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View Full Version : Nice tip for those without state-of-the-art graphics chips..


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wkw427
05-02-2007, 00:42
First of all if you have lag, look at one of the stickies. If you can't get help there, then this might work.

I've found that if I zoom out, the game lags much less. There aren't alot of polygons moving around, because people in market squares are not seen at highest zoom. Also have graphics settigns on low.

Just press the end key on keybord and then zoom out all the way with scroll button on mouse. Then hold scroll button and move the mouse down, you get a 90* abngle, perfect for seeing things, and lag is at a minimum.

The game will still lag, but it stalls much less for me and it might have the same effect for you!

Phil Walker
05-02-2007, 02:00
If you don't have a onbord graphics chip, it will still lag..WHERE is your proof of this?! No onboard chip can do what a relative card can do. Your chip is only equal to a DX8 card, so do you mean to tell me any DX9-compliant card will lag as you are stating?! Is this to be taken as fact or is it only speculation or opinion?! If you can back this up, I'd like to see the specs on the system so I can compare it for myself. Otherwise, you'll NEVER convince me of this as long as I'm alive on this Earth!!!

Sincerely,
Phil

wkw427
05-02-2007, 02:22
Erm.. Sorry that is what I assumed! I'll just change it to "If you have lag.." Okay? Sorry -.-

Dobber
05-02-2007, 03:13
Well, first let me start by stating that this is a well known fact by all who play the game. It has been well documented throughout the forum that the lag is worse when zoomed in and not as prevalent when zoomed out.
Next I will say, that your solution for being able to play the game is not acceptable to many playing the game and should only be accepted by people that are in the same situation you are, without the ability to upgrade their PC video to something capable of at least 1.1 shader technology.
And lastly my suggestion and recommendation to those experiencing lag when they are on low settings already is to upgrade their video to a better card that can handle 2.0 shader technology.

Phil Walker
05-02-2007, 03:16
Edit noted, appreciated, and now more accurate. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Phil

wkw427
05-02-2007, 03:31
Well from waht I have gathred, my card supports shader technology, and the reason the game is choppy is because I don't have onboard graphics chip. Though I don't understand what it means.

Alas I have gotten used to the 90* view. I find it much better then oloking at an angle..

Dobber
05-02-2007, 03:55
wkw427, you don't have a card, you have an on-board graphics chip, the intel chip you have is an on-board chip. What you don't have is a separate card. And where your chip may support shader 1.1, you don't have drivers that support shader 1.1 or don't utilize the shader 1.1, from what I understand.

wkw427
05-02-2007, 04:07
Oooook.. I was backwards then! So I need to get a offboard graphics chip.. right then thanks!

Wold I be able to update the driver do it can use the 1.1 shader tech?

Dobber
05-02-2007, 04:16
I don't know what intel is doing with their drivers, but definitely not supporting their graphics as nVidia and ATI do. You could check your PC manufacturer's website to see if they have updated drivers that do support the shaders.

Phil Walker
05-02-2007, 04:30
That's better! I was getting ready to flame you for the post before your last. Be it known, Intel does NOT do cards. In your DxDiag, look at Display Devices. In that section look at DAC type. Integrated is strictly onboard (meaning the chip is directly soldered to the motherboard). Integrated DAC and/or Integrated RAMDAC are cards. So, I HOPE this clears that up.

As to upgrading to a card, you have a problem there. BTW, your chip DOES support Pixel Shaders 1.1, but NO drivers do. Intel does not write their own drivers and those who do write them have not yet written a version that does suppor them. I don't even know who to tell you to contact as I don't know who writes their drivers.

What you need to do is open the case, and see if you have a green-colored card socket inside. If not, you can only get a PCI card, which WILL be SLOW and most likely laggy. It will be better but not much and no card is inexpensive, so you need to ask yourself with what little you'll gain is it worth the price?! If you think so, I can link you to the best cards for PCI, but know they won't be a small expense and you'll have to get somebody to install it most likely which will cost more.


Sincerely,
Phil

wkw427
05-02-2007, 16:31
Okay. But the game is playable now. If only there was a option to switch off people in the square I would be fine.

