[BTS] WHat new machine can I get that will run civ4?
- Thread starter Ringo Kid
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SnipedSoul
Warlord
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I have a relatively new computer with Windows 10 on it. I run the steam version of BTS without issue.
What OS and version of civ do you use?
What OS and version of civ do you use?
Archon_Wing
Vote for me or die
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I've played Civ 4 on all kinds of crappy computers. A new computer should not have any trouble--- my computer could run the steam and disc versions on Windows 10. What sort of error message you're getting?
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Probably the biggest thing that helped with IV is having a 64-bit machine, which is all the sell now. Outside of that it really does not matter much. Better the specs the better, but IV has a known memory leak so no matter how good the machine is the game will slow down after an hour or so of playing - how fast it slows down depends on your specs.
If the game is slowing down for you after a while, well that is normal. Easiest thing to do his hit ctl-shift-ESC. It brings up task manager and appears to refresh memory somehow (learned that from Dhoomstriker). It really works and IV will play faster for some time before you need to do it again.
If your computer itself is slowing down, then this may be an indicator of something wrong with your machine. You probably need to clean up some things, uninstall some crap, and check for viruses/malware. Try Ccleaner and Malwarebytes.
If you want an new machine, any of the game ready desktop/laptops sold nowadays are way more than adequate to run IV, and you don't need to spend a lot. Again, keep in mind that no matter how shiny the machine is, IV will slow down.
(version of IV should be irrelevant)
If the game is slowing down for you after a while, well that is normal. Easiest thing to do his hit ctl-shift-ESC. It brings up task manager and appears to refresh memory somehow (learned that from Dhoomstriker). It really works and IV will play faster for some time before you need to do it again.
If your computer itself is slowing down, then this may be an indicator of something wrong with your machine. You probably need to clean up some things, uninstall some crap, and check for viruses/malware. Try Ccleaner and Malwarebytes.
If you want an new machine, any of the game ready desktop/laptops sold nowadays are way more than adequate to run IV, and you don't need to spend a lot. Again, keep in mind that no matter how shiny the machine is, IV will slow down.
(version of IV should be irrelevant)
Fippy
Mycro Junkie
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Totally forgot about that option, you are a life saver
Lennier
Emperor
If you're using a Mac, there are a few tricks you need to do to get Civ IV to run on the current OS. Pop on over to the Mac forums to see how.
Pretty much any new computer will run Civ4 without a hitch, provided that you use the Steam version, due to the old copy protection hassles that Microsoft invalidated a couple of years ago. (that's why disk versions won't run on Windows 10 without some serious diddling around - if at all.)
That being said, if you do any other gaming besides Civ, a laptop is not your friend. Laptops, even "gaming" laptops, woefully under perform with games these days. If you want a machine that can play CIv, along with some of the newer titles of the day, you need a desktop with a good graphics card and at least 8 GB of RAM.
That being said, if you do any other gaming besides Civ, a laptop is not your friend. Laptops, even "gaming" laptops, woefully under perform with games these days. If you want a machine that can play CIv, along with some of the newer titles of the day, you need a desktop with a good graphics card and at least 8 GB of RAM.
Randy Random
Chieftain
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Dang I had a new pc with integrated graphics in 2006 when IV first came out that ran the game fine until it gave out around 2011. When I purchased a laptop, it still ran fine. Now I have a 970 and it still runs fine.
Ringo Kid
Prince
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Okay thanks for all the responses. What is steam? From what I have read CIV4 wont play on Windows 10 which is what runs my newer computer. My older machine, which runs CIV4 but, slowly is Vista. An inexpensive machine with a pentium 2.00 ghz E2180 processor and 4 GB RAM. But if steam makes it work that is ok, but what is steam and how do I get it?
Lennier
Emperor
Steam is a web-based distribution platform for software, mostly games. You download the client onto your machine and create an account. You can then browse their collection, and if you see something you like, you can purchase it and then download it.
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What rock are you living under?
..jkhttp://store.steampowered.com/
Download client (link at the top) and create an account.
Steam is a hugely popular global vendor of digital PC games. The client serves as DRM for the games, in addition to a distribution platform. However, note that Civ IV in digital format is sold by other vendors without requiring the steam client or a client at all. Civ IV is on Good Old Games (GOG.com) as well, with no DRM whatsoever. (GOG is great)
It's the disk version of CIV IV that has issues with newer OS's, but the digital versions run fine..although you may need to tweak the compatibility settings on WIN 10 regardless.
PC games on disk are basically an extinct now.
What are the specs of your new machine? (ha..your old one is indeed a dinosaur)
Keep an eye out for Civ IV Complete on sale online. Expect a sale price of around 6 to 7 bucks.
