nVidia GeForce Problems

[smallfella]

All these Bugs and the Game sites continue to give rave reviews on this game?
How do they manage to play long enough to give an opinion?
And still no word from Firaxis!!!

 

[Mazruk]

My system is quite old, and a couple of months ago I upgraded the gfx card and memory (mostly for X3 and Oblivion). Mem went from 512mb to 1gb, card went from ti4400 to 6600gt. (Rest of system is athlon 2400+, soundblaster audigy, XP SP1, nothing special.)

Thought I'd benchtest new rig so downloaded 3dmark05 (2005 version!). This required DX9.0c so I downloaded and installed it. 3dmark05 rebooted my machine every time it switched to 3d mode. X2 (an old DX8 game) also crashed as soon as it went to 3d mode - had been fine before my upgrades.

First I thought it was the PSU as the 6600gt is VERY power hungry. Bought a new 480w Antec psu and still had the same problem.

Tried various gfx driver versions, mobo bios versions etc - eventually got system stable and working great - 3dmark05 works fine (as does aquamark which was also hanging my machine about 10 seconds in). I'm using the gfx driver that came with the card (77.72) NOT the latest nVidia ones.

Having got my machine stable with dx9.0c and 3dmark05, THEN I installed Civ4.

I can play huge terra maps for hours and hours (12+ without exiting game) (multiplayer with my wife who has a fairly similar machine 2200+ and a 6600 256mb not gt, 768mb mem) without significant slowdown (ie, end turn takes 2-3 secs instead of 0.5-1 sec that it does at the start.). The only "problem" i've got is the load time of saved games - these can take up to 30secs+ but given that I dont have other problems, I only load once a day so not really an issue.

The game is great and it very much includes the JOMT feeling

BTW I play windowed and my wife plays full screen. 1024x768x32

From my perspective, this is a very reliable, stable and enjoyable game - I think it was well tested before being release, even though 2kgame brought the release forward to counteract the delay to Oblivion.

Hopefully my experience helps or encourages others with their own problems.

 

[pygbe]

card went from ti4400 to 6600gt. I'm using the gfx driver that came with the card (77.72) NOT the latest nVidia ones.

Hi Marzuk, We have a similar system, so I'll try 77.72.

What Motherboard do you have? Did you upgrade your chipset drivers?

My GeForce 6600gt couldn't play ANY video with ANY player, and I resolved upgrading my chipsed drivers (I was not the only one in world)... but now I'm experiencing OTHER issues, so I could revert to old drivers...

Thanks

 

[Mazruk]

Hi Marzuk, We have a similar system, so I'll try 77.72.

What Motherboard do you have? Did you upgrade your chipset drivers?

My GeForce 6600gt couldn't play ANY video with ANY player, and I resolved upgrading my chipsed drivers (I was not the only one in world)... but now I'm experiencing OTHER issues, so I could revert to old drivers...

Thanks

My mobo is an asus a7v333 and its (now) running the latest bios. No other chipset updates have been applied.

 

[NetMapel]

I don't know where to post this problem, but I cannot change the Options in the Option menu I always change the graphic setting to low because I have a GeForce 4MX, but then when I restart the game, everything seems to be resetted back to high and whatnot, causing the game to be almost unplayable due to its choppiness !

 

[pygbe]

I don't know where to post this problem, but I cannot change the Options in the Option menu I always change the graphic setting to low because I have a GeForce 4MX, but then when I restart the game, everything seems to be resetted back to high and whatnot, causing the game to be almost unplayable due to its choppiness !

Try to delete the content of Civ4 Cache directory before each game start.
Also, don't expect performances to go so bettere with low details. I really didn't notice. Just a sea with less waves.

The cache is located in
c:\Documents and settings\%user name%\Applications data\My games

Be sure to enable your directory options to show you hidden files.

I'm not telling you nothing dangerous, as this is suggested even in sticky technical support post.

 

[Barak]

I am running an older GeForce4 MX 440 SE 64Meg card and am doing ok so far.

The only issues I am seeing are the "showing prduction in city view" issue and was having the "choppy in game movies" issue. Disabling in game movies in the .ini solved that though.

I have not experienced any of the other nVidia issues.

 

[Ryleh]

I have GeForce 440. Black terrain. Very frustrating. Old computer plays it just fine.

S.

I'm having the exact same problem and I have the same card.
I can see moutaintops and tile improvements etc. but nothing of the swamps or plains and what not.
Everything else is fine.

 

[Ryleh]

I have a GeForce4 440 GO 64m, and after installing the video driver from omegadrivers.net, Civ4 is now running (though it is still a bit choppy at times). It is important to note that the omegadrivers are modified versions of the ones released from the actual companies and are therefore NOT official versions of the video driver. But hey at least Civ4 is playable now.

I have this exact same setup and the omega drivers worked for me too.
The Nvidia site itself and guru site both gave me the same error saying that it couldn't fiind a compatible set of drivers to install to.
I'm so glad I can finally see everything.
I have to say I did pretty well, what with not being able to see any of the terrain...I played that way all the way to 13 century AD.

 

[chris.giddins]

My system is quite old, and a couple of months ago I upgraded the gfx card and memory (mostly for X3 and Oblivion). Mem went from 512mb to 1gb, card went from ti4400 to 6600gt. (Rest of system is athlon 2400+, soundblaster audigy, XP SP1, nothing special.)

Thought I'd benchtest new rig so downloaded 3dmark05 (2005 version!). This required DX9.0c so I downloaded and installed it. 3dmark05 rebooted my machine every time it switched to 3d mode. X2 (an old DX8 game) also crashed as soon as it went to 3d mode - had been fine before my upgrades.

First I thought it was the PSU as the 6600gt is VERY power hungry. Bought a new 480w Antec psu and still had the same problem.

Tried various gfx driver versions, mobo bios versions etc - eventually got system stable and working great - 3dmark05 works fine (as does aquamark which was also hanging my machine about 10 seconds in). I'm using the gfx driver that came with the card (77.72) NOT the latest nVidia ones.

Having got my machine stable with dx9.0c and 3dmark05, THEN I installed Civ4.

I can play huge terra maps for hours and hours (12+ without exiting game) (multiplayer with my wife who has a fairly similar machine 2200+ and a 6600 256mb not gt, 768mb mem) without significant slowdown (ie, end turn takes 2-3 secs instead of 0.5-1 sec that it does at the start.). The only "problem" i've got is the load time of saved games - these can take up to 30secs+ but given that I dont have other problems, I only load once a day so not really an issue.

The game is great and it very much includes the JOMT feeling

BTW I play windowed and my wife plays full screen. 1024x768x32

From my perspective, this is a very reliable, stable and enjoyable game - I think it was well tested before being release, even though 2kgame brought the release forward to counteract the delay to Oblivion.

Hopefully my experience helps or encourages others with their own problems.

I particularly like the "wife" option. Do they sell that at PC world?

 

[ZubieMaster]

the omega drivers worked for me too.

Just want to report that the Omega drivers made the difference for me as well, so many thanks to whoever suggested it originally and to you for reporting your findings.

I installed an fx5500 as a secondary video card (can't disable integrated graphics in bios, just disabled in winXP). Updated to latest nVidia drivers and got big slowdown and CTD towards end of game. After uninstalling then installing omega drivers and selecting the "performance" option, game runs almost flawless. Only problem is the sound stutter on video that I had before as well.

Specs:
P4 2.0 ghz
1g RAM
GeForce FX5500 (secondary)

 

[HounddogLGS]

&DennisFord= I had this same problem with my Geforce FX 5600 Ultra- I fixed it (so far) by reinstalling the latest NVidia driver.

 

[sosco]

Heya all,

Well there is also problem with nvidia drivers...my was relatrively mild.
Some poping noise between wonder movies...slowdowns (10min or more) but biggest was when two nations ...one after the other wanted to contact me (opening leaderhead screen)...at that stage my game just freezed.