When I am ready, I'll probally try to get latest card that works with the game. Could you tell em what that is?

Rnett
05-02-2007, 17:45
What kind of power supply do you have? AGP slot or PCI-E slot?:scratch:

Dobber
05-02-2007, 17:50
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, AGP slot or PCI-E slot?:scratch:
Phil has asked him that more than once, the dxdiag does not show either slot existing, but they could be disabled and not showing on the report.

Phil Walker
05-02-2007, 18:26
Correct Dobber, although I did not mention PSU as it is not that imprtant with a PCI card, but does help if ample.

To answer you, wkw427, either a GeForce FX5500 PCI, OR an ATI X1300 PCI will do you better, but do note what I said before. The game will STILL be sluggish and slow as PCI cards are only 1x, most AGP cards are either 4x or 8x (but long ago they had 2x versions as well), and PCI-Express is 16x. This is both the speed and refresh rate of the graphics of your card, so do not expect much better if at all with only a PCI card.

This is why I asked you open the case, look inside, and see if you have an AGP (or PCI-Express but doubtful) card socket. If you do, then the wattage of your power supply would also be nice to know. Without this inforumation, we can be of NO help!

Sincerely,
Phil

wkw427
05-02-2007, 20:57
*sigh* I guess I'll get the plyers, saw, and hatchet and open this thing up. And I have no coue about those 1x 2x 4x and 8x things.. Could you please enlighten me?

I'm opening it up now. AND I WILL UNPLUG IT! Not getting shocked like I did with old computer... :rolleyes:
--
Okay, inside the thing are two white chip ports, one black one, and two ones full of RAM... Also my computer is useing 115 volts.

Now what? :)

Phil Walker
05-02-2007, 20:58
Take it in the literalest sense. 1 X (times) any number is the same number. 2x (times) is double), so use that context. I use a 8x AGP, so mine will be 8 times faster in graphic speed and being able to refresh pages not to mentiion scroll when the given scenario is bigger than my screen than a 1x card will. Do you undertand that now?!

Sincerely,
Phil

PS: now that I see your added notes, you seem to only have a PCI socket then. With that power supply, if you upgrade you'll need more wattage as well. It's up to you which card you get if either, but you need at least a 250 watt (more would be better) power supply to work with the card. Go to newegg.com or tigerdirect and check for both cards and note what wattage they require. Once installed I can hlep further, but not until. It's up to you from here.

Dobber
05-02-2007, 21:22
Most all computers use 115 volts or right around that number, it is the amount of wattage the power supply converts those volts into that is the concern!

dearmad
05-02-2007, 21:30
First of all if you have lag, look at one of the stickies. If you can't get help there, then this might work.

I've found that if I zoom out, the game lags much less. There aren't alot of polygons moving around, because people in market squares are not seen at highest zoom. Also have graphics settigns on low.

Just press the end key on keybord and then zoom out all the way with scroll button on mouse. Then hold scroll button and move the mouse down, you get a 90* abngle, perfect for seeing things, and lag is at a minimum.

The game will still lag, but it stalls much less for me and it might have the same effect for you!

Interestingly, on my system the game runs MUCH faster closer up, and slows down when zoomed out. (15-20 fps when over a city). The closer I get the faster it goes.

Phil Walker
05-02-2007, 21:53
Right dearmad! However, your two systems are not even close to being the same. He only has a DX8-compliant onboard chip where you have almost the highest-end PCI-Express card, which he has no socket to support. Not all have what the other does and why all hardware and software have to be taken into consideration.

Also, yes Dobber close and I misread thinking wattage, so my bad. (What I'd give to have my sight back.) Mine is at 125v as in my areas our voltage is highter due to the nearby big city shariong the source and all foreign PCs use 230 volts with most likely a converter built into the system in not the PSU itself.


Sincerely,
Phil

wkw427
05-02-2007, 23:01
Okay, so you think I should get a new graphic chip? I tried to take a picture of my comps internals, but the stupid batteries died!

If I take a pic, would you be able to tell me what type of chip would fir in ?:scratch: