Not a moot point if you want to play civ on an 8" netbook!
Not really a problem. Just need a small list.
- Thread starter Branded Swine
- Start date
Not a moot point if you want to play civ on an 8" netbook!
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
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- 20,112
I saw how tiny those are and imagined it literally bursting into flames while playing Civ.
Anyways, the screen size is ....a bit small.
Branded Swine
Swining for your Day!
Do you have any info on the exact usage the civ 4 engine has a "Need for" during high load times; like during an exceptionally long game, on marathon with 18 civs earth map?
I can see buying another older style chip like the Athlon if it wil suffice "Perfectly" for the game.
BS
Branded Swine
Swining for your Day!
My previous system had this GPU also and it sucked the entire system down to dead and sometimes total lockup when I would get halfway through the game on Standard maps with normal numbers of Civs.
Then I went to the FX57 and had pretty good results considering the already outdated chip. I had only built that system aproximately 2006, January and the 57 had been out for several years by then and the duo core 2's were on the horizen.
BS
What do you mean by "need"?
Regardless of how fast your cpu is, it's going to get loaded to 100% between turns. The faster the chip is, the less time the turns take to calculate.
Branded Swine
Swining for your Day!
Hmmm. I'm not quite sure how to put it... I guess it really doesn't matter though if what you say (100%) is true, then the game would simply stay on top of that with code to empty all registers while still working new material into them. That is if the chip was simply fast enough to handle it from startup.
So my NEED would be a Master CPU and GPU combo that allows the game to run without slugishness, Period.
I'll go look at the above mentioned chips soon today when work is done and attempt to make head or tails of the numbers. Remember I am old style oriented to the speeds of Intel and AMD. so a set of numbers like:
i7 920
Q9550
Q6600
E8400 really have no direct meaning except for googling them for info. I will also check prices quickly to make a more intelligent decision.
Thanks to All for the info here!
BS
Branded Swine
Swining for your Day!
What does everyone think of the lineup here for Speed and prices?
Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Processor Lineup
Processor Model / Processor Characteristics Clock Speed L2 Cache Front Side Bus (MHz) Max TDP (W) Estimated Price (US$)
Core 2 Extreme QX9650 3.00GHz 6MB x 2 1333 130 $999
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz 6MB x 2 1333 95 $530
Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 6MB x 2 1333 95 $316
Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz 3MB x 2 1333 95 $266
Predecessor Quad-Core Models
Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.00GHz 4MB x 2 1333 130 $999
Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.67GHz 4MB x 2 1066 95 $530
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz 4MB x 2 1066 95 $266
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...CODE=WEBGOOMOTH&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE
The chips by themselves seem higher than the combos listed. I have not bought for a couple years, and liked the salesmanship of Newegg.
Does anyone have any better places that make good their sales and returns when needed?
BS
Intel Core 2 Quad-Core Processor Lineup
Processor Model / Processor Characteristics Clock Speed L2 Cache Front Side Bus (MHz) Max TDP (W) Estimated Price (US$)
Core 2 Extreme QX9650 3.00GHz 6MB x 2 1333 130 $999
Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz 6MB x 2 1333 95 $530
Core 2 Quad Q9450 2.66GHz 6MB x 2 1333 95 $316
Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz 3MB x 2 1333 95 $266
Predecessor Quad-Core Models
Core 2 Extreme QX6850 3.00GHz 4MB x 2 1333 130 $999
Core 2 Quad Q6700 2.67GHz 4MB x 2 1066 95 $530
Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz 4MB x 2 1066 95 $266
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...CODE=WEBGOOMOTH&cm_mmc_o=mH4CjC7BBTkwCjCECjCE
The chips by themselves seem higher than the combos listed. I have not bought for a couple years, and liked the salesmanship of Newegg.
Does anyone have any better places that make good their sales and returns when needed?
BS
aimeeandbeatles
watermelon
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2007
- Messages
- 20,112
I newegg'd a sample one and got a lower price. Newegg is what nearly everyone here recommends (as long as you have a credit card.)
Here's the Intel Processors on newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010340343 50001157&name=Intel
Here's the Intel Processors on newegg:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010340343 50001157&name=Intel
GoodGame
Red, White, & Blue, baby!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2004
- Messages
- 13,725
Yep, Civ4 is mostly RAM-intensive, especially as you go for the massive game---biggest maps, mods with 30-some players.
Upgrading your CPU will see some performance game, like if you go from ~2.8ghz to a little over 3 to maybe overclocking to nearly 4ghz (like the 8xxx Intel series is claimed to be capable of). But there's no multi-threading in the game, so multi-cores really only get you more performance if you already run a processor-intensive startup (e.g antivirus, listen to MP3s in background, downloading files, getting weather updates, etc..). If there was multi-threading, then going for dual/quad core would make more of difference in game speed.
I have 2gigs of RAM running at about 800ghz, plus a 3.15ghz CPU and I don't see the any of some larger mods still. I could stick in 2 more gigs, to no real use due to 32bit addressing issues of XP.
