New Fast Computer, Serious SC4 Graphical Issues

[lestatdl1 0]

I've played SimCity 4 (&Rush Hour) on my old PC and have since upgraded to a new system with significantly better hardware and performance. I'm now experiencing gameplay graphics issues: when scrolling on a city map, the display becomes streaked with blurred color that does not resolve itself. Likewise when adjusting the camera zoom. I've found that planting trees acts as a sort of paint brush to redraw the screen, however it still leaves a very pixelated and partial rendering of the display. The issue is very different than a standard lag or performance issue that I've experienced on my older PC in a large city; this appears to be more of a hardware incompatability or other such probem. It occurs on a brand new map with low graphics settings and does not appear to be related to refresh rate or any typical sort of performance slowness. I more than meet the system requirements for playing the game. Is my system too new to have backwards compatability with SimCity 4?

Thanks for any suggestions; hardware info from EA's system summary copied below.

----EASy System Summary--------------------------------------

     Video Card                    : NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT

     Video Driver                  : nv4_disp.dll

     Driver Version                : 6.14.10.8198

     Sound Card                    : Sound Blaster Audigy

     Sound Driver                  : P17.sys

     Driver Version                : 5.12.01.0519

     DirectX                       : DirectX 9

     Operating System                Windows XP Service Pack 2 5.1.2600

----EASy System Output---------------------------------------

     Computer Name                 : GAMINGPC

CPU Info

     CPU Count                     : 1

     CPU Type                      : 2192 MHz AuthenticAMD AMD Family 15 Model 7 Step 1

                                     15 7 1

     RAM                           : 2048 MB Total

                                     1580 MB Free

     Virtual RAM                   : -154 MB Total

                                     -416 MB Free

     Operating System              : Windows XP Service Pack 2 5.1.2600

     Default Browser               : Internet Explorer

     Version                       : 6.0.2900.2180

------------------------------------------------------------

----Display Info--------------------------------------------

     Number of Displays            : 1

     Current Mode (Primary)        : 1280x1024 32

Primary display device

     Description                   : NVIDIA GeForce 7800 GT

     Manufacturer                  : NVIDIA

     Video Memory                  : 256 MB

     Main Driver                   : nv4_disp.dll

     Version                       : 6.14.10.8198

    

Supported Display Modes

              |  16  |  256  | 16 bits| 24 bits| 32 bits

     ---------------------------------------------------

     640 x 480|  *   |   *   |    *   |       |   * 

     800 x 600|  *   |   *   |    *   |       |   * 

     1024x 768|      |   *   |    *   |       |   * 

     1152x 864|      |   *   |    *   |       |   * 

     1280x1024|      |   *   |    *   |       |   * 

     1600x1200|      |   *   |    *   |       |   * 

------------------------------------------------------------

----Sound, Video and Game Controllers-----------------------

     Description                   : Sound Blaster Audigy

     Manufacturer                  : Creative Technology Ltd.

     Main Driver                   : P17.sys

     Version                       : 5.12.01.0519

------------------------------------------------------------

----Direct X------------------------------------------------

DirectX Info

     Version                       : DirectX 9

DirectDraw Info

     Version                       : 5.03.2600.2180

     Certified                     : Not certified

DirectSound Info

     Version                       : 5.03.2600.2180

     Certified                     : Certified

DirectPlay Info

     Version                       : 5.00.2134.0001

DirectInput Info

     Version                       : 5.03.2600.2180

[Frankie_Grove 32]

FYI, SC4 is an older game, you should keep the old computer and upgrade it specifically for SC4, that's what I did, works great! Nice new computers just don't work with SC4 unless you are very lucky. I don't know if anyone else can help as SC4 wasn't made with todays technology. So I recommend getting your older system up to date with SC4, you can find fairly cheap parts at recycleing centers or eBay. 

EDIT: you also need way more virtual memory, at least 1 GB or so

[lestatdl1 0]

Thanks; I'll just go back to the old PC.

Oh, and the new PC has 2GB of virtual memory, I don't know why it was reported as 500 MB

[keelia 0]

Hi, not sure if this will help, but I have had issues using nvidia video cards when the anti-alias setting is not being controlled by the application, and is turned on.

To check this using the latest nvidia control panel, try going to "3d settings" -> "Adjust image settings with preview" and make sure that the "Let the 3d application decide" option is selected. If that still doesnt work you might try setting the quality slide bar to the performance end, or if you are feeling very adventurous try changing the settings for simcity4.exe in "Use the Advanced 3D Image settings".

[dudeson 0]

I have an Nvidia 7800GS graphics card.  

I had to set the game renderer to software, not hardware render, to get the game to work.

Since you have a similiar Graphics card, if you haven't set it this way give it a try.

I also noticed that your graphics card driver needs updated.  You can get it at the nvidia website.

Make sure your soundcard driver is up to date as well.

I have a 3.2GHz Intel CPU, ASUS P4P800E Mobo with hyperthreading, and was overclocking both Graphics card and CPU, and the game runs fine on my PC.

Interesting though, that it runs better (far less crash to desktop on zoom problem) when I disable Hyperthreading and set my CPU and GPU clock speeds back to standard freq.

[hymewales 13]

I'm running a nVidia 7900 with no issues. I suggest getting the driver updates as dudeson suggests. That computer should run SC4 very well with those specs. FYI...Being an older game is meaningless unless you're trying to run it on Windows XP 64.

[lestatdl1 0]

It was the video card driver. Updating it has taken care of my issues.

I should've known; thank you all very much for your help!