SC4 Nvidia problem

[jmaras 0]

I'll start from the beginning.

I bought a new laptop two months ago , is working well .

but when trying to run SC4 to remember old joys . I found a problem.

runs very slow

 

My laptop specs .

Asus N56VB

Intel i3- 3120m 2.5Gzh

Nvidia GeForce GT 740m

Intel HD Graphics 4000

4Gb MRAM

700 Gb HDD

S.O : Win 8 (not 8.1)

The laptop comes with two video cards, the game runs with the second video , not the first .

I've tried this :

 

 

and this:

 

http://pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SimCity_4

 

I changed the file Graphics Rules.sgr

With This line in: partialRule "Fast card" -any

stringMatch cardIdentity "NVIDIA*GeForce GT 740M*"

 

and the file Cards.sgr Video With This line in vendor: "NVidia" 0x10b4 0x12d2 0x10de

0x0FDF card " GeForce GT 740M "

 

but doesnt work , I cant run SC4 With the Nvidia video card

 

Evidence from a log

 

appName = SimCity 4

version = 1.1.641.0

OSVersion = Windows NT 5.1

= GenuineIntel CPU

sglDriverName = DirectX

sglDriverVersion = 2.0

DRIVERNAME = nvumdshim.dll

DriverVersion = 9.18.13.3165 , GUID: D7B78E66 -4226 -11CF- F373 - 7734A6C2CD35

cardName = Intel ( R) HD Graphics 4000

cardVersion = Vendor: 8086 , Device : 0166 , Board : 14771043 , Chipset : 0009

cardIdentity = Intel ( R) HD Graphics 4000

 

I 've tried many ways to make it run with nvidia video card , but nothing seems to work .

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks in adavanced

 

Regards

 

[CapTon 592]

Check out your graphics settings in your SC4 game and if those are or almost are maxed out, try turning them down a bit and see what happens.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

For sure turn off clouds and waves.  Very expensive on resources.  Set shadows to medium.

[jmaras 0]

I've set everything to minimum, runs a little better, but no diference after all, still running with intel card

i  launched the game with the SC4 Launcher [R8], and i can set open GL, but the textures shows in black and withe

i cant still run the game with the nvidia card, looks be impossible run with it.

 

thanks for reply

 

regards

[pjk64 6]

Have you tried using the Nvidia control panel? Under 3D Settings -> Manage 3D settings, then under the "Global Settings" tab, you can choose which adapter to prefer (as opposed to the default "Auto Select"). Also, under the "Program Settings" tab on the same page, you can choose an application (like SimCity 4) and the adapter to prefer (like your NVidia card). If you don't have the NVidia control panel, you can download it here. Also, make sure you have the latest drivers. Note: This only works if your system recognizes both of your adapters. If only one is recognized, read on...

 

You may also be able to disable the onboard Intel HD 4000 adapter from BIOS and/or enable the Nvidia adapter. Are you familiar with accessing your system BIOS? Just be careful as on some machines, if you do this, you can lose your video entirely and end up with a blank screen - which can make it difficult to restore factory defaults.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

As far as I am aware, the OpenGL option was never completed.  All I ever get from that is general garbage.

[jmaras 0]

I have a conflict between two video cards.

First i have excuted the program TechPowerGPU the results

for the Nvidia card drops this device id: 10DE - 0FDF

fot the Intel video card drops this device id: 8086-0166

 

But when i executed dxdiag and save the log, only detects the intel video card, its normal ??

and in the log appears this.

 

Cardname:Intel®HDGraphics4000

Manufacturer:IntelCorporation

Chiptype:Intel®HDGraphicsFamily

DACtype:Internal

DeviceType:FullDevice

DeviceKey:Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_0166&SUBSYS_14771043&REV_09

DisplayMemory:1664MB

DedicatedMemory:32MB

SharedMemory:1632MB

CurrentMode:1366x768(32bit)(60Hz)

MonitorName:GenericPnPMonitor

MonitorModel:unknown

MonitorId:AUO24EC

NativeMode:1366x768(p)(60.031Hz)

OutputType:Internal

DriverName:igdumd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igd10umd64.dll,igdumd32,igd10umd32,igd10umd32

DriverFileVersion:9.17.0010.2884(English)

DriverVersion:9.17.10.2884

DDIVersion:11

FeatureLevels:11.0,10.1,10.0,9.3,9.2,9.1

DriverModel:WDDM1.2

GraphicsPreemption:DMA

ComputePreemption:Threadgroup

DriverAttributes:FinalRetail

DriverDate/Size:11/21/201205:58:36,12615168bytes

WHQLLogo'd:n/a

WHQLDateStamp:n/a

DeviceIdentifier:{D7B78E66-4226-11CF-AE7F-7A34B4C2C435}

VendorID:0x10DE   ''Same Vendor ID of NVidia

DeviceID:0x0FDF    "Same  Device ID for nvidia

 

 

Thats weird, the intel video card have the same vendor id and device id than NVidia video card in the TechPoweGPU application,or i miss something

[jmaras 0]

Have you tried using the Nvidia control panel? Under 3D Settings -> Manage 3D settings, then under the "Global Settings" tab, you can choose which adapter to prefer (as opposed to the default "Auto Select"). Also, under the "Program Settings" tab on the same page, you can choose an application (like SimCity 4) and the adapter to prefer (like your NVidia card). If you don't have the NVidia control panel, you can download it here. Also, make sure you have the latest drivers. Note: This only works if your system recognizes both of your adapters. If only one is recognized, read on...

