Armada 1 runs unplayably slow

Cadet 1st Year Joined: Jun 20, 2009 Posts: 4

Hello all - its been a long time since I was last on here but I've always loved the site.

I recently reinstalled Armada 1 on my newest computer. It installs properly, loads main screen properly, loads missions properly, but as soon as the mission opener starts, it is absurdly slow. Even after the mission starts, the problem remains. This is the same on every mission, as well as in instant action games.

I have tried every compatibility mode. I have tried every combination of patches. I have tried every visual setting and every audio setting. I have even tried the odd suggestion of "leaving an internet explorer window open while loading the game" which apparently solves the problem for some people on other tech boards, with no success.

I have searched your forums and found no evidence of this problem, which is peculiar, as a google search will reveal dozens of other forums where this problem remains unsolved.

Please help this diehard Star Trek fan fix one of his favorite games, especially so I can check out your new mods.

SYSTEM INFO:
Windows XP SP 2
AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4000+ 2.11Ghz
2.00 GB RAM
ATI Radeon HD 3850 Graphics Card 256MB DDR3 PCI Express 2.0
500GB Hard Disk Space, 100GB available

Posted: Sun Jun 21, 2009 8:17 am

This problem has shown up before. Try adjusting your video card's hardware acceleration either all the way up or all the way down. To do this, right click on your desktop and select Properties. Click the Settings tab. Click the Advanced button and a new window should appear. Click the Troubleshoot tab in the new window. The hardware acceleration slider should be there.

Cadet 1st Year Joined: Jun 20, 2009 Posts: 4

Tried the above advice. Results mostly negative/inconclusive.

Armada crashes at startup when set to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd settings.

4th setting: "Disable all cursor and advanced drawing accelerations."
Armada loads properly, but remains very slow and movement stutters heavily. Still unplayable.

5th setting: "Disable cursor and bitmap accelerations."
Armada loads properly, but remains notably slow and stutters moderately. Without visual stutter, the game might be playable at this speed.

6th setting: "Full Acceleration."
Armada exhibits original problem.

Ensign Joined: Apr 25, 2003 Posts: 405 Location: TO CA

See also if you graphics card has its own settings on top of those controlled via Windows troubleshoot. See if turning off things like antialiasing and texture acceleration will help. These are different for every graphics card so it might not even apply to yours. Still, take a look at the settings in the ATI Catalyst in case there is something there that's causing the game to run slow.

Cadet 1st Year Joined: Jun 20, 2009 Posts: 4

The Catalyst Control Center for my video card will not even run unless Hardware acceleration is set to full.

I have played with all settings and configurations possible within the Catalyst Control Center and have had exactly the same problem with every setup.

The only setup that has resulted in significant change was the Hardware Acceleration setting: 5th setting: "Disable cursor and bitmap accelerations."

The game is marginally playable in this mod, but the visual stutter is extraordinarily distracting. Is there something else I could change to limit/eliminate the stutter?

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 3:00 pm

What version of Direct X is this card running and I wonder if that might have something to do with it.

I do know that it is quite difficult to get some of the newer graphics cards to work with Armada. I never could get my GForce 8800 to work.

You might also try various screen resolutions from within the games...seems like that made a difference when I was testing mine out.

Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 5:52 pm

you may try and go too cnook.com and download maleware bytes and spybot and run those!Download and run ccleaner too!All these are free!Next step is too un-install and re-install the game,make sure too delete file of activision before re-install!Get and install the latest patch from here or armada 2 files.com.(patch 1.2!).

I am running the radeon 9200 ...have had no problems.I did have a nvidia 256 card and had problems,these problems popped up untill i upgraded too sp3 for winXP mind you!You could try and upgrade and install sp3 for windows XP,I noticed you have sp2.Hope these suggestions help!

Cadet 1st Year Joined: Jun 20, 2009 Posts: 4

Currently Running DirectX 9.0c .

Internal game screen resolution settings have not affected the problem.

This is not a "malware" problem - I already have those programs and others; My system is clean.

Patching has not affected the problem.

Service Pack Three did little but play haywire with my system and screw up other programs. Armada was unaffected.

Other tech boards think that its a conflict between the dual core processors and the program, as other people with lesser processors have been able to run the program perfectly with the same & similar video cards. However, no suggestions on how to fix that - everyone says "just run it on another computer". In my mind, its precisely that lack of reverse compatibility that has made every windows product since Windows 3.1 a giant piece of space garbage.

Any other suggestions?

Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 6:02 am

try this thread and see if it offers any help

http://forums.filefront.com/st-a2-problems-errors-help/354362-star-trek-armada-graphics-problem-4.html

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 12:09 am

I for one know exactly what you are dealing with. It is not a "compatibility issue." It does have to do with the Dual Core processor. The program was designed to be run on a cpu that's only single core, half the speed of the one you are using. With a Dual Core, there become two problems. The game either speeds up uncontrollably, or slows down, due to the HARDWARE incompatibility. There is no real way to solve this issue until someone writes a program to manually control the CPU speed from the desktop, and that is to run Armada on a slower, more outdated machine. Sorry.

Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 3:07 pm

That can't be the entire problem as it runs fine on both my dual core machines

Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 5:20 am

The problem could be related to an incompatible video card. NVidia Cards are the best with Armada, but the Video acceleration and Hardware acceleration must be Maxed out, for it to work right. If you do not know how to do this, let me know, I can walk you through it most likely.

Cadet 1st Year Joined: Jul 21, 2010 Posts: 1

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