Please go to C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2 (or wherever you installed the game at), open the debug.err file you find there in notepad, and copy/paste the contents into a post here. If this is a DA report, you'll find the debug in C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar instead. This will give us some technical information that can help troubleshoot your problem.

At least post everything ABOVE where it says "Debug Message:  ***** Initializing Game *****".

Funny - I've also got very poor performance in Dark Avatar, altough for me it does not matter what size of galaxy map you are playing on, I've also noticed that Gal Civ 2 Dread Lords runs fine as well - I'll post by debug file as well then.

System
Intel Pentium 4HT 3.80 and 3.79GHz
Windows XP - Latest Build
2 GB ram
Nvidia Geforce 7800 GTX (93.71 -latest driver-)
Xear 3D sound chip.

Debug Message: Version v1.50 Dark Avatar last updated on: Fri Feb 9 14:05:57 2007
Debug Message: Checking DX Version.
Debug Message: *********DXDiag info follows.*********
System Info
Time: 2/16/2007, 03:47:42
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
Machine Name: ADVENT
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Languages: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: DIXONSXP
System Model: MS-7046
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Physical Memory: 2048MB RAM
Page File: 240MB used, 3698MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS


Display Info
Display device 1:
Device Name: \\.\DISPLAY1
Card Name: NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip Type: GeForce 7800 GTX
DAC Type: Integrated RAMDAC
Key Device: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0091&SUBSYS_02C210DE&REV_A1
Display Memory: 256.0 MB
Current Display Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Philips 190X5 (19 inch LCD MONITOR 190X5)
Monitor Max Resolution: 1280,1024
Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.9371
Driver Date: 10/22/2006 12:22:00
DirectX Acceleration Enabled: Yes



Sound info
Sound device 1:
Description: C-Media Rear Panel Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_434D&DEV_4980&SUBSYS_70461462&REV_0904
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Driver Name: cmudax.sys
Provider: C-Media Electronics Inc.
Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0008
Driver Date: 5/12/2005 13:39:56
Type: WDM
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0

Sound device 1:
Description: Modem #2 Line Playback (emulated)
Default Sound Playback: No
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID:
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 81
Driver Name:
Provider:
Driver Version:
Driver Date:
Type: Emulated
Other Drivers:
Acceleration Level: 3
Cap Flags: 0
Min/Max Sample Rate: 0, 0



Debug Message: *********END dxdiag info.*********
Debug Message: Entering WinMain
Debug Message: ******* Starting Game Shell *******
Debug Message: Going Fullscreen
Debug Message: Preparing to change display settings.
Debug Message: Using multilsample setting: D3DMULTISAMPLE_4_SAMPLES
Debug Message: Game Resolution: 1280 x 1024
Debug Message: Running fullscreen.
Debug Message: HAL (hw vp): NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GTX
Debug Message: D3DPRESENT_INTERVAL_DEFAULT
Debug Message: Refresh rate: 60
Debug Message: Bit Depth: 32 bit.
Debug Message: *********Checking D3DDevice Caps***********************
Debug Message: A full-color cursor is supported in hardware at high resolution modes.
Debug Message: RGB in format 6:6:6, Masks reported as ff0000:ff00:ff
Debug Message: Now Fullscreen
Debug Message: Shell initialization complete
Debug Message: GalCiv2 is activated.
Debug Message: ***** Initializing Game *****
Debug Message: Timer Frequency is 0 e1ef33f0
Debug Message: Initializing sound card.
Debug Message: initailizing bink
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Movies\techs\*.bik
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Gfx\Movies\*.bik
Debug Message: Create setup screens.
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Set mouse.
Debug Message: Set update timer.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding FullscreenBink
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\shiptemplates\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ShipStyles\*.xml
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/\FleetFormations\*.fleet
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask Gfx\Planets\C0*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/1SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/2SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/3SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideN*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideE*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideS*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask gfx/Terrain/4SideW*.png
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\ships\*.shipcfg
Debug Message: Reading Star Names
Debug Message: Reading Star Names... Done
Debug Message: No files found matching mask ./Data/English/Tutorials/*.xml
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=33
Debug Message: Error loading mission 10 from C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dark Avatar.gc2campaign
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding CampaignWnd
Debug Message: No files found matching mask C:\Documents and Settings\Chaz Vinten\My Documents\My Games\GC2DarkAvatar\Dark Avatar\*.sav
Debug Message: Error loading mission 10 from C:\Program Files\Stardock\TotalGaming\GalCiv2\DarkAvatar\./Data/English/Campaigns/Dark Avatar.gc2campaign
Debug Message: Creating Galaxy
Debug Message: Killing threads.
Debug Message: Kiling civs.
Debug Message: Killing ships.
Debug Message: Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message: Killing misc objects.
Debug Message: Killing stars.
Debug Message: Killing anomalies.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
Debug Message: Killing space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
Debug Message: Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=40
Debug Message: Loading custom map: ./Data/English/Campaigns\A Matter of Genocide.gc2map (4 x 4)
Debug Message: Num Anomalies: 167
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MissionWnd
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Title
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Spinner_Back
Debug Message: CustomPersonalityWnd: Cannot find OBJID Personality_Special_Disctiption_Title
*DEBUG ERROR: ***CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry ***
*DEBUG ERROR: ***CustomShipStyleWnd: Unknown edit field ShipList_Avalible_List_Entry type: CustomListEntry ***
Debug Message: WARNING: GetShipStylePrefix called for civ and civ has no ship style
Debug Message: LoadHardpointsFromPrefsFile failed to load ship config file: ./Data/ShipCfg/\(null)_ColonyShip.shipcfg
Debug Message: Setting Game Options
Debug Message: Creating Civs
Debug Message: Drengin Empire: Intellence -> 40
Debug Message: Drath Legion: Intellence -> 50
Debug Message: Thalan Empire: Intellence -> 50
Debug Message: Korath Clan: Intellence -> 80
Debug Message: Creating Civs... Done
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Creating ships...
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Galaxy Create... Done
Debug Message: UIBeginGame called with g_ulLocalPlayerID = 0
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: New Campaign Game Started: Dark Avatar
Debug Message: UIBeginGameHelper: Mods are Disabled
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=14
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding ResearchWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 10
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: EconomicWnd: Cannot find OBJID Template_Button_Back
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 3
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 4
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Slider
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Scale
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Title
Debug Message: ForeignRelationsWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Relations_Destabilize_Value
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=5
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding TradeWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Button_11
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Image_11
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Button_12
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Image_12
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Button_13
Debug Message: ForeignStats: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Stats_Race_Image_13
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Button_11
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Image_11
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Button_12
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Image_12
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Button_13
Debug Message: ForeignReportWnd: Cannot find OBJID Foreign_Report_Race_Image_13
*DEBUG ERROR: ***ForeignTreatiesWnd: Unknown edit field Foreign_Treaties_Lines_Window type: DrawingWindow ***
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 7
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: setting size 16 x 0
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 9
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=8
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding MessageBoxWnd
Debug Message: Destroying ship Kaira Colony. Orbiting: 0
Debug Message: Updating ZOC.
Debug Message: Random Event: End
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=20
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding HeadlineWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=14
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 2
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding ResearchWnd
Debug Message: Game Screen: Setting mode to 0
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=17
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Unhiding OptionsWnd
Debug Message: Popup Manager Update: Updating window with ID=1
Debug Message: TitleWnd: Quit Button.
Debug Message: Posting WM_CLOSE message.
Debug Message: WM_CLOSE message received.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize start
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy
Debug Message: Killing threads.
Debug Message: Kiling civs.
Debug Message: Killing ships.
Debug Message: Killing rallypoints.
Debug Message: Killing misc objects.
Debug Message: Killing stars.
Debug Message: Killing anomalies.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid fields.
Debug Message: Killing asteroid field mining bases.
Debug Message: Killing space resources.
Debug Message: Killing colonies and planets.
Debug Message: killing scenario.
Debug Message: Clearing Turn Event Log
Debug Message: Clear galaxy settings.
Debug Message: Clear influence.
Debug Message: Clear up laws.
Debug Message: Clear first time events.
Debug Message: Clear wonders and trade goods.
Debug Message: Clear sector mapper.
Debug Message: Clear data definitions.
Debug Message: Killing ship styles:
Debug Message: Killing Galaxy: Completed
Debug Message: Shutting down sound system.
Debug Message: Clearing sound and music handles.
Debug Message: WorkAreaBack.png not cleared 1 counts left.
Debug Message: GameUninitialize end
Debug Message: Device not cleared. 5 counts left.
Debug Message: D3D not cleared. 1 counts left.
Debug Message: Destroying Window.
Debug Message: Main Shell terminating normally

