|
Recognising Newer Graphics Cards for Sims2
|
#301
02-02-2014
Hi, Simdrew1993 I'm new here. I have been reading a lot on this topic and I've been having a problem myself lately. I have a Windows 8, Samsung Chronos 7 Laptop, it has Intel Radeon HD Graphics 4000 series, It also says it has AMD Radeon HD 8700M Series.... Anyway my game does not seem to read my graphics card, I can play it fine although quality is not the best. Additional information:
Graphics: Desktop Graphics Performance
Installed Memory (RAM): 8:00 GB (7.89 GB Usable)
Processor: Intel ® Core ™ i7-3635QM CPU @ 2.40 GHz 240 GHz
System Type: 64-Bit Operating System, x64 Based Processor
Manufacturer: Samsung Electronics
Chip Type: Intel® HD Graphics Family
DAC Type: Internal
Adapter String: Intel® HD Graphics 4000
Total Available Graphics memory: 5026 MB
Shared System Memory: 3782 Memory MB
Dedicated Video Memory: 1280 MB
System Video Memory: 0
When I first got my laptop my graphics were overwhelming just great when I first installed my games, but after a while I got an automatic Windows update which ruined everything it made my screen resolution small and locked out all the graphics settings in-game, so after being frustrated I uninstalled all windows updates and my computer was like how it was earlier again, this was only maybe a month or 2 after buying this fairly new machine even then I don't believe the game read my card because it still should have looked slightly better. But the problem still persists, even after having the updates removed my game was minimized almost to an extent to where I couldn't see my game it might have been even smaller than 800x600 considering I could barely see anything I had to squint ahahah.... all my settings were blocked as well. I read somewhere on here about how to fix screen resolution and re-enable locked out settings, so far that is all resolved and working greatly again. But now my only problem is my graphics are horrible in game. Not sims themselves just their world. In Neighborhood view Grass looks drawn on, and Trees sometimes appear black from certain angles, or normal green but shaped like paper, and water has no reflection or shadow, it appears a bright horrible vivid blue that looks like sky. I just want to get my game looking good again. I'm familiar with SGR files, although I don't know how to attach them here on a post lol. Oh wait I see how to upload files to a post now.
I'm hoping someone here has the time to help me. I have a lot of projects planned out for future upload on MTS but background quality hinders screenshots quality terribly. Please? I'd be truly grateful!
#302
02-02-2014
Hi SimDrew. If you could upload your config-log.txt from game folder, I'll be able to tell you what your problems are, and give you a fixed graphics rules card.
Windows 8 has problems all by itself, but there are things we can do to fix them.
It sounds like you are on lo-res so we need to check your texture memory, and that it's picking the right settings for your card.
Hi nanashi,
In the Graphic rules.sgr there is this bit of code after it does the choices for different card types and setting the company specific work arounds, and the listing of the hardware settings:
option Shadows
setting $Low
boolProp simShadows false
boolProp objectShadows false
boolProp guob false
boolProp heightMapShadows false
setting $Medium
boolProp simShadows false
boolProp objectShadows false
boolProp guob true
boolProp heightMapShadows true
setting $High
boolProp simShadows true
boolProp objectShadows true
boolProp guob true
boolProp heightMapShadows true
end
So what is happening is that when the graphic rules sets your choice to High - it's actually performing these 4 boolprop commands. For turning off simShadows when a setting of High is used, it's just a matter of changing the boolProp simShadows to false.
(I really need to finish writing the big technical how this all works tutorial).
Windows 8 has problems all by itself, but there are things we can do to fix them.
It sounds like you are on lo-res so we need to check your texture memory, and that it's picking the right settings for your card.
Hi nanashi,
In the Graphic rules.sgr there is this bit of code after it does the choices for different card types and setting the company specific work arounds, and the listing of the hardware settings:
option Shadows
setting $Low
boolProp simShadows false
boolProp objectShadows false
boolProp guob false
boolProp heightMapShadows false
setting $Medium
boolProp simShadows false
boolProp objectShadows false
boolProp guob true
boolProp heightMapShadows true
setting $High
boolProp simShadows true
boolProp objectShadows true
boolProp guob true
boolProp heightMapShadows true
end
So what is happening is that when the graphic rules sets your choice to High - it's actually performing these 4 boolprop commands. For turning off simShadows when a setting of High is used, it's just a matter of changing the boolProp simShadows to false.
(I really need to finish writing the big technical how this all works tutorial).
#303
02-02-2014
Oh excellent Thank you, and your timing is excellent.
I agree it does, although with Sims 2 I haven't ever really had many problems until recently. True.
Alrighty. Ok. Here they are. I uploaded the Config Log file, the SGR, and CS SGR, my latest game is Mansion and Gardens by the way. I have Deluxe, University Life, Best of Business Collection, Bon Voyage, Seasons, Freetime, and Fun with Pets Collection.
I agree it does, although with Sims 2 I haven't ever really had many problems until recently. True.
Alrighty. Ok. Here they are. I uploaded the Config Log file, the SGR, and CS SGR, my latest game is Mansion and Gardens by the way. I have Deluxe, University Life, Best of Business Collection, Bon Voyage, Seasons, Freetime, and Fun with Pets Collection.
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2014 04:37 AM by Simdrew1993.)
#305
02-02-2014
Weird,
Try refreshing the page maybe that'll help.
Try refreshing the page maybe that'll help.
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2014 05:38 AM by Simdrew1993.)
#306
02-02-2014
Hey celebkiriedhel, did you see my last message? I have the same problem as catherine, but I've been testing my game while running my Nvidia shadow settings at medium and Intel at high. If I can run both settings at high, it would be preferred, so I would like to know what settings you edit to get the sim shadows at medium and the object shadows at high. Thanks and sorry for the double post!
