[Crazy Linux fun] Running game with CPU-only using LLVMPipe

[SXX]

Disclaimer.

Q: Why?
A: Just for fun! Why no?
After all I just like to run everything with software rendering. :)

Requirements...

New Mesa and LLVMPipe required, e.g I using Kubuntu 14.04 with Oibaf PPA.
My "LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 glxinfo" output:

OpenGL vendor string: VMware, Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Gallium 0.4 on llvmpipe (LLVM 3.4, 256 bits)
OpenGL core profile version string: 3.3 (Core Profile) Mesa 10.3.0-devel
OpenGL core profile shading language version string: 3.30

If your LLVMPipe too old it's won't work!

Step by step...

Only valid for open source drivers users with:

• Right click on game in Steam Library -> Properties.
  
• Uncheck "Enable Steam Community In-Game".
  
• Click on "Set launch options" and input "LIBGL_ALWAYS_SOFTWARE=1 %command%" into the form.
  
• Run game normally, decrease all graphics settings to minimum and set lower resolution.
  
• Restart game.
  
• Now start new game, wait before it's load and switch to "Strategic View" (bottom icon before mini map)

In this mode game will looks like that:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=269612664
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=269605195
Totally playable with LLVMPipe and i7 4771.

Video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ii90OsMetQM

[Sir Garbagetruck]

I'm not exactly sure what I will do with this information, but ... I have some ideas already, concerning some machines with slightly less capable gfx cards and streaming (:

[SXX]

Originally posted by Sir Garbagetruck:

I'm not exactly sure what I will do with this information, but ... I have some ideas already, concerning some machines with slightly less capable gfx cards and streaming (:

To be absolutely fair I don't think that low-end CPUs will able to handle it properly so only testing can tell. Though I just played for a while in 1920x1200 in "strategic view" and game is totally playable on my high-end CPU.

Though it's could work for guys who have high-end CPU (Intel i5/i7 older than Sandy Bridge or AMD FX), but lack of GPU with OpenGL 3 support

[Sir Garbagetruck]

I have some 8-core servers just sort of ... idling... (:

[SXX]

Originally posted by Sir Garbagetruck:

I have some 8-core servers just sort of ... idling... (:

Yes, this will work for sure. Strategic view is fully functional game interface. One of my friends using it all the time on Windows to play Civ5 with us because his graphics card too slow.

[SXX]

One more screenshot...

[SXX]

Added video as well. I suppose I done for today. :)

[Vadi.linux]

Ah man, you're the guy who made those giant Planetary Annihilation planets. Nice work on this!

[SXX]

Originally posted by vadi2:

Ah man, you're the guy who made those giant Planetary Annihilation planets.

Yep, unfortunately at moment PA have different texturing behavior so those not looks that cool. But now PA working a lot better on open source drivers so it's interesting to run it on LLVMPipe too... :)

[blackout24]

I wonder how well it would perform on a Dual Xeon setup with 20 Cores and 40 Threads. :D