A general rant

[haux 6]

It's time to get a new computer. Not just to get SimCity to run well, but also because this old thing just doesn't want to work anymore. I'm making a general thread so I can rant about SimCity not working on my computer anymore.

The largest city I've built has about 500,000 people, but my computer won't handle it anymore. I can't see the highways, the background (space) color changes when I save, it's extremely choppy (I probably get five frames a second in dense areas), and it's not handling this game well. After playing it for 30 minutes, a message pops up that tells me Windows is low on virtual memory. My computer's not the same until after I restart it.

It's just aggravating, that's all. I bought this game with the full intentions on making great cities, and I just can't do it with the state my computer's in.

I'm planning on getting a new computer that's more than twice as fast as this guy (and $600 cheaper!), so it should be able to play SimCity much better. I'm just upset, that's all.

Does anyone else have problems like this, or do all you have new computers that can actually handle a program like this? My computer is from August 2001. In human years, it's about 71 years old.

[amdinside 2]

You don't give any specs on your computer especially ram and graphics card will effect performance of SC4. You can also adjust SC4 video settings down so your computer doesn't have to work so hard, that might help until you get a new computer. I play with all the video settings on and on larger cities the game is slow on the initial render when scrolling across the city but is fine after that.

[haux 6]

D'oh. I can't believe I didn't give any specs. Here they are:

Amd Athlon 1.4 GHz processor

384 MB of RAM

My graphics card is an AMD Radeon 9200 128 Megs

I've got the settings pretty low. My computer just can't handle it.

[amdinside 2]

Haux, My old computer is an Athlon 1.2G with 1meg ram and it ran SC4 without any of the issues you reported. You might try a memory upgrade if you want to keep using your current rig.

[pezdisc 0]

I bought my computer in March of 2005 and it has problems with playing this game also, as frustrating as it may be, it is still worth playing the game.  I currently do not have a video card, atleast I don't think so, would that have a huge effect if I put a 128 megabite card in it? 

[haux 6]

I can't upgrade my RAM anymore. It's already upgraded! Both sloths are full, so I can't get any more RAM without removing one. I doubt my computer could handle any more RAM. Amdinside, how in the world did your computer run SC4 with that? If it ran it that well, why isn't mine running it?

[Mike3715 3]

You can still upgrade your RAM, go out and buy yourself a couple of 512mb memory chips...should cost you about $150.00 (American money), which is cheaper than a whole new rig.  I think if anything is hurting you it is that processor though.   Just my opinion.

[haux 6]

I think I'd rather get a new computer. I'm looking at some with 1 gig RAM, twice the processor speed, larger hard drive, etc. In general, it'll just be a better purchase.

[Skyfire2275 23]

I played SC4 on a Pentium III 750 Mhz, 512 MB RAM (this was maxed out, I checked the motherboard manual) and a 64 MB video card... It never got choppy or aything bizarre like you report, just unbearably slow. What really seems to make the game run faster is freeing up hard drive space (something you don't have... you need about 4 times the size of your ram free, so in your case: 4 x 384MB = you do the math) and you need to set your page file to this size as a maximum (you can do this by right clicking My Computer --> Properties --> Advanced --> Performance Settings --> Advanced --> Click on Change... and type in whatever the above number is in the box and click apply). Also, get rid of any background tasks that run while you play, such as MSN messenger, task scheduler (pause it atleast), etc... anything in running on your system that doesn't need to run. Also try defragging your hard drive.

You should also consider buying more RAM. Like Mike3715 suggested, get some 512 MB memory modules and *replace* the once you have instead of adding more. Your computer can most liekly handle this. If my P-III could take 512 MB, I am confident that yours will take 1 GB.

-Skyfire

[manu-fan 0]

Just to let you know my experience, even though it was on a Mac.

I was using 256MB of Ram and it was going really slowly and choppy etc.

So, I added another 1GB. Now it's running really smoothly. SC4 does seem to be a memory hog and the more memory the better.

