Multiplayer Graphics Error?

[Pariah]

Okay Gaming and IT Geeks of ASFN...Here's the challenge: I can play CivIV just fine solo, but when I log on to play in multiplayer mode over the internet I end up getting booted off right when I think it's loaded everything. It tells me I need to adjust my graphics settings, but I don't know how to do that

I've installed all the patches.

Below is the message I get.

Can you get me up and running?

 

[Ryanwb]

Do you have a 3D compatible Video Card?

Do a start --> run --> dxdiag

Then click the "display" tab and look at your "approx total memory" it needs to be atleast 64 MB to run Civ IV

 

[dreamcastrocks]

what type of video card are you using?

 

[Pariah]

Do you have a 3D compatible Video Card?

Do a start --> run --> dxdiag

Then click the "display" tab and look at your "approx total memory" it needs to be atleast 64 MB to run Civ IV

128MB of total appx. memory, and I ran the 3d and draw tests and passed.

 

[Pariah]

what type of video card are you using?

Don't know. Whatever came with the computer--how do I find out?

But, here's the thing, guys--I can play the game fine normally. It's only when I try to connect to a multiplayer game that I get that message.

 

[Covert Rain]

Don't know. Whatever came with the computer--how do I find out?

But, here's the thing, guys--I can play the game fine normally. It's only when I try to connect to a multiplayer game that I get that message.

Post some more details if you can about your system. Type of CPU, amount of MEMORY, and Video Card details. If you don't know them off of documentation, get them from your PC manufacturer site. Usually the support page will give you all the detail you need.

It's hard to help someone if we don't know the hardware configuration of the system your referring to. Off hand looking at that message, you appear to be having a DX9 compatibility error. So knowing your video card information is important.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

dxdiag should give basic computer information

 

[Pariah]

dxdiag should give basic computer information

I just scoured it and even used the search and help features--the term "video card" is not found in the dxdiag.

Is there another way to figure out what I'm using?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

well, you could always go into the control panel, system, device manager, and look at your display adapter that way.

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Is it a laptop?

 

[Pariah]

well, you could always go into the control panel, system, device manager, and look at your display adapter that way.

Thanks. I'll do that when I get home tonight.

 

[Pariah]

Is it a laptop?

Yes. It's a Dell, dude.

 

[Covert Rain]

well, you could always go into the control panel, system, device manager, and look at your display adapter that way.

You can get the model number that way and look up the specs of that video card. Depending on what Dell model your using, you might have a low end or integrated video card. That could explain the DX9 error in some cases.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

You can get the model number that way and look up the specs of that video card. Depending on what Dell model your using, you might have a low end or integrated video card. That could explain the DX9 error in some cases.

You could also try and turn up your Graphics Acceleration.

 

[Covert Rain]

You could also try and turn up your Graphics Acceleration.

Usually that's already all the way up by default unless it's a really really low end card. Then usually with those cards if you try and turn it up, your system runs really slowly. Worth a try though.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Usually that's already all the way up by default unless it's a really really low end card. Then usually with those cards if you try and turn it up, your system runs really slowly. Worth a try though.

That's true, but it usually runs slow, because they have a small page file, or not enough RAM on the machine.

 

[Covert Rain]

That's true, but it usually runs slow, because they have a small page file, or not enough RAM on the machine.

That's why my systems never have less then 2 GIGS of ram. Don't need a paging file then. Also, if his system defaults are on, then Windows should be managing his page file allocation and that shouldn't be a problem.

The system should run fine even with graphics acceleration up. What I meant was in games if everthing starts crawling or he experiencing tearing, low framerates or video glitching then the GPU is definitely the bottleneck and turning up acceleration won't help much if at all.

Hopefully he doesn't have an integrated graphics card like in one of my Dell laptops or there isn't going to be much he can do at all that would help.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That's why my systems never have less then 2 GIGS of ram. Don't need a paging file then. Also, if his system defaults are on, then Windows should be managing his page file allocation and that shouldn't be a problem.

The system should run fine even with graphics acceleration up. What I meant was in games if everthing starts crawling or he experiencing tearing, low framerates or video glitching then the GPU is definitely the bottleneck and turning up acceleration won't help much if at all.

Hopefully he doesn't have an integrated graphics card like in one of my Dell laptops or there isn't going to be much he can do at all that would help.

I am guessing that is the case too.