Latest ATI Drivers

[Maestro_Innit]

Well guys, I can happily report that since I upgraded to the latest Omega drivers for my ATI X800XT/PE ...... I haven't had a single crash! Not a glitch, nothing

Hoorah!

Well, after a whole week of completely crash free computing using the Omega drivers - I had 3 crashes in one night on Wednesday. Complete lock-ups just like the olden days

It's been a LOT better since I installe Omega but it's still a badly coded game with more issues thatn I have ever known except Stronghold 2 which was just as bad. And guess what - also by 2KGames

 

[LwwB]

I have a ATI Raedon 7000. Its all ok, but when i start a game, i can see everything except the terrain. And when i start a WorldBuilder game (pressing Ctrl+W) i see the terrain. Any help? What should i do?

 

[Greatwiseone]

I have the following system:

P4 3.0Ghz (Prescott)
512MB RAM
160GB HD
P4P800-E-Deluxe Motherboard
Celestica ATI Radeon 9600SE

The graphic problem is a bit odd. The game plays fine when I am starting, but once I see the entire map of the world, the game becomes very unstable. When I start conquering and expanding the size of the civ, the game freezes and crashes with graphic problems. It gets more frequent as I have more cities and unit. I tried decreasing the resolution to its lowest, but I'm still getting lots of crashes. Is there any way to remedy this? I have Catalyst 5.10 and Civ IV patch 1.52.

Thanks

 

[morpheous]

Having the same problem here as lot of people in this thread - game crashing on start up to black screen, year date in right corner, warrior icon in left corner, music stopping and then no mouse - I have read through the whole of this thread and have become very confused as to what is the best course of action to take in lieu of the rig I currently have.

My issue is that, prior to me getting my laptop back from repair with a new hard drive, the game was working for me, albeit only on standard maps. Now with a new copy of windows installed, increase of ram from 512 to 768MB, re-installed CIV with the 1.52 patch and....and I think this is where my problem lays....upgraded the drivers for my mobility radeon 9200 64mb graphics card...the game no longer plays.

Please could someone talk me through the best course of action for me. I apologise in advance for not being totally computer literate and for my caution; but having been without my laptop for over 2 months with it going backwards and forwards for service and everything apart from CIV now working I am reluctant to take a gung ho attitude to resolve this.

best regards
morpheous


edited dxdiag file:

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 2/18/2006, 13:18:37
Machine name: P-WUSVN6GQNYJGM
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: Pavilion zx5000 (DS471U#ABA)
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBL
Processor: Mobile Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: 766MB RAM
Page File: 194MB used, 1683MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Music Tab: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.
Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D: 0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: MOBILITY RADEON 9200
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: MOBILITY RADEON 9200 AGP (0x5C61)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5C61&SUBSYS_006B103C&REV_01
Display Memory: 64.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Default Monitor
Monitor Max Res:
Driver Name: ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.6436 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 5/15/2004 21:29:34, 202752 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: n/a
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ati2mtag.sys
Mini VDD Date: 5/15/2004 21:29:12, 701952 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-1F21-11CF-A86A-6120A0C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x5C61
SubSys ID: 0x006B103C
Revision ID: 0x0001
Revision ID: 0x0001
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------


Name: MOBILITY RADEON 9200
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5C61&SUBSYS_006B103C&REV_01\4&24771B77&0&2808
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\ati2mtag.sys, 6.14.0010.6436 (English), 5/15/2004 21:29:12, 701952 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2dvag.dll, 6.14.0010.6436 (English), 5/15/2004 21:29:34, 202752 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2cqag.dll, 6.14.0010.0233 (English), 5/15/2004 21:14:40, 229376 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\Ati2mdxx.exe, 6.14.0010.2494 (English), 3/22/2004 12:39:10, 65536 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati3d1ag.dll, 6.14.0010.4071 (English), 5/15/2004 21:21:00, 870752 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati3d2ag.dll, 6.14.0010.4071 (English), 5/15/2004 21:23:20, 1057760 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati3duag.dll, 6.14.0010.0231 (English), 5/15/2004 21:27:00, 1888992 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ativvaxx.dll, 6.14.0001.0009 (English), 5/15/2004 21:18:32, 516768 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\atitvo32.dll, 6.14.0010.4100 (English), 5/15/2004 21:16:16, 17408 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2evxx.exe, 6.14.0010.4099 (English), 5/15/2004 21:27:50, 397312 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2evxx.dll, 6.14.0010.4099 (English), 5/15/2004 21:27:54, 86016 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\ati2edxx.dll, 6.14.0010.2494 (English), 5/15/2004 21:27:58, 30720 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\atioglxx.dll, 6.14.0010.4276 (English), 5/15/2004 21:44:58, 6189056 bytes
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\atiiiexx.dll, 6.14.0010.4002 (English), 5/15/2004 22:07:20, 294912 bytes

