Question about Falls Further performance

[helux]

Hello,
I have a question regarding Fall Furthers performance. I got good PC - Intel Core2DUO E8400 (overclocked to 4,2 GHZ), NVIDIA 8800 GTS 512 RAM etc. So in general my PC maybe is not top-notch but 99% of games works on all setting very high with good frame rate. However Fall Further works kinda slow - even on small map after like 100 turns its going turtle speed Strange thing is CIV 4 is kinda old game.
I am running Vista 32 bit - on 64 CIV 4 used 99% of my CPU and the game was unplayable. Are there any tips to improve game performance ? Changing video settings etc didnt make any difference.

 

[Droon]

Perhaps your comp is too good?

I have a 0,7ghz laptop with a graphic card on 128, 1GB RAM and it's running fine for me.
Atleast until turn 600+ so I try to win before then. Loading times are slow but I usually do something else at the same time so doesn't bother me to much.

 

[PPQ_Purple]

CIV as a general does not have support for multiple procesors.
So if you have a multy core only one of the cores works. I am also unsure wether it supports owercloaking at all.
You are also seriusly behind in RAM. You need at least 1GB RAM to operate civ without wories.

Finaly, you have one problem that tops all the others up.
You are runing VISTA.

My advice to you would be to take 20 euro and invest it on some RAM and than save up money to upgrade to XP.

 

[Honor]

512 Meg is just his video card memory PPQ. His RAM is probably 8 Gigs or something.

@helux: FF is just like that, you'll learn to accept it eventually. Try playing smaller maps and quicker games if you cannot stand the lag between turns. "Upgrading" to Windows XP might help as well, as PPQ suggested.

 

[JimMorrison]

Odd, I also have a much weaker processor, and on Large maps after awhile turns take 1min or so to process, but that's not THAT bad, really. I wonder how much of it has to do with Vista, and how you have it configured. That OS desperately wants to be a huge resource hog like nothing I've ever seen before.....

 

[PPQ_Purple]

512 Meg is just his video card memory PPQ. His RAM is probably 8 Gigs or something.

He did not state it, so I just skimed over. Sorry thann.

 

[Sarisin]

I have similar computer specs as you.

I find that game variables determine the length of time between turns you will experience as well as the number of CTDs and MAFs you get.

I've found Huge maps unplayable. I've just given up on those.

Large maps, about 50-50.

I like to play Epic speed, but as the game lasts and the map gets filled, the lag time and problems increase.

I've found that reducing the number of civs in the game helps, but even then the expansive AI fills the map and you get the same problems.

I think the bottom line is that the game was designed with optimum variables in mind - Normal size map, Normal speed, default number of civs, no hell terrain, etc. When you start adjusting these variables, problems pop up.

Frankly, if I had to use the 'vanilla' settings that would likely make the game run better I would not enjoy it much.

So that is your basic choice now, I think. Play the game with the vanilla settings or change the game variable and muddle through the problems.

It is very frustrating when you can play every FPS, RTS or MMO game out there and have your FFH/FF game keep dying on you on the same computer.

 

[helux]

Sorry i didnt mention it in my first post - i got 4GB of RAM - 512 is the memory of the video card. Anyway, after reading all your comments i see the problem is in the game itself - it doesnt use all CPU cores. Damn, i love the map (it reminds me of my old time favourite Master of Magic), hope i will find patience to play it on huge/epic settings once.

 

[ICanHasName?]

My guess is turning off hell terrain would help, allthough you loose that part of the game. I've noticed that the big slowdowns start to happen as Hyboream enters, probly because of all the stuff regarding hell spreading and demon spawns.

That could be coincidence though.

 

[swapoer]

I have the same problem too.
E7200,4G Ram,HD4850
But still running slow an lag in late game.

 

[JanusTalaiini]

For me, the slowdown happens when the AI builds up huge amounts of units. Seems like this happens more in FF than FFH, for some reason - the AI has a tendancy to bankrupt itself by building -huge- amounts of T1 units, and rarely gets beyond there, techwise. In any given game with 7 AIs, rarely will I see more than 3 that get past a basic tech level.

 

[WarKirby]

I started a game today with 17 civs on a large map, with Barbarian World and Orcish swarms enabled.

The turn time from turn 1, was over 40 seconds. I couldn't stand to play it at that stage
I'm thinking the Barbarian world may have been the main cause.

 

[Sarisin]

I started a game today with 17 civs on a large map, with Barbarian World and Orcish swarms enabled.

The turn time from turn 1, was over 40 seconds. I couldn't stand to play it at that stage
I'm thinking the Barbarian world may have been the main cause.

I think you are right, WK. Also, it tends to weaken the raging barb/orcish swarm variables as some barb cities tend to stockpile defenders.

I also agree with the other poster who mentioned that the AI in building so damn many units really slows the game down.

That's why I suggested an RTS-like cap on units as a game variable if that could be done. It would make for an interesting game and should improve game performance as well.