Freeze on Windows 7

[Bocator]

Hi everyone !

As you can guess, i've some problems with Civ4.

I have a new computer since one month, and when I play Civ4 sometimes I got freeze series (freeze then black screen + message which tells me that my graphic driver has stopped working and has recovered) during ~1min (or more).
Sometimes I got a blue screen + reset when I just launch it and sometimes instead of freeze Civ4 just stop working.

I just don't understand why it's happening, I never lag, I can run games like Shogun 2/Napoleon Total War with the best graphics without any problems but I always got problems like i described with "older games".

I hope i''ve been clear in my description.

My config:

Windows 7 64 bits
GC : AMD Radeon HD 6800 Series
Processor : AMD Phenom(tm) II X4 955 Processor (4 CPUs), ~3.2GHz
Memory : 4096MB RAM

Spoiler :

If someone could help me to solve my problem !

Thanks!

 

[kiwitt]

Have you installed Civ 4 as per my thread

 

[Bocator]

Have you installed Civ 4 as per my thread

Civ4 is installed in my external hard disk (like all my games), is it really needed to install it in C:\ ?

Just, I'm not sure if I have DX9, have I to install it or it's okay with DX11 ?

 

[Bocator]

I forgot to mention but the "freeze series" are just when I play on "big map", like "RFC" in late game or "Road to War : Historical", same when Civ4 stop working.


Edit: I installed the game as indicate in your thread, I'll test it after school.

 

[Bocator]

Hum, I tested it and I have the same problems. I've exactly done what you say in your thread except I couldn't install DX9 (I already have DX11).

I noticed I've exactly the same problem with the Sims 3, when the game become too "big" my graphic driver stop working periodically.

 

[mintegar]

I would have said theres something wrong with the HW, but since Shogun 2 runs ok which should be much more taxing that explanation doesn't really fit..

About a year ago my system had issues with the gfx card occaisionaly crapping out, and it was because the PSU was already several years old and running close to it's max spec. power. So replaced the PSU with a better one and no issues since.

You can try setting the following option, it should limit load on GPU. AFAIK without it civ4 will tell the GFX card to render new Frames as fast as it can handle.

~\Documents\My Games\Beyond the Sword\CivilizationIV.ini
; Set max frame rate clamp (0 means none)
SetMaxFrameRate = 60

 

[Bocator]

I would have said theres something wrong with the HW, but since Shogun 2 runs ok which should be much more taxing that explanation doesn't really fit..

About a year ago my system had issues with the gfx card occaisionaly crapping out, and it was because the PSU was already several years old and running close to it's max spec. power. So replaced the PSU with a better one and no issues since.

What's the PSU ? I'm not sure of what you mean, but if it's the power supply i got a "Antec HCG - 520W" which seems pretty good, no?

You can try setting the following option, it should limit load on GPU. AFAIK without it civ4 will tell the GFX card to render new Frames as fast as it can handle.

~\Documents\My Games\Beyond the Sword\CivilizationIV.ini
; Set max frame rate clamp (0 means none)
SetMaxFrameRate = 60

I'm going to try it.

 

[Bocator]

I've changed the frame rate as you said but i got the same problems, at the begin of my game! (never happen before )
I really don't understand what could be the problem!

Spoiler :

 

[Bocator]

I made a test on "Can You Run It ?" and i got this :

Spoiler :

So Windows 7 could be the only problem ?

 

[kiwitt]

Civ4 is installed in my external hard disk (like all my games), is it really needed to install it in C:\ ??

How is your external hard disk connected, USB2 or eSATA. (which is 400MB/s versus 3.0 GB/s). Plus I think there are other limitations.

 

[Bocator]

How is your external hard disk connected, USB2 or eSATA. (which is 400MB/s versus 3.0 GB/s). Plus I think there are other limitations.

It's connected by USB, but my when I play on other computers I don't have this problem.

 

[kiwitt]

Uninstall it and try installing it on c:\games\civ4

 

[Bocator]

I've installed on C:\GAMES\Firaxis Games\Sid Meier's Civilization 4\Beyond the Sword
I'll play a game and I'll tell you if this solve.

 

[Bocator]

The same problem, I just got more "stop working" than freeze :/

 

[kiwitt]

Is it a normal game or a mod.

 

[Bocator]

I tried normal game and mod and that's the same

 

[kiwitt]

Have you tried this fix as well.

 

[Bocator]

I've done what it says, for now I just got some freeze but no annoying, and my graphic driver has an update available, I'm downloading it.

 

[Bocator]

Last days the problem has worsened, I can't play anymore to Civ4 even at the beginning of a game...
And today I've decided to see what games I can run or not (I mean without constant freeze), and the same result again, just the more recent are playable. And trying launch Fable (the first...) I got this warning :

Spoiler :

Is it possible that the old games don't "detect" my RAM and so can't use it, which explain those constant freeze ?


And thanks for the help you gave me ! I've bought this computer mainly for play games and now I'm just ****ed.

 

[kiwitt]

I suggest you run some memory diagnostics - http://www.memtest.org/