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Showing results for tags 'graphics bug'.
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Fixed ALL issues with Windows 7/Intel Graphics Compatibility!
bluemonkey posted a topic in SC4 Bugs & Technical Issues
Okay, after much trial and error, and days of searching and putting together bits and pieces of every string I found, here it is: C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c START "high priority sc4" /high "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe" -w -intro:off -d:Software -CPUcount:1 Part 1: The first part (C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe /c START "high priority sc4" /high "C:\Program Files (x86)\Maxis\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps\SimCity 4.exe") has been floating around the internet for years. I would give credit since its the biggest part, but I have no idea who said it first. Unfortunately, while this string worked great a few years ago, when Intel Core Duos and AMD Athlon IIs were the norm along with Nvidia Geforce cards, its out of date. Why? Because Simcity 4 just doesn't play nice with Intel HD Graphics, which have only gotten near gaming grade in the past few years. Every other guide I've seen tells you how to force SC4 to use your discrete graphics card and avoid the Intel graphics, which it uses by default. However, many people, including me, don't have a discrete card and won't need one for the forseeable future. Part 2: -w is for UAC and notification compatibility. You see, Simcity 4 on "stock" full screen doesn't minimize properly, so when a little bubble pops up in the taskbar saying "updates are available" or "installing new drivers" or "free iPads click here NOW!!!" or whatever, the game is "minimized". But since the game doesn't know how to handle minimizing and maximizing, what has actually just happened is a crash to desktop (CTD). Sure the game is still running, but good luck bringing it back onto the screen. This fixes it by having an "artificial" window. The game is still full screen, but Windows wraps an invisible window around it, so Simcity 4 doesn't have to handle minimizing itself. Warning: DO NOT enable custom resolution! This causes the game to go into a *actual* Window that takes up the full screen, but leaves a Windows frame and the taskbar visible. Panning with the mouse won't work and you can accidentaly resize the Window which MAY crash the game. You might not mind, but I found it an unpleasant experience, and if you do too then 1600x1200 is your maximum resolution if you want full screen. The only way to disable this if you do it is to delete and reset the entire shortcut string. Part 3: -intro:off does exactly what it sounds like it does. When you start the game, all you'll see is a black screen then a Simcity 4 logo before it loads. I know you can skip with the space bar, but why do it when you don't have to? Part 4: -d:software is the part that makes Simcity 4 work with Intel integrated graphics, aka MOST modern computers. You see, Simcity 4 can only use Directx with a (very short) preset list of graphics cards, and while you can add more graphics cards (guide ), Intel integrated doesn't have the information needed to edit those files. Simcity 4 can still use your integrated memory so will still run fast, it just won't be stuck with 3D graphics glitches such as this. There are guides which say that this will cause pixellation issues on the closest zoom, but I don't see their point since this is also true of the stock DirectX mode. There have been many guides saying this issue is due to "memory corruption," and the only solution is reinstalling Simcity 4. They are wrong, and if you don't believe me, try this string. Part 5: -CPUcount:1 limits the game to one processor core. The game doesn't play nice with multiple cores. It USED to work pretty good with early generation Intel Core Duos and AMD Athlon IIs that had no integrated graphics or hyperthreading. However, modern processors with multiple threads per core, or 4+ cores, or integrated graphics will crash the game the moment it moves beyond a single core. However, if you have a slower processor (less than 2.0Ghz with less than 2MB cache), the game might be so slow on one thread that you should just tolerate the CTDs and use an Autosaver. This has been tested in Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and WINE on Ubuntu, Puppy, openSUSE, and Mint Linux. If you use Windows XP, you should check if your processor has integrated graphics or multiple cores, because if it does you'll still need the -d:software and -CPUcount:1. And if you can, install Network Addon Mod. If you don't want it don't use it, but it enables SC4 to use 3-4GB of RAM, which makes it insanely smooth even on maximum graphics settings, so you should at least install it.
