Grand Graphics Card Question Thread - pre-sales and demo only!

[jdrou]

Thanks so much. Now, I'm gonna go ahead and sound like a total newb: How to I post my logs/system.log file? And may I ask, what it is it?

Inside your EU3 folder there is a logs folder (or if you have Vista it may be in a "virtual" folder in your user folder). The system.log file is a (text) record of hardware-related items created during the game startup. Just copy and paste it into your post.

 

[jdrou]

But how fast does it run? I find the demo on a Geforce 6200 a bit too slow...

OK, haven't gotten it to work on the internal display yet (either not detecting the LCD properly or can't handle the weird 50Hz refresh) but on an external monitor I get 12-15 seconds per month at the start of the game. This is with a Core 2 Duo T7300 (2 GHz/800 MHz), simple water, political map mode, outliner open. NA is about twice that speed. Each autosave adds a second or two; CPU speed seems to be more important than disk speed for saving. The Thinkpad can also use the standard Intel-supplied drivers which apparently Dells will not.

 

[unmerged(85854)]

Inside your EU3 folder there is a logs folder (or if you have Vista it may be in a "virtual" folder in your user folder). The system.log file is a (text) record of hardware-related items created during the game startup. Just copy and paste it into your post.

I opened my EU3 folder and the only options I had were to click one icon and play the game itself, click another which launched me to this site's forum, or uninstall EU3.

 

[jdrou]

I opened my EU3 folder and the only options I had were to click one icon and play the game itself, click another which launched me to this site's forum, or uninstall EU3.

That's the start menu folder which just has shortcuts to the game; I'm referring to the folder where the game is actually installed. In Windows XP this is usually "C:\Program Files\EU3" or something similar.

 

[unmerged(85854)]

That's the start menu folder which just has shortcuts to the game; I'm referring to the folder where the game is actually installed. In Windows XP this is usually "C:\Program Files\EU3" or something similar.

Okay, I think this is right (I couldn't find it before because I was searching "Europa", not "Paradox"). I went to the folder, opened "logs" and found the text document "systems", opened it, and this is what came up:

Kernel Release[main.cpp:152]: Eu3 Version Dec 1 2006 : 16:17:15
Kernel Release[systemsettings.cpp:141]: System memory: 512MB
Kernel Release[systemsettings.cpp:143]: CPU speed: 2793MHz
Kernel Release[graphicssettings.cpp:105]: Graphic Adapters:
Kernel Release[graphicssettings.cpp:110]: 0: Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller
Kernel Release[graphicssettings.cpp:127]: Checking for multi-sampling support:
Kernel Release[graphicssettings.cpp:144]: 2 samples NOT supported, yet set as option. Changing to 2 samples.
Kernel Release[graphicssettings.cpp:153]: Using Adapter [0]:
Kernel Release[graphicssettings.cpp:162]: Failed to create a device.

 

[jdrou]

Intel(R) 82865G Graphics Controller

This will not run EU3 unfortunately. Not even with patches and workarounds.
(Also known as "Intel Extreme Graphics 2".)

 

[AndrewT]

"Extreme" presumably being short for "extremely useless".

 

[unmerged(85854)]

This will not run EU3 unfortunately. Not even with patches and workarounds.
(Also known as "Intel Extreme Graphics 2".)

Thank you very much for your help. Would you happen to know if this graphics card could support EU3?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...Force&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1186007528038

It was one of the not-so expensive ones I found and one of the few ones I could actually find a place to buy from. Also, a graphics chip that required less space that you might know of would be even better, this one requires 35 MBs.

 

[jdrou]

Thank you very much for your help. Would you happen to know if this graphics card could support EU3?

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage...Force&lp=2&type=product&cp=1&id=1186007528038

It was one of the not-so expensive ones I found and one of the few ones I could actually find a place to buy from. Also, a graphics chip that required less space that you might know of would be even better, this one requires 35 MBs.

Given your existing graphics I doubt you can use a PCI Express card; most likely you will need an AGP card (and in the worst case you may need PCI). You need to check your computer's documentation or look inside to determine what kind of slot you have available. If you're in the US and are willing and able to buy online I strongly suggest looking at www.newegg.com for video cards.

 

[unmerged(85854)]

Given your existing graphics I doubt you can use a PCI Express card; most likely you will need an AGP card (and in the worst case you may need PCI). You need to check your computer's documentation or look inside to determine what kind of slot you have available. If you're in the US and are willing and able to buy online I strongly suggest looking at www.newegg.com for video cards.

I tried www.newegg.com, the problem was I knew nothing about what I was buying so I had no clue if it would work for EU3.

So far I'm planning on getting this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143040

I'm pretty sure this would be both compatible with my computer and EU3, correct?

 

[wryun]

You should check if your computer has an AGP slot first. Have a look around the internet for diagrams, or search for your motherboard specifications.

---

Also, the card you picked out is quite overpriced, and about the minimum spec card you could run EU3 on. For a little bit more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125039

or a little bit less:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141060

(though the reviews on that one are a bit scary...)

 

[wryun]

OK, haven't gotten it to work on the internal display yet (either not detecting the LCD properly or can't handle the weird 50Hz refresh) but on an external monitor I get 12-15 seconds per month at the start of the game. This is with a Core 2 Duo T7300 (2 GHz/800 MHz), simple water, political map mode, outliner open. NA is about twice that speed. Each autosave adds a second or two; CPU speed seems to be more important than disk speed for saving. The Thinkpad can also use the standard Intel-supplied drivers which apparently Dells will not.

