Does Civ4 cause computer shutdown?

[Jersey General]

Here's the deal: Installation was fine, patched (1.52) without a problem, game starts, runs for a while (anywhere from a dozen to couple hundred turns). Then the computer shuts down, and I have to reboot. No warning, no other indications of problems, no error messages, nothing. Doesn't return to desktop, the machine just dies. I haven't had this happen when using any other program of any type, so I can't help but think that it is somehow related to Civ4. Any thoughts?

Specs:

Toshiba Tecra S2 laptop
Pentium M 740 1.73 Ghz processor
Windows XP Professional w/Service Pack 2
512 MB RAM
NVIDIA GeForce GO 6600 graphics card, driver 7.1.1.0
64 MB video RAM
24x CD-ROM drive

 

[ClockExplosion]

What's your power supply? Make sure you have adequate power supply...and make sure your computer isn't over heating.

And 64 MB of video ram? That seems kind of...small.

 

[Jersey General]

I'm using the AC connection cord that came with the computer. Is there any reason why that should be inadequate for running the game?

 

[robaughjr]

I'm guessing that videocard didn't come with the computer. If not, it's your power supply. The one that comes with the machine is enough for the hardware "out of the box". New videocards use more juice (especially in a 3d game like civ4) and when it overloads the power supply you have, everything shuts down. Check your videocard's requirements vs your existing supply and determine if you need to upgrade.

 

[Adamal]

Since its a laptop it could be overheating, however a more likly suspect is the video card drivers. Make sure you have the latest from nVidia's website. Not toshiba's

 

[Adamal]

I'm guessing that videocard didn't come with the computer. If not, it's your power supply. The one that comes with the machine is enough for the hardware "out of the box". New videocards use more juice (especially in a 3d game like civ4) and when it overloads the power supply you have, everything shuts down. Check your videocard's requirements vs your existing supply and determine if you need to upgrade.

Its a laptop... I'm pretty sure he didn't upgrade the video card.

 

[Eschatos]

Okay, I made the mistake of getting my Radeon 9800XT installed at Best Buy. Now, having read this thread, my displeasure with their service prompted me to check the box. Unfortunately, there were two cords still in their packing (one is labeled "low voltage computer cable" and the other "coaxial cable").
Sadly, I'm not a very technologically savvy person. Does the presence of these wires indicate that the guy at Best Buy used the wires that came with my computer and didn't bother to use the wires prepackaged with the card or are these something else entirely?

 

[Jersey General]

I'm using the original video card that came with the computer. Oddly enough, when I tried to upgrade the driver (from nVidia), I was told it couldn't find any compatible hardware. So I went back to the original 7.1.1.0 driver.

 

[kemeki]

Hey - I have the same problem you're having, have you discovered a resolution?

 

[Jersey General]

Kemeki: It was suggested to me that my computer was overheating, and that getting it off my lap would help with air circulation. I was able to play Civ4 yesterday for several hours without a shutdown by putting my laptop on a table so the fan and vent didn't get blocked. That seemed to make a big difference. (Of course, being able to play that long meant that I eventually ran into the play-as-slow-as-sludge problem, but that seems to be universal. Hope this helps.

 

[NNN]

I'm having a similar problem. Everything worked fine with 1.09, however after I installed 1.52 I am having problems with my CPU overheating. I have an AMD 2800 that is not overclocked. When I start the game my CPU is running at about 60 degrees but within about 10 to 20 minutes the CPU has jumped to over 80 degrees (I actually burned my finger on the heatsink) and the computer shuts down. I checked and all fans are working correctly, this does not happen for any other program and I have been running a number of programs that are much more intense than this game. To me it appears to be linked to this service pack or some strange coincidence where it just happens to overheat when I play civ starting the day that I installed 1.52.

Is there a way to bump the program back to 1.09 without having to reinstall? I would like to test to ensure that the problem doesn't continue with 1.09.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Jersey General]

There might be, but I didn't know what it was, so I just reinstalled using the 1.09 patch. I reckon I should have mentioned that before, but couldn't imagine why it would make a difference, but yeah, NNN, my ability to play without crash coincided with my switching to 1.09 from 1.52.

 

[AgentJones]

Since its a laptop it could be overheating, however a more likly suspect is the video card drivers. Make sure you have the latest from nVidia's website. Not toshiba's

nVidia does NOT support mobile graphics cards, except for the recent Go7800. The only driver he can use is the Toshiba drivers, they were designed for his card, they are his best and only option.

Is there a way to bump the program back to 1.09 without having to reinstall? I would like to test to ensure that the problem doesn't continue with 1.09.

No, you must uninstall/reinstall.