New computer SC4 graphical problem

[Chesh 173]

Hi all, 

 

I have in my possession a brand new laptop, however I'm experiencing severe graphics problems with SC4.

Roads, bridges and other transportation networks, as well as the interface are all glitching, as far as I'm aware. The game in it's current state is unplayable, and with zero experience and knowledge in this department any assistance would be greatly appreciated. 

 

Zoom level 3:

 

Zoom level 2:

 

Interface:

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

For openers, turn the clouds off.  They take an inordinate amount of CPU, mostly because they are animated.

 

One assumes you have Windows 8.1 with Intel Graphics.  Do you have an extra Graphics Processor for games (GPU), if so, you need to set up a profile for each game you play directing it to use your secondary GPU.  Intel graphics processors have been reported to be a bust on Window 8/8.1.

 

Try running in software rendering mode.  Many people have had success with this, but it restricts the ability to use HD textures.

 

Another possibility is to use the command option -d:opengl to turn on the Open GL graphics suite.  To show you how to do this we need to know what your machine is exactly, what build of the game you have, and if it is a download, from whom?

 

Guessing you got this machine for Christmas, how very nice.  Now let's see what we can do to make it do what you want.

[Chesh 173]

Yes, Windows 8.1 Intel® Core i7-4510U CPU @ 2.00GHz 2.60GHz

64-bit, 4.00GB RAM and Intel® HD Graphics Card/NVIDIA GeForce 840M?

 

As for SC4, I have a hard copy of Deluxe installed that I bought online years ago (came from the UK), with the SKU2 update installed. Hopefully this helps you help me?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Yep.  This problem has been solved.  If you read through this list you should find it fairly easily.  However, I am going to assume you are somewhat computer aware in which case you should do what I do except that I use a script but you can use the command line in the target box of your shortcut that starts the game.

 

You see, in Windows, and most operating systems with a GUI, a program launch is still done from a (pseudo) script.  This script command in Windows is in the target box of the shortcut's properties.  Just right click on it and open the properties, find the target box and insert whatever options you need after the final quote of the complete pathname.  Remember each option starts with a space followed by a hyphen ( -).

 

Here is a complete list of all options for this game: link.

 

And here is my script for running this game in hardware mode with the actual command line in red:

 

#!/bin/bash
date
env WINEPREFIX="/home/john/.wine" \
wine "C:/Program Files (x86)/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps/SimCity 4.exe" \
 -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -d:directx \
 -CPUCount:1 -f &>~/sc4.log
date

 

and the same for Open GL

 

#!/bin/bash
date
env WINEPREFIX="/home/john/.wine" \
wine "C:/Program Files (x86)/Maxis/SimCity 4 Deluxe/Apps/SimCity 4.exe" \
 -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -d:opengl \
 -CPUCount:1 -f &>~/sc4.log
date

 

These scripts use my 1080p screen.  Yours may be different and can be adjusted with the -r option.

 

Because every combination of hardware and software is different in many ways, this is a problem that can only be solved hands on by the user, but we can certainly give you some guidance.

 

If your NVIDIA GPU allows you to make profiles for programs, make one for SimCity 4.exe with all the 3D controls turned off instead of all that messy script stuff.
 

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

For more info check the stickied guides at the top of this forum section.

[Chesh 173]

The problem persists. After changing the command line and loading the game (thanks, widescreen make a HUGE difference!), I'm getting the same glitch problems as before. 

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

The problem persists. After changing the command line and loading the game (thanks, widescreen make a HUGE difference!), I'm getting the same glitch problems as before. 

 

Nah, you gotta do the Graphics Cards fix too.  You've got an NVidia card.  Read the guide in my sig; if the steps don't work we can explore some other options.

[Prophet42 1,500]

What did you change in the command line?  Can you give us your command line so we can see if there are any errors any it.  I got a new laptop in November and had the same graphical issues when I loaded SC4 (running Windows 7).  Using the -d:OpenGL command switch fixed my issues and allows me to run SC4 in hardware render mode and use HD textures.  Below is my command line switches.  You may also try to change the compatibility mode along with the command line switches to see if that works.

 

 -CPUCount:1 -CustomResolution:enabled -r1600x900x32 -d:OpenGL

 

Edit: Saw Indiana Joe's post, I also changed the graphic files according to the fix, but this alone did not fix the issue.  I added the OpenGL in the command line after changing the SC4 graphic files.  So maybe you do need both.  Give it a try and let us know how it works out.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

What did you change in the command line?  Can you give us your command line so we can see if there are any errors any it.  I got a new laptop in November and had the same graphical issues when I loaded SC4 (running Windows 7).  Using the -d:OpenGL command switch fixed my issues and allows me to run SC4 in hardware render mode and use HD textures.  Below is my command line switches.  You may also try to change the compatibility mode along with the command line switches to see if that works.

