Warning: Your system may not be compatible with Civ 4!

[Willem]

Get a ATI Radeon 9800 Pro.
Best bang for your buck right now.

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. It rather sucks that I have to spend money on a video card just to play the bloody game. It better be a good one, it's costing me enough money! At least video cards are fairly cheap these days.

 

[obscenename]

It will play Half Life 2 On low-medium settings if I remember right. I've personaly never used it, but I've heard its a great card. Im running a Geforce 6800 Ultra.

 

[Dearmad]

Thanks, I'll keep that in mind. It rather sucks that I have to spend money on a video card just to play the bloody game. It better be a good one, it's costing me enough money! At least video cards are fairly cheap these days.

No they're not. The current generation of cards costs more than the last gen. when they were current. Prices have gone up for the latest. Older cards prices have dropped, but nowhere like they did around the gf4200 times.

 

[Coffee]

You could try Windows Game Advisor. The magazine quote is as follows;

Game Advisor (www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/games/gameadvisor/default.mspx) does two things. First and foremost, Advisor reads internal machine parameters. Simply put, Advisor is a Web-based tool designed to help Windows XP users determine if a particular game will run on a particular PC.

 

[Grohan]

If your system barely runs Civ3, most likely your processor isn't powerful enough to handle Radeon 9800 Pro card well so before you run to the shop I suggest you to find out this matter.
It happened to my friend once and he needed to buy new processor as well so be careful.

 

[doronron]

I tried pirates to get a feel of the engine as well. Had a similar problem with my laptop's integrated graphics chipset. Try turning all graphics onto the highest detail. The game ran fine from that point on, and I never had any issues with speed vs. graphics.

I expect a similar issue with Civ 4, and will likely use the same solution.

No problem.

 

[Willem]

If your system barely runs Civ3, most likely your processor isn't powerful enough to handle Radeon 9800 Pro card well so before you run to the shop I suggest you to find out this matter.
It happened to my friend once and he needed to buy new processor as well so be careful.

I just upgraded my processor recently so that's not an issue. I'm now running at 1460 mhz, a distinct improvement over my old 400. I'm amazed at how fast Civ 3 is now.

 

[Willem]

I tried pirates to get a feel of the engine as well. Had a similar problem with my laptop's integrated graphics chipset. Try turning all graphics onto the highest detail. The game ran fine from that point on, and I never had any issues with speed vs. graphics.

I expect a similar issue with Civ 4, and will likely use the same solution.

No problem.

I came across that suggestion over at Addicted to Pirates but it didn't help. It worked a little better but it still ended up crashing eventually. So I have no alternative but to get a new video card.

 

[Neomega]

I say it's your card. Internal Graphics Processor that only shares motherboard memory.

You gotta get a new system, I think, unless your motherboard could support a graphics card as well.

I had this problem trying to run Blender with an SiS (also IGP) chip, as well as One Must Fall Battlefields. Some games gotta have a card, and most motherboards that support internal graphics processors, do not dually support graphics cards.

But if you want to game, you gotta get a card.

....that's my best guess.

I just upgraded my processor recently so that's not an issue. I'm now running at 1460 mhz, a distinct improvement over my old 400. I'm amazed at how fast Civ 3 is now.

I played huge maps on an AMD 1100. Boy were those turns long.... I couldn't imagine a 400 mhz.

 

[Shaftoe]

Check out this thread over at Addicted to Pirates:
http://addictedtopirates.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1203&highlight=intel+video+dell

Should get you up and running. I have the same crappy onboard video card you're running... Came in my Dell. I used some of the tips they mention here and got Pirates working...

Side note, I recently picked up a new video card for the computer that made this issue go away. Got a NVidia GEForce from NewEgg.com... The PCI version, since my Dell didn't have an AGP slot. Cost about 90 bucks (they have a 60 dollar one as well, with less memory). Assuming you're not strapped for cash, you should consider upgrading the card, even if it has to be a PCI card. Dramatic difference. Hope this helps...

 

[JavalTigar]

I'm happy cause the Game Advisor says my laptop would woop all sorts of butt on Pirates, so cIV should be just as easy.

I had a minor heart failure when I heard a laptop was having problems.

 

[Cilpot]

I have the same problem with Pirates!.

And I have Ati Radeon 9700 128MB. Should at least prevent the game from crashing to the desktop.

 

[Willem]

I say it's your card. Internal Graphics Processor that only shares motherboard memory.

Well that's already been established. I got a reply from Atari tech support telling that I need a card that that has Hardware T&L (Transform & Lighting I believe it stands for).

You gotta get a new system, I think, unless your motherboard could support a graphics card as well.

Not a problem, my motherboard does have a video card slot.

I played huge maps on an AMD 1100. Boy were those turns long.... I couldn't imagine a 400 mhz.

I play on maps that are 256 X 256 with 16 civs. I was getting turns lasting 20 minutes to half an hour . I haven't played long enough since my new processor was installed to be sure how much shorter the turns are yet. If the early turns are any indication, it will be quite a bit.

 

[Willem]

Check out this thread over at Addicted to Pirates:
http://addictedtopirates.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1203&highlight=intel+video+dell

Should get you up and running. I have the same crappy onboard video card you're running... Came in my Dell. I used some of the tips they mention here and got Pirates working...

Doesn't help me any, that thread was mainly for the Intel graphics chip. I have the VIA chip. I tried updating my drivers but it didn't help. Neither did running my World and Object Details at max. It lasted a little bit longer than before, but not by much. And that T&L emulator sounds to dubious for me to even bother with.

Assuming you're not strapped for cash, you should consider upgrading the card, even if it has to be a PCI card.

I've been putting in a lot of hours at work the last couple of weeks, so I'll be able to get myself a new card next week. And as I mentioned, I do have an AGP slot so it won't be a problem replacing the onboard chip. I just have to figure out how to turn it off in my BIOS. I'm sure it won't be difficult.

 

[Tidiazuron]

I would like to add that pirates runs smoothly in my AMD 1Ghz with a GeForce 2 and 256 RAM. It even works in my laptop with 64 Mb shared video memory. Pirates' engine is so well optimized that I do expect Civ4 to work as well or even better.
I think the that the problem presented here should be treated as an exception and not as a rule.

 

[Willem]

I think the that the problem presented here should be treated as an exception and not as a rule.

Perhaps, but it's better for people to know about it ahead of time rather than get frustrated when the game doesn't play. Anyone with an older or onboard video card may end up with problems. Discussing it now gives those people plenty of time to upgrade their systems, or at least understand what the problem is when it starts crashing.

 

[Neomega]

I believe T&L stands for "texture and lighting".... it's why I couldn't play OMF Battlegrounds on my SiS IGP.