Some VISTA 64s will let you break 4GB, so with the right mobo and CPU, you could go to at least 6GB of Ram, and I expect that is where you will see factor-type improvements in game performance. Trippling ram should get close to 3 times better performance.
You can do other things, like run the game on a fast hard-drive (e.g. Western Digital's Raptor) which will help with the system cache memory and speed up the game some.
Besides taking your CPU over 3ghz, primarily, you'll want the fastest bus speed on the mobo, matching RAM in excess of 4GB, and CPU and OS that supports it. As an experiment try Overclocking your CPU and see how shorter the turn length is. I imagine it will improve some, but probably not as much as you'd think it would.
GoodGame: Civ4 being 32-bit (and not large address aware) is the cause the the 2GB limit, not running on a 32-bit OS.
For best performance with RAM, you just need a full 2GB for Civ, plus whatever amount is enough for the rest of you programs.
Although I'm not really sure, I suspect civ4 would actually benefit quite a bit from being compiled as large address aware.
For best performance with RAM, you just need a full 2GB for Civ, plus whatever amount is enough for the rest of you programs.
Although I'm not really sure, I suspect civ4 would actually benefit quite a bit from being compiled as large address aware.
GoodGame
Red, White, & Blue, baby!
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2004
- Messages
- 13,725
Uh so even with infinite RAM, Civ4 wouldn't benefit with more than 4GB ram available to it? Interesting.
The practical limit of 6GB RAM on VISTA would probably still be the way to max it though, no? (i.e. 2 GB for system overhead---OS, antivirus, etc.., and 4 GB towards Civ).
The practical limit of 6GB RAM on VISTA would probably still be the way to max it though, no? (i.e. 2 GB for system overhead---OS, antivirus, etc.., and 4 GB towards Civ).
That would be true if Civ 4 was large address aware. As it isn't, Civ 4 can only access 2GB of RAM by itself.
The selection of large address aware 32-bit games is relatively small. (The Witcher, Stalker, Supreme Commander)
FWIW, I can never have enough RAM. I've maxed out my motherboard, and probably would do so any any PC I was building for myself, so 16GB or 32GB on any Vista 64-bit build.
Branded Swine
Swining for your Day!
Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
Bad choice of mobo/RAM. I suggest DDR2 motherboard and RAM. You're just dumping unnecessary money into something you're not going to use/see much use in. The RAM you're getting will also drop to single channel since you're going to have 3/4 slots populated, and X48 chipsets only support dual-channel DDR3.
This is a good motherboard, I can say from personal experience. I onyl had it for a few days, but it was a great mobo.
If you get it, you can still go to 16GB ram, but now you have the option of DDR2 which is much cheaper.
I can't really comment on your audio setup, as that is your own preference. Personally, Im still using stereo speakers and are mainly happy with them, although Im getting a 5.1 setup in a few days ( hooray for birthdays )
For computer cases, I reccomend reading reviews, but its also mainly your own choice. I can say that I am extremely happy with my Antec 1200. A good set of fans is essential though...
There is absolutely no reason to get a 51$ DVD/CD burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106266
That is the one I have and I've had absolutely 0% problems with it ( it does open a bit slowly, but no slower than any other cd/dvd drive ive had)
For the monitor, if you are able to, you can buy a VESA mount and get a bigger monitor and mount it on the wall if thats an option.
This is a good motherboard, I can say from personal experience. I onyl had it for a few days, but it was a great mobo.
If you get it, you can still go to 16GB ram, but now you have the option of DDR2 which is much cheaper.
I can't really comment on your audio setup, as that is your own preference. Personally, Im still using stereo speakers and are mainly happy with them, although Im getting a 5.1 setup in a few days ( hooray for birthdays )
For computer cases, I reccomend reading reviews, but its also mainly your own choice. I can say that I am extremely happy with my Antec 1200. A good set of fans is essential though...
There is absolutely no reason to get a 51$ DVD/CD burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106266
That is the one I have and I've had absolutely 0% problems with it ( it does open a bit slowly, but no slower than any other cd/dvd drive ive had)
For the monitor, if you are able to, you can buy a VESA mount and get a bigger monitor and mount it on the wall if thats an option.
Branded Swine
Swining for your Day!
Thanks!
I think I will look into any that others here are giving the thumbs up to so I am obviously open to suggestions in the MOBO arena, but I really do like the ASUS brand just because of prior experiences also...
As for the DVD burner.
I have had no prior experience with anything but a Liteon and the one listed and the liteon gave me a headache from word GO! Again I will look around at the other choices offered here also.
You mention you have only had a few days time with the MOBO you bought. did you by it from EGGy or somewhere else? You did have the link so I assume that it was Eggy.
thanks Again and I check back tomorrow sometime for more of this stuff.
BS
Genocidicbunny
Bug squasher
I bought it from Fry's Electronics. It was around 20$ more on newegg, but I just needed it for stability testing. That much it passed with flying colours. Of course, as with any computer component, YMMV
Branded Swine
Swining for your Day!
Though I have not attempted to talk online businesses down with advertised prices from another site, I think they will meet or beat the price at newegg (their good for everything else).
Thanks!
BS
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