 

 -CPUCount:1 -CustomResolution:enabled -r1600x900x32 -d:OpenGL

 

Edit: Saw Indiana Joe's post, I also changed the graphic files according to the fix, but this alone did not fix the issue.  I added the OpenGL in the command line after changing the SC4 graphic files.  So maybe you do need both.  Give it a try and let us know how it works out.

 

Well more specifically I was referring to the well-known problems surrounding NVIDIA's Optimus technology and Windows 8.1, which doesn't apply if you're running Windows 7.

[Chesh 173]

Here's the command line: ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1366x768x32 -d:opengl -CPUCount:1 -f"

 

And here's an update:

 

 

I'll admit I'm confused. This game is nothing but nightmares, it's a shame it's so dang good. Regarding the Graphics Cards fix, mine didn't match up with the tutorials, hence my confusion. The chip type is 'Intel® HD Graphics Family' and the adapter string is 'Intel® HD Graphics 4400'. In the tutorial, when editing the 'graphics rules' and 'video cards' SGR files in notepad the example had numbers (0x000, where mine just says 'Graphics Family' if you follow?

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Here's the command line: ""C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r1366x768x32 -d:opengl -CPUCount:1 -f"

 

And here's an update:

 

I'll admit I'm confused. This game is nothing but nightmares, it's a shame it's so dang good. Regarding the Graphics Cards fix, mine didn't match up with the tutorials, hence my confusion. The chip type is 'Intel® HD Graphics Family' and the adapter string is 'Intel® HD Graphics 4400'. In the tutorial, when editing the 'graphics rules' and 'video cards' SGR files in notepad the example had numbers (0x000, where mine just says 'Graphics Family' if you follow?

 

No, you want the game to run on your NVIDIA card.  NVIDIA graphics cards are for games.  You don't want it to run on the Intel card.  Put the NVIDIA info into the .sgr files.

[Chesh 173]

Where do I get that info? When I follow the guide in your sig Indiana, and go to screen resolution > advanced > adapters it says nothing about NVIDIA. So how do i get that info? The 'chip type' and 'adapter string' are both Intel graphics. 

[Eggman121 1,035]

You could always try a different graphics driver. Thats how I fixed my problem on my Windows 8 laptop. I just downgraded the driver and the glitching went away. You will have to switch off shadows though.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

To get the info for your NVIDIA card you'll probably have to find it in the registry.  To turn on the registry editor, open a console and type regedit.  Be careful to only look and not change anything.  Look in the hardware section.

 

If you are able to enable the card, then your C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\<system name>-config-log.txt file will contain the proper information.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

Easiest way to find the info us to actually use DXdiag. You need to use the "Run" function in Windows; you can hit the Windows logo key and the R key simultaneously. Then just type dxdiag and hit Run. A window will pop up with your system's detailed specs. You can find the GPU info over on the Display tab.

If that doesn't work just look for a third party program that shows your computer specs. Canyourunit.com will do it in-browser in fact.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I've lost track of Microsoft's diagnostic capability since I switched to Linux when Vista came out.  However, there should be a privileged command (Administrator mode) that will give you a raw list of your machine.  The Linux equivalent is lshw which actually requires root permissions to run.  Perhaps one of the current Windows guruzim can point you to this utility.  If it will help any here is a description of this command:

 

lshw is a small tool to extract detailed information on the hardware configuration of
       the machine. It can report exact memory configuration,  firmware  version,  mainboard
       configuration,  CPU  version  and speed, cache configuration, bus speed, etc. on DMI-
       capable x86 or IA-64 systems and on some PowerPC machines (PowerMac G4  is  known  to
       work).
 

You can sample the result of this on my machine here.  This really gives all the gory details of the hardware.

[Chesh 173]

Okay so referring to the graphics card fix Indiana Joe pointed out, here's the picture used in the tutorial;

 

 

And here's the information I'm working with;

 

 

I can't seem to follow the tutorial properly, so I can't make the fix

 

EDIT: I just found this bit of information, could it be helpful? 

[rsc204 21,805]

In Video Cards.sgr, find the section titled "vendor "NVidia" 0x10b4 0x12d2 0x10de"

 

Add the following line

 

"card 0x1341 "GeForce 840M"

 

And for Graphics

 

"stringMatch cardIdentity "NVidia*Geforce*840M"

[Chesh 173]

Thanks for all your help guys, I really appreciate it. The amount of knowledge and guidance provided by Simtropolis (you guys) is amazing. This is honestly one of the best places I've ever come across. I just wanted to personally acknowledge that, even if a little off topic. 

