Not really a problem. Just need a small list.

[Branded Swine]

Hi

I am about to create another system to play my favorite game on(you guessed it! Civ4), and I would like to know what the other people here are building/buying with in regards to the following equipment.

First off my last machine was decent, but lacked in the huge map game play especially in the later years of the game on marathon with 18 earth map.

Spec of original:
AMD FX57 (2800 untweaked) this seemed ok until later game years.
ATI 1600+ ditto.
2Gig DDR2 RAM more than enough I assume.
More HD space than needed (500 gig) ditto.
Windows XP HOME works fine.
SB Audigy original Gamer edition (nice but I think the sounds from another higher end card would be great! but which one).

All necessary updates and drivers were installed be me and ran smoothly with no errors on installation.

All Programs running for Civ 4 Vanilla, Warlords, BTS. (this will be the same with the new system also).

What things do you suggest changing most, to make the later games run as smoothly as possible, especially with huge maps on marathon speed and many civs (even 18 earth map).
I want to do this right the first time and not remake the system for this game at a later date. This game is one of the only ones I run, Period.
(would that be considered dedication, or a sociopathic disability)?

BS
P.S. I know there's a spec on the boxes but they fall short when applied to the game at higher needs like later years on Marathon large number of civs so I will not follow this regimine of sheepdom.

 

[Ginger_Ale]

Moderator Action: Moved to the Computer Talk forum.

I know you are specifically asking about Civ4-proofing your computer, but you'll get the most help in this forum as opposed to the BTS one. The people here know what they're talking about...

 

[Willem]

I'd say all you really need is a new video card, looking online the 1600 is kind of weak. A bit more RAM wouldn't hurt either. You don't mention what OS you're using, that can make a big difference. If it's Vista you definitely need more RAM as it can use up to a gig all by itself.

 

[aimeeandbeatles]

You don't mention what OS you're using, that can make a big difference. If it's Vista you definitely need more RAM as it can use up to a gig all by itself.

He said XP Home.

A new video card be a good investment. The box for Civ4 Vanilla says 128 MB Video Card. I'd take an ATI Radeon myself, but I'm probably a bit biased, so you can make that decision for yourself.

I'm a noob myself, so don't trust anything I say.

 

[GVBN]

Video card affects frame rate and not much else. If it's long AI turns then getting a new video card won't make any difference

Dual-core AM2 processors are cheap these days. Civ4 itself isn't multithreaded though

2 gigs should be enough for Civ4. Check your memory usage. DDR2 is really cheap too

 

[GoodGame]

I'd say all you really need is a new video card, looking online the 1600 is kind of weak. A bit more RAM wouldn't hurt either. You don't mention what OS you're using, that can make a big difference. If it's Vista you definitely need more RAM as it can use up to a gig all by itself.

In the ram, he wouldn't be able to do more than 4 gb, and wouldn't get the full value. I'd think more RAM would be needed to go for a glorious game of Civ4 at lighning speed, and that'd probably require VISTA, many more gigs of ram, and a mobo/CPU with the RAM support. Ideally the mobo would be at 1000mhZ speed or faster for the RAM. Not sure if Vista conflicts with Civ4 though, and you might have driver issues. Probably talk to Zelig about Vista if you want to got awesome in RAM.

SB audigy is fine. Current audigy is the Xi-FI I believe (another $50). I wouldn't upgrade unless OP had like a 5.1 + speaker set-up.

 

[Branded Swine]

I'd say all you really need is a new video card, looking online the 1600 is kind of weak. A bit more RAM wouldn't hurt either. You don't mention what OS you're using, that can make a big difference. If it's Vista you definitely need more RAM as it can use up to a gig all by itself.

I guess I should mention here that I have gotten rid of the old system so I will be DEFINITELY building a new from scratch. I would call that a happy day since I love new technology once in a while, and the fun of putting a system together.

