS grasp a good +2 GB and with 512 MB the system will go to virtual memory fast, eating some more hundreds of MB.....

 

[Verge]

I would refrain from installing it on that computer, if only to save yourself the possible frustrations of running Civilization 4 on a weak rig. But if you really don't mind dialing down the settings and playing on small maps, I suppose you could go ahead and run it on that laptop. r_rolo1 brings up a good point, though, double-check the free space on your hard drive.

 

[Dubai Vol]

I'm running the same setup, only with a GeForce2 64mB graphics card, and it runs fine, even with large maps. Takes a while to load, but once it's running, no problems. No wonder movies or leader heads, but that doesn't affect gameplay.

What else you have running in the background will be important. Mrs Dubai's laptop is much higher spec, but it will hardly run CIV at all because of all the background stuff she has running.

 

[Thanny]

First, CPU is supremely important in Civ4. That is not a great processor, so you'll need to keep your games on the small side.

That graphics chip is also quite limited. Keep resolution low, and all options low.

512MB of RAM is another reason you'll have to stick to small games. Close every program you can before playing, and it just might by tolerable.