 

You may also be able to disable the onboard Intel HD 4000 adapter from BIOS and/or enable the Nvidia adapter. Are you familiar with accessing your system BIOS? Just be careful as on some machines, if you do this, you can lose your video entirely and end up with a blank screen - which can make it difficult to restore factory defaults.

 

Yeahh its the first thing i have tried, its the normal flow for execute a game with a specific video card, i have the Nvidia panel control, and i specified to execute sim city 4 with the NVidia video card, but the directive is ignored by the game o maybe by the OS ( Win 8 not 8.1)

I have knowledge of the BIOS but is risked  modify the BIOS

[pjk64 6]

Have you tried setting the PhysX configuration to your nVidia as opposed to default (Its below the 3D settings)?

 

You also might need to update the Optimus drivers (if you have that technology, which I think you do). I've read that the default ASUS driver isn't good enough to operate the switching technology that allows you to specify high performance (meaning the Nvidia card) for you applications.

 

You can also disable Optimus by reinstalling Windows.

 

The more I read up on this issue, the more I am glad I didn't by an integrated dual GPU adapter laptop from ASUS with Optimus technology. Apparently the AMD switching software works much better than the Nvidia.

 

Check this out from ASUS's own help forum.

[jmaras 0]

Have you tried setting the PhysX configuration to your nVidia as opposed to default (Its below the 3D settings)?

 

You also might need to update the Optimus drivers (if you have that technology, which I think you do). I've read that the default ASUS driver isn't good enough to operate the switching technology that allows you to specify high performance (meaning the Nvidia card) for you applications.

 

You can also disable Optimus by reinstalling Windows.

 

The more I read up on this issue, the more I am glad I didn't by an integrated dual GPU adapter laptop from ASUS with Optimus technology. Apparently the AMD switching software works much better than the Nvidia.

 

Check this out from ASUS's own help forum.

Thanks for the data, i will try it

[jmaras 0]

 

Have you tried setting the PhysX configuration to your nVidia as opposed to default (Its below the 3D settings)?

 

You also might need to update the Optimus drivers (if you have that technology, which I think you do). I've read that the default ASUS driver isn't good enough to operate the switching technology that allows you to specify high performance (meaning the Nvidia card) for you applications.

 

You can also disable Optimus by reinstalling Windows.

 

The more I read up on this issue, the more I am glad I didn't by an integrated dual GPU adapter laptop from ASUS with Optimus technology. Apparently the AMD switching software works much better than the Nvidia.

 

Check this out from ASUS's own help forum.

Thanks for the data, i will try it

 

 

 

The problem is the optimus technology, the optimus technology operates always with the iGPU of the processor  and  nvidia card as support, i mean its impossible to get output video bypassing the igpu of the processor. you can select with which GPU run a game, but this is partially true, because the output always is through the igpu and not the NVidia gpu, the gpu operates only with you specify the program to run it or when the iGPU processor is overflowed, but not always works, more with the old games like sc4, really i feel  stolen by asus and nvidia, i didn't buy this laptop with gaming purposes ( i am a java software developer in Argentina), but the pontential of the laptop is limited

The optimus software its impossible to disable. you can choice not installing, but is at hardware level, because the nvidia card has no video output. optimus technolgy only writes in the same outputbuffer of the igpu of the processor (intel hd graphics 4000). really disapointing, you cannot force the video output through the nvidia card

 

If i wrong, please correct me

 

thanks for the help

 

regards

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

You are probably correct.  Dual video systems really depend on being able to select the correct one for use and not on some arcane switching technology that always prefers the chipset to the video card.

 

If I were the OP, I would research the possibility of switching off the igpu permanently.  This is some kind of engineering goof that should never have passed quality assurance.

[pjk64 6]

jmaras - Yes, that is pretty much how I interpret the Optimums technology as well. A good idea, very poorly executed.

[SpookyZalost 39]

now I know you said you didn't want to go modifiying the bios, but I know that on several desktops I've owned over the years, sometimes the video wouldn't show and I would have to tell it to use the add in video card by default, perhaps something similar can be done?

just an idea, I don't have as much expertice with these new cpu's with inbuilt gpu's, but generally that's how I usually got around having multiple video cards in a system, default = the best one with the other as a secondary should It be needed.

there should be an option in the bios to select default video output, or something along those lines.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

It is what I would try.  Newer machines may have UEFI or EFI instead of BIOS.  There is a good article on wiki.