BS

 

[Branded Swine]

In the ram, he wouldn't be able to do more than 4 gb, and wouldn't get the full value. I'd think more RAM would be needed to go for a glorious game of Civ4 at lighning speed, and that'd probably require VISTA, many more gigs of ram, and a mobo with the RAM slots. Ideally the mobo would be at 1000mhZ speed or faster for the RAM. Not sure if Vista conflicts with Civ4 though, and you might have driver issues. Probably talk to Zelig about Vista if you want to got awesome in RAM.

SB audigy is fine. Current audigy is the Xi-FI I believe (another $50). I wouldn't upgrade unless OP had like a 5.1 + speaker set-up.

So you consider that RAM is more needed than a new processor maxed out?

I will probably need to ask this differently to get the response I am really looking for.

What are your systems like that run Civ 4 perfectly in any map and number of civs and so on? Can I get some of the system specs from people that have no problems what so ever?

BS

 

[Branded Swine]

Video card affects frame rate and not much else. If it's long AI turns then getting a new video card won't make any difference

Dual-core AM2 processors are cheap these days. Civ4 itself isn't multithreaded though

2 gigs should be enough for Civ4. Check your memory usage. DDR2 is really cheap too

The turns take a ong time but I also notice a pretty bad lag between my own and the AI, But not with multiple Human opponents? (insert head scratch here).

I'll look into that as a problem that can be solved with a decent Vid card like the newer DirectX 10 stuff Which I do not have to go to but if it has the price which I cannot afford to miss out on...

BS

 

[Branded Swine]

He said XP Home.

A new video card be a good investment. The box for Civ4 Vanilla says 128 MB Video Card. I'd take an ATI Radeon myself, but I'm probably a bit biased, so you can make that decision for yourself.

I'm a noob myself, so don't trust anything I say.

I will if you will... I only play on Monarch at present with a jump into the higher modes to teach myself a lesson...

BS

 

[Branded Swine]

Moderator Action: Moved to the Computer Talk forum.

I know you are specifically asking about Civ4-proofing your computer, but you'll get the most help in this forum as opposed to the BTS one. The people here know what they're talking about...

Sounds good as I had nover used that particular forum before I did not know that it even existed, I had orginally posted this in another section and that thread can be deleted if you like.

Thanks to All

BS

 

[Genocidicbunny]

If all you really do is play civ 4, then the RAM upgrade may be more helpful than the processors. I dont know how multithreaded civ 4 is though, but if it is at all, having a dual-core processor would be a good thing. Unfortunately, finding S939 processors is getting somewhat harder ( Ebay is your friend here ). If you have PCIe it may be worthwhile to upgrade to a faster GPU, something like the HD4830 ( slowest of AMD's high-end line, still very game-worthy).
With that old of a processor, you dont need any high-end RAM, so a decent set of DDR2-800 will do you fine, and not bleed you dry. Since you already have 2GB RAM, you can just add in a second set of 2GB. The only problem I see is if the RAM you already have is not 800mhz but 667mhz. Then its going to be a bit slow, albeit not so slow you'd really notice it.
No sense putting a new processor into that mobo though, if you have a PCIe graphics card already and dont want to buy a new one, you should just save and buy a new motherboard (Socket AM2) and a compatible CPU.

 

[GVBN]

That's a socket AM2 system. Socket 939 doesn't use DDR2

 

[Branded Swine]

I have to buy a complete system alltogether.

I thought of:

Lowend DX10 GPU.

X-FI for sound and new speakers as the ones I have are almost gone from younger people playing to loud of music on them. They were 5.1 anyways.

MOBO something in the market with DX10 compatibilty. I do like the ASUS but anything with enough umph. to get ehe Civ world generation working perfectly will be fine probably a 1gig Throughput as Cheap as possible. (Lots of room here).

CPU = Duo core two or 4 but not really needed probably(or is it) I just don't find enough god info on the needs of Civ in that arena. ???

RAM DDR2 is cheap but will it hold "the test of time" with civ 4 and possibly any newer say Civ 5???

