Getting SimCity 4 to work with NVIDIA Optimus

[michaelkourlas 0]

Has anyone had any luck in getting SimCity 4 to use the discrete NVIDIA graphics card (as opposed to the integrated Intel card) on laptops with NVIDIA Optimus? Even though I've gone into the NVIDIA Control Panel and manually configured SimCity 4 to use NVIDIA graphics, the game still insists on using the Intel card, and performance suffers a great deal as a result.

 

(For those of you who don't know, NVIDIA Optimus is a battery optimization technology that automatically switches the graphics card in use depending on what you're doing; that way you can preserve battery life by using the low-performance card when you're not doing something graphics intensive, like playing a game.)

 

EDIT: Using the option "-d:OpenGL" seems to force it to use the NVIDIA GPU; my GPU light changes and the NVIDIA card is listed in the config log. Unfortunately, it's not really playable because the graphics aren't being rendered properly.

[Indiana Joe 1,752]

Super common problem, you're about the third asker today. Once again I'm gonna direct you to the guide in my signature; if the tips don't work then we'll go from there.

[michaelkourlas 0]

Super common problem, you're about the third asker today. Once again I'm gonna direct you to the guide in my signature; if the tips don't work then we'll go from there.

 

I've tried following the steps in your guide (i.e. configuring the NVIDIA Control Panel, right-clicking and manually selecting "run with graphics card") but they don't seem to be working.

[Indiana Joe 1,752]

 

Super common problem, you're about the third asker today. Once again I'm gonna direct you to the guide in my signature; if the tips don't work then we'll go from there.

 

I've tried following the steps in your guide (i.e. configuring the NVIDIA Control Panel, right-clicking and manually selecting "run with graphics card") but they don't seem to be working.

 

 

So after you click "Run with high-performance NVIDIA processor," the game starts normally, and proceeds to use the Intel GPU?

 

Have you added the card info to the graphicsrules.sgr file?

[michaelkourlas 0]

So after you click "Run with high-performance NVIDIA processor," the game starts normally, and proceeds to use the Intel GPU?

 

Have you added the card info to the graphicsrules.sgr file?

 

 

Exactly. This is the case regardless of whether the game is set to use the software or DirectX renderer. SC4 generates a config log every time it opens, and each time it says it's using the Intel card. I also have a light on my computer that indicates when the NVIDIA card is in use; it's off when I open SC4.

 

I should note that it is possible to force SC4 to use the NVIDIA card, but only with the option "-d:OpenGL", which doesn't work all that well.

 

Yes, I've added the card info to the graphicsrules.sgr file.

[Indiana Joe 1,752]

 

So after you click "Run with high-performance NVIDIA processor," the game starts normally, and proceeds to use the Intel GPU?

 

Have you added the card info to the graphicsrules.sgr file?

 

 

Exactly. This is the case regardless of whether the game is set to use the software or DirectX renderer. SC4 generates a config log every time it opens, and each time it says it's using the Intel card. I also have a light on my computer that indicates when the NVIDIA card is in use; it's off when I open SC4.

 

I should note that it is possible to force SC4 to use the NVIDIA card, but only with the option "-d:OpenGL", which doesn't work all that well.

 

Yes, I've added the card info to the graphicsrules.sgr file.

 

 

Very weird.  Theoretically, the game shouldn't be able to use the Intel card if you click that button.  It should just not start up at all if anything.  If you have a desktop, you could disable the Intel card and plug your monitor right into the NVIDIA.  I'm sure you would have done this already though, and you probably have a laptop, with the display plugged into the Intel card.

 

It will be some work, but try uninstalling every video driver you have.  Then install the latest ones manufacturer-direct (DON'T go to the Device Manager and automatically download, go to Nvidia.com and Intel.com).

 

Although I'm more suspicious that you've done the sgr file steps incorrectly.  Go back through that guide too.

 

If you do all that, and maybe re-install the game too, and it still doesn't work, I'll write you a check because you've stumped me.

[rededarsho 4]

hey guys it seems i found a solution to get NVIDIA mobile chip work on SC4. i repeat its mobile 970m. it was simple. i went to wine3d3 site. downloaded their wrapper, copied DX7 files in my app folder and booommmm! im sure my laptope uses nvidia form 1.performance 2.dedicated nvidia led and 3. visuals. after many years of agony, im now enjoying SC4. and i cannot believe it.

[Raymond7cn 6,776]

On 2018/9/4 at 3:23 AM, rededarsho said:

hey guys it seems i found a solution to get NVIDIA mobile chip work on SC4. i repeat its mobile 970m. it was simple. i went to wine3d3 site. downloaded their wrapper, copied DX7 files in my app folder and booommmm! im sure my laptope uses nvidia form 1.performance 2.dedicated nvidia led and 3. visuals. after many years of agony, im now enjoying SC4. and i cannot believe it.

Hi rededarsho ,  could you please describe you solution more details, i have the same problem as yours, Thank you very much.