chazzie, you definitely shouldn't be having any performance issues with that system. Try making a shortcut directly to the game (GC2DarkAvatar.exe) and add 'framerate' to the end of the path in the shortcut's properties. So it would look something like:

"C:\Program Files\Stardock\Totalgaming\GalCiv2\Darkavatar\GC2DarkAvatar.exe" framerate

That will add a FPS display in the game. Go play and post back here about your typical framerate and any low spots you notice so we can get an idea if just how your performance is. Or if you have FRAPs and know how to use its benchmarking features, do that as it will give much more detailed data.

I get the herky jerky thing too, and it's sporadic. There's nothing going on in the background on my system. You select a ship and move it 5 squares, and the game makes a clicking noise 5 times and 'selects' the ship on all 5 squares. It's annoying, but because it's sporadic I can live with it. I can hit the 'Turn' button and it'll go away (until next time).

I've gotten an even weirder problem where you click on a ship w/ 5 movement and it will move *HALF* a parsec and stop. We're talking the ship is sitting off-grid. But I just hit the 'Turn' button again and let autopilot do its work, and everything's fine. I hope I don't run into this bug when I'm facing combat.

What is this????

If you run GalCiv with the cheat parameter, you can hit Ctrl-F and the framerate should show up.

I have a Geforce 7950 and never ran into anything like this.  We will be looking into it but it's clearly not something that should be happening.

I was going to say to reduce Anti-aliasing and see if that helps. Even on my Dual-core i needed to reduce the AA to 3 as 4 was too jerky.

God luck guys!

High-Res Graphics Mod by LogicSequence - 110MB but worth every byte!

I agree, I see a memory leak. I was running only Galciv2 and was doing frequent save-and-reloads (due to a different bug), and I got the "Warning: your system is running low on Virtual Memory" message. The machine was getting really slow.

Most of the time DA runs at about 810mb in my page file and much much less on the main memory. Not yet had a problem and i only have 1GB of memory

Do you by chance have the advanced AI on?

It allows the AI to design ships far more often. More designed ships means more memory used.

I can assure you there aren't memory leaks in GalCiv II. One of the things that's come a long way over the past few years in terms of debug tools are memory leak tools. It's one of the things we are very careful about.

However, ship designs stay around within a given game. It's not an issue in Dread Lords (the original) because the aI only designs ships once in a great while. But in Dark Avatar, the AI does it more often.

Indeed! I restart every couple of hours or so just to give the CPU's a breather for a minute