Recognising Newer Graphics Cards for Sims2

Yes but the thing is I'm not so sure the game is actually using the Intel card. Don't the rest of his graphics look a bit too good for that? Textures are detailed, shadows and reflection are perfect. I don't think the Intel would even allow all the settings to be on high, would it? I've had crappy graphics cards in the past, and there is no way that sim's sweater would look that detailed with it.

I had a very similar issue and first thought it was using my integrated graphics card instead of my Radeon as well, but it wasn't. Fiddling with stuff in the graphics rules was the only way I managed to fix it.

I can't see any SLI settings in my NVIDIA control panel. Further googling of SLI led me to this: http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/344182-33-profile which doesn't make much sense to me. As far as I can tell I need to have two compatible graphics cards...or something.

Here are my global and programme settings:





And this is my PhysX settings:



That's all I seem to have in the control panel (apart from the image settings but that's just quality vs performance). Anyone with an NVIDIA card have anything different?

@eefje00704 - I agree with what you are saying. But I am not sure, and its not my computer.

Yeah, my config-log is still saying Intel:

Quote:Log generated on 11/19/2013, 18:09

=== Application info ===
Name: The Sims 2 EP9
Version: 1.17.0.66
Build: ReleaseSRT
=== Machine info ===
OS version: Windows NT 6.0
CPU: 3351.599853Mhz, Name:GenuineIntel, FPU:1, MMX:1
Memory: 4096MB
Free memory: 4096MB
User: Stephanie
Computer: SVENSSON
=== Sound device info ===
Name: Unknown
Driver: Unknown
=== Graphics device info ===
Number: 0
Name (driver): Intel® HD Graphics 4600
Name (database): HD Graphics 4600
Kiri: Hardware rendering is enabled
Vendor: Intel
Chipset: Vendor: 8086, Device: 0416, Board: 1963103c, Chipset: 0006
Driver: nvumdshim.dll, Version: 9.18.13.1141, GUID: D7B78E66-4756-11CF-F977-6E39BBC2C435
Driver version: 1141
Monitor: \\.\DISPLAY1
Monitor aspect: 1.842105, <<UNRECOGNIZED>>
Screen mode: 1366x768x32BPP,60Hz
Texture memory: 1744MB
HW T&L: Fixed function:1 Programmable:3.0
Pixel program: 3.0
Texture stages: 8
AppControlledAA: 1

So I guess any improvement I noticed was wishful thinking.

Because the texture memory is set to 1744Mb - I'm thinking that would have the better textures on the sweater. The real give away is the hood terrain. That is resolution. Also his anti-alias is set off - which also says it's on low resolution. I'd have to have another look at his config-log.txt but that to me says hi texture/lo resolution. Intel isn't necessarily incapable of doing decent graphics - the older ones were, but I'm not convinced the later ones are.

The reason why I say that is that the graphic rules.sgr - for Intel it automatically sets it down to lo resolution, but he's got a line:
HW T&L: Fixed function:1 Programmable:3.0

Which says that the Intel Card IS capable of doing vertex stuff. Which the earlier ones weren't able to do.

I could probably fiddle with the Intel code to get it to allow high res, but ToofastTooFar would be better off getting the NVidia card loaded instead.

What I will do, is have a look at the Intel and see if there's anything I can do to get it working with high res, just to see if it can do things.

Hi,

Just signed up as my wife plays TS2 and it has a problem with the resolution of TS2 and I cannot figure out what's wrong.

When we load the game the resolution is stuck at 800x600 as there are no other options available.

My PC Spec is:

• CPU: Intel Core i5-3750k
• RAM: 16GB Corsair Dominator GT DD3-1866MHz
• GPUs: 2x Asus HD7850 2GB in Crossfire (Crossfire disabled for TS2, only runs on a single GPU)
• HDD1: 250GB Samsung 840 Pro (Windows, main programs)
• HDD2: 2x 500GB Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 in RAID0 (Games, Hyper-V, General Storage)
• Monitor: Dell S2209W (1920x1080)
• O/S: Windows 8.1 Pro
• GPU Driver: AMD 13.11 Beta 9.2
  

I've attached my config log which I've already tried your fixe for Dunblain on page 16 and it shows that Hardware rendering is enabled, but it doesn't allow me to change the resolution.

The Sims 3 works without issues but she still enjoys playing both games.

Please can you help so I can get TS2 working again for my wife!

Thanks,

M_Taylor40


Updated: Downloaded files from page 16 and reloaded game, forgot you couldn't modify shadows from neighbourhood. Only resolution issue remains.

Attached File(s)

  DESKTOP-config-log.txt (Size: 14.88 KB / Downloads: 446)

Hi M_Taylor,

Which Game folder did you put your change in? The reason why I ask is that your Texture Memory is still at 32Mb, which says that it's not using that version. It needs to go in the most recent version of Sims 2.

For you, that is the Mansion and Gardens Folder, in both the Config and CSC Config folders.

Looking at your stats - that version should fix your problem.

First off, thank you so very much Kiri for this very helpful info! It is very appreciated. I have read through all the pages and have solved almost everything thanks to you. The only thing I am stuck on is that the shadows option is grayed out and set on off. I have been able to get my graphics card (AMD Saphire 7970) to be recognized, I have changed my texture memory to an appropriate level, and I have been able to get the appropriate screen resolution to show up as an option. However, the shadow option is still set as off and grayed out while all the other settings are set at high. Any help at solving this would be greatly appreciated!

Edit: Oh my, I feel like a total dork, because I just read somewhere that the shadow option is always grayed out in the Neighborhood view and only selectable when entering a lot. So, sure enough, when I entered a household I could adjust the setting to high. Guess it has been awhile since I last played Hopefully this will help someone else who is wondering why they can't adjust the shadow setting.

Thanks again Kiri! Because of your posts, I can now play my game on my new build without it looking like a game from 20 years ago.

Attached File(s)

  SCORPION-config-log.txt (Size: 10.25 KB / Downloads: 426)

No worries at all aballerina22.

Unfortunately The shadow option, is one of those things that gets greyed out, and I haven't worked out how to set it back on.

However you can fiddle with the shadows outside of the game -

This time it's in your game folder -
\My Documents\EA Games\The Sims 2\Config\userProps.xml

Right-click, and 'Edit' if you have it (open with Notepad if you don't).

Do a Find on 'Shadows' - you'll get a line that looks like:
<AnyUint32 key="optionShadows" type="0xeb61e4f7">3</AnyUint32>

Yours is set to 1 I believe? It can be changed to 1, 2, 3.

1 is Low, 2 is medium, 3 is high.

save and close. You should be getting high shadows at that point.

Thank you for your quick response! I must have been editing my post while you were commenting. I found an in-game solution to the grayed out graphics- you just enter a household and then it is selectable. I just tested it out, and my high settings stayed when I exited the household and opened up a new game in a new neighborhood. Yay!