Thanks for that... as it happens, I took the plunge a few days ago on a laptop with a Go 7300, since I was sure that would be compatible. Demo takes absolutely forever to start up though (a fair bit more than on my old PIV desktop), so I'm still not sure about buying EU3. Maybe I'll wait for Rome

 

[unmerged(85854)]

You should check if your computer has an AGP slot first. Have a look around the internet for diagrams, or search for your motherboard specifications.

---

Also, the card you picked out is quite overpriced, and about the minimum spec card you could run EU3 on. For a little bit more:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125039

or a little bit less:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141060

(though the reviews on that one are a bit scary...)

So would I have to take my computer apart to see if I have an AGP or a PCI? Because I'm really not comfortable doing that. It's a Windows XP from Dell, I got it in 2003. I don't know where it was made, but it's in the US now. Is that enough information to know whether its AGP or PCI? I'm thinking about getting the first one you linked, it's an AGP.

 

[wryun]

How are you going to put the card in if you don't open it up? Perhaps whoever is going to do that should have a look inside before you buy the card

(but no, you don't have to open it up at this stage, as you should be able to get the specs if you know the exact model number of your computer, and then have a look on Dell's site. The other thing to be wary about is whether your computer only supports 'low profile' cards - is it comparatively thin, or is it as wide as they get?)

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By the way, it's not 'AGP or PCI' - it's either only PCI, or AGP and PCI. However, since AGP is a much better way to connect a graphics card, you don't want to get a PCI card unless you have to.

 

[unmerged(85854)]

How are you going to put the card in if you don't open it up? Perhaps whoever is going to do that should have a look inside before you buy the card

(but no, you don't have to open it up at this stage, as you should be able to get the specs if you know the exact model number of your computer, and then have a look on Dell's site. The other thing to be wary about is whether your computer only supports 'low profile' cards - is it comparatively thin, or is it as wide as they get?)

---

By the way, it's not 'AGP or PCI' - it's either only PCI, or AGP and PCI. However, since AGP is a much better way to connect a graphics card, you don't want to get a PCI card unless you have to.

I know someone who can put it in, but I don't want to call him up to just come over and check which I need.

So, can some computers support PCI an AGP, but all of them can support PCI, even if it does suck? Because maybe I'll buy the sure thing and get just PCI as long as it works for both. (I am just assuming it does though, I am basing this off of nothing)

 

[jdrou]

So, can some computers support PCI an AGP, but all of them can support PCI, even if it does suck? Because maybe I'll buy the sure thing and get just PCI as long as it works for both. (I am just assuming it does though, I am basing this off of nothing)

What is your exact model of computer (e.g. Dimension 4000, etc.)? We should be able to identify the slot based on that. You really don't want to use PCI unless you have no choice.

 

[c_murrayiii]

That is utterly false. HL2 crashes some X minutes in-game, and Civ4 just runs at a low FPS.

EU3 litterally doesn't allow the IntelGMA950 to run due to a programing ommission. It is completely artificial.

Here is my bug report: CreateDevice Call Fails on Launch (with solution)

dermeister, I just bought the game and I am having the problem you list, however I cannot access the bug report, can you send it to me with the solution, i was really psyched about getting the game finally and being able to play it, and the really frustrated when it wouldn't run. Thanks.

 

[jdrou]

dermeister, I just bought the game and I am having the problem you list, however I cannot access the bug report, can you send it to me with the solution, i was really psyched about getting the game finally and being able to play it, and the really frustrated when it wouldn't run. Thanks.

His solution is only possible for the game programmers and something probably like it has already been done; if you have patched the game you should be able to run it with an Intel GMA 950 now. It just won't look very good or have all the map modes. Also, if you've bought the game you need to register it before you can see the tech support and bug forums. See the "my games/registrations" link at the top of the forum.

 

[unmerged(7996)]

Okay, so I have been waiting and waiting for EU3 and intended to buy the game when I went back to the US next week on business...but...and it's a big...BUT...I'm now really worried.

I read through this entire thread and I'm afraid it didn't help me much other than to worry me that my laptop won't run EU3.

I downloaded Belarc Advisor and was hoping some of the folks here could help me out.

This is what Belarc said about my system:

Operating System
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 2 (build 2600)

Gateway MX6625 3402282
1.73 gigahertz Intel Pentium M
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
2048 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Bus Clock: 533 megahertz
80.00 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
55.90 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

504 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'DIMM 1' has 256 MB
Slot 'DIMM 2' has 256 MB

Local Drive Volumes
c: (NTFS on drive 0) 72.67 GB 50.79 GB free
d: (FAT32 on drive 0) 7.33 GB 5.11 GB free

I still have the same laptop quoted above. Have there been any changes in patches since the release which would allow me to run EUIII?

Also, could someone recommend a decent laptop and desktop system that would run EUIII with some room to spare? I primarily use my computer for Microsoft office products including Project along with surfing the internet. EU and World Football(Soccer) Manager are the only games I follow consistently. Occasionally I'm tempted by titles such as Stronghold and other strategy games but haven't bought any since the heartbreak over EU3. I'm thinking of buying a new computer but feel overwhelmed by the market that is out there. Any suggestions?

 

[jdrou]

I think the only change has been that you would no longer need 3DAnalyze to get the game to run. The map is still unplayable unless you install a graphics mod. That only works for terrain mode though; political, religious, diplomatic, etc. modes still don't work.

For a new laptop, pretty much anything that doesn't have Intel graphics should work. Even the latest Intel graphics (GM965 or GMA X3100) should work, at least in XP. Not sure if they have a good Vista driver for it yet though.