SimCity (2013) - Graphics Fix for Modern GPUs

[cecco 3]

# 🧠 SimCity 2013 – OptionScreenSize Resolution Map

SimCity 2013 uses an internal parameter called `OptionScreenSize` to select screen resolution. This value is not a direct resolution like "1920x1080", but an index pointing to a predefined resolution and refresh rate combination.

Thanks to reverse engineering, here is a partial map of known values:

## 📊 Resolution Table

| OptionScreenSize | Resolution     | Refresh Rate |
|------------------|----------------|--------------|
| 1                | 1024×768       | 100 Hz       |
| 3                | 1024×768       | 60 Hz        |
| 5                | 1024×768       | 165 Hz       |
| 6                | 1024×768       | 144 Hz       |
| 7                | 1024×768       | 70 Hz        |
| 8                | 1152×864       | 120 Hz       |
| 9                | 1152×864       | 100 Hz       |
| 15               | 1280×720       | 60 Hz        |
| 18               | 1280×720       | 120 Hz       |
| 30               | 1280×768       | 144 Hz       |
| 35               | 1280×800       | 119 Hz       |
| 40               | 1280×960       | 75 Hz        |
| 41               | 1280×960       | 60 Hz        |
| 50               | 1280×1024      | 165 Hz       |
| 64               | 1366×768       | 120 Hz       |
| 100              | 1680×1050      | 120 Hz       |
| 109              | 1920×1080      | 120 Hz       |
| 110              | 1920×1080      | 100 Hz       |
| 111              | 1920×1080      | 75 Hz        |
| 112              | 1920×1080      | 119 Hz       |
| 113              | 1920×1080      | 165 Hz       |

---

## 🛠️ How to Force Resolution

To force SimCity to launch in a specific resolution, edit the preferences file and set:

OptionScreenSize 110
OptionFullScreen 1
OptionFitToScreen 1
OptionNoWindowBorders 0

✅ This will launch the game in fullscreen 1920×1080 at 100 Hz.

 

##📁 File Location (EA App version)

The preferences file is located at:

C:\Users\<your-username>\AppData\Roaming\SimCity\Preferences

Replace <your-username> with your actual Windows account name.

 

## 🧩 Tips

If SimCity resets your settings, mark the file as read-only.

You can use Borderless Gaming to simulate fullscreen in windowed mode.

If your GPU is not recognized, spoof it in configmanager.txt or update VideoCards.txt.

 

##💡 Contribute

Found more values? Help expand the table! Share your findings with:

OptionScreenSize value

Resolution and refresh rate

GPU and monitor used

This helps modern users unlock full graphics potential in SimCity 2013.

 

Unlock_res_SimCity2013.md

[FanatykMC 4]

I would like to add to this thread. You can controll UI scalling for this game by changing the value of OptionUIZoomLevel in that file. By default its set to 1, which is fine for 1080p but for 4K I felt it was too small so after some googling I found out about this. Changing it to 2 doubles the UI size. 3 triples it and so forth. I haven't checked if it allows decimals.

[Lab Rat 13]

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