Region/map issues with a 65 inch tv?

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Hello guys, first off if this is in the wrong area I apologise.

I've downloaded SimCity 4 deluxe edition on steam successfully, it loads up fine and I can view the maps/tutorials/region area but when I try to start any of them it just freezes for 2-3 seconds, a black screen is displayed then I see the SimCity icon on my taskbar disappear. It shuts the game down basically, i'm using a windows 11 mini PC on a 4k 65 inch TV if this is worth mentioning. I have managed to get it working in "software mode" but software mode reduces the screen side to something so small it’s not playable.

I’ve tried other fixes such as trying to open it in windowed mode and changing the resolution of it then matching up my output to the same resolution but all these end up with the same result where the game freezes while trying to go into a scenario/tutorial. This seems to be a somewhat common issue but not in the exact way it’s happening with me, any ideas for this? I’ve been thinking of just playing SimCity 2013 instead but not sure if I’ll experience the same issues with that too?

thanks!

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DirectX 7, which is used by SC4 imposes a max resolution of 2048x2048px, therefore without some work-around no resolution beyond that is ever going to work without using the vastly inferior Software Renderer.

You need to configure a DX Wrapper, which can overcome the limitation mentioned, SC4 can handle a 4k resolution as you've seen using software rendering. But the game was designed in an area where a 1024x768 display was an expensive luxury few could afford, it also doesn't support UI scalling. Therefore I suspect your issue of not being able to see the UI (too small) is once more going to occur.

The only solution to that is using a lower resolution, but since LCDs don't tend to play nice with any resolution other than the native one, it will affect the image quality. Some high end TVs have better support for upscalling, converting a lower resolution to the native resolution of the display. Great for those of us with legacy video equipment, or also because 4k is by no means the broadcasting standard either. Sadly few sets do this or do it well, so it all depends on what your TV is capable of.