Hardware vs software rendering mode

[monkeywater 910]

I have been running my game with software rendering mode, but the non-HD terrain mod is starting to annoy me and I'd like to use a HD mod.

HD terrain mods+software rendering=CTD

Is there any way to escape software rendering mode?

[rivit 3,391]

If you have DirectX 7 or later installed and a Graphics Chip (it can also be the Intel ones past HD2000 (2012)) then in principle you can escape software mode. This assumes running in Windows. In general it will be faster than Software mode and free up cycles for the game engine itself.

 

[monkeywater 910]

According to my device manager I have an "Intel(R) HD Graphics Family"  The laptop was purchased in 2015.

 

Yes, I am running in windows. 

[rivit 3,391]

OK then you have a good chance it will run Hardware Mode.

In your program shortcut make sure you have things like the following   -CPUCount:1 -d:DirectX  -CustomResolution:enabled -f -rWidexHighx32 -intro:off.

 -CPUCount:1 means only use one core

-CustomResolution:enabled -f -rWidexHighx32 means use whatever resolution is full screen WidexHigh say 1366x720 or whatever it is on your laptop 

-into:off means skip the intro for a faster start 

Once it runs it will make a log in ProgramFiles(x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps  ending in config-log.txt which will tell you what it thought of it all. This will tell us what else needs to happen. The first time you try this use an empty plugins folder - this will be way quicker. You can move them back once you know it works.

There are others here who know what to do next.

In any case make sure you turn shadows to low at first in game preferences - they are the heaviest load in SC4 graphics