Demo on an Intel MacBook with Bootcamp . . .

[Uyek]

Any recommendations as far as the minimum partition to set for the PC portion?
I am trying it now with a 10GB partition.
What is your experience/recommendation?

Thanks.

[Uyek]

This the DxDiag file that was produced when I ran the .exe on my Intel MacBook running Windows XP Home on Boot Camp. (I have been running the Caear IV demo on it for a few days with success. I am wondering if it is slow because of some setting on my machine or if it is just because it is a demo.)

[Keith]

The demo code is not optimized so it has been reportedly slow on many PCs.

Your system is only reporting 480MB of RAM, the demo requires 512MB minimum, but I suspect the low number is because of the shared memory on your system.

Frankly, I'm surprised that the game runs on your system because you have a Intel 945 chipset for video. That chipset does not support T&L which is used by the game. However, the demo may not specifically check for T&L support and the processor is doing its best to render it. This may account why the demo is running slow for you as well, as the processor is doing extra work.


Here is the info from the Intel website:

Only the Intel® G965 Express Chipset Family supports hardware Transform and Lighting (T&L)1. All other Intel® graphics products do not have hardware support for T&L. In most games, transform and lighting calculations can be performed on the processor with acceptable performance. A small number of games that specifically check for hardware T&L support may fail to run.

1 Although the chipset hardware itself supports T&L, future graphics drivers will be required to utilize this feature.

This applies to:
Intel® 82810 Graphics Controller
Intel® 82815 Graphics Controller
Intel® 82830M Graphics Controller
Intel® 82845G Graphics Controller
Intel® 82852/82855 Graphics Controller Family
Intel® 82865G Graphics Controller
Intel® 82915G/82910GL Express Chipset Family
Intel® 82945G Express Chipset
Mobile Intel® 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chipset Family
Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family

[Jacquou Le]

In my own experience, I reserve 100 (1 hundred) GB, at least. Because my current installed games roughly take 90 GB on a seperated physical HD (120 GB.) And more games will be put in...

So with this modern PC games, 100 GB space is barely minimum (for me.)

[mouse]

How big is the actual drive since I know we're not seeing the Apple part of it:D If it were me I'de make that partition at least 18gbs to give you some wiggle room;) Nice to know Boot Camp will allow folks with the Apple/Intel play PC games since so few are actually written for Apple. In my opinion memory is going to be one of the keys (along with video) for running the retail version of the game.

[Uyek]

For those who didn't know, I had PMed our user as I did not understand his first post (and why he noted me in the title of his next reply), so I'll pass along what he told me. He only setup the partition for Windows and the C4 demo and my impression is only the full game will be added once available. So, this is why the partition is so small and all he wanted was to know how much room he needed and advice solely on that basis. Thus, he does have enough providing nothing else will be added.

Sincerely,
Phil




As always, dead on!
Thanks, Phil, for putting it so clearly. What you describe is exactly the case.
The Mac OS will be my primary operating system; the Windows is just for running Caesar IV (or Pharaoh . . . but only one or the other).
And thanks again for your help with analysing my system.

- Uyek

[Uyek]

How big is the actual drive since I know we're not seeing the Apple part of it:D If it were me I'de make that partition at least 18gbs to give you some wiggle room;) Nice to know Boot Camp will allow folks with the Apple/Intel play PC games since so few are actually written for Apple. In my opinion memory is going to be one of the keys (along with video) for running the retail version of the game.

Since you wondered, this is the whole of the drive (I actually just pulled every bit of info I thought might be relevant from off the Apple site!):

2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
512MB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x256
60GB Serial ATA drive

Hope that clarifies it for you.
Regarding Boot Camp -- it is nice to know that it will allow Mac users to dip into PC applications. I am so curious to know how Parallels performs when running a game like Caesar IV. I am suprised that no one has posted anything about this yet. When I heard about Intel Macs and Boot Camp (or Parallels) the first thing on my mind was, "Now where did I stash that Pharaoh CD?!"

For the record, back in the days before Intel Macs I tried running Pharaoh on a Mac using Virtual PC/ It worked but it was oh-so-painfully slow!

- Uyek

[Uyek]

The demo code is not optimized so it has been reportedly slow on many PCs.

Your system is only reporting 480MB of RAM, the demo requires 512MB minimum, but I suspect the low number is because of the shared memory on your system.

Frankly, I'm surprised that the game runs on your system because you have a Intel 945 chipset for video. That chipset does not support T&L which is used by the game. However, the demo may not specifically check for T&L support and the processor is doing its best to render it. This may account why the demo is running slow for you as well, as the processor is doing extra work.


Here is the info from the Intel website:

Only the Intel® G965 Express Chipset Family supports hardware Transform and Lighting (T&L)1. All other Intel® graphics products do not have hardware support for T&L. In most games, transform and lighting calculations can be performed on the processor with acceptable performance. A small number of games that specifically check for hardware T&L support may fail to run.

