Is more RAM the solution?

[userfri3ndly]

I'm having problems running battles with more than 2000 troops in large to huge cities. If it's not extremely choppy, my rig even gives up at times and forces a reset.

Current Specs:
E6750 Core 2 Duo 2.66 Ghz
Inno3d Nvidia 7600 GT 256 mb
1 GB Kingston RAM DDR2

Currently using 1280x1024 res, bloom and ref on, no AA, anisotropic x4, everything on high except shadows and building details on low. Field battles are perfectly fine as well as sieges in smaller cities and castles. I'm guessing it's a ram problem due to the higher amount of detail involved in big sieges.

Should I invest in another stick of 1 GB RAM? Will it solve my problem or should I just tone down my settings?

Or am I looking at this the wrong way and I should instead consider better cooling fans so I can overclock my gpu? Scratch that. I guess I'm more interested in whether another 1 GB of RAM will make enough difference.

Much thanks good sirs

[DarK_RTW]

It would make a little difference.
High settings and stressful battles don't make crashes, unstable PCs do.

When you first suggested a better cooling fan I thought you were on the right track, until you suggested overclocking the GPU.
But, to prevent overheating, then I suggest this option.

And since RAM is cheap (you would want matching Kingston RAM though, assuming your current stick isn't high end, you can get a Kingston Value stick) why not?

[Ificratis]

Big ram is always good. But you have a nice pc for the game.
What I am suggesting:
Lower the shaders. Use shaders version 1.
Use a 1024x768 res. Only for check.
Lower the anisotropic filtering. With 1280x1024 res you don't gain very much.
Then is the drivers and direct X. The game is very sensitive to drivers by my experience.
What I am doing? In the big battles I low the graphics and I am Ok.

[userfri3ndly]

do shader version 1 remove blood? I kinda feel weird without the shadows though...

I'm thinking it has a lot to do with building textures, since this issue only appears in large-huge cities or citadels. The high settings work fine even with huge amounts of troops as long as it's a field battle or a town.

Thanks for the replies, my internet connection went bonkers yesterday so couldn't check back as fast.

I'm using 169.21 for my forceware drivers. Is this good?

[Ificratis]

Shaders improve the quality but also the amount on your GPU.
shader version 1 does not remove the blood. You dont understad much difference in your grafics. I am using version 1 for more speed.
The cities has this problem. A lot of textures for GPU. For those Drivers DO NOT install any new directx form August 2007. If you do you must change your drivers too.
When you play in towns or castles lower your setting.
Do not worry, this is the game...

[irishron]

There is another thread in this forum pointing to a download for less graphical intense walls. I couldn't find it in a hurry but it maybe worth your while.

[Ificratis]

I know what are you speak. Does not make any value difference.