So slow, I could die.

[Vegasgustan]

Okay, this is a pathetic post. I recently was given a PC and Civ3 Complete. I am a Mac guy. This game is running like a snail with a shell that is too heavy for him. I found out that the computer is a Pentium III with 128MB of RAM. That is the problem, right? Here goes the sad part, how do I find out what type of RAM to buy and how much should I get? If there is anything else that would help someone help me, please let me know. Thanks so much!

 

[steve dave]

I played on a pentium II 1.5 Ghz and 512MB RAM and it was very slow in the later stages if I had a bunch of Civs going. I then moved up to a 3.0GHz and 1 GBRam and I don't have any issues. So a step up would definatly help I think.

As for what too get I don't know but I do like to go to www.pricewatch.com.

Sorry I can't help on the what to get part.

 

[SJ Frank]

I'm running C3C on a computer similar to yours (Athlon K7 and 128MB), and I'm getting acceptable performance. So perhaps your problem isn't the hardware...

Anyhow, if you want to upgrade the memory, I'd suggest first finding your motherboard's model number -- it should be printed near one of your mother board's corners. Then, goto the motherboard's menufacture's website, where you can find the spec for that motherboard, which should contain information about what type of memory it uses, and the maximum amount of memory it accepts.

For example, I have a computer in front of me right now (not my Civ3 computer BTW), that has an "Intel Desktop Board D815EGEW" motherboard. So I would goto Intel's web site, search for "D815EGEW", and in one of the PDF's that came up during the search, I find the following quote:

• Two 168-pin SDRAM Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets
• Support for up to 512 MB system memory
• Support for single-sided or double-sided DIMMs

Bingo!

 

[CrackedCrystal]

Before ugrading, try turning off animations and other features. Also play smaller maps. I have read posts from players that say they wait in excess of 10 minutes for a computer to finish its turn on huge maps during the modern ages. I prefer tiny/small maps. Anything larger than standard I get irritated so I wouldn't know.

 

[Mad2rix]

We somewhat lack patience in playing on higher difficulty level along with large/huge maps. Maybe I'll wait for the faster PC with more efficient RAM or processor to finish whatever boring/slow save games I used to play.

 

[Turner]

I like www.crucial.com. They have a script on their website where you put in the make and model of your pc, and it tells you what kind of memory you need.

 

[rysingsun]

i have a pentium III with 640M RAM and i run halfway decently on even large maps. but 128k seems kind of light. most computers these days are sold with too little RAM to support many of the games expected to run on them. so although your pentium itself is old i still think the RAM is the main issue plagueing you.

if you plan on having the store put the RAM in for you then you dont need to know what kind of RAM you have. but if you swap it out yourself id just open it up pop out one of the DIMMs and bring it down to the store. then tell the guy "i want one of these .. except i want my new one to be a 256MB. its possible you can use 512MB RAMs but id place my bet against it. only way to really know besides trying it is to find out the model number of your motherboard and ask them (or look it up with google or something). one or two 256MB RAMs though would surely make a significant difference at an affordable and keep your machine running for a while on most current solitair (or hotseat) games like civ. it might not be adequate for civ IV. we will see.

oh yeah ... when you pop the RAM dimm out keep your fingers clear of anything metal on the part. handle it by the edges. static electricity is bad bad. grope the frame of the computer to discharge any static you might have.

 

[tR1cKy]

The memory you need is quite obsolete and even if you find it, there's the possibility that it won't work. And, even if it works, you'll have similar bottlenecks from the other hardware components (disk, fsb, graphics, chipset, processor...)

I recommend buying a new pc. A cheap one will be enough. Put the old one in a home network and you'll find it still useful for a lot of tasks.

 

[Chieftess]

Pentium III with 128MB of RAM - How fast is it? I would guess 1ghz at the most. You definately need more RAM. I put 384 total in my old computer (667ghz), and it runs fine, although the late game can be slow.

Do this:

1 - Go to preferences and turn off animations. (i.e. View Friend/Enemy Animation).
2 - Before you end your turn (use the "always wait... option), activate a unit, and press enter (or shift-enter). The turn actually goes by a little quicker. (don't know why, but it does).

If you can get a new computer with 1 GIG of ram (try to get more ram, first), then go for it. If not, get one with 512 megs.

 

[Zakharov]

To find out what components you have in your PC (RAM, mobo, CPU etc.) download this tool:

CPU-Z

I think you will need SDRAM which you can get from newegg.com

 

[Ginger_Ale]

I only have 256 MB of RAM, and my computer's 1.8 Ghz. However, I can run pretty much all kinds of map well;

My sugestions like others are: (a) turn animations off, (b) if you have windows XP press Control + Alt + Delete, and then when you go to the Process tab, right click on Conquests and say: Set Priority -> High (c) Try not to have any programs in the background running (or at least not many), and last, (d) get more RAM.

While I wish I had 1 GIG of RAM, I don't see that happening for me anytime soon.

 

[Scuffer]

I'm running an 800MHz AMD Duron with 256Mb of cheap SDRAM, and I can do large maps at a decent speed. I guess the thing really needs a good clear out and some more RAM.

I wouldn't bother getting too much, another 128 will probably see you right. There's not a lot of point spending more money on that rig than necessary.

 

[Turner]

Yeah, me too. I've got an 850mhz Athlon with 256mb, and it does just fine.

But then, I don't mind waiting between turns, so I tend not to time it as much.

 

[HAND]

Okay, this is a pathetic post. I recently was given a PC and Civ3 Complete. I am a Mac guy. This game is running like a snail with a shell that is too heavy for him. I found out that the computer is a Pentium III with 128MB of RAM. That is the problem, right? Here goes the sad part, how do I find out what type of RAM to buy and how much should I get? If there is anything else that would help someone help me, please let me know. Thanks so much!

Yes i had a simliar spec pc myself -celeron 533mhz, 256mb ram. But now i have an Athlon 64 3200+, 1Gb DDR400.

I never played above standard maps before my upgrade.

i suggest PC100/PC133 sdram since thats what Pentium III used. Maybe you should upgrade the lot, if you have the money?

 

[planetfall]

If you can't upgrade yet, try saving the game after each turn, that does seem to speed up next turn.

 

[IbnSina]

With a PIII processor, I'm betting that you want so-called PC100 RAM: 100MHz. It -is- old, so you may have a hard time finding it. On the other hand, if your processor is running anywhere 1 GHz, then with more RAM you should be able to play quickly enough. I still have only 128 MB RAM, and I don't have to wait long.

 

[Vegasgustan]

Wow! Thanks to everyone who has answered! I would say thanks to each one, but I would be here for awhile. My boss gave me this computer (it is an old one from the office), so I really can't go buy a new or used one. I guess I should do the motherboard thing, or perhaps just take it in to the local computer shop and let them do it. I will try all the advice, thanks again!

 

[cidknee]

im running a celeron 500 with 391 mb of sdram.. and it works great, Im building my new machine so this on will do for now. But i have XP Pro and C3C, i play large- huge maps and its ok with lotsa civs.

its likely SDRAM and u can get it any PC shop.

 

[Greebley]

Map size can make a big difference in speed. As others have mentioned, I would check how the game runs for small and standard maps if you haven't already with animations off. Maybe try tiny just to compare

 

[Conquest]

Has anyone ever noticed the memory leak in the ram just after loading a large scale saved game (before launch). I use system mechanic to free up the ram once the game is loaded and that seems to help. But if you have tons of ram over 512 it doesdnt matter as much I guess.