I tried many things...drivers, new bink dll, et.

but only thing that helped is...deleting cache folder...BEFOR EVERY START OF GAME (loading, fresh start).
Since then np for me..execpt occasional slowdowns. Hope this be helpfull for someone else.

my sys:

Athlon 64 3000+
Gigabyte NForce 4
Asus GForce 6600
512 ram

 

[obsidianwarrior]

i dont know why this works, but ever since i've started leaving azureus (downloading something/anything), civ has stopped crashing

system 6800gt, 1gb ram Amd64 3000+. drivers 81.85 all the usual
prior to implementation i'd get hard reboots within an hour on large maps..
now nothing, played 3 sessions not a hitch

maybe itll help meh .. finally civ works

 

[muziqaz]

I've got
sempron 2800+ @2ghz
asus a7v8x-x bios 1014
256 ram
geforce fx5500 latest drivers(tho downloaded now from nvidia site, will look if it helps, because previous drivers were in beta I guess)
dx9.0c
win xp pro sp2 (no updates, because do not have internet connection at home)

problem:
my pc craches/reboots when trying to move my unit(thats the 1st move of my game it is very frustrating, because today I bought that game with hope of playing it, but I even dont get to get 1st move.
Intro movie went ok.
though had reboot when chose alternative american empire leader ;/
what is happening with the fine game? it's been a while since a game appeared on the shelves, and I see people having loads of problems around here.and game developers have no patch ready or smth ;/

P.S. if somethere someone already described the similar problem so I appologise for my lack of attention.And I hope there is a solution for this problem.
thx


P.P.S.
oh besides pc is rock solid in other apps, I fold 24/7(though while trying to play I switch folding off). It's good for some of U because U get to play for a while while me cannot even do the 1st move

 

[panza105]

I to had the XML problem here is the responce I got from take2.

"Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for contacting Take 2 Technical Support.

Please click on the link below and download the file to solve the XML
problem.
If you receive an XML error message when starting Civilization IV please
download and install the Windows Update from the following link:
<http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4a3ad088-a893-4f0b-
a932-5e024e74519f&DisplayLang=en>

Please be sure to delete all previous correspondence when replying. This
will help us to process your response in a more timely and efficient manner.

Kind Regards,
Take 2 Technical Support"


And it solved it. I still get weird screen after playing awhile,

AMD 3200+ 64bit proc
NVIDIA GeForce 5700 128 mb ram
1gig ram

 

[rhinonvision]

I have a new computer, with a new video card, and the game crashes still. I have the game in 1028 pixels. When it crashes, the monitor goes black with the sound of the game going on. I have a new monitor too. Does anyone have any ideas or the same problems? I have tried calling them, but I am put on hold for an hour then nothing.

jerry

 

[amazurek]

Hi all,

I had the same choppiness and drops to desk top.
I upgraded my drivers to the NVidia 8185 drivers.
Since the update, the choppiness is no longer seen and the game no longer crashes. (crosses fingers)
I got the driver AND the modded INF here
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=8021

I was told that I needed the modded INF to make it work on my system's video card. I.e. Geforce 4 4200 GO

Anyway, thats what worked for me.

Andy

 

[ChrisChua]

I'm trying to run Civ4 on my 1Gb Ram laptop, with nVidia GeForce FX Go5200but it always crashes. I tried every possible way but the game always crashes back to desktop. And recently, to a point where a blue screen comes up with some calculation (i don't even know what it is) but it crashes my computer completely. I had to restart and windows pops up: There was a serious error, do you wist to report?.

I've tried installing the nVidia new drivers: 81.85 but it wouldn't install. It states that graphic card could not find right driver. I tried the 81.87 and still the same thing. Is there no new drivers for nVidia GeForce FX Go5200?

 

[HounddogLGS]

Here' my recommended fix for NVidia users- I had numerous problems that just kept getting worse (crash to desktop, slow/choppy performance, fail to load, etc.), but looks like I got things working pretty good now. I know some others have used these steps also.

1. Download and install the latest Nvidia driver (v 81.85)
2. If you didn't allow the game to install DirectX, reinstall the game and do so, even if you already have the current version (9.0c). This is kind of odd, but it helped me.
3. Delete the cache folder located at C:\Documents and Settings\Your Username\Application Data\My Games\Civilization IV. You'll have to go into your folder options and check "show hidden files and folders".

Thanks to Thunderfall for this bit about the cache. Mine was loaded full of crap, and losing it seemed to really improve performance. I'll be keeping an eye on it.