Name: ATI RS300/RS300M Accelerated Graphics Port
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5838&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_00\3&61AAA01&0&08
Driver: C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\atisgkaf.SYS, 5.00.2195.1007 (English), 10/7/2003 20:41:00, 13174 bytes

Name: PCI standard host CPU bridge
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5833&SUBSYS_00000000&REV_02\3&61AAA01&0&00
Driver: n/a

Name: ATI SMBus
Device ID: PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_4353&SUBSYS_006B103C&REV_16\3&61AAA01&0&A0
Driver: n/a



------------------
DirectX Components
------------------
ddraw.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 266240 bytes
ddrawex.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 27136 bytes
dxapi.sys: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 10496 bytes
d3d8.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:42 1179648 bytes
d3d8thk.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:42 8192 bytes
d3d9.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:42 1689088 bytes
d3dim.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 436224 bytes
d3dim700.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:42 825344 bytes
d3dramp.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 590336 bytes
d3drm.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 350208 bytes
d3dxof.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 47616 bytes
d3dpmesh.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 34816 bytes
dplay.dll: 5.00.2134.0001 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 33040 bytes
dplayx.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 229888 bytes
dpmodemx.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 23552 bytes
dpwsock.dll: 5.00.2134.0001 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 42768 bytes
dpwsockx.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 57344 bytes
dplaysvr.exe: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:50 30208 bytes
dpnsvr.exe: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:50 18432 bytes
dpnet.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 375296 bytes
dpnlobby.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:04 3584 bytes
dpnaddr.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:04 3584 bytes
dpvoice.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 212480 bytes
dpvsetup.exe: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:50 83456 bytes
dpvvox.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 116736 bytes
dpvacm.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 21504 bytes
dpnhpast.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 35328 bytes
dpnhupnp.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 60928 bytes
dpserial.dll: 5.00.2134.0001 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 53520 bytes
dinput.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 159232 bytes
dinput8.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 181760 bytes
dimap.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 44032 bytes
diactfrm.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 394240 bytes
joy.cpl: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 68608 bytes
gcdef.dll: 5.01.2600.0000 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 76800 bytes
pid.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 35328 bytes
dsound.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 367616 bytes
dsound3d.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 1294336 bytes
dswave.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 19456 bytes
dsdmo.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 181760 bytes
dsdmoprp.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 71680 bytes
dmusic.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 104448 bytes
dmband.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 28672 bytes
dmcompos.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 61440 bytes
dmime.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 181248 bytes
dmloader.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 35840 bytes
dmstyle.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 105984 bytes
dmsynth.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 103424 bytes
dmscript.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 82432 bytes
system.dll: 1.01.4322.0573 English Final Retail 2/13/2006 14:31:00 1216512 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3D.dll: 9.05.0132.0000 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:37 473600 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.Direct3DX.dll: 9.07.0239.0000 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:37 576000 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectDraw.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:38 145920 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectInput.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:38 159232 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectPlay.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:38 364544 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.DirectSound.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:39 178176 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.AudioVideoPlayback.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:35 53248 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.Diagnostics.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:36 12800 bytes
Microsoft.DirectX.dll: 5.04.0000.2904 English Final Retail 2/18/2006 09:32:35 223232 bytes
dx7vb.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 619008 bytes
dx8vb.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 1227264 bytes
dxdiagn.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 2113536 bytes