[jmaras 0]

Yes, my laptop have EFI Bios, i enter to the bios, but not there option to select which video card will provide video output.
I upload few screen shoots
Maybe i missing something or i have entered to the incorrect menu
 

 

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Have a look at the next item in the first screen.  I think this is probably the EFI blocker against multiple boots and who knows what else they have in there.  Since my machine is BIOS based, I don't have a clue how to approach this except for the wiki reference I gave you.

[pjk64 6]

From what I've read, there is no BIOS solution to the Optimus problem with ASUS MBs. The integrated Intel GPU manages the frame-rendering and output to the display, disabling it gives you a blank screen.  As I understand it, the Optimus GPUs aren't complete graphics cards at all, but only partials, acting more like piggyback cards than full blown 3DFX cards.

 

I think the only viable solutions are these:

 

1) Run back to your dealer ASAP and return your ASUS in favor of a laptop w/o Optimus

2) Wait patiently until either ASUS, Nvidia, application developers or all three figure out how to properly code for the Optimus technology.

 

The solutions that are floating around out there seem to only work for those few laptops that have full-blown secondary cards. On those laptops, you can actually disable Optimus from BIOS/UEFI. If you don't have that option (and ASUS MBs don't), you have a partial fx card that can't stand alone.

 

 

Hopefully, I am wrong.

[jmaras 0]

Ok i have news, bad and good news.

 

First i resolved how to run the game more faster, thats is the good new, and seems the optimus technology is working properly

the bad notice its i can't run the game in full screen mode with the same performance as windowed mode with the same resolution

my max resolution is 1366 x 768

 

I have made several test with this results

 

The first test i have made, is test the game with d3D render, resolution 1366 x 768 and in windowed mode, and fundamental, select the option in the contextual menu "run with high performance gpu" and configuring the game in the nvidia control panel for run with nvidia gpu. The game runs very playable with an acceptable performance, no issues that justify the game unplayable. good one.

Note: The acitvity indicator in the task bar shows that the nvidia gpu is running a game (optimus seems to be working after all)

 

Second test was test the game with the same video configuration as the first test but the diference running the game with the iGPU (intel hd 4000), the game is unplayable, freezes for seconds the screen when i tried to move the camera or when want to displace in the city. the nvidia monitor doesnt show activity of the game

 

Third test as the first test, only difference was in fullscreen mode, the game runs very slow when tried to displace in the city camera, nvidia's monitor shows activity

 

Fourth test, run the game as third test only diference run with iGPU, the game was terribly unplayable, worse than second test. nvidia's monitor doesnt show activity

 

the worst scenario was run the game in software mode independently of the gpu selected and mode (windowed or fullscreen).

 

with this data the objetive is run the game as the first test but in a full screen mode. The options with that i execute the game are:

 

 -CPUCount:1 -d:DirectX -w -r1366x768x32

 

there is any option to do that?? or i have reached the best performance?? 

 

though is a good partial solution run the game in a windowed mode, only disturbs me the displacing mode,  with the keyboard arrows or holding the left button, i prefer the automatic mode when you touch the screen boundaries

 

thanks for the help in these days.

 

regards!

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Try adding the option -CustomResolution:enabled before the -r option.

[jmaras 0]

I tried before the option -CustomResolution:enabled but no makes diference in the perfomance, i deleted to try if is that the reason affecting the performance in fullscreen mode

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

The -CustomResolution:enabled option provides the override for any screen size that is not given in the graphics options for the game.  It simply sets a switch to ignore the build-in 4:3 choices.  I think I'd leave it in if your screen is anything other than 4:3.  Mine is 16:9.

 

You've done some generally comprehensive testing and seem to have found a satisfactory solution.  With my machine, I find that software rendering works best, but this excludes me from using HD BATs.  With hardware rendering, the driver for my chipset is the X-org default and while it works, it is not as nice as software rendering.  I test with each upgrade to the system, and it is getting better.  Since this is the only drag I have with the general use of this box, I am not going to change it just for that.

[unbirth 0]

Hello there guys. I read the topic and I searched the forum but I can't see the solution how to run SC4 on NVIDIA GeForce 740M - which I obviously own. Sorry for necroposting but this question is rather critical to me. My laptop model is ASUS K56CB. I tried following the guide (editing .sgr files) and creating a new profile in NVIDIA tool with 3D disabled - nothing, it still runs on internal graphic card. Please, help me. Thanks!

- Nick

[rsc204 21,867]

Try the instructions here:

SC4 is an older application and there is nowhere within it to define which graphics card to use. As such, you need to force the computer to use it by default when starting SC4. I've heard of some cases where this was not possible, because the Windows SKU in use didn't provide the user with rights to alter the necessary settings though. Therefore if you are not able to resolve the issue still, please tell us which version of Windows you are using as this may be a factor. 

[Prophet42 1,503]

Try going to the Windows Control Panel and see if there is a NVIDIA utility.  If there is, open it and you should be able to set SC4 to use the NVIDIA card.  If you don't have it, you can download it from the NVIDIA website.  Sorry I don't have any screen shots, I'm on my computer that doesn't have a NVIDIA card.