Ringo Kid
Prince
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Hmm.. I guess I don't get around much anymore. There are other games? I have been playing the various civ variants since 1998 when I first got a computer. I also played SMAC which is pretty much civ 2 in space as I recall. I will have to look into this newfangled steam power. (Do you expect me to build a bonfire on the deck.....)
Ringo Kid
Prince
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And the new computer is the cheapest I could find at the Walmart last year. An all in one "special" that was around $150. Fine for facebook and email and such. Would not be up to a modern game I do not believe. But it has the latest OS where my old machine was telling me this or that is "no longer supported, get lost loser " or words to that effect.
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All-in-One's from Walmart are definitely not designed for gaming.
So what do you want here? What is your price range? We can put you on the right track to a new machine for gaming if that is what you want. It sounds like you are not a techie nor do you play all that many games. Maybe you are trying to change in regard to the latter.
Price range for gaming PCs or laptops can vary dramatically on specs and brand, but you can get very good machines in the $1000 range, but quite a bit lower if you go with older models on components or build your own.
I recommend a Chromebook for email/social stuff.
Sound like your old machine is ready to be put out to pasture, and the newer one ain't gonna do much beyond what you indicated.
So what do you want here? What is your price range? We can put you on the right track to a new machine for gaming if that is what you want. It sounds like you are not a techie nor do you play all that many games. Maybe you are trying to change in regard to the latter.
Price range for gaming PCs or laptops can vary dramatically on specs and brand, but you can get very good machines in the $1000 range, but quite a bit lower if you go with older models on components or build your own.
I recommend a Chromebook for email/social stuff.
Sound like your old machine is ready to be put out to pasture, and the newer one ain't gonna do much beyond what you indicated.
Ringo Kid
Prince
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Not a gamer at all. I just love CIV4. I installed the steam thing. Will get the CIV4 Steam version when the price comes down or my spare cash account goes up. As to a new machine I would likely get a lower spec newish desktop and add ram or a video card or whatever is needed for a fast machine. As I recall that is how I got CIV4 to play when it came out, on my truly ancient machine I had back then. I can do upgrades, if all that is needed is to pull out an old piece and plug in a new one. I have fooled around with computers,a bit, since the Radio Shack thing (TRS80 ?) came out back in the dark ages. But the first modern one was 1998 and cost nearly $2,000 as I recall. "Dude, I had a Dell." That one had a 28k modem I think, and could run CIV1. Which I played endlessly. 
Ringo Kid
Prince
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Cool, thanks everybody for the steam tip. I went ahead and bought the game at the high price, because I am a fool. I am playing the original (vanilla) civ 4 right now , just like its 2005 all over again. When I went to download the game it at first gave me not not compatible errors. But then I tried later from a different page and it worked fine. So I am happy. Will download the expansions when I have time. Thanks again, all.
I am playing the original (vanilla) civ 4 right now , just like its 2005 all over again. When I went to download the game it at first gave me not not compatible errors. But then I tried later from a different page and it worked fine. So I am happy. Will download the expansions when I have time. Thanks again, all.
6K Man
Bureaucrat
While we're on the subject, I am hanging onto my Windows 7 disks for future installation just because I’d rather avoid Win10 if and when I get a new PC. For now, the old PC works fine.
And I’ve read a lot of negative things about Steam; I don’t see why I should have to buy a new copy of Civ4 just to be able to use it on a hypothetical new PC. The idea of licensing (rather than buying) a game does not appeal either.
And I’ve read a lot of negative things about Steam; I don’t see why I should have to buy a new copy of Civ4 just to be able to use it on a hypothetical new PC. The idea of licensing (rather than buying) a game does not appeal either.
elitetroops
Deity
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Windows 10 works great, in many ways better than 7. No reason to avoid it imo.
As for steam, haven't used it for anything but Civ, but that hasn't been any problem at all. When I found out I needed a Steam version of Civ 4, they happened to have a campaign that gave it for free if you had the disk version. But even if they wouldn't have had that campaign, I wouldn't have seen any problem in purchasing it for a few bucks. Considering the amount of hours I've enjoyed playing the game, it's not like I could claim it's not worth it, or that the creators don't deserve any more of my money for providing a version that works on modern systems.
As for steam, haven't used it for anything but Civ, but that hasn't been any problem at all. When I found out I needed a Steam version of Civ 4, they happened to have a campaign that gave it for free if you had the disk version. But even if they wouldn't have had that campaign, I wouldn't have seen any problem in purchasing it for a few bucks. Considering the amount of hours I've enjoyed playing the game, it's not like I could claim it's not worth it, or that the creators don't deserve any more of my money for providing a version that works on modern systems.
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