new here and need help

[cvn70sparky]

I'm new here and I'm not all that computer savy. My system meets or exceeds all the recommendations, but my game play is still very choppy(even on medium resolution) and after about 45min-1hr of playing the game, it locks up and I end up having to reboot my computer. I've read the fix it list and it looks like I've done everything that was suggested. Can anyone help me?

 

[Neon Deon]

Please post a DXdiag file of your problem. Maybe someone might be able to help. If this is not home built the type (laptop or desktop) make and model number would help too.

 

[cvn70sparky]

I'm running an hp a250n desktop, the only upgrade I've done is that I'm running a GeForce FX-5500 video card now. I've already put the dx file in another thread so it won't let me post it again.

 

[Natronomonas]

Do this (if you haven't already)

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=135019#4

Just go the main program folder, open the INI shortcut or file in Notepad, and change a few 1's and 0s over... 4 edit total, stopped my crashing and slowdowns more or less completely. Wonder movies still choppy but at least the game runs fine now...

 

[Neon Deon]

CVN

Your page file useage is way high.

This is a 3D game you are running and it commands a lot of attention.

It is always best to run 3d games with the least amount of programs and services possible.

Hit start run and type in MSconfig.

under the startup tab use the disable all button to shut off background programs.

then go to services tab and check the box at the bottom called hide all ms services. Make sure that is checked or bad things could happen. After you have made sure you have hidden ms services, disable the rest, apply and reboot.

This should give you most of your resources back to run civ iv.

check it by hitting control alt delete keys all at once.

under the performance tab you should be somewhere under 150

Now try and run it.

Once you do that then you can tweak it further by the ini and harks memory patch.

note: this will turn off your anti virus too. A big game killer.

You will have to undo it when you security back for email and internet cruising.

 

[Natronomonas]

You shouldn't need to kill all your extra programs after applying the INI patch.. it reduces memory usage enough that things should run OK. I run BT, BOINC/SETI@home at the same time as CivIV - before the INI changes, CTD all the time, now, hardly ever.

 

[Neon Deon]

You shouldn't need to kill all your extra programs after applying the INI patch.. it reduces memory usage enough that things should run OK. I run BT, BOINC/SETI@home at the same time as CivIV - before the INI changes, CTD all the time, now, hardly ever.

Nat, his page file usage is 386 at idle.

Besides, he maybee running different programs in the back ground than you. Ones that could interfere with game play as well as take up resources.

He does only have 512 mb of ram afterall.

 

[Natronomonas]

Neon,
Didn't read the dxdiag... I'm running a gig of RAM and pagefile only at about 180-200 most of the time, so 384 with only 512 could cause problems I guess...
Killing a few unnecessary programs might help for now, but getting CivIV to reduce its memory usage will too (which is the focus of the next patch after all).
I'm thinking that in a few weeks the tech support forums should go a lot quieter...

 

[Neon Deon]

I guess, looking back it, the marketing end of the game got in the way of reality.

Minimum ram 512 and recommended ram 512.

Whatz up wit dat?

That and the way the game useses memory and the page file. Now combine that with an un-tuned system. YUCK!