1 Although the chipset hardware itself supports T&L, future graphics drivers will be required to utilize this feature.

This applies to:
Intel® 82810 Graphics Controller
Intel® 82815 Graphics Controller
Intel® 82830M Graphics Controller
Intel® 82845G Graphics Controller
Intel® 82852/82855 Graphics Controller Family
Intel® 82865G Graphics Controller
Intel® 82915G/82910GL Express Chipset Family
Intel® 82945G Express Chipset
Mobile Intel® 915GM/GMS, 910GML Express Chipset Family
Mobile Intel® 945GM Express Chipset Family

I'm out of my depth here.
C4 is running on my Mac, I swear. But I would be curious to see how it is supposed to perform on a proper PC setup. Maybe the performance on mine is "unacceptable." Until then, ignorance will continue to be bliss.

Thanks for all the info.

- Uyek

[imhotep3147]

Even though his video is technically not supported, it's a 128mb (probably 64mb dedicated) running on a dual core processor, so it's no surprise that it *can* run. How well is another story. I think your biggest culprit Uyek is your memory, running WinXP on a good day takes no less than 512mb if you want to do something else with it, having it run on a Mac may require (as someone else said it) *wiggle room*. I'd say if it's possible, and cost effective, try adding more memory to your laptop and see what that does for you.

I'm extremely jealous...I've been eyeing Macs hard since bootcamp was announced. Is it really as easy to use as they advertise?

[Uyek]

Even though his video is technically not supported, it's a 128mb (probably 64mb dedicated) running on a dual core processor, so it's no surprise that it *can* run. How well is another story. I think your biggest culprit Uyek is your memory, running WinXP on a good day takes no less than 512mb if you want to do something else with it, having it run on a Mac may require (as someone else said it) *wiggle room*. I'd say if it's possible, and cost effective, try adding more memory to your laptop and see what that does for you.

I'm extremely jealous...I've been eyeing Macs hard since bootcamp was announced. Is it really as easy to use as they advertise?

I will try not to rub salt in any wounds but . . .
Yes! Using a Mac is very easy (OS has a very intuitive interface) and experientially, with Boot Camp + Windows, you could be using a regular ol' PC except that the enclosure looks prettier. I have used both PC's and Macs at both work and at home but my heart has always belonged to the latter. I am sure there are many far better versed people out there to give you the technical pros & cons. I have always and still continue to recommend Macs. But this isn't a Mac evangelism board so let me get back to business . . .

Regarding memory: I am saving up for a larger chunk o' memory. But for now, I will hobble along with my humble 512MB. Based on what I am reading here, it seems like the best next step. And fortunately, I am a very poor C4 player so the lag allows for my various shortcomings.;)

- Uyek

[mouse]

About Parrallel from what I just read doesn't support 3D so limits gaming (PC World newest issue) ;) Wish Apple would sell it's operating system since I would love to build an Apple with Boot Camp just for fun:D

[Uyek]

About Parrallel from what I just read doesn't support 3D so limits gaming (PC World newest issue) ;) Wish Apple would sell it's operating system since I would love to build an Apple with Boot Camp just for fun:D

Have you tried Ebay?
There's got to be a desparate, starving Mac-user out there somewhere!

[mouse]

No haven't tried ebay but I do like to be sure I get a genuine version of the software:D

[Keith]

There are too many bogus burned copies of games out there on eBay. That would be the last place I'd buy one unless I was extremely sure of the seller and their credentials.

With so few original copies for the Mac in circulation finding Caesar III for Mac might be a very long and futile tasks.

[Uyek]

With so few original copies for the Mac in circulation finding Caesar III for Mac might be a very long and futile tasks.

But regardless, I happen to own an official copy of C3 for Mac. What do you suppose the going rate is for one these days? I can't seem to run it on my MacBook.

[Keith]

I couldn't say what the going rate is on eBay. Probably too much, and you have to wonder if they are legit copies.

I tend to avoid eBay as much as I can and no longer buy anything off eBay.

[Pecunia]

But regardless, I happen to own an official copy of C3 for Mac. What do you suppose the going rate is for one these days? I can't seem to run it on my MacBook.
One of the Amazon resellers (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00001LCDO/ref=olp_product_details/103-4495097-2027013?ie=UTF8) has it for around $130 (used copy)...

[Uyek]

One of the Amazon resellers (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00001LCDO/ref=olp_product_details/103-4495097-2027013?ie=UTF8) has it for around $130 (used copy)...

If I could sell my copy for that much, I could finance my MB's memory upgrade!

Thanks for the info.

[imhotep3147]

Sorry imhotep, but can't agree with one thing you said. WinXP has no trouble running other applications with only 256MB of RAM, and I do speak from experience, which does include CotN. Not on my new PC as I currently ahve 512MB, but my older has 256MB and a 1.6GHz processor and everything on it runs smooth and very well. So, sorry ma'am but it is but your opinion, and not a complete fact.

Never said it was a fact. Never said that XP can't run on less than 512mb. Never said that nothing else would run with XP on 512 or less. I used an exaggeration to make a point. XP is a resource hog....most people will agree with that statement. The original poster asked if slow gameplay was due to his settings or if there was a problem on his computer. Given his computer's specs along with the knowledge that this is a mac laptop using beta software to run WindowsXP his RAM seemed to be the most likely culprit. Anything read further into that is not my opinion nor my idea of a fact.
:D

[imhotep3147]

Wait until Vista full version comes to be. ;) :p


Good grief don't remind me.....:D