Game Appears to be moving in Fast Forward

[Avid6eek 0]

I've had SC4 for a couple years now, and recently I've been having problems with the game running in what appears to be a fast forward type state.  That's the best way I can describe it.  The only way I've fixed it in the past was by installing it on a different computer, or after I reformatted.  It was working great yesterday, now today I load one of my cities to play and it's doing it again.  I do have the SC4 Patch installed as well.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

When you right click on the exe file for the game, what version number does it show? Should be 638 or 640.

Did you try putting it in pause?

[mrbisonm 1,620]

There are 3 speeds that you can run SC with, plus  pause game. They are ajustable in the toolbar bottom left, in case if it is this you're looking for.

[Avid6eek 0]

I am familiar with the speed controls as I have been playing the game for years.  My system is running version 638. 

To be more specific as to what the problem is, when you look at the city anything that is animated runs very fast...not your usual fast speed.  If you try to scroll it is not very smooth.  The Rush Hour icons you can click on to drive the cars/trains/helicopters flicker.  The game is installed on a new copy of Windows XP Pro SP2 with all the current updates.  All of my drivers are the latest versions.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

If you have any features turned on in your video system (e.g. anti-aliasin) turn them off.

What happens when you run in Software Rendering (option on the graphics screen). You have to restart the game after setting this.

[Avid6eek 0]

I did find a fix to the problem.  System reboot.  Typically my system is only rebooted every 1-2 months depending on when I do updates.  SimCity 4 must have some bad code in it somewhere that causes things to get a bit funky if you don't reboot very often.

I know it wasn't a hardware issue as I easily meet the minimum specifications:

 

Opteron 165 (dual core) @ 2.6Ghz

1024MB PC3200 TCCD DDR

GeForce 7800GTX

Sound Blaster Fatal1ty

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Interesting. I wouldn't leave something as fragile as XP up for more than about a week. Are you running as a server? That is the only possible reason not to reboot, and even then you should be able to go off the air once a week to do backups and maintenance which should end with a reboot.

I have not heard of that particular problem with the game. How long was the game running? It sounds more like your operating system's clock went nuts. The game uses delays to control the simulation speed, the animation speed, etc.

On my system, when running, the game uses 100% CPU of which something like 20% or less is kernel. I do not kill any tasks when running. I am running XP Pro SP2 with 768MB on an Athlon 2400+ (2GHz).

[Avid6eek 0]

No, I'm not running the system as a server.  My server stays up for 4+ months at a time.  That system is an Athlon 64 3200 / 1024MB PC3200.  As long as you keep Windows XP in good working order it has no need to reboot unless you run an update.  I also reboot if I make any registry changes.

I've only experienced this problem since I first started using dual core processors.  I experienced it on an X2 4400, as well as an Opteron 170, and now the Opteron 165.  Another change in my system has been a switch to an nVidia graphics card.  Prior to that I went through a few generations of ATI cards and didn't have any problems.  I have a new ATI card on the way.  Maybe nVidia is just bad luck.  I know AMD isn't.

[strikelight 0]

I have also this problem. It's quit annoying. Can't play the U-drive it missions anymore because of it(it looks like very bad lag). And when I push the pause button, the cars are still moving, in what can be described as fast forward. Everything is also installed with the latest drivers and the latest patch of the game. I don't have any problems with other games, just with SC4. (yes, even the original)

I can tell that its no problem with an nVidia card. I play the game now for 3 years with an nVidia card, but just recently I put a new motherboard in my PC, with a dual core processor. The X2 4400 of AMD. Note that I'm not running as a server.

 

Does anyone know how to change the processor so that it runs normal again?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I don't know if anyone knows if SC4 runs more than one process. If it does, it would explain dual core problems. One or both of you could contact EA's help through the mother site.

Have you tried running in Software Rendering Mode?

[strikelight 0]

I found the solution !!!!!!!!!

It seems that you cant run SC4 properly with 2 CPU's for some reason.

 

Solution:

When you are in the game, press CTRL-ALT-DEL.

Right click on the SC4 progress and select affinity.

Choose only one processor.

Thats it

[Avid6eek 0]

I'll have to give that a try next time I come across the problem.  It's nice to know that there is a solution for it.  Sucks to know that more and more people are going to start running into this problem as they upgrade their systems.  My ATI card just got here today too...I was about to give that a try

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Date: 1/26/2006 7:13:43 PM
Author: strikelight

I found the solution !!!!!!!!!

It seems that you cant run SC4 properly with 2 CPU's for some reason.

Solution:

When you are in the game, press CTRL-ALT-DEL.

Right click on the SC4 progress and select affinity.

Choose only one processor.

Thats it

quote>

Aha! That means the game either multi-threads with quasi indempendent processess or has independent processes. Wouldn't surprise me in the least. Too bad they haven't got good synchronisztion for multiple CPU's, but the game was made long before dual core chips. (4 years ago - That is like in the Jurassic Era the way things are going these days.)

[Sam 163]

I have used a dual processor for more than two years and have never had problems like that. (At least until the main board died, and now it doesn't work at all).

Maybe its different for an actual dual processor as opposed to a dual core processor? Is there a big difference between dual processor and dual core processor (I always assumed so)? Since I may have to buy a new computer sometime soon it might be handy to know.

Good to hear you managed to solve your problem though

[Avid6eek 0]

There isn't a huge difference between dual processor, and dual core.  A dual core processor just has two processors cores built into a single package.  The advantage of this is that the processors can communicate directly with eachother without having to go through the motherboard/northbridge.  A dual core 2Ghz processor would be slightly faster than two seperate 2Ghz processors.

[jameswb 0]

I had the same problem - i also have a dual core amd. By setting affinity to just one processor, it cleared it up.

[+Guest]

Was having the same issue a couple of threads up, hey anyways would like to post that WinXP launcher is a great app for specifying/fixing afinity on programs; although the company has officialy shut down, majorgeeks.com (very trusted/valueable site) still has the v2.0 available for grabs(freeware). Just add the appname + set to one processor, also enable listening mode for it and you should be set!

[MadTV_Freak 0]

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Ummm.... this thread is over 5 months old.... and it seems as if the problem has been solved, I don't think it's such a good idea to keep posting here, an op may think otherwise... but thats my opinion..

Will somebody close this?

[st louis dude 6]

Yeah,no need for old threads like this one.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

With all the dual core stuff around now, history can be useful, but I think it has been said.  Besides, there are other threads around on this. 

~closed~