SC4 Loading Time

[jmsepe 2,038]

I just wanted to verify if it is me or the computer or the game itself. 

 

I have around 1.5Gb of Plugin Folder and my netbook is an Acer Aspire One725, you can check the stats in the net. Since, I still have the desktop under repair, I'm using this somehow lag netbook.

 

So here is the case, my SC4 Deluxe needs around 5 minutes too load the game itself and around another 5 minutes to load the city depending on its size... the thing is is that loading the city loads longer than loading the game itself...

 

Is this normal? Apparently is there a way to decrease loading speed?

 

Replies are highly appreciated...

 

Thank you.

 

[dossenaandrea 19]

5 minutes? you're lucky!

[jmsepe 2,038]

I see, basing in your reaction, I believe I am on the right track. LOL

[Cyclone Boom 16,852]

Basically, the more files in your plugins folder, the longer it'll take to load. This will always be the case, but can be reduced somewhat by following some basic steps.
These topics have a few ideas that may help to optimise your plugins:
 


 
Summary:

• A SSD (solid-state-drive) will ultimately provide the greatest speed boost. However, these are quite expensive pieces of hardware.
• Using DatPacker to compress your plugins is the most tried and tested method to reduce loading times. Is time-consuming to setup, but worth it in the end.
• Move out any readme docs, images etc. which are unnecessary. Cleanitol can do this.

• Before starting the game, disable your internet connection and close any unnecessary programs. Put your anti-virus on silent mode if it has such an option.
• Remove any plugins that you don't currently use, which can always be put back later. This is sometimes the simplest but most overlooked strategy!

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Overall good strategies.  Keeping a slimmed down Plugin folder is the biggest key.  It is also good policy to keep any NTFS disks cleaned up using the Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter once a week.

 

Generally laptops are not as fast as desktops with respect to devices and channels.  A slowdown is rather to be expected.

 

On this desktop machine the game loading time, including the wine layer for Linux is less than a minute.  Cities can take quite a qhile however, if they are of any size.  This is due to the disk accesses necessary to pick up the images for Plugins and the fact that rendering a large city pretty much eats the CPU.