Why does this game stutter so much on my machine?

[evizaer]

My machine's specs:

Laptop
Windows XP Pro, SP2
Pentium 4 @ 3.06GHz
1 GB of RAM
NVIDIA GeForce FX Go 5700 with the latest drivers
DirectX 9 installed directly off the game CD

Game installed without a hitch.

I'm running the game on the lowest possible graphics setting i can see (1024x768) with all the graphics settings on low.

I can run other games like Call of Duty 2 and Age of Empires 3 at the same resolution with medium graphics settings with only the minimal (like... 1-3 times per half hour of normal gameplay) stutter.

My framerate in civ4 is disgustingly low. All animations are choppy (even the circle animation that's below the unit you're giving orders to) and it takes the game 1 to 1.5 seconds to respond to mouse clicks, show mouseovers, and respond to button presses. The mouse moves perfectly, though. On the menus, the game is perfectly responsive, but once i get in game the lagfest begins.

I like the game from what i've played, but this stuttering is killing me.

[Farseerthrawn]

I also am having this problem and the % of the CPU and RAM that is being used hovers close to 100%, and I have 1 gig of dual channel RAM and an AMD 64, 3200!!!.

The odd tjhing is that this only occurs when I have the most recent ATI drivers installed. When I role back the drivers, there is no stuttering, instead I experience the lovely black flashes that a lot of other ATI owners are experiencing. So right now I am playing with the black flashes.

Anyone have any idea how to fix this?, or am I stuck with the flashing until a offical fix comes out?

[evizaer]

Rolling back drivers seems like an interesting idea. I may try installing some different drivers and seeing how the game performs...

[evizaer]

I'd also like to add that i played pirates on this machine at reasonable graphics settings with no slowdown whatsoever.