Game slos down

chris h · #1 July 17th, 2015, 03:36 AM

After a number of turns played in a single session the game interface slows down. For instance there's a noticeable delay when clicking on a unit and before an action takes place (move, fire etc). The move speed itself and game processing speed do not seem to be affected. This is easily noticeable on large scenarios and although not making the game unplayable it is irritating.

Closing the game and restarting fixes it.

The last time I saw something like this the game in question was not releasing memory.

Has any one else seen this or is it my machine but, with a Pentium 5 and 6Gb of memory, I shouldn't.

Mobhack · #2 July 17th, 2015, 11:52 AM

Are you in windowed mode, or full-screen mode?.

On some video cards, full-screen mode is "stuttery" since modern drivers do not handle running 256 colour MSDOS palette modes well. Also, these cards usually will nuke the game palette should you ALT_TAB or otherwise go to the regular windows desktop and then return to the game.

If you have the full game, we recommend windowed mode using desktop resolution. On modern video cards that mode is actually faster, and palette nuking does not happen.

chris h · #3 July 17th, 2015, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobhack

Are you in windowed mode, or full-screen mode?.

On some video cards, full-screen mode is "stuttery" since modern drivers do not handle running 256 colour MSDOS palette modes well. Also, these cards usually will nuke the game palette should you ALT_TAB or otherwise go to the regular windows desktop and then return to the game.

If you have the full game, we recommend windowed mode using desktop resolution. On modern video cards that mode is actually faster, and palette nuking does not happen.

Running in Windowed mode.

This problems only start after a number of turns have been played, slowing the interface. Restarting fixes it.

Mobhack · #4 July 17th, 2015, 04:15 PM

Have you got sound on, or off?

If on, turn it off in game preferences screen and the mouse interface click (on the game launcher programme). See if your problem then goes away.

chris h · #5 July 18th, 2015, 02:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobhack

Have you got sound on, or off?

If on, turn it off in game preferences screen and the mouse interface click (on the game launcher programme). See if your problem then goes away.

Never thought off either, I'll try both. thanks.

DRG · #6 July 18th, 2015, 07:07 AM

We have found in the past that sometimes problems like this are ( strangely enough...) sound card related. OTOH the solution you discovered works wonders and saving the game and restarting only takes a minute .

If the game is running a big map with near maximum units on both sides there is a LOT of information that needs to be processed. That said I ran an AI vs AI game yesterday with max units both sides and a big map to turn 9 or so then broke in and played one side manually and everything ran OK. Another consideration is what else is your computer trying to do when the game is running. I have automatic HD optimizing set up and sometimes when that's running or the anti virus scanners that can slow things down a bit but I haven't seen it really slow down since I upgraded from my old Dell Pentium III but every system is a bit different.

Don

chris h · #7 July 19th, 2015, 01:53 AM

Found the cause I think. I turned the mouse interface click off.

Thanks.

Mobhack · #8 July 19th, 2015, 03:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris h

Found the cause I think. I turned the mouse interface click off.

Thanks.

The mouse click uses the exact same windows multimedia subsystem as the sound - so you would have to turn both off to have any effect.

But it basically looks to me as if your particular sound card does not handle the original DirectShow Windows Multimedia too well. Or you have multiple directshow codecs installed by various softwares - these can interfere with each other, apparently. (We use the ones Microsoft originally supplied with the DirectX SDK).

chris h · #9 July 19th, 2015, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mobhack

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris h

Found the cause I think. I turned the mouse interface click off.

Thanks.

The mouse click uses the exact same windows multimedia subsystem as the sound - so you would have to turn both off to have any effect.

But it basically looks to me as if your particular sound card does not handle the original DirectShow Windows Multimedia too well. Or you have multiple directshow codecs installed by various softwares - these can interfere with each other, apparently. (We use the ones Microsoft originally supplied with the DirectX SDK).

Sounds not something I know much about on computers so if I have two installed I've not done it and wouldn't know were to start looking.

DRG · #10 July 20th, 2015, 07:47 AM

windows8

How can I find out which codecs are installed on my PC?

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Search.
(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Search.)
Enter Windows Media Player in the search box, and then tap or click Windows Media Player.
On the Help menu, tap or click About Windows Media Player.
If you can't see the Help menu, tap or click Organize, tap or click Layout, and then select Show menu bar.
In the About Windows Media Player dialog box, tap or click Technical Support Information.
Your web browser will open a page that includes a lot of detailed info about the related binary files, codecs, filters, plug-ins, and services installed on your PC. You might be able to use this info to help troubleshoot problems.

windows7 is similar , they all center on media players Technical Support Information.

That said, I wouldn't know if I had conflicting codecs either even with this info