Cheers.

[haux 6]

Originally posted by: Skyfire2275What really seems to make the game run faster is freeing up hard drive space (something you don't have... you need about 4 times the size of your ram free, so in your case: 4 x 384MB = you do the math) and you need to set your page file to this size as a maximum (you can do this by right clicking My Computer --> Properties --> Advanced --> Performance Settings --> Advanced --> Click on Change... and type in whatever the above number is in the box and click apply). Also, get rid of any background tasks that run while you play, such as MSN messenger, task scheduler (pause it atleast), etc... anything in running on your system that doesn't need to run. Also try defragging your hard drive.

quote>

OK. I went through those tabs and settings and saw what you are talking about. But I don't know computers, so I'm worried I'll screw everything up. Do I change the C: drive or the Page File? It says it's using 384 and the maximum can be 574. Should I just up it to the maximum? What exactly do I change? Do I change the initial size and the maximum size?

I'm really leery when making changes to numbers in properties and stuff on my computer. I don't want to ruin anything.

[Dr. Neitchskrimfrauwnmoya 7]

I was in your situation (maybe not that worse, but comparable) a couple of months ago.

I had a Pentium 3 1.1Ghz with 320Mb RAM and a 128Mb video card (GeForce4 Ti 4200) with Windows 98SE as OS  which was about 56 human years old lol.

As time passes, lag in SC4 reached titanic proportions and it would take to my computer more than 10 minutes to load a 150,000 pop city. 

The lag depends principaly of the size of the city but mostly (im my case) of the size of my plugins folders. All my plugins right now are over 1.5 Gb and that's what litteraly killed my old computer. I tried playing the game with no plugins at all and it was running pretty good even on large cities.

So because I wanted to enjoy SC4 with all my custom stuff, I did the obvious choice. I bought a brand new computer and I don't regret it. It's an AMD 4200+ X2 2.2Ghz with 2Ghz of RAM and a 256Mb video card (GeForce 7800 GTX). It was worth the investment.

[+Guest]

If it's old and you got the cash then go buy a new rig.Try playing SC on a Pent 2 with 98SE and then you will see slow.

[Skyfire2275 23]

haux: You change the maximum size. But if you are uncomfortable doing so, or unfamiliar with such tasks, it would probably be best to go read up on virtual memory/page files on the internet and learn what they do and what the consequences are if you screw it up. If you change just the number I indicated, nothing *SHOULD* go wrong, but Windows is a Microsoft product, so something could still go wrong... haha.

Yes, you change the C: drive, by selecting it in the list at the top. Then, change the number in the "maximum size" box and click "set" and then "ok"... You may have to restart your computer too.

-Skyfire

[haux 6]

OK. I'm bumping this thread because now that I've moved into my new place and got Internet access, I'm ready to try this.

Here are screenshots of changing the page file size. Please tell me if I did this right.

Before:

After:

[Skyfire2275 23]

Change where it says "Initial Size (MB)" and "Maximum Size (MB)" to 3 or 4 times your RAM size, up to a maximum value of 4095 MB. So if you have 1 GB of RAM, that's 1024 MB of RAM... your entries should say 4095 MB. What you have shown here is WAY too small. Remember the input you type in is in MB, not GB. So right click on "My computer" and find out how much physical RAM you have and multiply that number by 4. Enter it in the Initial and Maximum (or enter 4095 if your value is larger than 4095)... I think it works best with one file... ie: putting a page file on only one drive, but I'm not 100% sure.

[krases 3]

if you are giong to buy a new computer then a lot of people would say to go buy from here.

http://www.cyberpowerpc.com/

I cant personaly recommend it because i have not purchesed a computer from them but i do know they are liked by many people who know alot about computers but dont have the time to build there own.

By the way how much do you plan on spending on a computer???