Back to subject though, I finally got those sgr's sorted out, but alas - no change. The game works fine on software rendering, which isn't ideal but is definitely better than no game at all. Also, I took the openGL command out. There was no change upon doing that either - just thought I'd mention it.

SO NOW I'm off to finally create that small beach town pictured in the first post. Hurrah!

 

[rsc204 21,805]

One thing worth mentioning (since the GeForce should work well with DirectX) it's not enough to tell the game about your video card, by default computers with Intel and Discrete GPU's will usually use the Intel card unless you tell it otherwise. Somewhere in the GeForce control panel you can set SC4 to work with the NVidia card and not the Intel card, I suspect right now it's running on the Intel one. If you find the file "MAIN-config-log" in the same folder where the .exe for SC4 resides "Program Files (x86)\Maxis\Sim City 4 Deluxe\Apps", open it with notepad and find the lines that read:

 

cardName = XXX
cardVersion = XXX
cardIdentity = XXX

 

If the card listed here is not your NVidia card, the system is running on the Intel integrated graphics and that is highly undesirable.

[Chesh 173]

highly undesirable seems to be the reoccurring theme here, i'm afraid 

[rsc204 21,805]

Well software rending (using your CPU to get round compatibility problems) is always a last resort, I suppose it's better than nothing, but it is worth checking the log file before giving up, it may indicate exactly where the problem is if you could post a copy of it's contents.

[Chesh 173]

Log generated on 1/4/2015, 18:23

 

Flags

-----

hardwareDriver = false

DXT = true

fullscreen = true

MMX = true

FPU = true

backingStore = true

forcedFSAA = false

 

Strings

-------

userName = pc1

appName = SimCity 4

version = 1.1.640.0

osVersion = Windows NT 6.2

computerName = JAI

CPU = GenuineIntel

sglDriverName = Software

sglDriverVersion = 1.0

driverName = igdumdim32.dll

driverVersion = 10.18.10.3496, GUID: D7B78E66-4956-11CF-8C73-8102A4C2CD35

cardName = Intel® HD Graphics Family

cardVersion = Vendor: 8086, Device: 0a16, Board: 2281103c, Chipset: 000b

cardIdentity = Intel® HD Graphics Family

soundDriverName = {0.0.0.00000000}.{4089d7c9-ac5e-410a-b7ea-b557b52ce702}

soundCardName = Speaker/HP (Realtek High Definition Audio)

buildType = Release

 

Numbers

-------

cpuSpeed = 2593

memory = 4028

freeMemory = 2552

screenWidth = 1366

screenHeight = 768

screenBPP = 32

videoMemory = 32

textureMemory = 32

textureStages = 1

bogoFPS = 0

bogoMPPS = 0

 

Rules

-----

applying Sound

applying high sound detail

applying City Detail and Day/Night Settings

applying low computer power>

applying high computer power

  option 9 = 3

  option 13 = 1

  option 15 = 3

applying Texture Quality and Building Variety Settings

applying low memory>

applying high memory

  option 3 = 3

  option 14 = 3

applying Variable Speed Automata

applying default

  option 10 = 1

applying Standard software

  option 0 = 1

  option 1 = 1

  option 2 = 1

  option 4 = 0

  option 5 = 0

  option 8 = 1

  option 7 = 0

  option 6 = 0

  option 11 = 0

  option 12 = 0

applying Standard software>

  option 0 = 2

applying Standard software>>

  option 4 = 1

 

Options

-------

Visual Effects       current:   2 recommended:   2

Cars/Sims            current:   1 recommended:   1

Shadows              current:   1 recommended:   1

Atmospheric effects  current:   1 recommended:   1

Water effects        current:   0 recommended:   0

Software/Hardware    current:   0 recommended:   0

Cursor               current:   0 recommended:   0

VariableSpeedAutomata current:   1 recommended:   1

Translucent UI       current:   1 recommended:   1

Graphic Detail       current:   3 recommended:   3

Building Load Speed  current:   3 recommended:   3

Texture Quality      current:   3 recommended:   3

 