[ohdude 2,353]

On 9/10/2019 at 11:12 AM, Raymond7cn said:

Hi rededarsho ,  could you please describe you solution more details, i have the same problem as yours, Thank you very much.

I'm testing what rededarsho recommended. I have an intel core i7 1.8 Ghz base frequency, turboboost 4.8 ghz and and nvidia gtx 1650 Q max (both are rencent "mobile technologies"). And, yes i can say that rededarsho is not wrong. At the beginning it didn't work well but the thing we should do to allow the draw work properly is disable the "-CPU count:1". I mean, don't put or just delete from your command line and then open Simcity4.

I've downloaded the latest version (current version vulkan) and installed the files in the Apps folder following the readme instructions for direxct 7.

This is the website https://fdossena.com/?p=wined3d/index.frag.

In my case it works really fine and it is recognizing my dedicated graphics card but i don't know why SimCity 4 is still using quite a lot resources from my mobile cpu.

 

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY WHO WANTS TO KEEP ENJOY SIMCITY4  WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLIGIES!!!! 

 

Thanks @rededarsho and @Raymond7cn 

[ohdude 2,353]

Ok, initially with 1.8 GB of plugins folder, loading a big city of 50.000 thousand people living and working in high quality render BATS an terrain the game becomes quite slow. With High Quality renders i want to mean the ones created by Mattb325, Girafe trees, Lowkee33 Terrain mods.... This kind of HQ great works which make SimCity 4 more realistic. Maybe the 2 Gb plugins folder (including NAM 39) can explain it.

On the other hand changing from one city to another takes just a little. I'm surprised the fast load it takes. ( in my case)

[CorinaMarie 29,895]

8 hours ago, ohdude said:

At the beginning it didn't work well but the thing we should do to allow the draw work properly is disable the "-CPU count:1". I mean, don't put or just delete from your command line and then open Simcity4.

Disabling the -CPUCount:1 for SimCity 4 is highly not recommended. Yes, the game can run for a while without it, but sooner or later the OS is going to try to multi-thread something the game is doing and the game is going to CTD.

[rsc204 21,866]

18 hours ago, ohdude said:

At the beginning it didn't work well but the thing we should do to allow the draw work properly is disable the "-CPU count:1". I mean, don't put or just delete from your command line and then open Simcity4.

That’s a really bad idea and is in no way connected to your graphics problem. SC4 is NOT coded to work with multi-core CPUs, failing to add that command will lead to much instability.

18 hours ago, ohdude said:

but i don't know why SimCity 4 is still using quite a lot resources from my mobile cpu.

Because, the game being from 2003 has no bearing on the number of calculations your CPU needs to make to run it. Complete use of one core or thread of your CPU is totally normal, regardless of the processor used.

18 hours ago, ohdude said:

the game becomes quite slow.

Yes, that’s completely normal behaviour too. The larger your population, the more time it takes to handle all the calculations of the various simulators. Likewise, the more objects your city has to display, the longer it takes to refresh objects on-screen. SC4 is not a modern game and can not take anything like full advantage of modern systems capabilities as a result. 

[ohdude 2,353]

24 minutes ago, rsc204 said:

That’s a really bad idea and is in no way connected to your graphics problem. SC4 is NOT coded to work with multi-core CPUs, failing to add that command will lead to much instability.

Because, the game being from 2003 has no bearing on the number of calculations your CPU needs to make to run it. Complete use of one core or thread of your CPU is totally normal, regardless of the processor used.

Yes, that’s completely normal behaviour too. The larger your population, the more time it takes to handle all the calculations of the various simulators. Likewise, the more objects your city has to display, the longer it takes to refresh objects on-screen. SC4 is not a modern game and can not take anything like full advantage of modern systems capabilities as a result. 

@CorinaMarie @rsc204 Thanks for your clarifications! For a moment i thought that the draw file offered by Federico Dossena could have been a possible solution with the pass of the time because is still in development and who knows... one day SimCity 4 could work fluently and smooth with a big plugins folder and new graphics cards... maybe it is a dream to feed any april's fools day mod lol!

[Propfam 2,307]

48 minutes ago, ohdude said:

@CorinaMarie @rsc204 Thanks for your clarifications! For a moment i thought that the draw file offered by Federico Dossena could have been a possible solution with the pass of the time because is still in development and who knows... one day SimCity 4 could work fluently and smooth with a big plugins folder and new graphics cards... maybe it is a dream to feed any april's fools day mod lol!

That solution won't come anytime soon. There were some DLL modders but they're in hiatus right now. The only solution is to use SSD instead of mechanical drive and/or turn the shadow off.

[ohdude 2,353]

Ok, i was comparing the available draw.dll's that are mentioned in other posts and considering loading times and game fluency i can say that ,in my opinion, the best way to play SimCity 4 in Laptops is with the DDrawCompat. No dedicated graphics card detected, sharper and less smooth lines but is the fastest.