Civilization4 memory usage fix

[Harkonnen604]

polarnomad
python24.dll is original python24.dll with a small function call added which loads 'PatchByHarkonnen.dll' into Civilization4 process - so everything will be fine.

Recently I have moved that loader into 'zlib1.dll' just because it's 70kb as opposed to 1.8mb of 'python24.dll'. Check original post at civfanatics (referred at #1 post of this thread) - I have updated links and texts.

[polarnomad]

Ok cool! I had actually downloaded the files yesterday, but hadn't tried them yet. When I saw that you had updated your thread at civfanatics today I went to download the harkfix.zip, but thought there was some problem since it was only 70Kb... I'll go back and try again.

[Harkonnen604]

That's its normal size - zlib1.dll is 70Kb at that link. And that was the reason I replaced modified 'python24.dll' with modified 'zlib1.dll'

[polarnomad]

Thx, I understand that now. Was a brainfart on my part I guess.

Another question: How do I calculate the video memory usage with a PCI-e card? (no AGP aperture size, as far as I understand...)

[Harkonnen604]

polarnomad
Just try the original settings, and decrease it if you have visual bugs. Or increase it up to 180-200mb if you have 256Mb video memory.

It's not strict option, deviations within 10-20Mb are invisible for performance. Deviations within 40-50Mb are invisible for stability.

Too low values will be slow, too high values will be either slow or buggy, but usually there is a range of +-50Mb when it rocks, so don't care too much, just try it and play

[polarnomad]

[Thoth]

Harkonnen: Thank you. I installed your mod last night and played for 7 hours straight without any sign of slowdown. I'm playing with your default settings, medium graphics settings in CIV on an Athlon 64 3400 (2.4 Ghz), 1 gig RAM and a gforce fx 5200. Prior to your patch I could only play small maps, now I can play large without problems.

I think Firaxis owes you some money. Good work mate.

[Enigma_Nova]

Is the best part of making a patch:
A. Designing and building complex structure
B. Implementing something useful and reaping the rewards
or
C. Seeing the stream of w00t from your peers for your efforts?

[Zen]

Harkonnen,

I just got the same problem that V. Soma reported (at fanatics).

It was in the late 1500's of a game.

I have an Inspiron 600m (from Dell).

specs:

http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Inspiron_600m/4507-3121_7-20906173.html

What setting would you recommend? I was using your base setting for at least a couple hours.

thanks,

-Zen Blade

[Harkonnen604]

Zen
Check this out (post #104) by V. Soma - it shows settings which helped solving this problem

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=3424883&postcount=104

[Harkonnen604]

Enigma_Nova
I don't understand if you mean it or trying to pin me... (no offence if I am wrong), so I'll tell what it really is:

It started it as A, but then when it turned from fun into hard-work, I finished it because of expecting B and C, and I want to thank everyone who gives that to me

[ElvisMonster]

I hate to be a bother, but I'm not all that tech savy. I've downloaded and unzipped the fix. I've tried to understand the readme file, but I really have no idea. Anybody have a couple of minutes to walk me through this?

[Harkonnen604]

ElvisMonster
Once extracted, start and see if there are problems. If there are none, it's ok to go... If you see visual bugs, try setting 'vid_mem_usage=40' in Harkonnen.ini and try again.

These are main ideas.

[Finarfin]

The first thing to do, ElvisMonster, is to put the files in the folder where Civilization4.exe is. Make backups of any files you overwrite (if using the new python.dll).

Doing that alone might be enough to improve your performance.

[ElvisMonster]

I found a file called Civilization4.exe-39BEA209.pf in Windows/prefatch. Is that what you're talking about? I feel like a moron.