#307
02-02-2014
I did refresh, then went away for a while and now I'm back... still a 404 error. The URL I'm getting is: http://www.simthing.net/cards/Config-Nvidia-Test.rar - if that's any help at all.
I'm done with my judging duties for now, so I know I'll have time to play tomorrow. I can't wait to test this out
hopefully Kiri's on to somethin'. I'd like to squee and celebrate! It's 1:15AM here now... I'm goin' ta bed!
G'nite
I'm done with my judging duties for now, so I know I'll have time to play tomorrow. I can't wait to test this out
hopefully Kiri's on to somethin'. I'd like to squee and celebrate! It's 1:15AM here now... I'm goin' ta bed!G'nite
Proud member of LeeFish since Sep 2013. 
My Etsy shop
My Etsy shop
Time flies like an arrow ~ fruit flies like a banana
Ah, well... there is that
So, ...do you know the difference between roast beef and pea soup?
Ah, well... there is that
So, ...do you know the difference between roast beef and pea soup?
#308
02-02-2014
Sorry I must have stuffed up the link. 
Yup I did.
http://www.simthing.net/cards/Config-NVidia-Test.rar
(Forgot about the capital V).
Hi SimDrew. I've only just downloaded your zip. I'm in Australia and I have insomnia issues, so it's not always obvious what time I'm on Leefish to be able to look at things. I'll get back to you soon.
Yup I did. http://www.simthing.net/cards/Config-NVidia-Test.rar
(Forgot about the capital V).
Hi SimDrew. I've only just downloaded your zip. I'm in Australia and I have insomnia issues, so it's not always obvious what time I'm on Leefish to be able to look at things. I'll get back to you soon.
#309
02-02-2014
SimDrew.
1. You have the texture memory problem. That's a simple fix.
2. You have dual Graphics Cards, and the Card that your Sims game thinks its using is the Intel® HD Graphics 4000. The problem with that is that the game assumes that all Intel cards suck and can't handle more than lo-res.
There are two ways of dealing with this -
a) outside the game you need to make the Radeon card be the one that is used for the Sims. NVidia have a panel. I don't know what Radeon have - I've only got a single card. This part you are on your own - but if you do work out how to do this, please get back to me so I can include it in the list of things to be able to do for fixing cards.
b) we can make the Intel Card test properly for capabilities. I've done this before - because to be honest, your Intel card is actually capable of doing the high-res based on the other bits and pieces it tests for.
I am amending your Graphics Rules and Video Cards set up so that it can cope with both. For the moment, wait for my back and forth with Catherine re the black box shadow problems.
If you want to disable the SimShadows, the code that I put above for Nanashi will work for you as well. I can put that in for you if you like.
edit: Here is your download
Please put these in both Config and CSConfig.
Once you have done this, load up the game - check for resolution, shadows, etc. Then upload your xxxx-config-log.txt so we can check that everything is working.
1. You have the texture memory problem. That's a simple fix.
2. You have dual Graphics Cards, and the Card that your Sims game thinks its using is the Intel® HD Graphics 4000. The problem with that is that the game assumes that all Intel cards suck and can't handle more than lo-res.
There are two ways of dealing with this -
a) outside the game you need to make the Radeon card be the one that is used for the Sims. NVidia have a panel. I don't know what Radeon have - I've only got a single card. This part you are on your own - but if you do work out how to do this, please get back to me so I can include it in the list of things to be able to do for fixing cards.
b) we can make the Intel Card test properly for capabilities. I've done this before - because to be honest, your Intel card is actually capable of doing the high-res based on the other bits and pieces it tests for.
I am amending your Graphics Rules and Video Cards set up so that it can cope with both. For the moment, wait for my back and forth with Catherine re the black box shadow problems.
If you want to disable the SimShadows, the code that I put above for Nanashi will work for you as well. I can put that in for you if you like.
edit: Here is your download
Please put these in both Config and CSConfig.
Once you have done this, load up the game - check for resolution, shadows, etc. Then upload your xxxx-config-log.txt so we can check that everything is working.
(This post was last modified: 02-02-2014 04:59 PM by celebkiriedhel.)
#310
02-02-2014
Hi, I'm really sorry to hear about your sleep Insomnia, celebkiriedhel.
It's an easy fix, ok that's wonderful news. Ok that makes sense. Thank you for the information. Radeon settings appear to be very limited, although like Nvidia you can still open main graphic settings. I don't see a way to make the game read it's card instead though.
Well the shadows don't have that issue very often only sometimes, and what's even stranger is it only does it with one tree type of tree in Neighborhood view, the tall pine tree forest one is the only one that turns black but only from a side angle, but that appears to be it. No thank you, the shadows don't seem to be too much of a problem overall so you don't have to do that, but whatever you believe is best. I looked through AMD's Catalyst Controls, went through settings and it doesn't really show very many options, but If I found anything I'll notify you. Thanks again Kiri!
Ok will do! The next few hours I won't be around much but I'll try to test everything as soon as I get the chance.
Alright.
It's an easy fix, ok that's wonderful news. Ok that makes sense. Thank you for the information. Radeon settings appear to be very limited, although like Nvidia you can still open main graphic settings. I don't see a way to make the game read it's card instead though.
Well the shadows don't have that issue very often only sometimes, and what's even stranger is it only does it with one tree type of tree in Neighborhood view, the tall pine tree forest one is the only one that turns black but only from a side angle, but that appears to be it. No thank you, the shadows don't seem to be too much of a problem overall so you don't have to do that, but whatever you believe is best. I looked through AMD's Catalyst Controls, went through settings and it doesn't really show very many options, but If I found anything I'll notify you. Thanks again Kiri!
Ok will do! The next few hours I won't be around much but I'll try to test everything as soon as I get the chance.
Alright.
