SC4 can't run with AMD card

[Burnout2552 21]

I owned the Steam version of SC4 and installed it on both my PC(powered by NVIDIA,Windows 7) and laptop(Windows 8.1). The one on my PC works smoothly but the one in laptop? Not so much. Like most today's laptop, mine have an Intel and AMD R5 M230 graphics card in it. I tried editing Video Card.sgr and Graphic Rules.sgr as well as setting the game to use the AMD card via Catalyst, but I still got choppy graphics. Anyone got solution for this strange problem?

 

In case you're asking for my graphic rules.sgr and video card.sgr, it's here:

 

Grahic Rules.sgr

stringMatch cardIdentity "AMD*R5 M200 Series*"

Video Cards.sgr

card 0x666F "Radeon R5 M230"

[Ernestmaxis 209]

I'm not home so I keep it small

Sometimes there is needed to change more in the sgr. files.
First I think you need this sign * 
Tthen the blanco spot between every word
 

Grahic Rules.sgr

stringMatch cardIdentity "AMD*R5*M200*Series*"

Also, I managed to enable the effects while scrolling.

1) Open up "Graphics Rules.sgr" file
2) Search for string "Radeon"
3) You should get something like the below
# special scrolling mode for Radeons.
property noPartialBackingStoreCopies true
4) Change true to false.

Hope it helps

[NCGAIO 562]

To be sure about which graphic adapter is being used by the game do a search for "config-log.txt" file in the game's installation directory.

 

Open the file and the adapter used is indicated in

 

CardName =

cardioVersion =

card Identity =

 

Make sure the game is actually using the Radeon

[Burnout2552 21]

 

To be sure about which graphic adapter is being used by the game do a search for "config-log.txt" file in the game's installation directory.

 

Open the file and the adapter used is indicated in

 

CardName =

cardioVersion =

card Identity =

 

Make sure the game is actually using the Radeon

 

Where do I find that file? I'm using the Steam version you know.

[NCGAIO 562]

This obviously depends on how you installed but can be something like C: \ Program Files (x86) \ Steam \ SteamApps \ common \ SimCity 4 Deluxe

Not to dwell too much the post use the link bellow to view your programs files in 8.1 to find the directory or search the entire folder.

 

 

How can I quickly open, find, the Program Files folder in Windows 8

[Burnout2552 21]

Hmm...from sc4devotion wiki the file you mentioned only created if you add command line  -WriteLog:on to the game .exe. I try this later because it's late here.

[NCGAIO 562]

Just for information ... default is to create the file.

 

The command line exists to force the creation of the log.

 

You searched for the file?

 

Anyway it's good to know that you already know how to solve their problems.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

The file is in the Program Files/.../Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps directory.  It is named <machine name>-config-log.txt and opens quite happily in gedit (or notepad).  I am using a 32-bit prefix for this, but in the 64-bit version the only difference is Program Files (x86)/ ...

[NCGAIO 562]

The file is in the Program Files/.../Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps directory.  It is named ....

Well ... looks like escape something in their reading of the post

 

Where do I find that file? I'm using the Steam version you know.

but it is always good to have your help.

[Burnout2552 21]

Okay I found that file and I have a look at it.

cardName = Intel(R) HD Graphics Family
cardVersion = Vendor: 8086, Device: 0a16, Board: 380c17aa, Chipset: 0009
cardIdentity = Intel(R) HD Graphics Family

Seems like the game is using Intel instead of AMD. As I mentioned in the first post I have set the game to use AMD card via Catalyst.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If the game persists in using the Intel chip, check for other settings to control your graphics set up.  (Gasp!) You might even try the help files.

[Burnout2552 21]

I actually tried looking for solution online but most cases are for those using nvidia cards rather than amd

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I have an AMD RS780 chip set and it runs just fine in hardware rendering mode.  Maybe you need the right operating system.

[NCGAIO 562]

Which design of the laptop?

[Compdude787 916]

Which design of the laptop?

Huh? I can't understand what you're asking here. :???

[NCGAIO 562]

Sorry

Haste is the enemy of perfection

 

specifications of the laptop?

[Prophet42 1,500]

If you can't get the game to use the AMD card and it persists in using the integrated Intel card, try adding the arguement -d:OpenGL to your SC4 shortcut target line.  This will allow the game to run in Hardware render mode without any graphics issues.  It seemed to work for me.  My new laptop only has the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 card and I had severe graphics glitches when trying to run in Hardware mode until I added the OpenGL command.

[Burnout2552 21]

 

Sorry

Haste is the enemy of perfection

 

specifications of the laptop?

 

Lenovo G40

Windows 8.1

AMD R5 M230 2GB

4GB RAM

Intel i5-4200U @ 1.60 GHz

If you can't get the game to use the AMD card and it persists in using the integrated Intel card, try adding the arguement -d:OpenGL to your SC4 shortcut target line.  This will allow the game to run in Hardware render mode without any graphics issues.  It seemed to work for me.  My new laptop only has the integrated Intel HD Graphics 4400 card and I had severe graphics glitches when trying to run in Hardware mode until I added the OpenGL command.

Trying it out

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

It can be super finicky

 

It took me a few weeks of fiddling to get SC4 to use my laptop's NVidia card, and as you said there is much more documentation on that.  Keep trying.  Sometimes the card requires a weird entry in the Graphics Rules or Video Cards sgr files.  Try all the possible combinations of names you can think of (see the original thread about this for ideas).

 

It can also be hard to get the discrete card to override the Intel.  Try exploring things like disabling the Intel card; or other things that will force the game to run on the AMD.

[Burnout2552 21]

I have an AMD RS780 chip set and it runs just fine in hardware rendering mode.  Maybe you need the right operating system.

Just to clarify, do you write AMD or ATI in your graphic rules.sgr?

[Compdude787 916]

I have an AMD RS780 chip set and it runs just fine in hardware rendering mode.  Maybe you need the right operating system.

Just to clarify, do you write AMD or ATI in your graphic rules.sgr?

I think you should write ATI in the graphicsrules.sgr file because AMD hadn't bought out ATI in 2003. That's a recent thing that's happened.

[Burnout2552 21]

IDK, I tried every way and the game still refuse to use AMD. It's like the game saying that the Intel is good enough and refuses anything else.Kinda strange that I also played Euro Truck Simulator 2 and Company of Heroes on the same laptop.Both games ended up with Intel card first,but eventually learns which card to pick.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

 

I have an AMD RS780 chip set and it runs just fine in hardware rendering mode.  Maybe you need the right operating system.

Just to clarify, do you write AMD or ATI in your graphic rules.sgr?

 

Neither.  I don't need to monkey with those files.  It just works.

[NCGAIO 562]

Bios  ( Fn+F2 )

 

Graphics device is integrated or discret ?

[Burnout2552 21]

Bios  ( Fn+F2 )

 

Graphics device is integrated or discret ?

Intel is intergrated, the AMD one is the discrete graphic

[NCGAIO 562]

Nope! 
 
Access the BIOS and return the option that is in use for "Graphics Device"
 

[Burnout2552 21]

Nope! 

 

Access the BIOS and return the option that is in use for "Graphics Device"

 

I checked it. It says discrete.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

On your discrete card's control panel make sure that all 3D options are set to 'application selected' or equivalent wording.