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armaa1995's avatar
armaa1995
2 years ago
Solved

Help! Sims 3 game keeps crashing.

Computer specs: 
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i9-14900HX 2.20 GHz
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.6 GB usable)

System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

My sims 3 game keeps crashing and I don't know why. My laptop is BRAND NEW. EA support has been utterly useless in the past and from what I've read from other people with my same issue is that EA support is still useless. I have tried EVERYTHING: uninstall/reinstall, downloaded the latest directx software, Microsoft Visual C++, repair the game, deleted problematic mods and downloads... you name it, I've done it, but I still keep running into the same issue. 

Any help will be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

pc
technical issues
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    2 years ago

    @armaa1995  Which Enhanced Hospitals mod is this?  If it's from Sims MX, it's very outdated and will eventually break your saves.  The newer one doesn't have the same issues, but I'm not sure that it's completely stable.

    Separately, if you haven't already, you'll need to take steps to manually limit your in-game framerates.  You can probably do this through the Nvidia Control Panel: right-click the desktop and select the CP, then Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings > ts3.exe (without the W, for an EA App install) OR ts3w.exe (with the W, for a disc or Steam install).  Scroll down to Max Frame Rate and set it to the refresh rate of your laptop screen, which you can see under Windows Settings > System > Display > Advanced.

    To check your in-game framerates, open the cheats console (ctrl-shift-C) and enter fps on , and the counter will appear in the upper-right corner of the screen.  If the CP limit isn't being enforced, there are other ways to accomplish this; let me know if you need help with the process.

    The fps limit is necessary on any proper gaming system, let alone one with high-end hardware like yours.  So it's important to implement regardless of context.  But I don't know that this is the cause of the crashes you're seeing.  If it doesn't help, the next step would be trying to play with only NRaas mods, none of the others you've installed, and with StoryProgression running on the slowest setting.

    If this doesn't help either, I need to see the full dxdiag, as in, saved as a text file rather than a couple of screenshots.  The report you see on-screen contains only a fraction of the full dxdiag's information.

    Finally, if you see any crash logs, shown as xcpt files, in the Sims 3 user folder, open one up and post the section that lists the free and total memory available; this will look something like this (hopefully not with the same values though):

    Memory load: 92%

    Total physical memory: 7884 Mb

    Available physical memory: 616 M

    Total page file memory: 12748 Mb

    Available page file memory: 2451 Mb

    Total virtual memory: 4095 Mb

    Free virtual memory: 2213 Mb

6 Replies

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @armaa1995  Is the game crashing when you first press Play in the Sims 3 launcher?  If so, you probably have this issue:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-won-t-open-Alder-Lake-Intel-12th-gen-CPU/td-p/11057820

    Please try one of the workarounds in the accepted solution.  Even if you did this before, you'll need to again—repairing or reinstalling erases the effects of the Alder Lake patch, and the other approaches need to be applied each time.  And your processor is definitely one of those affected.

    If you're already using an Alder Lake workaround, try moving the entire Sims 3 folder out of Documents > Electronic Arts and onto your desktop.  When you open the launcher, a clean folder will spawn with no content.  Don't add anything to it yet; just see whether you can get far enough to start a new save.

    If that doesn't help either, let me know when the game crashes.  Please also run a dxdiag and attach it toa a post.

    https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

  • armaa1995's avatar
    armaa1995
    2 years ago

    Thank you! I will test this out.

    Thing is, I am able to play the game. It runs smooth as butter, but it randomly crashes. There are times where I'm able to play for 3 hours and there are times where I'm only able to play for 10 minutes max. 

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @armaa1995  In that case, I'd still like a dxdiag, but also a list of the expansion and stuff packs you've installed, and the world(s) you're playing in.  Please also let me know whether you're currently still using any mods or custom content.  It's fine if you are; I just need to know either way.

  • armaa1995's avatar
    armaa1995
    2 years ago

    Yes, I'm using some nraas mods, anissims and a few from MTS. All of my custom content was downloaded from the sims 3 community page. 

    I've attached two screenshots of the dxdiag and screen shots of the list of mods.

    - Thank you so much for the help! 

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    2 years ago

    @armaa1995  Which Enhanced Hospitals mod is this?  If it's from Sims MX, it's very outdated and will eventually break your saves.  The newer one doesn't have the same issues, but I'm not sure that it's completely stable.

    Separately, if you haven't already, you'll need to take steps to manually limit your in-game framerates.  You can probably do this through the Nvidia Control Panel: right-click the desktop and select the CP, then Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings > ts3.exe (without the W, for an EA App install) OR ts3w.exe (with the W, for a disc or Steam install).  Scroll down to Max Frame Rate and set it to the refresh rate of your laptop screen, which you can see under Windows Settings > System > Display > Advanced.

    To check your in-game framerates, open the cheats console (ctrl-shift-C) and enter fps on , and the counter will appear in the upper-right corner of the screen.  If the CP limit isn't being enforced, there are other ways to accomplish this; let me know if you need help with the process.

    The fps limit is necessary on any proper gaming system, let alone one with high-end hardware like yours.  So it's important to implement regardless of context.  But I don't know that this is the cause of the crashes you're seeing.  If it doesn't help, the next step would be trying to play with only NRaas mods, none of the others you've installed, and with StoryProgression running on the slowest setting.

    If this doesn't help either, I need to see the full dxdiag, as in, saved as a text file rather than a couple of screenshots.  The report you see on-screen contains only a fraction of the full dxdiag's information.

    Finally, if you see any crash logs, shown as xcpt files, in the Sims 3 user folder, open one up and post the section that lists the free and total memory available; this will look something like this (hopefully not with the same values though):

    Memory load: 92%

    Total physical memory: 7884 Mb

    Available physical memory: 616 M

    Total page file memory: 12748 Mb

    Available page file memory: 2451 Mb

    Total virtual memory: 4095 Mb

    Free virtual memory: 2213 Mb

  • armaa1995's avatar
    armaa1995
    2 years ago

    Thank you SOOOOOOO much! I did the fps thingy and deleted the hospital enhance mod and there's no crashing!!! I could cry because I thought it was a laptop issue and was days away from returning it. Sending you all the positive vibes and blessings!!!! 

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