Graphics Issue for TS2

[Fan4Lost]

Hi all, I am new here, nice to meet everyone. I read over the FAQ :) , I read the thread at the top of the forum about what is appropriate to post here, so I hope I am in the right area.

Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-core 3800+ 2.0 GHz, 2000MHz FBS, 512 cache per core
System Memory RAM: 894 MB
Windows Version: Windows XP Media Center
Free Hard Disk Space: 208 GB
Total Hard Disk Space: 292 GB
DirectX Version: 9.0c
Display Adapter: nVIDIA GeForce 6100
Display Driver Name and Version Number & date: nv4_disp.dll 10-22-06 version 6.14.0010.9371
Approximate Total Video Memory: 512 MB
Game Detail: SIMS 2 (no expansions)
Nature of problem: Colored shapely distorted forms showing up in Lots (see picture below)
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/7947/simsgraphti1.th.jpg (http://img137.imageshack.us/my.php?image=simsgraphti1.jpg)

I have so far:

1. Installed new drivers for my nVidia GeForce 6100 graphics card.
2. Updated the Sims 2 with the patch from the official site.
3. Adjusted the display settings in the game as well as in my graphics cpanel.
4. Updated my directx to 9.0c.
5. Checked my specs against the minimum requirements and they are fine.
6. Rebooted the game as well as the PC several times.
7. Done searches for similar problems with no luck (I have no idea how to describe this to search for it except that it looks like shapes floating around and that yields nothing for me)

Nothing seems to help. Is this a unique problem I am having? If anyone could help me I would greatly appreciate it. :) And I thank you in advance for your time and help.


ETA: I see it double posted this thread, I apologize. I only hit submit once, it does that on my forum too sometimes.

[Mirelly]

Hi there.

No problem about the double post. Sorted. :)

Thank you for a comprehensive description. It makes it easier to understand what's going on. I might even add this to the FAQs as a model for a good post.

OK that's the good news :o

You ask if the problem is unique. Well I have not seen this before, so it's certainly unusual.

It seems that you have the graphics settings set fairly well down (no edge smoothing/anti-aliasing is evident ... you must hate that ;) )

My instinct here is to blame that dual core cpu. The game was designed to run best on pre-duo cores and both the game and Windows (XP) have issues with duo-core cpus. I've seen all manner of references to dual core chips' problems in regard to TS2.

Without knowing more my first suggestion, then, is to check out this MATY thread on a fix for dual core chips running under Windows XP.

Fix: Performance sucking on Dual Core and HT CPUs (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php?topic=7748.msg214471#msg214471) @ MATY (http://www.moreawesomethanyou.com/smf/index.php)

Hopefully you should soon be able to use that 512MB of display memory for a better visual experience :)

[Mirelly]

7. Done searches for similar problems with no luck (I have no idea how to describe this to search for it except that it looks like shapes floating around and that yields nothing for me)


Just re-reading and thought it worthwhile to say that made me laugh out loud. I hate it when I want to search for something and can't think of search term that'll produce a useful set of results.

Serious aside. 894MB of RAM? That's an odd number. (130 shy of a gigabyte) ... have you got an onboard graphics adapter as well as that GeForce 6100?

It's not impossible that the issues you're having are tied up in that area. If you have upgraded your PC then you need to make adjustments in the BIOS settings to use the new display card and to free up the motherboard resources formerly given over to graphics. This is especially important if the graphics card upgrade is not installed in a dedicated graphics slot (AGP or PCI-express). Configuring BIOS depends on the motherboard manufacturer and can only be accessed during the initial boot up phase, before Windows starts.

[Fan4Lost]

:) Haha! I'm a perfectionist, so I think I went over that about a thousand times before I posted it. Wanted to make sure you guys had all the right info.;)

Hmm, you know you may be right about that dual core problem you mentioned. The PC is actually a Gateway and I haven't done any upgrades at all. The edge smoothness is actually the game setting; I had to turn it all the way down it was slowing the graphics down considerably. Very annoying.

I will head over to that link you gave me and see what maybe I can do. I will take a look tomorrow and then swing by here and let you know what's going on. And it would be my PC that would have a unique problem. Hehe.:p

Thank you so much Mirelly! I really appreciate your time.


PS: Google searches would work so much better if I could just plug it directly into my brain. LOL!

[Fan4Lost]

Ugh, this isn't good. :( I did exactly what that page said and now everytime an application does something in the background, the whole screen jerks like it has a nervous disorder. As soon as I uninstalled the graphics drivers the jerk went away, so it's likely something to with the graphics card. I may need a new one. I'm going to have to call Gateway to see if they can help me fix it.

On a happier note, the processor kicks butt now. :P Thanks agains Mirelly :)

[Fan4Lost]

Ooo, this wasn't good for my PC. :p I was on the phone with Gateway for an hour and we couldn't fix it. I have to do a system recovery. I wish I knew what made it freak like that. A lot of people use those hotfixes and they don't have that problem. My computer is weird. All this for The Sims 2. :p hehe, it's worth it IMO.

I appreciate all the help once again and I'll cya after I do my system recovery.:D Love those because it cleans everything out and forces me to be organized.

I'll let ya know if it takes those stupid graphics issues away on TS2. ;)