mfc40.dll: 4.01.0000.6140 English Final Retail 3/31/2003 12:00:00 924432 bytes
mfc42.dll: 6.02.4131.0000 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 1028096 bytes
wsock32.dll: 5.01.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:48 22528 bytes
amstream.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:42 70656 bytes
devenum.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 59904 bytes
dxmasf.dll: 6.04.0009.1125 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 498205 bytes
mciqtz32.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 35328 bytes
mpg2splt.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 148992 bytes
msdmo.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 14336 bytes
encapi.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 20480 bytes
qasf.dll: 9.00.0000.3250 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 237568 bytes
qcap.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 192512 bytes
qdv.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 279040 bytes
qdvd.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 385024 bytes
qedit.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 562176 bytes
qedwipes.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:26 733696 bytes
quartz.dll: 6.05.2600.2749 English Final Retail 8/29/2005 20:54:26 1287168 bytes
strmdll.dll: 4.01.0000.3928 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 246302 bytes
iac25_32.ax: 2.00.0005.0053 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 199680 bytes
ir41_32.ax: 4.51.0016.0003 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 848384 bytes
ir41_qc.dll: 4.30.0062.0002 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 120320 bytes
ir41_qcx.dll: 4.30.0064.0001 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 338432 bytes
ir50_32.dll: 5.2562.0015.0055 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 755200 bytes
ir50_qc.dll: 5.00.0063.0048 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 200192 bytes
ir50_qcx.dll: 5.00.0064.0048 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 183808 bytes
ivfsrc.ax: 5.10.0002.0051 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 154624 bytes
mswebdvd.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 204288 bytes
ks.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:15:22 140928 bytes
ksproxy.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 130048 bytes
ksuser.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 4096 bytes
stream.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:08:04 48640 bytes
mspclock.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:58:40 5376 bytes
mspqm.sys: 5.01.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:58:42 4992 bytes
mskssrv.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:58:42 7552 bytes
swenum.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:58:42 4352 bytes
mstee.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 22:58:40 5504 bytes
bdaplgin.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 18432 bytes
bdasup.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:14 11776 bytes
msdvbnp.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 56832 bytes
psisdecd.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 363520 bytes
psisrndr.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 33280 bytes
ipsink.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 16384 bytes
mpeg2data.ax: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 118272 bytes
ndisip.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:14 10880 bytes
mpe.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:14 15360 bytes
streamip.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:14 15360 bytes
msvidctl.dll: 6.05.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:44 1428480 bytes
slip.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:18 11136 bytes
nabtsfec.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:30 85376 bytes
ccdecode.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:18 17024 bytes
vbisurf.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 30720 bytes
msyuv.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:46 17408 bytes
kstvtune.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 61952 bytes
ksxbar.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 43008 bytes
kswdmcap.ax: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:58 90624 bytes
wstcodec.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:22 19328 bytes
wstdecod.dll: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/4/2004 00:56:48 50688 bytes
msdv.sys: 5.03.2600.2180 English Final Retail 8/3/2004 23:10:00 51328 bytes

------------------

 

[chegitz guevara]

Does anyone know if this version is problematic?

 

[morpheous]

This is just a follow up to let you know that yesterday I uninstalled ATI control panel and took the plunge and installed Radeon Omega Catalyst 4.12 drivers.

I am pleased to advise that I am once again able to play CIV on med resolution, full screen, single characters on standard maps. I have not tried a large map but will post my results here when I do.

Thank you to everyone here who recommended and offered guidelines with regards to the Omega 4.12 drivers.

regards
morpheous

 

[Ukas]

I tried Omega drivers with no improvement. I have a AMD 2,4, 9800pro 128mb and 1 GB RAM.

I think biggest problem is not the video card, or drivers, but memory problem in Civ4. I could play a nice, just a little slow game on a huge map with 1.09 patch with Harkonnen memory fix. With 1.52 I can't get past industrial era, game just will not load.

Too bad Harkonnen fix is only for 1.09 but he is working to update it for 1.52.

 

[RakuPL]

Now I'm using newest Omega drivers and nothing is wrong with Civ4. Game runs without any crashes, freezes and etc.

