Civ 4 performance

[kanyezzy]

Hello everyone!
I'm having some problems with Civ 4 on my PC.
My specs: Duron 1300 mhz , 512 ram , radeon 9200 128 ram
I know that my pc is very old but i think i'm in the minimum requirements of this beautiful game.
My question is. How can i improve my performance with this game because it runs very slow.
P.S Sorry for the bad english.

 

[Verge]

As with most PC games these days, running at minimum requirements is largely insufficient to actually play the game.

Assuming you have dropped all the settings to their lowest level, and that you've done some optimization of your PC (such as defragging), then the only way to improve performance is to do some hardware upgrades.


Welcome to CFC!

 

[T.A JONES]

As with most PC games these days, running at minimum requirements is largely insufficient to actually play the game.

Sadly in this case the OP has above the minimum requirements in all 3 categories listed on CIv4's box . Quoted from CIv4 box: : 1.2 ghz 256ram and 64mb 7500 Graphics card.

Actually he has the "Recommended Requirments" which consumers base their decision to buy on, for ram and graphics card, also The 2 most important specs for running this game smoothly

On top of that,From my own and am sure others Xpiernces, I had over the "recommended Req". Engine(2.0gz) Ram (768ram) (with 128 9550 gcard) and still had the same severe slow downs and CTD's he discribed. THis was only on the standard map size and civ amount so my situation was much worse then it seems in this case.

I can expect needing more then above recommended to play a huge or even large with something 'crazy' like 12 civs but say it on the box. Masses just came from playing civ3' s16 civs on large(not huge) in a breeze. Keeps you support base happy.
I was sad enough to see the standard size map had srunk in cities it could hold. Now Ontop another knock comes in decrease in lperformance trying to play these new decreased defult sizes. You see? Its a double hit, just to crazy for me.

All this Sent me back to civ3 in a big hurry. (where I upgraded my computer to compound the good feelin of going back to 'many civs' dealing with large infrastructure to slug it out on larger maps. THe upgrades made maps even larger possable then I could play before with even more civs on the floor and tops, such drasticly reduced interturn I was megabombed in full civ4 revolt. Havn't never looked front since lol

OK I lie. I am hoping civ4 gets some better gaming speeds. I see potential in modders to get it done. It took civ3 some time to get straightened out, try 6 years for Perfection speed it runs at now and still only on top of the line 2mb L2 monocores (need proof ask for link to my youtube vids)

 

[kanyezzy]

Oh well... , guess i'm going to Civ 3 and add-ons.
Thanks anyway guys.

 

[manu-fan]

CIV IV is a memory hog. Get more memory!

Cheers.

 

[kanyezzy]

Probably i shouldn't say this but when i first tried Civ 4 , about an year ago ( yeah , i know - noob , and no i'm not 14) ...well, it was my first experience with the Civ series. So, for a newcomer like me with these series , is Civ 3 good for me?

 

[GVBN]

How can i improve my performance with this game because it runs very slow.

Can't do anything about that. Getting a better PC is the only option

 

[T.A JONES]

Probably i shouldn't say this but when i first tried Civ 4 , about an year ago ( yeah , i know - noob , and no i'm not 14) ...well, it was my first experience with the Civ series. So, for a newcomer like me with these series , is Civ 3 good for me?

That depends do you like more in depth history and strategy?

Civ3 has been refined over the years into something you can't imagine when you first open the box. Starting with terrain and on to every facet of the game. Everything been improved upon and change is as easy as working an option menu on your Playstation 2( talking loading mods here)
This for me is what make civ3 great. After the original game and its awesome "conquest sceanrios" are completed you move on to buillt up improved frame. Awesome for replay if you like to learn through complete pedia descripting and indepth gameplay. Diversity modded in civ3 puts you in the age with cultual flavouring to every nation's units, Leaders change appearnce through ages as do buildings, towns, etc..) If you like this then the games for you

I comes down to the Civ3 editer. Its a wonderful thing. Makes the modders sing in rejoice instead of belt out the beleaguered blues. Mybe thats why civ3 has 3 times the 'store bought' quality mods and unit rosters for you to choose?.

EX: Balancer Reloaded (comes loaded with Civ3 Complete)Basicly its a balanced improved version that easing pains that hinder realism such as heavy corruption on overseas empires that are are part of the game if you wish or now you have the choice to build new improvements to wipe this out at cost to infrastructure (see balance is key ) 600 units added (900 total)Expanding on what you've come to know and love about Civ, Its greatly enlarged it to include many new technologies, new resources, and over 600 units ...oh and the history depth part..ALL 1200 entires have full pedia discriptions! . You find this nowhere else but in other civ3 mods of the same caliber (and their are many more then civ4, at this ime)
Here's an ex: of 1 out of 600+ dispersed cultrually, units for supreme historical depth pedia discripts

Spoiler :

Expect the same detail for all new resources, and wonders, techs, and buildings. This is why mods are better and not worse. The quality standard is preserved or enhanced like in terrain, from the orignal form of the game (their is even 4 era mods that just focus in on middle ages, and BC, both are handled in same quality way as original )

I don't have time to get into all the stuff/examples (lots of this quality but also 100's of mods that arn't)
Lets just say with those specs its max enjoyment for the money when talking big maps where slow is the no go

 

[kanyezzy]

JONES , i think i understand what you're saying. But , excluding the mods,how's the game? For example , what's the difference between Civ 3 and Civ 4? What about the complexity of these 2 games in terms of gameplay , style , fun etc?

 

[T.A JONES]

hmm I can't really say. All I can offer is my mod Xpience which in your 'starting out' case, might no fare to well. See When i first played civ I was not intrested in changing from the main game aswell(think i tried a sloppy mod my first time or something) but now I can't go back. Still the OG(original Gamester) gameplay kept pinned for awhile aswell

Best you can do scan some threads to hear both sides positives an negatives. You can't lose buying a new computer so you can have both games and if you don't like civ4 you can play an even faster civ3,

ADD: Just to be not so one sided lol, Your CIv4 mod choices might be more limited now but will improve overtime aswell.
Still people will tell you in civ4 you will 'need' a ceratin mod like "Blue marble terrain" or whatever just the same as in civ3 they say you need a certain "snoopys terrain" to make the game. Hey, If you like to keep it OG then thats your deal and thats cool to man.

Well friend I said my bit or just a lil over it , Best of luck and pleasent journeys where ever you end up