Slow slow and even slower...

[wartbourg]

I have found similar posts, but, I think that this playability problem deserves its own thread... If wrong, I stay corrected...

My PC specs:
OS: Windows XP SP2 with all updates installed
Graphics: ATI RADEON 9800 PRO 256MB
Graphics Driver: ATI Catalyst 06.3
Memory: 2GB 3200 DDR RAM
MB: Abit IC7-MAX3
CPU: Intel Pentium 4 3Ghz
GAME specs:
Civilization 4 v 1.52
Set graphics to LOW and disabled animations etc.
Game resolution is the lowest possible.
I have also set MemSaver to 1 (after reading about it in this forum).

When playing on a large map, somewhere around 200BC game becomes very choppy, taking long time to perform tasks and lag is more than obvious. On standard map it happens around 1400AD...

I love this game and would really like to be able to play it properly. So, if anyone can offer advice, please do so...

Thanks,
wartbourg

PS Also, when playing, in task manager I can see that CPU utilisation is always either 100% or very close to it, and PF goes to about 660MB...

 

[Solver]

Setting MemSaver to 1 is a bad idea for your configuration. It's an option that is intended for people with requirements that barely meet the minimum. On a system like yours, turning MemSaver on would not result in any performance improvements and would just worsen your stability. So turning it off would be my first advice.

 

[netbjarne]

PS Also, when playing, in task manager I can see that CPU utilisation is always either 100% or very close to it...

Thats right. And it stays there, regardless how much or little action goes on in the game. I once had the city screen open and left the computer for half an hour. Civ4 stressed the CPU at 100% doing absolutely nothing. My guess is that you could have a 30 GHz CPU and CPU utilization would still be 100%

I know programmers have a technical term for this type of coding "glitch", but I can't recall what it is.

Nevertheless, you probably can't buy your way out of your performance issues with civ4. Lets hope a new patch addresses this problem.

 

[wartbourg]

whatever I do - nothing helps... Frustration is too small word to describe the feeling. Firaxation maybe...

Well, I have attached my dxdiag file, so, if anyone would have a look I would realy appreciate it.

Thanks.

 

[Kristof73]

whatever I do - nothing helps... Frustration is too small word to describe the feeling. Firaxation maybe...

Well, I have attached my dxdiag file, so, if anyone would have a look I would realy appreciate it.

Thanks.

It's known problem to Firaxis. Read my old thread. Load my savefile and you see what it means slow game .... At least 5 hours to complete 1 round.
http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=157623