AI playing strength when using a very powerful computer

from GalCiv2 Forums

I'm playing UE (TA 2.03) on my overclocked hexacore computer (i7-980X at 4.34GHz HT) and now that I realize that I can turn on a setting to make maximal use of my CPU's cores and threads, I think I've observed a significant increase in AI strength playing Tough level.

My question is whether the AI algorithms can take full advantage of my highend computer, and if I were playing on a more modest computer like my laptop (2 Ghz quad core HT) would the AI not play as strong as it does on the much better computer?

thx .. neilkaz .. trying to get the most out of this game as I work my way up to higher difficulties

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Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

This is just my opinion as I have no real basis to make this determination, but I don't think the power of your PC makes a whole heck of a lot of difference in how well or how difficult the AI plays.

There is a switch in the game options to use max CPU as well as if you're customizing opponents there are a couple of switches one of which relates to CPU utilzation, but while these settings may indeed make for a more difficult opponent I don't think it will make any difference from one computer to another.

An AI may play a bit quicker on a higher perfroming PC as opposed to a lower perfroming one but I don't believe that the AI will be any "smarter" just because a PC is faster.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

As I understand it, the max CPU setting allows the AI to be run on a separate core from the other processes (if available, and IIRC even HT counts), which ought to show a "smarter" AI on a dual-core than on a single-core.  However, I'm not aware of GC2 being able to use more cores than that.

Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

The answer is in the back of the manual. I think it says it was made when quad cores were just coming in. Conrole or fx64. Probably works the same for a better quad core

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I have played the game for years on a core duo and also on a quad core, and always on the max CPU setting.  I have detercted no difference between the two.

In my opinion, the faster machine would simply let the "AI" complete whatever it was going to do more quickly, rather than get more things done.