Zooming issues

[beebs 129]

So, since I've started playing again I've noticed that zooming out (usually to zoom 3 or 2) will nine times out of ten result in a crash. I've found that scrolling waaaay out into no-mans land, zooming out, then slowly scrolling back to the city will sometimes help, but it's not perfect. Does anyone have any idea what causes this? I don't remember it being this bad previously, and I hadn't added anything new during my hiatus.

Any help would be appreciated.

[SC4BOY 20]

If you've expanded your plugins/population to the point that you're stressing your system, this is pretty normal. The best option is just to use the number keys to do your zooms .. its quicker anyways, rarely causes crashes, but takes a bit of getting used to.

[beebs 129]

Nah, number keys don't improve things for me. As I said in my first post, I haven't added much since I started up again, and I don't remember it crashing this much before. My system isn't stressed, things runs quite smoothly in fact when the game is running, although admittedly I should find a way to clean my plugins folder up a bit. Is it possible that a building isn't agreeing with that zoom?

[CaptCity 4,670]

There's an older thread that had discussed the issue here... Several scenarios and possible solutions were presented. Maybe you can find something useful there...? I hope...

Oh, yes. It's been a while since I read through the thread, but I don't remember any specific download or plugin being mentioned as a cause... For what it's worth...

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

You may need more memory, because zooming in , it has to draw more stuff. When you game crashs, it creates a crash report in the Exception Reports folder in the SimCity 4 User folder that is usually in the My Documents folder. that should give you a little bit of insight into your problem.

Try setting your graphical settings to medium if you are running on high.

Also you may need to update your Video Card Drivers.

[HayleyRenaNemeth 465]

You should also get in the habit of saving very often.

Now I found this in one of the threads you provided a link to

Here's what finally has solved 99% of my crashing problem: Open the Task Manager/select the processes tab/right click on the SimCity entry/set the priority to High/right click again and select "affinity" and deselect one of the cores. This has really helped.

I am using Windows 7 and I have SimCity 4 running right now. I also have the Task Manager open as well. 

The Task Manager will not let me change the Thread Priority or Affinity. It says access denied.

I did some memory tests.

I loaded the game to the region screen, and the game is using 438000KB of Memory

I now have a really large city open and the simulation is running at 1x speed. It is currently using 632000KB of memory.

I am now running at 2x Speed and it is using 605000KB of memory.

I am still running at 2x Speed but I am now at the farest Zoom level. Using 585000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom level 4 running at 1x Speed. Using 710000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom level 4 running at 2x Speed. Using 674000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom level 4 running at 3x (Cheetah)  Speed. Using 667000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom level 4 running at 1x Speed in a different section of the city. Using 747000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom level 4 running at 2x Speed. Using 706000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom level 4 running at 3x Speed. Using 714000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom Level 5 running at 1x Speed. Using 748000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom Level 5 running at 2x Speed in a residental Area low density. Using 768000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom Level 5 running at 3x Speed in a forrested area. Using 757000KB of Memory.

I am now at Zoom Level 5 running at 3x Speed in a populated area with medium traffic. Using 765000KB of Memory.

I jumped from Z-lv5 to Z-Lv2 . Memory usage peak at around 980000KB and has settled at around 602000KB. At 3x Speed.

ZLv2 > ZLv6 Peaked at 692000KB and has settled at around 668000KB. At 3x Speed.

ZLv6 > ZLv1 Peak at 848000KB and has settled at around 568000KB At 3x Speed.

ZLv1 > ZLv3 Peaked at 610000KB and has settled at around 585000KB. At 3x Speed.

ZLv3 Sim Speed 0 (Paused) Peaked at 594000KB , Settled at 591000KB.

Exit to Region Sim Speed N/A Peaked at 756000KB , Settled at around 747000KB.

Loading a Small City Res Pop 500 Peaked at 505000KB Settled At 505000 KB.

ZLv6 Sim Speed 1x Using between 497000 KB and 500000KB of Memory.

ZLv6 > ZLv1 Sim Speed 1x Using Between 475000KB and 481000KB