Graphic's - Video Card Best For Civ IV

[Brew God]

Hello Die Hard Civ Fans,

I have asked this question before over a year a go and with the quick and fast changes with video graphic cards and processing chips like Intel's viiv quad core 2 chip and video cards now with 512 to 1 T mb, I would like to know from some expert players on Civ IV which Intel Chips and Video cards would you suggest on having to experience the game at it's fullest.

This of course coming from buying a new computer...which combination would you be looking for to play Civ IV and not experience any slow downs or lag times while playing large games...Map ..Huge and 7 plus AI's inbetween turns.

Also I have a Radeon X300 video card with 256 mb dedicated. This came with my computer which is a HP Media Center m7250n which has a dual core D chip at 2.8 hertz. I have upgraded to 3 gigs of Ram.

What are some suggestions that I can do with my computer at the moment to experience Civ IV at it's optimum potential for what the game has to offer.

Any suggestions would be great.

Thank You

Brew God

 

[EweezE]

For GPU, get an ATI Radeon HD 4870X2, if you've got $560 to burn that is. That's the best card available atm. Civ came out in '05 though and doesn't require the best of the best from '08.. Civ is a static game most of the time, and you can get buy on a cheap card if you had to.

For CPU, get an Intel Wolfdale E8600. It's around $275 and is the best Core 2 Duo available atm. This chip's family (Wolfdale) was born for overclocking!


I've got an Intel E8400 Wolf and an Nvidia 8800GTS (320/640MB) [<--soon to be a HD 4870X2] and Civ runs fine on high settings. You could even run Civ on high setting with lesser hardware than this though.. It is not such a demanding game. Anyways, that's what I'd buy if I was building a rig right about now.

 

[Willem]

Also I have a Radeon X300 video card with 256 mb dedicated.

I was playing Huge maps with no problems using an X800 so you really don't need to go too crazy. Though if you're going to be buying a new card anyway, I'd be sure to get one that's DirectX 10 compatible. Any of those will be more than good enough for Civ 4. With Nvidia these start with the 8000 series, I'm not sure about ATI. The Nvidia 8800GT is a very good card and is perhaps the best deal out there right now as far as price/performance is concerned.

PS: I just had a look at some ATI info and their DirectX 10 cards start with their HD line. So if you want to stick with Radeon, just skip the X series altogether.

 

[CoZe]

not much point in these kind of questions. Just go and burn your money for the most expensive stuff you can afford. There's nothing specific to Civ IV that would go like 'Uh XXX chipset runs the Civ IV rendering engine super fast !'.

This of course coming from buying a new computer...which combination would you be looking for to play Civ IV and not experience any slow downs or lag times while playing large games...Map ..Huge and 7 plus AI's inbetween turns.

That would have to do more with the amount of RAM + CPU horse power you have on your setup than the graphics board. Not to forget the OS you running (try to disable as many background services as you can afford). If I were you I would focus on CPU + RAM + a good Mobo than the graphics board.

 

[groobz]

I run civ4 on a laptop with maxed graphics with no lag no long waiting between turns. My lappy has 7950gtx with 2gbram. So you don't need to go for the real top end cards for civ unless you plan on playing other games like cyris ect