Is Multi Threading Affecting Load Time and Normal Gameplay Performance?

from Stardock Forums
While the multi threaded AI in GalCiv is quick to finish their turn, I seem to be noticing increased save game load times and game slow downs during my turn. My average save game load time on a gigantic map will steadily grow from 3 seconds to 30 seconds over the course of the game. I also experience significant slow downs when I take my turns. It often gets so bad that I can count the animation frames of starbase ring rotations with my eye. Sometimes I think the multi threaded AI may get stuck in some endless loop as I can leave the game running for 20 minutes and return to find it is still chugging along and plotting my demise. Perhaps we can have an option to cap the CPU cycles consumed by the multi threaded AI to maintain smooth performance during the player's turn? I wouldn't mind the AI taking longer turns as long as I can still click on my ships during my turn.
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Multithreaded ai sounds great. But this no waiting thing is load of BS. If you only take 5 seconds in your turn, you know enough to click next turn and scratch your nose, the turn takes a while longer than just moving the pieces :/
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
"But this no waiting thing is load of BS."

Compare the AI turns in GalCiv to AI turns in Civ, or just about every other TBS game.

Even among the TBS games that have quick AI turns, rarely do any of them think 20 moves ahead.


~SDC~
Sins of a Solar Empire II
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I had a problem yesterday with the game hanging when I pushed the turn advance button....it just never finished. Strangely, the interface buttons all worked and I was able to save the game at that point. It happened twice, saved and got out both times, and has been OK since.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
The wait times in the other games are short: BECAUSE THEIR AIs ARE DROOLING HELMET WEARING RETARDS. Instead of whining about it, go get a part time job and buy a new computer.

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I never expirienced this, and I do not think that this is the "standard" behaviour, especially as I have a sub-recommended CPU (PII 400Mhz)
however I take care to close all applications before starting the game. For example some years ago I used to have ICQ running while gaming and it was a major speed hog for some games (I particularly remember Shogun: Total War).
Also when you hit the limit of your RAM and the computer needs to use the hard disk as memory, then even the fastest CPU will not help.

As for the loading time, I start at 20 seconds, even for a big map. And I think its a bit long, but I do not know why it is.
Maybe it is because all the other things continue while loading, for example, I can see the ship in the starting screen jump from frame to frame during loading my games.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I wasn't talking about how long it takes for the AI to finish its turn, so please don't hijack my thread. What I am referring to is a distinct game slow down when I am taking my turn. I paid some extra attention on my last game session and I noticed that this will occur reliably after all your autopilot ships finish their moves but before you relinquish control to the computer. Naturally, this will only happen if you turn off the auto-turn option. Maybe the game just turns on the AI routines too early, thinking I'm just going to hit the end turn button after I move my units while I'm just begining to check my colonies then.