DD 1.1: one hour, one second

[mic-dk]

No, this is not a question on relativity...

I'm experincing a very big slowdown around 40'-41 in DD. If I run it from 1936 everything runs fine the first year or so, but then the slowing down starts. It gets to the point in 40-41 where every hour takes a second on the fastest setting. It's basically unplayable for me beyond 1942.

It's the same if I start one of the later scenarios (incl. Doomsday), so it appears to be a function of the amount of action taking place

I realise that there is a world war going on at that point with all the events, movement, battles, enhanced AI and so on, but should it slow down so much?

I'm using a P4 3GHz and it's at no point loaded more than 45%. There is typically used approx. 400Mb of the 1Gb RAM, so that should be OK as well. I'm using a Radeon<mumble> graphics card, but I don't think thats the trouble. I can always scroll smoothly.

Never noticed any significant slow-downs in HoI2 on the same PC. Any ideas?

 

[unmerged(14249)]

I'm experincing a very big slowdown around 40'-41 in DD. If I run it from 1936 everything runs fine the first year or so, but then the slowing down starts. It gets to the point in 40-41 where every hour takes a second on the fastest setting. It's basically unplayable for me beyond 1942.

Your expectations are high. 1 hour/second is too fast a speed to play the game IMO - you must be pausing to issue orders. But stopping time was not an option for the real commanders - they had to work with time pressure. Try playing without pauses and issuing your orders as things are happening. You'll then find that you don't want such an intense pace. Even very slow can seem too fast when there is a lot happening.

Andrew

 

[jpd]

Well, you basic conclusion is correct.

It's the total amount of calculations needed by the AI and other computer controlled things that is eating up the CPU time.

In the pre-war era, there are not that many units around yet, and most of them are sitting idle, as there is no combat for them to participate in.

When the war heats up, this all changes. Lost of units are involved in combat, and lots of units need constant AI attention in order to prevent them from doing very silly things. So, I'm not surprised that it takes up a noticable amount of CPU time. And, apart from installing a faster CPU, there is not a lot you can do about it either, alas. It's basically a trade-off between a somewhat "intelligent" AI and program speed. More intelligent AI means more complex and more elaborate algoritms, and that in turn means more CPU time to evaluate.

But, speaking strickly for myself, when I play a big power at the high point of the war, I've turned down the speed setting to below normal myself. Which means far more than one second between game hours. So, the 1 second needed for AI calculations isn't all that noticable. And I need that extended game turn time to keep an eye on all the fronts and operations my troops are participating in

 

[mic-dk]

Thanks to both of you.

Since I'm not a real commander I tend, in SP, to pause, speed along, pause, speed along etc I'll try to adopt the MP approach where you can't pause every two minutes, but old habits, you know...

 

[jpd]

fp