PC locking up

[PoetclyPathetic]

I have a new HP pc, with a 2 ghz processor and 512 mb of ram, I got the game loaded ok, and it runs smoothly, but every 10 minutes or so it locks my pc up. I dont know alot about pcs but if anyone could help I will try to find any information you need. I dont know if maybe it is because I dont have enough ram? If it is, is there anything i can do besides getting more ram that would help?
Thank you

 

[Jimmyjz]

I got the same problem with you
everything is ok, but pc locks up after like 10mins gaming...

 

[FattyLumpkin]

With my system (below) I still get lock-ups. Mine are not just game freezes but the screen becomes a grid of primary colors. I have to save constantly and its now so frequent that I really can not play. Bloody chunks!


Case - ASPIRE (Turbo Case) X-Superalien Blue Aluminum Server Case
Power Supply - Aspire Turbo Case 500W 12V Black Dual Fan Aluminum Power Supply
Mobo - MSI "K8N Neo2 Platinum" NVIDIA nForce3 ULTRA Chipset for AMD Socket 939
CPU - AMD Athlon 64 3500+, 512K, L2 Cache, 64-bit Processor 939 Pin
RAM - 2 Gigs of Corsair Value Select 184 Pin 512MBx4 DDR PC-3200
Video Card - BFG GeForce 6800GT, 256MB GDDR3, 256-Bit, 8X AGP
Hard Drive - Maxtor 300GB 7200RPM SATA, 16 MB Buffer, Model 6B300S0
Monitor - UltraSharp 2001FP 20.1-inch Flat Panel LCD
OS - Windows XP Pro

 

[Sparrowhawk]

No idea what the source of your problem is, but you might also want to post your graphic card specs.

 

[PoetclyPathetic]

My processor is actually a 3.2 ghz and a intel video card, I finally got through to the tech help and they said that Civ IV will not run on any intel cards and that I would have to go out and buy a new video card Anyone have any recomendations on a inexpensive video card that would run this game well?

 

[Shepherdboy]

Other users are reporting the same problem. I have that problem as well.

It has been suggested that there is a memory leak in the program. I just completed a test run where I ALT-TABbed out of the game regularly to look at a CPU and memory use meter. Slowly but surely CIV4 consumes more and more RAM until the available physical RAM was exhausted. At that point the system slowed to a crawl. CIV4 was using ~400MB of RAM when it crippled the system.

I was able to terminate the program using Task Manager and then the system came back around.

Shepherdboy

 

[SmCaudata]

My processor is actually a 3.2 ghz and a intel video card, I finally got through to the tech help and they said that Civ IV will not run on any intel cards and that I would have to go out and buy a new video card Anyone have any recomendations on a inexpensive video card that would run this game well?

Well, for a quality inexpensive video card I would normally suggest ATI. That said with all of the problems I am not so sure. It does seem that the 9800 series (you can get a 9800Pro for $125) seems to not have the render problem. Nvidias also seem to not have the render problem, they are just as likely get the the black terrain and cheshire cat. I have been watching the threads while I await my copy and have been paying attention to the 9800Pro comments. I havent' seen any complaints in any threads to those with that card. Strange..It could all just be coincidental.

In any event, I would wait for a patch or further work from Firaxis. I have seen people with intel cards post that they get the black...this may be fixed when the game is patched. No need to spend money unless you really need to play the game now, and even in that situation a video card upgrade is not a guarantee that you can play. If you play other games, the 9800Pro is a nice compliment to the processor speed you have. Mine works gread with my AMD 64 3000+.

 

[FattyLumpkin]

Sorry...graphic specs? Like nVidia driver 71.89 and resolution settings?

 

[PoetclyPathetic]

Thank you all for the replies, I will definetly give them time to work all these bugs out before I rush out and spend any of my hard earned money. As for the memory leak problem, I ran the game again and kept alt tabbing to check my ram and it stayed at a fairly constant 90 mb free. I dont experience any slow down at all, but after 10 minutes or so my entire pc locks up and all i can do is turn it off and back on again.
I was looking through bestbuy.com and the cheapest card i found was a geeforce FX 5500 for $89. I really dont care if it looks top notch or not, hell it looked great to me on my simple intel video card. The only other games I play are a few RPGs like final fantasy so I was just looking for the cheapest thing possible that would run Civ.

 

[PoetclyPathetic]

The exact specs of my video card are Intel 82915G Express with 128 mb of ram. I just downloaded the newest driver version and now the opening movie of the game plays but the game still locks up my pc after 10 min. Its so frustrating especially since those 10 minutes are so much fun. ::sobs:: I can save the game, reset my pc, pick up where I left off, play some more, reset my pc, rinse repeat vicious cycle.... ::sobs some more::

 

[PoetclyPathetic]

Ive decided theyre explanation that its all my cards fault is total bull pooey. I turned down the graphics level and was able to play for a full hour before it locked up my pc. So its obvously slowly doing something to my computer. Turning down the graphics just lengthened the process which proves its not because my card cant display 3d which is the explanation he gave me.

 

[fuzzybunny]

Ive decided theyre explanation that its all my cards fault is total bull pooey. I turned down the graphics level and was able to play for a full hour before it locked up my pc. So its obvously slowly doing something to my computer. Turning down the graphics just lengthened the process which proves its not because my card cant display 3d which is the explanation he gave me.

It's definitely not a gfx card issue. If my Geforce4 Ti 4600 can run GTA: SA, HL2, etc etc at high resolutions, then it should be able to tackle Civ4 graphics with ease.

 

[SmCaudata]

Thank you all for the replies, I will definetly give them time to work all these bugs out before I rush out and spend any of my hard earned money. As for the memory leak problem, I ran the game again and kept alt tabbing to check my ram and it stayed at a fairly constant 90 mb free. I dont experience any slow down at all, but after 10 minutes or so my entire pc locks up and all i can do is turn it off and back on again.
I was looking through bestbuy.com and the cheapest card i found was a geeforce FX 5500 for $89. I really dont care if it looks top notch or not, hell it looked great to me on my simple intel video card. The only other games I play are a few RPGs like final fantasy so I was just looking for the cheapest thing possible that would run Civ.

Yeah. I think they said your card wouldn't work so that they could then just not support it. From their end, it is easier to not support a card, even one that will work. A crappy business practice but it has been done before. It would be best if system requirements just said these cards supported and gave a list on their site. The best way is to have a small program that users can download and run to see if they meet requirements. I have seen a number of new games lately that do this to eliminate the "will my system run this?" threads.

Best of luck to you in getting this to work.