I finally started to like Civ 4 and started playing it even though I goit it a month ago. Now when I get later in the timeline, the game crashes and says I have run out of virtual memory. How do I fix this? Take2 told me to download the updates for my ATI Radeon X300 SE but checked and it looks like DirectX 9.0c is available, well according to Dxdiag, I have that update. So what solutions can I implement to fix this game? I am trying to get my moneys worth somehow.
Problem with late game crashes
- Thread starter Dan8816
- Start date
Lotta people having trouble with this, ATI users mostly.
I'd ignore what it says about turning down graphics settings. This is a memory leak issue by the looks of it so only a patch will fix it completely.
What I do to avoid it is.
1. Avoid huge maps
2. Dont trade maps unless it's necessary (sucks but very important)
3. Delete the cache files periodically (especially after a crash) c:\documents and settings\[username]\application data\my games\sid meiers civiilzation 4\cache. You will need to unhide the folders.
4. Close and reboot (especially after a crash or long game session)
5. Save often
6. Turning on the memsaver thing in mydocuments\mygames\sid meiers civ 4\civilization4.ini might help too.
Hope this works in the meantime until a very much needed third patch is released.
I'd ignore what it says about turning down graphics settings. This is a memory leak issue by the looks of it so only a patch will fix it completely.
What I do to avoid it is.
1. Avoid huge maps
2. Dont trade maps unless it's necessary (sucks but very important)
3. Delete the cache files periodically (especially after a crash) c:\documents and settings\[username]\application data\my games\sid meiers civiilzation 4\cache. You will need to unhide the folders.
4. Close and reboot (especially after a crash or long game session)
5. Save often
6. Turning on the memsaver thing in mydocuments\mygames\sid meiers civ 4\civilization4.ini might help too.
Hope this works in the meantime until a very much needed third patch is released.
I know what you mean, I made it to 1670 as the Americans, I hade 10 cities and playing on a huge map with 17 AIs. I trade Indrustiralism tech to India for their Map because they have been exploring for alot longer. Afterward the game crashes. I already have v1.52 and BlueMarble, and the problem still happens, I turned my display settings down and it still happens after a couple turns. DXdiag is to long to paste but on the phone with take2, they said I more than meet every system requirement, and I would need to downlaod updates from ATI.com, I checked and I already have the updates.
DarthCycle
Boardgame freak and 4X games enthusiast
- Joined
- Jul 25, 2005
- Messages
- 294
I have the same problem, also the owner of an ATI card.
I tried many different things: use the latest game patch, tried numerous versions of the display drivers, tried different settings in civilization.ini.
In the end, it didn't solve any of my problems and crashes. On standard map size, I always have problems at mid game (when most of the map is occupied, decent number of units). Interface bug, CTD, movie lag, etc...
If you're lucky, you might be able to resolve your problems by trial and errors using different settings, drivers and the like. Me, I'm just hoping that Firaxis will fix their problems at some point in the future with a patch. Until then, I have to accept that this game is just buggy as hell and doesn't properly support one of the most common graphic card (ATI Radeon).
I own a performance monster for a PC, and never had any problems with any games in the last 2 years. I'm very surprised (and disappointed) that a game from the Civ franchise is having so many stability problems. So much for trying to bring TBS into the 3D age. This would never have happened if they'd stayed with 2D isometric.
I tried many different things: use the latest game patch, tried numerous versions of the display drivers, tried different settings in civilization.ini.
In the end, it didn't solve any of my problems and crashes. On standard map size, I always have problems at mid game (when most of the map is occupied, decent number of units). Interface bug, CTD, movie lag, etc...
If you're lucky, you might be able to resolve your problems by trial and errors using different settings, drivers and the like. Me, I'm just hoping that Firaxis will fix their problems at some point in the future with a patch. Until then, I have to accept that this game is just buggy as hell and doesn't properly support one of the most common graphic card (ATI Radeon).
I own a performance monster for a PC, and never had any problems with any games in the last 2 years. I'm very surprised (and disappointed) that a game from the Civ franchise is having so many stability problems. So much for trying to bring TBS into the 3D age. This would never have happened if they'd stayed with 2D isometric.
Zydor
Emperor
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,120
The FX 5200 is not good at 3D games, and you will have problems with it.
First upgrade the Video Driver you have a default Windows one loaded
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.98.html
Then do all you can to reduce the main RAM & Video RAM load - low textures, low resolution, small & standard maps, not large & huge, shut down backgrouind applications etc. Lots of posts in the first 2 pages of the forum about reducing the system RAM & graphics RAM loading
Post again when you been through that lot if you still have issues. In the long run think seriously about a card upgrade.
Regards
Zy
First upgrade the Video Driver you have a default Windows one loaded
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_2k_81.98.html
Then do all you can to reduce the main RAM & Video RAM load - low textures, low resolution, small & standard maps, not large & huge, shut down backgrouind applications etc. Lots of posts in the first 2 pages of the forum about reducing the system RAM & graphics RAM loading
Post again when you been through that lot if you still have issues. In the long run think seriously about a card upgrade.