Properties

-------

forcesoftwaredriver = false

renderdynamicview = true

renderstaticview = true

renderwatereffects = true

rendercloudsandfog = true

forcepointsampling = false

forcebilinear = false

forcenoalphablend = false

forcenoalphatest = false

rendershadows = true

renderdecals = true

usesecondstage = false

forcedebugtexture = false

renderparticleeffects = true

renderflorashadows = true

renderterrain = true

showupdateregions = false

usecursoreffects = true

drawlottextures = true

drawlotfoundations = true

drawlotwalls = true

forcetexturerepeat = false

usescreenshake = true

renderui = true

useupdaterectclipping = true

usevertexbuffers = true

showboundingboxes = false

useoverlayculling = true

rendersnapshot = false

noaddsigned = false

nopartialbackingstorecopies = false

usescreenflash = true

renderautomata = true

preferopaque = false

displayalertborders = true

drawlotopaquetextures = true

useviewcleanup = false

doautozoomandrotationchanges = true

 

viewoffsety = 0

viewoffsetx = 0

texturebits = 32

lodoffset = 0

shadowdebug = 0

maxparticlestarget = 10000

particlelodoffset = 0

effectprioritylevel = 5

backingstoremaxzoomall = 5

backingstoremaxzoombuildingsprops = 5

backingstoremaxzoomterrain = 5

backingstoremaxzoomflora = 5

shadowquality = 2

minvehiclezoom = 3

minpedzoom = 4

cursortype = 1

depthoffset = 2

debugtexture = 0

dirtyrectmergeframes = 1

sounddetail = 2

buildingvariety = 2

buildingloaderspeed = 1

modellodoffset = 0

stringtexturecachesize = 1024

 

particleeffectslod = 5

splattexturescale = 50

texbindmaxfree = 4

particledensity = 1

particledamping = 0

particlescale = 1

lightingupdatedelta = 0.0001

shadowmodelthreshold = 12

demolishmodelthreshold = 12

rendermodelthreshold = 6

rendermodelthresholdscroll = 40

particlesizethreshold = 300

maxvehiclepct = 1

maxpedpct = 1

opaqueuialphavalue = 0.55

[rsc204 21,805]

As I suspected, even though you've told SC4 about the NVidia card, it is running on the Intel one, and you won't likely get better than software rendering that way due to incompatibilities with Intel Drivers.

 

A lot of computers (mostly laptops, but desktops recently too) now come with two GPUs, the idea being you use the energy efficient Intel one unless the power of the NVidia card is required. SC4 doesn't actually use that much GPU resources so your computer thinks the Intel is enough, because it has no idea about your compatibility problems using it.

 

Instructions to force the Nvidia Card to run with SC4 can be found you need the section "Graphics" then "I have a Laptop with both Intel HD Graphics and a NVidia Card". If this is successful the following lines will no longer show the Intel GPU details, but the Nvidia ones.

 

cardName = Intel® HD Graphics Family
cardVersion = Vendor: 8086, Device: 0a16, Board: 2281103c, Chipset: 000b
cardIdentity = Intel® HD Graphics Family

 

Once the Nvidia card is running I'd be very suprised if Hardware Rendering with DirectX was not working well.

[Chesh 173]

I've done everything save the last step (run with graphics processor > high performance nvidia processor). This message appears "you don't have the privilege to select the graphics processor in this menu. select the preferred graphics processor for this program in the NVIDIA control panel". I have googled this but didn't find any answers.

[Indiana Joe 1,750]

I've done everything save the last step (run with graphics processor > high performance nvidia processor). This message appears "you don't have the privilege to select the graphics processor in this menu. select the preferred graphics processor for this program in the NVIDIA control panel". I have googled this but didn't find any answers.

 

Managed to find it again, thanks for typing out that error message.  Check out the last post on this page and follow the instructions.  I know this whole thing's been quite a process but this was the last step for me to get everything working.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Looks like you need to run from an account marked "Administrator" and then open the MyComputer panel, and look for the NVIDIA controls.  From there you need to set up a profile for "SimCity 4.exe" (quotes needed because of the space in the name) with all the 3D options set to off or disable.  If that machine came with a manual, what did it say about this dual graphics stuff?

 

EDIT: Seems Indiana Joe and I posted at the same time.

[Chesh 173]

Managed to find it again, thanks for typing out that error message.  Check out the last post on this page and follow the instructions.  I know this whole thing's been quite a process but this was the last step for me to get everything working.

 

 

 

there is no "local security policy" in my control panel > system and security > administrative tools   

[rsc204 21,805]

You need to open Control Pannel / User Accounts where you will be greated with the window on the left in the attached image.

 

If your account (in this example mine is MGB) does not have the word Administrator then click the first option circled in Red, you should then see the screen shown in picture 1 on the right. To add Admin access set it up as shown and click "Change Account Type".

 

Then click on the second option circled in Red to get the screen shown in picture 2 on the right. This time move the slider as shown and click OK to save.

 

You must reboot your system after these changes. Bear in mind that if you did not have Admin access or UAC disabled (what this does) then you may want to take a note of the settings before changing them, and then change them back once you've finished or your computer will be less secure.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Interesting, and quite different from Windows XP which is the last one I used.  I suppose they think this is easier ...