Software Update: Quake 4 1.0.5 beta & 1.0.6

Game developer id Software has just released a patch for both the Windows and Linux versions of Quake 4. Version 1.0.5 beta is for the Windows version of the game while the Linux version is one version further along in development, namely version 1.0.6. The two patches are mainly aimed at improving the performance of Quake 4 on systems equipped with a dual, dual-core or HyperThreading processor. In addition, a number of bugs have also been fixed for the server edition. Another patch is scheduled for release early next year, as well as a handful of new multiplayer maps. The release notes of the 1.0.5 beta and 1.0.6 patches are as follows:

A BETA update for QUAKE 4 is now available. This update is recommended for Windows users with Intel Hyper-Threading Technology (HT Technology) enabled processors, multiple processors, or systems with a dual core processor. The update is also required for Windows and Linux server admins as it addresses a recently identified problem with servers left unoccupied for very long periods of time (these servers will appear to be operating normally, but will crash clients that attempt to connect to them). This update will bring any previous version of the game (1.0.0 or 1.0.4) up to date and will not affect pure server, PunkBuster compatibility or protocol consistency.

id Software and Raven have worked with Intel to dramatically improve QUAKE 4 performance on systems with HT Technology, multiple processors, or dual core processors. Players who have a system with one of these configurations will notice performance gains in QUAKE 4 of anywhere from 25% – 87% depending on processor type. If you do not know whether or not you have a multi-processor, dual core, or HT Technology enabled system, please see the ReadMe file for simple instructions on checking your system. Please use the form at www.idsoftware.com/bugs/ to report any issues you find with the 1.0.5 update.

Finally, although we’ve released only small (but critical) updates to QUAKE 4 so far, we are working on a much broader update for release early next year, and we also have a couple of multiplayer map packs currently being tested for release in the near future. Stay tuned. [break]AMDZone already has a number of benchmarks published in which they tested the 1.0.5 beta patch on a dual-core system. AMD is not yet satisfied with the new patch, because the performance of Quake 4 on its own dual-core processor is deteriorating. In contrast, on an Intel system with HyperThreading, performance would increase. It is not known whether the next update for the Windows version will improve the performance of the game on AMD’s dual-core processors. Quake 4 1.0.5 is still a beta version .