SimCity 4 Crash Help (After installing recommended mods)

[TOP CAT 0]

I downloaded and installed all the recommended mods, and set them up, found here: 

The game started to crash all the time, I found a youtube video detailing a step-by-step for installing: 

While I had missed setting up the Voodoo GPU selection step, I did reticfy this, however the game still crashes all the time. 

It's a shame because I can tell the game runs SO MUCH smoother, but it pretty much seems as soon as I interact, it crashes.

Unless I can find a fix, my only options is to maintain a clean install and deal with the choppy/stuttering game play.

Sad as I was really hoping to relive this game but it's turned into a bit of a nightmare with more time trying to fix the game, than actually play it.

I have some reports if anyone could please help?

 

SimCity Exception Minidump 2025.06.22 10.20.05.mdmpSimCity Exception Report 2025.06.22 10.17.29.txtSimCity Exception Report 2025.06.22 10.20.05.txt

[Ulisse Wolf 4,412]

2 hours ago, TOP CAT said:

I downloaded and installed all the recommended mods, and set them up, found here: 

The game started to crash all the time, I found a youtube video detailing a step-by-step for installing: 

While I had missed setting up the Voodoo GPU selection step, I did reticfy this, however the game still crashes all the time. 

It's a shame because I can tell the game runs SO MUCH smoother, but it pretty much seems as soon as I interact, it crashes.

Unless I can find a fix, my only options is to maintain a clean install and deal with the choppy/stuttering game play.

Sad as I was really hoping to relive this game but it's turned into a bit of a nightmare with more time trying to fix the game, than actually play it.

I have some reports if anyone could please help?

 

SimCity Exception Minidump 2025.06.22 10.20.05.mdmpSimCity Exception Report 2025.06.22 10.17.29.txtSimCity Exception Report 2025.06.22 10.20.05.txt

What GPU do you have?

[TOP CAT 0]

1 hour ago, Ulisse Wolf said:

What GPU do you have?

Nvidia GTX 3070 Ti - Mobile (Set to dGPU)

Windows 11 64 bit

AMD Ryzen 7 6800H with Radeon Graphics

16GB RAM

[Ulisse Wolf 4,412]

Just now, TOP CAT said:

Nvidia GTX 3070 Ti - Mobile (Set to dGPU)

Windows 11 64 bit

AMD Ryzen 7 6800H with Radeon Graphics

16GB RAM

First you have to configure dgvoodoo and sc4 in forcing to use dedicated GPU using nvidia control panel. In the video tutorial there is the step

If the problem continues then you need to read the dgvoodoo manual Nvidia GPU section and perform the power energy setting

[TOP CAT 0]

6 minutes ago, Ulisse Wolf said:

First you have to configure dgvoodoo and sc4 in forcing to use dedicated GPU using nvidia control panel. In the video tutorial there is the step

If the problem continues then you need to read the dgvoodoo manual Nvidia GPU section and perform the power energy setting

Are the steps you've mentioned as below, as this is what I've already done:

42:56 - Set Voodoo.exe to high-performance NVIDIA processor in Nvidia Control Panel
43:22 - Set SimCity4.exe to high-performance NVIDIA processor in Nvidia Control Panel
45:19 - Set Voodoo Adapter to use: Nvidia GT 3070 Ti

[Ulisse Wolf 4,412]

2 minutes ago, TOP CAT said:

Are the steps you've mentioned as below, as this is what I've already done:

42:56 - Set Voodoo.exe to high-performance NVIDIA processor in Nvidia Control Panel
43:22 - Set SimCity4.exe to high-performance NVIDIA processor in Nvidia Control Panel
45:19 - Set Voodoo Adapter to use: Nvidia GT 3070 Ti

Also in the Nvidia control panel you have to set this parameter

In the Nvidia Control Panel, You need to change the power management setting for SimCity 4 to “Prefer Maximum Performance.”

I also recommend that you test using DirectX 11 instead of 12 in the dgvoodoo2 control panel.

[TOP CAT 0]

1 minute ago, Ulisse Wolf said:

Also in the Nvidia control panel you have to set this parameter

In the Nvidia Control Panel, You need to change the power management setting for SimCity 4 to “Prefer Maximum Performance.”

I also recommend that you test using DirectX 11 instead of 12 in the dgvoodoo2 control panel.

Ok I have already tried the various versions of DX11 + DX12 but Ill try the power management setting too. Thank you.

[TOP CAT 0]

Fixed? Will give it some time to see if I have a resolution.

Steps:

1) Fresh SimCity 4 install

2) Via the following commands in Steam launch options, the game was running smoothly: -d:soft -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -CPUCount:1

3) Installed plugins in following order to see when stuttering is fixed/crashing occurs:

- 4GB Patch / NAM
- SC4Fix
- SC4DBFLoading
- SC4AutoSave
- CPUOptions (removed "-CPUCount:1" launch option)
- SC4GraphicsOptions (removed "-d:soft -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -CPUCount:1")

From this moment the stuttering returned. It appears that using "DirectX" over "Software" is causing the stuttering. 

If I am not mistaken, I believe using the DgVoodoo mod is causing the crashing, as I haven't a single crash since removing this plugin.

  Edited June 23, 2025 by TOP CAT  
Clarity

[Ulisse Wolf 4,412]

1 hour ago, TOP CAT said:

Fixed? Will give it some time to see if I have a resolution.

Steps:

1) Fresh SimCity 4 install

2) Via the following commands in Steam launch options, the game was running smoothly: -d:soft -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -CPUCount:1

3) Installed plugins in following order to see when stuttering is fixed/crashing occurs:

- 4GB Patch / NAM
- SC4Fix
- SC4DBFLoading
- SC4AutoSave
- CPUOptions (removed "-CPUCount:1" launch option)
- SC4GraphicsOptions (removed "-d:soft -intro:off -f -CustomResolution:enabled -r1920x1080x32 -CPUCount:1")

From this moment the stuttering returned. It appears that using "DirectX" over "Software" is causing the stuttering. 

If I am not mistaken, I believe using the DgVoodoo mod is causing the crashing, as I haven't a single crash since removing this plugin.

Software rendering is not recommended to use for SC4 because it takes away computational resources from the CPU that can be used in simulation in addition to causing graphical glitches and crashing with many mods because it does not support HD rendering

My advice is to try this alternative wrapper to dgvoodoo2 which needs to be configured manually

https://github.com/elishacloud/dxwrapper/releases/tag/v1.3.7700.25

Also you need to update your GPU drivers to avoid compatibility issues