How does Civ V perform for you?

[Java Junkie]

Over the weekend, I played a large map with 9 Civs at epic speed. I'm playing on a top-of-the-line iMac (27" 2.93GHz Quad i7/4Gb/ATI 5750 with 1G VRAM) and had most of the graphics options at "high". Things were very smooth until about turn 490, when the game started to freeze every few turns (requiring a reboot). The freezes would happen when there was some kind of graphical transition (like moving the camera position a long distance or switching to a City overlay). Eventually, turning down enough options allowed me to proceed.

 

[BluPuk]

2010 27" iMac with Intel Core i7 2.93 Ghz, 8 GB ram, ATI Radeon HD 5750.
My first ever strategy game and I set everything to "high". So far though I have only played single user, standard map, Chieftain and I have taken 16 turns only so far, but I see no speed issues. I selected whatever is standard speed when setting up the game. Since reading this thread, I am keeping an "eye" on each turn....

Now I need to worry more about how I play - I lost my only military unit to a band of thugs and I can't figure out how to get another one..

Blu

 

[BritishSeaPower]

2008 MacBookPro 15"
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2 GB Ram
NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT

Generally play on more minimal settings, standard to dual map size. I haven't had a single crash, sometimes I get brutal lag on larger maps but all in all I can play the game pretty well.

 

[Aoxomoxoa]

2010 27" iMac with Intel Core i7 2.93 Ghz, 8 GB ram, ATI Radeon HD 5750.
My first ever strategy game and I set everything to "high". So far though I have only played single user, standard map, Chieftain and I have taken 16 turns only so far, but I see no speed issues. I selected whatever is standard speed when setting up the game. Since reading this thread, I am keeping an "eye" on each turn....

Now I need to worry more about how I play - I lost my only military unit to a band of thugs and I can't figure out how to get another one..

Blu

You have two choices... change the production of your city (assuming you still only have one) to a warrior... or purchase one.

As a beginner I would just restart, and this time use this thumbrule when exploring, do not end your warrior's move unless it's on a hill/forest/jungle if at all possible, and make sure not to attack a barbarian camp unless it is not on a hill/forest/jungle.

 

[AlanH]

As a beginner I would just restart,

Actually, on Chieftain level you can recover by building or purchasing a new unit. The AI is at a significant disadvantage compared with you, so you will easily catch up. You learn more by recovering from your mistakes than by restarting.

 

[BluPuk]

Thanks guys. I figured out how to get one back - I actually used my scout unit to kill off some nasty brutes. I suckered 'em in to following me towards my city and used a ranged weapon to kill 'em off. Lost a little on my scout unit but they are recovering nicely. I originally tried attacking the brutes who were in a fortification - dumb mistake.....
Another question: on average, how many turns will a completed game be? Ballpark would be fine.

Thanks

 

[forty2j]

Thanks guys. I figured out how to get one back - I actually used my scout unit to kill off some nasty brutes.

I generally consider scouts to be non-combat units, unless I happen to be able to use them as flankers. They're pretty weak.

Of course, I once had a scout get 3 ruins upgrades in the same game.

 

[Phantom Warrior]

Of course, I once had a scout get 3 ruins upgrades in the same game.

I try to get at least one "ruins" upgrade for a scout. They can do a lot of damage to the barbarians as an "archer" unit. If you can keep him alive and then buy upgrades into the late game, you end up with a very mobile combat unit not restricted by the terrain limitations or penalties.

 

[GrumpyFlumps]

runs like a dog,.. a dead one..

mid2009 MBP 13 inch 2Gb

Just passed turn 200 on a small map and have turned everything to low or off, still crawls.

I just can't figure out why such a graphically undemanding game requires a Cray supercomputer to run smoothly?

I really feel like I have been fleeced by Firaxis, this game is half baked.

 

[forty2j]

runs like a dog,.. a dead one..

mid2009 MBP 13 inch 2Gb

Just passed turn 200 on a small map and have turned everything to low or off, still crawls.

I just can't figure out why such a graphically undemanding game requires a Cray supercomputer to run smoothly?

I really feel like I have been fleeced by Firaxis, this game is half baked.

Which graphics card is that?

 

[UncleAge]

Since this is my first post let me say "wassup" to everybody.

My machine is a 2010 iMac 27" i7/2.8 quad/4GB/ATI 4850

With 6 civs set on Prince (epic) I haven't had any problems with large boards. I haven't played the huge board past turn 400 yet so who knows what might happen. But I'm somewhat satisfied so far. Just waiting patiently for the multi-player stuff...

 

[GrumpyFlumps]

Which graphics card is that?

Which graphics card is that?/s

...there, fixed it for you

 

[BluPuk]

If you are not playing online games (like me) you can play in offline mode (through Steam) and you will see at least some speed improvement. This is based on my entirely unscientific tests, but you can try it for yourself.
In stead of starting the game from the "V" logo, start Steam only by double-clicking its icon in Finder (it is shown under "Applications"). Then select "Go Offline" from the drop-down menu and Steam will re-start in offline mode. Then start Civ 5 by right-clicking the Steam logo in the Dock and clicking on "Civ 5" at the top of the pop-up menu.
Worked for me.
Blue

 

[forty2j]

Which graphics card is that?/s

...there, fixed it for you

I'm lost.. I don't know off hand which graphics card is in the those MBPs.. nVidia 9400m? 9600?

 

[Phantom Warrior]

I'm lost.. I don't know off hand which graphics card is in the those MBPs.. nVidia 9400m? 9600?

Click on the Apple logo in the upper left corner of the Toolbar.

Then click on the "About this Mac.

When the small window opens, click on "More info..."

Under "Hardware" click on "Graphics/Displays" and you'll see what you have.

 

[AlanH]

This conversation is surreal!

 

[forty2j]

This conversation is surreal!

Oh, so it's not just me..

 

[GrumpyFlumps]

I'm lost.. I don't know off hand which graphics card is in the those MBPs.. nVidia 9400m? 9600?

aah sorry, thought maybe you were being funny... which would have been fair enough! Mine's a 13 inch MBP which has the integrated 9400m graphics, ie., not a dedicated graphics card. Infact the 9400m isn't supported in Civ V... although it tries its best!

Gonna give the "offline" tip a try now to see if it improves anything. Incidentally (& bizzarely) toggling settings between Medium>Low>Off has very little effect on the speed... which is really odd!

Have a good w/e people

 

[forty2j]

Ah, I thought as much. 9400m is unsupported, and for a good reason.

I've been able to get tolerable results in the lowest settings on a small map in Boot Camp on my wife's MBP w/ 9400m. Late game it feels like it's going to freeze every turn, but it doesn't. I haven't tried it since I boosted the RAM to 4 GB though.

I do better on my iMac w/ ATI HD 2600, which at least is supported (if barely).

 

[HydraC]

The game runs really slow and is unplayable at any settings on a new Macbook Pro 15" Core i5, GT330 256MB, 8GB RAM, SSD and high res matte display.