Draw Buffer S3 Savage4

[tatterdemalion]

My system:

P3 450 mhz
256 mb PC100 SDRAM
32 mb AGP S3 Savage4 video card - Palit is manufacturer
SOundblaster PCI 128 soundcard

I have updated direcx 8.0. I installed the one that came on the CD. I have the latest vid card driver issued by manufacturer.

The game installs ok, but I get overlapped grey text at the bottom of the initial splash screen.

I can use the Quick Start, but the text in the lower right box is overlapped. I can move the units, but if I try to build a city then I get the following error:

Fatal Error. Unable to allocate draw-buffer; terminating program

I am then bounced back to the desktop.

If I try to use load scenario or try to save the game after a quick start, then I get another error message:

Civilization 3 has caused an error in Civilization3.exe. Civilization3 will now close. If you continue to experience problems then restart your computer.


Now, I have followed the infogames troubleshooting guide to no avail. I am not at all heartened to see that there is no website for S3 vid cards. Maybe they stopped updating drivers? 'Course it could be a good excuse to get a new vid card....


Any help would be appreciated. I've attached my directx dialog if anyone is really, really bored.

[laurentius]

Now that sounds familiar!
I had the same problem with my Diomond Viper 500 Nvidia TNT-card. My desktop resolution was 1158*856 or something.
I was only able to play the first 10 turns and my game crashed with the same prompt you had:
"Fatal Error. Unable to allocate draw-buffer; terminating program"

Also the monitors refresh-rate was lousy 60 kHz. Now I really dont know will this help you but my solution was to download new OpenGL-drivers from the internet. This manouver reduced the resolution option to four: 640*480, 800*600, 1024*756 and 1600*1200. I chose 1024*756 and the game hasn't crashed since. ( At least not because of that problem anyway)

Hope this helps