Suggestions for my "rig"

[tokala]

When ever I start a civ 5 game, I alway check task manager to see what my cpu usage is. It hovers around 20-30%. Is this normal?

Yes, that's normal. Windows sees 4 logical cores in your CPU.
About 25% CPU load means that one core is under full load, the rest is mostly idling.

 

[yetubaba]

Earlier I was around turn 400 on a huge map and it was like 60%

 

[Zelig]

Yup, you can set the graphs to show logical cores to show that visually.

 

[yetubaba]

so its normal for cpu usage to be over 60% in mid game?

 

[GoodGame]

Hey fellow Civ-ers! I started a thread in a separate forum, but it was suggested this might be a better forum.

Ok, so I bought this HP 500-123w at Wal-Mart last month. Not a terrible system (I tell ya, in the past two weeks live learned more about how to build computers than I ever have lol). Anyway, got home decided to maybe "Civ", but no luck, had to run everything on medium and normal maps. So I decided to UPGRADE instead of building a brand new rig (although, i should have built my own, but i didnt know how )

Original specs:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c03968985&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en

I have since added an extra 4 gig ram, a 550 watt psu and a geforce 760 GPU (i found a video on youtube showing a guy using this card to play civ V on ultra settings) . I can now Civ on high settings and large maps, but it still has some lag. So now i've decided to upgrade my PSU. My friend says "Nothing less than an I7 (currently have an i3 duel w/hyper-threading) will stand a chance at running Civ V". He also CLAIMS Civ V is more intensive than BF: 4. I have never played it, so idk, but i find this HIGHLY unlikely! So what should I do to turn this system isto the ultimate Civ V gaming machine? Will an I5 be sufficient?

I have a locked i5 with 16 GB ram and only a 450 GTS. I run up to 'standard' map settings and high graphics settings regularly. I find that what will always ruin huge maps with huge numbers of CIVs is the AI turn processing.

Edit: I just reconfirmed it. Played 50 turns on DX11 with all settings on high, 8xAA, 1650resolution, with a huge map. Higher screen resolutions might require a better video card, but I don't need an i7 definitely. I don't even need a manual overclock (My i5 locked does support the speed boost that i5s have, that lets the CPU temporarily run at ~3.8 ghz).

I'd say Civ4 had worse issues with AI turn processing lag. I will have to reinstall Civ4 on my current rig to see if that is still true.

System specs:
Operating System
Windows 7 Professional 64-bit SP1
CPU
Intel Core i5 2500 @ 3.30GHz 55 °C
Sandy Bridge 32nm Technology
RAM
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 665MHz (9-9-9-24)
Motherboard
Intel Corporation DZ68BC (CPU 1) 43 °C
Graphics
SyncMaster (1680x1050@60Hz)
1023MB NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 (EVGA) 36 °C

 

[Zelig]

Civ4 is like an order of magnitude faster than civ5 for turn times.