Reducing Graphics Workload

[Thedrin]

Aside from the graphics menu options, is there anything I can do to reduce the amount of energy my computer uses to implement the game's graphics? I've heard that there are options in the CivIV.ini file but I don't know which and, if I did, I wouldn't know what to do with them.

I do not have any significant problems running the game (except for the late game on huge maps) - I just don't see the need for such an intensive graphics engine.

[Robert]

If you open the ini file then there are some options indeed that you can enable to tune down the graphics. I don't know them by heart, but if you just check all options of the ini file, you'll see them. I don't think that there are additional lines you can add, to do this.

I assume that you got the lates patch for the game as well?

[Auldian]

There are some low resolution movies at 2k, http://www.2kgames.com/civ4/downloads.htm

In the ini files these settings can be tweaked:

; Allows some memory savings *** ALT-TAB WILL NO LONGER FUNCTION ***
MemSaver = 1

; Use managed interface textures (may be safer but shouldn't be needed, uses more memory)
GUIManagedTextures = 0

; Disable PAK memory mapping (May affect performance)
DisablePAKMemoryMapping = 0

; Don't skip frames if falling behind
BinkNoSkip = 1

; Copy entire image each frame, not just dirty pixels
BinkCopyAll = 1

; Show movies using hi-color, not true-color (may be faster)
Bink16Bit = 1

; Copy ever other scanline during movie playback (faster)
BinkInterlace = 0

; Specify whether to play in fullscreen mode 0/1/ask
FullScreen = 1

; Set max frame rate clamp (0 means none)
SetMaxFrameRate = 30

; Set to 1 to page units out when non-visible
DynamicUnitPaging = 1

; Set to 1 to page unit anims out when the unit is non visible
DynamicAnimPaging = 1


When I had a 128mb card this helped, but the game was terribly slow nonetheless.

[Thedrin]

Thanks for both your advice.

Auldian, I find that some of those options are already set to values that you list and some would need to be changed. Have you listed default settings or have you listed settings that you'd recommend for a reduced workload?