Regards
Zy
Zydor said:
Er did you even read a single post in this thread? Your post has nothing whatsoever to do with this guy's problem, also I have a 5200 on my main system and have had no problem running any game at all.
That aside I have the exact same problem. I'm fond of big maps since I want my game to last for more than a few hours. It seems that once the game has enough units\city's on the map it simply reaches critical mass and crashes... I even have 2 game that now crash before I can load them.
Its very obvious there is nothing wrong with the graphics card or settings as the game does this on both my systems and with every conceivable setting combo, also there I have experienced no graphics problems of any kind. The game simply gets slow then ctd. I have yet been unable to finish a single game on a large or mid sized map.
Anyways I hope they fix this soon as I'd love to finish a few of the games I have started.
Zydor
Emperor
- Joined
- Dec 3, 2005
- Messages
- 1,120
Yes I read it all - as I always do - as you point out you have the exact same problem.
The fact it does it on both systems is no pointer to the cause. Many things can cause issues, the setup of both systems you have will differ in detail, not only the hardware, but also the driver versions, basic housekeeping, background applications, power supply, sound card drivers - etc etc - all have an effect on the response of the system. 3D games are far more demanding than 2D, its a totally different world compared to Civ III - in the latter case it was more forgiving on hardware and drivers because it was 2D, not so with 3D as many are finding out
We will obviously differ on the FX 5200. The fact remains they do have problems, as you yourself have also described with your own. V1.52 placed a greater load on the graphics card, the FX 5200 surfaced on the board in considerable numbers together with the 9000 & 9250 post V1.52. All are low end graphics cards with limited processing power. It will particularly show up in the late game in large and huge maps where there is a much higher processing and VRAM requirement.
Regards
Zy
The fact it does it on both systems is no pointer to the cause. Many things can cause issues, the setup of both systems you have will differ in detail, not only the hardware, but also the driver versions, basic housekeeping, background applications, power supply, sound card drivers - etc etc - all have an effect on the response of the system. 3D games are far more demanding than 2D, its a totally different world compared to Civ III - in the latter case it was more forgiving on hardware and drivers because it was 2D, not so with 3D as many are finding out
We will obviously differ on the FX 5200. The fact remains they do have problems, as you yourself have also described with your own. V1.52 placed a greater load on the graphics card, the FX 5200 surfaced on the board in considerable numbers together with the 9000 & 9250 post V1.52. All are low end graphics cards with limited processing power. It will particularly show up in the late game in large and huge maps where there is a much higher processing and VRAM requirement.
Regards
Zy
If the graphics card is too slow for the game, the game shouldZydor said:
a) Not run at all, informing that minimum specs are not met
b) Suggest or set lower details and just run with much slower FPS
It should not under any circumstances just CRASH. It's unacceptable and there is no excuse that the user's hardware is too old. Besides, the official minimum requirements list just
FX 5200 meets 64MB of RAM, T&L as well as "GeForce 2 or better". If the game doesn't run and crashes instead, it's a bug and the game is faulty, as simple as that.
Maestro_Innit
Warlord
I'm in the same boat as all you ATI owners out there.
Got a monster rig with an X800XT/PE and the game just can't hold up once the map is fully populated.
I hate it. I want to kill everyone at 2KGames and Firaxis. And possibly Tony Blair too.
Got a monster rig with an X800XT/PE and the game just can't hold up once the map is fully populated.
I hate it. I want to kill everyone at 2KGames and Firaxis. And possibly Tony Blair too.
On my laptop here
http://www.maindot.com/technologynews/archives/acer-aspire-1691
Ive got to around 2600AD and the game is going quite slow. But it dose not crash. So I am quite lucky.
http://www.maindot.com/technologynews/archives/acer-aspire-1691
Ive got to around 2600AD and the game is going quite slow. But it dose not crash. So I am quite lucky.
Llewen
Warlord
- Joined
- Jun 5, 2004
- Messages
- 276
Here's my tip for handling the late game crashes. Save twice at the end of every turn. When the game starts to go funky it will crash when you try to save. At which point you should clear your cache as detailed further up the thread, then shut your computer down and restart it. Then reload the save that didn't crash.
It's still a major pain in the butt, but at least you'll only ever lose one turn at the most.
Shame on Firaxis for releasing such a buggy mess. This is the second time they've done this. Anyone remember how awful PTW was when it was first released? They ought to feel embarrassed for releasing software as badly bugged as PTW was and Civ IV still is.
It's still a major pain in the butt, but at least you'll only ever lose one turn at the most.
Shame on Firaxis for releasing such a buggy mess. This is the second time they've done this. Anyone remember how awful PTW was when it was first released? They ought to feel embarrassed for releasing software as badly bugged as PTW was and Civ IV still is.