[haux 6]

Skyfire2275, I have 384 MB of RAM. So what you're saying is that I should put 1536 MB in both boxes with the C: drive selected, as in the images I have in my previous post? Is that right? This is sort of confusing, and I don't want to ruin my computer.

Krases, I've got a computer in mind that'll cost about $1,000, but I have to save up for that.

[Skyfire2275 23]

@ haux: Correct... select the C: drive and in both boxes put 1536 MB... Make sure there is enough free space on your C: drive as well.

EDIT: I think the only way to screw up your computer like this is to set the values too SMALL. Then it has no memory to do anything.

[haux 6]

OK. I changed the numbers and did everything you said, but the game is still running as slow as ever. I guess there's really nothing I can do but upgrade.

[Skyfire2275 23]

Yeah. Your specs are almost the same as my old computer and... SC4 worked, but not well unless the cities were small and the graphics were all the way down... If you want the game to look good you'll probably need to upgrade.

[beachfrontproperty 0]

You dont need to get a whole new computer, but just upgrade parts...

First of all is the motherboard a PCI express cardslot??? If so, most video cards will work with it, if not, you would need to contact your computer maker (dell, gateway ect..) and get deals on video cards from them... Got a nice deal on a 256MB gforce nvidia for 120 bucks, because my computer was made in 2002 before PCI express was out on many platforms... I couldnt run most cards.

Although It may be more expensive to upgrade then to buy a whole new Puter'...

And it may be cheeper

If you may want to go my way, don't go on ebay whatever you do! Most of those cards have somethign wrong with them...

May I suggest Newegg.com?

They have good parts for low prices

Whatever you want to do, it up to you

Good luck!

[haux 6]

My computer's from 2001. It uses PCI, not PCI express. I've pretty much just concluded that I can buy a whole new computer and use some of the parts from this sucker. A new computer I've looked at will actually cost less than this thing did, and it'll be more than twice as fast.

Thanks for all the help. I guess I'll just play SimCity again in a year or so.

[Superchan 23]

i think you should consider an amd athlon 64, there faster than intels, and try to stay away from ati (not amd) Radeons, they have problems running simcity 4 (buildings dissapear while scrolling), im thinking about a new computer, gonna sell my old one and make some money, here are the specs,

MSI K9N SLI Platinum Socket AM2 NVIDIA nForce 570 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard

LG 16X DVD

[haux 6]

I don't know. The Intel dual-core processor sounds pretty impressive. Besides, I'm not sure I'd want to add extra to the computer I'm going to buy just for an Athlon. I have an Athlon now, and I really don't see how it's too different than the Intel my brother uses.

[Lacherlich 0]

Howdy, just thought i'd comment here too. I've got this suppostedly good laptop, with 3.4 GHZ Pentium 4 Processor, 512 MB, and SiS M661FX graphics ( whatever that is) and its rubbish! I bought it last year in the hope to play sim city at an optimum level, however, i have to play the game on medium graphics, it crashes ALOT, especially if i were to use the zoom option, and it plays aggonisingly slow at times. I'm considering taking it back, hopefully to get an exchange, but its doubtful after nearly a year of having it.... although it is insured... So whoknows.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Originally posted by: haux I don't know. The Intel dual-core processor sounds pretty impressive. Besides, I'm not sure I'd want to add extra to the computer I'm going to buy just for an Athlon. I have an Athlon now, and I really don't see how it's too different than the Intel my brother uses.quote>

The dual core won't buy you anything since the program does not accommodate it.  In fact, you probably have to set the affinity (task manager) to use only one processor.  I agree that a single stream AMD 64-bit processor would be best in this case.  However, AMD-64s that are not dual core are getting hard to get.

What advantage do you think you will get from a dual core machine?  This gives you two separate CPUs, which therefore allows you to run two processes simultaneously.  A program that knows about this can multitask and use it.  SC4 doesn't know about this, but does multitask and seems to get in trouble.

[haux 6]

With a dual-core, I figured I could run the game and my computer. Currently, this computer doesn't really want to run both well.