Computer Specs

[Rasputin]

Obviously to play on the HUGE maps it takes a prety pwerful machine. Anyone here playing on the HUGE map setting and not having slow downs in late game time. I hate the whirring sound of my HARD Drive so wil lbe looking at getting some extra RAM (512k) at moment ,

Any tips or advice on some good specs to make sure i have for a machine upgrade?

[Qwertqwert]

If you're working in the Kilobytes of memory, time to get a new computer. That's my advice, though I'm sure that was a typo.

Well what are your current specs?

[Nugog]

I know alot of people seem to have had problems with Dell's and cIV, but I've got a pretty much out of the box 5100, and have no problems.

I do have 1G of RAM though.

[Solver]

For smooth gameplay on Huge maps, you'll want 1 GB. Then again, it will also work fairly well on 512 MB, though you will have some waiting times.

I dunno what people are talking about with bad performance. I only have 512 MB, and Large maps work great, without any slowdowns. Huge maps admittedly slow down in the second half of the game, yet it's much better than Civ3.

[Prussia]

Gameplay might be good, but is it smooth?

For example, try moving your screen over some un explored territory, and you will see how smooth the movement is.

I have met all of the recommended requirements, and have 1 GB, but sometimes when I am moving my screen it is choppy, and when conducting diplomacy, my opponents face is ALWAYS choppy.

[Qwertqwert]

I think it also depends on other specs...

[Solver]

Originally posted by Prussia
Gameplay might be good, but is it smooth?

For example, try moving your screen over some un explored territory, and you will see how smooth the movement is.

I have met all of the recommended requirements, and have 1 GB, but sometimes when I am moving my screen it is choppy, and when conducting diplomacy, my opponents face is ALWAYS choppy.

I move my screen over explored or unexplored territory, it always is smooth. Honestly, the game has had very good performance for me since some pre-release version - and post 1.52 patch, I also play Large maps without AI turns taking any noticeable amounts of time.

[Nugog]

I almost always play on huge & marathon, and since 1.52 have had no issues what so ever.

Before 1.52 it crashed all the time!

I however do not have much else running on my PC, so do not know if that is a factor or not.

[Badtz Maru]

I have a gigabyte of RAM and Huge maps are still pretty slow...it gets to be about a minute per turn before medieval times, several minutes into modern times. Large maps are fine, though.

[Badtz Maru]

Oh, forgot to add, AI turns take a long time on Huge maps for me, but the scrolling remains smooth throughout - it's not getting choppy, just takes a while for the AI to play their turn.

[Prussia]

Solver, I don't think you understood what I was saying.

It's smooth when you move your screen over unexplored territory right? That's how smooth the game is SUPPOSED to be even on a Huge map with 18 Civs in the Modern Era.

[Solver]

Ah, I understand. Well, that's how smooth we would like the game to be always. For obvious reasons, it can't be like that. However, on systems that exceed the recommended requirements, it should be like that even on Huge / 18 civs / Modern, yes.

[Rasputin]

Ok so minimum of 1 Gig memory sounds like the way to go.

I havent patched the game yet, will try that this weekend and see if any improvments.

Then off to Computer shop for that 1 Gig of RAM.


Thanks all

[Solver]

The 1.52 patch has quite significant performance improvements, Ras. For me, it made Large maps comfortable on 512 MB RAM. You'll see improvements from patching, though surely buying more memory can only help.

[Rasputin]

i see the 1.61 patch is out now. do i just install that one or should i try to find the 1.52 one you speak off.