Thanks!

BS

 

[Zelig]

Probably talk to Zelig about Vista if you want to got awesome in RAM.

Oh, yeah.

Civ 4 works fine in Vista.

For Civ 4, you optimally want 2GB of RAM free for the game, in addition to whatever else you have open. After that, cpu speed is the only thing that matters in turn length.

Although civ4 isn't multithreaded, each core of modern dual core cpus is significantly faster than a core of any single core CPU, and the extra core(s), takes the load asides from civ.

Branded Swine: an ideal machine for civ4:
Vista 64-bit - Destroys XP in multithreaded and large memory performance

4GB RAM minimum

Any half-decent video card will play civ fine maxed at 1920x1200. (ie. 9600gt does this fine, if you're interested, I could probably narrow it down to something cheaper)

Fastest CPU you can afford -
I'd take these ones in order of descending preference and cost:
i7 920
Q9550
Q6600
E8400

The E8400 will give you marginally better performance than the Q6600 for civ, I wouldn't say it's worth the general performance hit though.

With that old of a processor, you dont need any high-end RAM, so a decent set of DDR2-800 will do you fine, and not bleed you dry.

Even on 8-core monsters, I'd much rather have more slow RAM than less fast RAM.

 

[Branded Swine]

Oh, yeah.

Civ 4 works fine in Vista.

For Civ 4, you optimally want 2GB of RAM free for the game, in addition to whatever else you have open. After that, cpu speed is the only thing that matters in turn length.

Although civ4 isn't multithreaded, each core of modern dual core cpus is significantly faster than a core of any single core CPU, and the extra core(s), takes the load asides from civ.

Branded Swine: an ideal machine for civ4:
Vista 64-bit - Destroys XP in multithreaded and large memory performance

4GB RAM minimum

Any half-decent video card will play civ fine maxed at 1920x1200. (ie. 9600gt does this fine, if you're interested, I could probably narrow it down to something cheaper)

Fastest CPU you can afford -
I'd take these ones in order of descending preference and cost:
i7 920
Q9550
Q6600
E8400

The E8400 will give you marginally better performance than the Q6600 for civ, I wouldn't say it's worth the general performance hit though.

Ahhh there's a partial list...

I will be leaving for now but I will return tomorrow and read the rest.
Stupid Library system lockout policy...

BS

 

[Willem]

Video card affects frame rate and not much else. If it's long AI turns then getting a new video card won't make any difference

Yes it will. Late in the game the entire map is rendered as well as a bunch of units that are on it. Having a good video card is going to make a big difference. Back when I had a Radeon 9550 I couldn't even play Large maps in the late game without horrendous lag and quite often a crash to desktop. Now that I have a GeForce 8800GT, my end game goes alot smoother even on Huge maps.

 

[Willem]

In the ram, he wouldn't be able to do more than 4 gb, and wouldn't get the full value.

Even with XP, at least 500 meg of his RAM is being used for the OS and background tasks. That leaves 1.5 for the game, and I've seen the game use up pretty much all of that in the late game playing Huge maps. Another gig of RAM will definitely help.

 

[Willem]

I
CPU = Duo core two or 4 but not really needed probably(or is it) I just don't find enough god info on the needs of Civ in that arena. ???

Civ 4 only uses a single core. However having a dual-core allows the OS to work on one, leaving the other for the game. Though it's really a moot point if you're going to be buying a new rig as single core CPUs aren't even available anymore.

 

[Aramazd]

Fastest CPU you can afford -
I'd take these ones in order of descending preference and cost:
i7 920
Q9550
Q6600
E8400

The E8400 will give you marginally better performance than the Q6600 for civ, I wouldn't say it's worth the general performance hit though.

The Q8200 would be worth looking at. The price is below the Q6600, for a slightly lower clock speed, but it uses a 45nm process.

Even on 8-core monsters, I'd much rather have more slow RAM than less fast RAM.

QFT