 

[BothofUs]

For me, the 4.12 Omega driver helped me a LOT.

Only problem is, I don't think it's compatible with my widescreen monitor because when I install the driver, the 1440 x 900 resolution is no longer an option for my entire computer.

PLEASE HELP.

 

[auldian]

It's in his most recent drivers here.

What's New in Omega Drivers?
v3.8.221

[*] Based on the Catalyst 6.2 Official drivers.

[+] Added support for x1900 Series.

[F] Fixed installation support for Radeon Express 200 cards.

[+] Added a new wide-screen resolution, 1440x900.

 

[Barn Owl]

I've always used Omega Drivers and swear-by them, didn't realise they only just introduced wide-screen support though, that bit of info is really useful as I'm planning to take the wide-screen route when I upgrade to an lcd monitor soon.

 

[BothofUs]

I'm using the most recent driver but it isn't as stable as the 4.12.

 

[jonjon]

I Follow you! I´m in the exact same position, except I had to buy a second copy of the game, bc The first one i got was part of a bad lot, that cant make disc 2 install the game. I feel fustrated and cheated!!! I have spent 100 Dlls. already and can´t play the game still, SID should have used another developer, The suck!

 

[Karam]

Would an 'ATI Radeon x1600 with 512 MB of RAM' be enough to play Civ4 flawlessly?

 

[auldian]

Would an 'ATI Radeon x1600 with 512 MB of RAM' be enough to play Civ4 flawlessly?

Not likely. Flawlessly is probably a couple of years away for this game. That card has a pretty tight memory interface (128 bits) compared to a lot cards in use now also.
Some comparisons are here: http://www.neeyik.info/3dspecs/
and there's more discussion in the stickied "TnL get your facts straight" thread atop this forum (where that chart was originally linked).
The graphics card is only one piece of the puzzle. That said, for the money, the X1600 is a pretty good value in many people's minds.

 

[Karam]

Auldian, I meant would it enable playing on huge maps without the huge lag... that's if I had a system with sufficient RAM and all?

Would the game be playable with a Radeon x1600 512 MB?

 

[auldian]

Auldian, I meant would it enable playing on huge maps without the huge lag... that's if I had a system with sufficient RAM and all?

Would the game be playable with a Radeon x1600 512 MB?

Few people here have described playing huge maps fluidly. The X1600, while it has a large amount of VRAM (good), has some bottlenecks under the hood. I would not expect a marked performance increase over my current 9800PRO/128 (near 3 years old) if I were to replace it with the X1600.
As far as "playable" goes, huge maps are for me, but I use lean settings, etc., and would even with the X1600 I'm sure. This game is a bit of a hog and just doesn't stand up against games by Blizzard and others that scroll very smoothly and "snap" around with all features enabled.
Consider though what you're upgrading from. Like I said, for the money, a lot of people do consider the X1600 a very viable upgrade, especially if you're to squeeze another year or so out of an AGP motherboard. It does tout newer accomodations such as the pixel shader 3.0.

 

[mckate]

I have an old sony vaio pcg-gr390. It has an un-upgradable ati mobility radeon-d with 16 meg. It always freezes when playing games like AOE. It wouldn't even display anything on Civ. 4, just one big black playing field.
I went and downloaded the newest omega driver and it crashed like hell. Then I went back for one of the older versions and tweak tools and fooled around with the settings. I wasn't expecting any of it to work because I had tried so many fixes on so many other games in the past. These drivers work, even on an underpowered old laptop. Thanks for the tip you guys.

 

[warmwaffles]

Yes mckate Omega is a good open source driver...I love it because they allowed my PC (celeron D *YUCK*) to play Unreal Tournament 2004 (with the settings on high and a high resolution), allowed me to play BF1942, CivIV, DungeonSeige2, World of warcraft runs good...though internet connection sucks, warcraft 3....the list goes on but stops at games like Counter Strike 2 and other cool high GFX games

 

[shmily_dana]

I have a 9600 (PRO 256meg). I have not updated my driver since CIV4 came out because everything workes fine for me. I don't have any problems with Warlords either. If I update now, do I have any chance of "breaking" my ability to play CIV4?