Does ToA require a lot more system resources?

from GalCiv2 Forums
I am playing on a laptop with a 1.2 Ghz Core 2 Duo chip. When I play straight GC2 everything is fast and smooth. When I play ToA everything in unbearably slow. I click the Turn button and several minutes can pass before anything happens (small map, normal difficulty). The pulsing graphics like ship routes beat slowly rather than at a normal rate. I do have the option for "force AI to use extra CPU cycles" disabled.

So a couple questions to explore this issue: has anyone else seen a massive slowdown? I can imagine some posiblities: something is making the CPU power saving to kick in; the new economy requires tons more calculation; there is a bug on some systems that make it drag or uselessly churn.

Any thoughts/confirmation/resolution from other playes on this?
5,984 views 8 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Additional information:
1. Windows XP Professional SP3
2. I realize though the processor is dual core it is only 1.2 Ghz, so for a single-process program it isn't that much raw speed.
3. This is Intel embedded graphics, like a 965 chip or something. That can suck CPU and memory away too (though graphics are set to Low preset, 1024x768 resolution)

It seems like a low-level bug to me since I can't imagine the system reqs have changed much.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would believe it would have to be something with your system. I'm playing an immense at the moment at 1440x900, all gfx on, 4x AA with only slight slow down here and there. To put it in perspective my system is only an XP3000 with a gig of Pc-2700 and a GeForce 6800 128 card. Not nearly state of the art by any means. You might want to post your debug.err and see if the gurus around can spot any obvious problems. You can find it in the GC2Twilight directory in MyDocuments/MyGames
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
DethAdder, theres a huge difference between a 3000ghz computer with a graphics card and a 1500ghz one with an embedded card. :P

ToA does have a much lower MEMORY footprint, which is how the new immense galaxy size came around. As for CPU usage... I don't know. The graphics had a large overhaul, which might contribute to it somewhat... they don't use as much memory, but the ships DO look much more detailed.

How many AIs are there in your game? The AIs have had a ridiculous amount of improvement since Dread Lords, including some more intensive algorithms. The "force max CPU" option doesn't prohibit the AI from using more CPU, after all, it can only guarantee that they WILL if it's enabled.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I would tend to agree with DethAdder. TA uses a new engine that is much more efficient than the older versions of the game. Do post your debug. Here's a quick question: Did you notice these problems before you installed SP3? M$ is always the first place I look when problems pop up after one of their updates.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Alright I'm back and the problem seems gone. I updated my graphics drivers with latest Intel 965GM. The most recent before that was still fairly new - January 2008. I had to uninstall that version from HP before installing the new one.

Graphics and everything else is about 500% faster and better. It is a phenomenal difference and things now behave as I would expect. CPU usage has gone from 50% (meaning 1 full core used) to 0% when I'm not doing anything. Before, it was running at max CPU all the time even when nothing was happening!

This was definitely a driver problem - something in that hp-specific version of the drivers, something fixed in a new version or - most likely - just needed to do a driver reinstall after going to SP3.

I can't comment on whether problem changed with the SP3 install, since I didn't play ToA before that.

So just if anyone stumbles in here later with similar problems: driver updates almost always solve the problem :) Thanks for your suggestions guys.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
It sounds to me like you might have been in software rendering mode. That sure looks like the CPU was doing the work of a GPU.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I think you're right CommanderGizmo. That would explain a lot of the behavior. The only downside is that now I was awake all night playing... :)
Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Alright I'm back and the problem seems gone. I updated my graphics drivers with latest Intel 965GM...
End of quote


I have that same chipset on my laptop (though haven't changed to SP3 as far as I remember) and actually we're lucky that GalCiv II is so compatible!
About half the other games whose minimum and even recommended requirements I exceed, fail to run on that HP. Before my latest driver update I even had trouble watching any movies, clips, etc.