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3c4b3e290220f59's avatar
3c4b3e290220f59
3 years ago

Pixelated Graphics Problem

I'm having this issue where my game's graphics, especially sim's skin, has gotten pixelated or makes my sim look like they're sickly or something. This has not ever happened before, and I got my gaming PC in 2020 mainly for Sims. I've tried everything - uninstalling and reinstalling the game, removing the Sims 3 folder and letting the game regenerate a fresh one, trying the game with no mods, trying with only my defaults, redownloading or switching defaults, resetting my PC itself to factory settings (I didn't think it'd work but it's worth the try haha). Even with no mods and a fresh game, the skins are blotchy. And it's especially apparent on Sims with a darker tone.

Here's some example pictures. Brightened a little so the problem is easier to see.

Other textures, like the lamp behind my sim, are also pixelated. Even odder, is that the skins are fine in CAS. And my graphics are fine in other games, so I don't know what the problem could be! I've been playing Sims 3 on this PC since 2020 and haven't had this issue either. I have an AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor 3.59 GHz with 16 GB of memory.

Here's my device config in the spoilers if it helps! I'll try to fix this post if there's anything else I need to add or if the format is broken. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Spoiler
=== Application info ===
Name: Sims3
Version:
Build: Release
=== Rating info ===
GPU: 5 GPU Memory: 4 CPU: 4 RAM: 4 CPU Speed: 3593 Threading: 3
Adjusted CPU: 4391 RAM: 16268 Adjusted RAM: 15756 Cores: 12
=== Machine info ===
OS version: Windows 8 6.2.9200
OS prod type: 0
OS major ver: 6
OS minor ver: 2
OS SP major ver: 0
OS SP minor ver: 0
OS is 64Bit: 1
CPU: AuthenticAMD
Brand: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 6-Core Processor
Family: 15
Model: 1
Cores: 12
HT: 0
x64: 0
Memory: 16268MB
Free memory: 11204MB
User: Tiria
Computer: DESKTOP-60U1PU9
=== Graphics device info ===
Number: 0
Name (driver): AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT
Name (database): AMD Radeon RX 5700 series [Found: 1, Matched: 1]
Vendor: ATI
Chipset: Vendor: 1002, Device: 731f, Board: 57101682, Chipset: 00ca
Driver: aticfx32.dll, Version: 31.0.12029.10015, GUID: D7B71EE2-305F-11CF-2D52-ED5965C2D235
Driver version: 10015
Monitor: \\.\DISPLAY1
Texture memory: 2048MB
Vertex program: 3.0
Pixel program: 3.0
Hardware TnL: 1
=== Options ===
AnimationSmoothing 1
LightingQuality 3
GeneralReflections 2
TextureQuality 3
VisualEffects 3
TerrainQuality 3
EdgeSmoothing 3
ObjectHiding 0
AspectRatio 0
ForceSquarePixels 1
SimQuality 4
TreeQuality 3
DrawDistance 3
MaxActiveLots 4
NumMaxActiveLotOptions 6
AdvancedRendering 1
AudioQuality 3
Audi🤭utputMode 1
VoiceLevel 255
SoundFXLevel 255
MusicLevel 255
AmbientLevel 255
FocusMute 1
VoiceMute 0
SoundFXMute 0
MusicMute 0
AmbientMute 0
EdgeScrolling 0
EdgeScrollingWarning 1
SupressOpportunityDialogs 0
SuppressOpportunityDialogsWarningProducts 2097151
SimWhileMinimized 0
TwelveHourClock 1
ShowPlacementGrid 0
AutonomyLevel 2
DisableAutonomyForSelectedSim 0
PetAutonomyLevel 2
AgingInterval 2
EnableAging 1
EnableTutorial 1
EnableIntroTutorial 0
EnableTombResets 1
EnableInGameStore 1
EnableTelemetry 0
EnableMemories 1
AgingStageLengthBaby 3
AgingStageLengthToddler 7
AgingStageLengthChild 7
AgingStageLengthTeen 14
AgingStageLengthYoungAdult 21
AgingStageLengthAdult 21
AgingStageLengthElder 17
EnableInteractiveLoading 1
AgingStageLengthPuppy 0
AgingStageLengthDogAdult 0
AgingStageLengthDogElder 0
AgingStageLengthKitten 0
AgingStageLengthCatAdult 0
AgingStageLengthCatElder 0
AgingStageLengthFoal 0
AgingStageLengthHorseAdult 0
AgingStageLengthHorseElder 0
LunarCycleLength 3
LunarPhaseLength 0
EnableLunarCycle 1
EnableLunarPhase 0
EnableStoryProgression 1
EnableVampires 1
EnableWerewolves 1
EnablePets 1
EnableCelebrities 1
EnableFairies 1
EnableWitches 1
EnableHorses 1
EnableOptOutCeleb 0
ReceiveConnectTNS 1
ReceivedDevGift 0
PostFilterFlags 0
RequireLoginBeforeLoad 1
SummerLength 7
FallLength 7
WinterLength 7
SpringLength 7
SummerEnabled 1
FallEnabled 1
WinterEnabled 1
SpringEnabled 1
IsCelcius 0
FogEnabled 1
RainEnabled 1
SnowEnabled 1
HailEnabled 1
InvertHorizontalRotation 0
InvertVerticalRotation 0
VideoCaptureSize 1
VideoCaptureQuality 2
VideoCaptureSound 0
VideoCaptureTime 60
VideoCaptureHideUI 1
=== Default Options ===
AnimationSmoothing 1
LightingQuality 3
GeneralReflections 2
TextureQuality 3
VisualEffects 3
TerrainQuality 3
EdgeSmoothing 0
ObjectHiding 0
AspectRatio 0
ForceSquarePixels 1
SimQuality 4
TreeQuality 3
DrawDistance 3
MaxActiveLots 4
NumMaxActiveLotOptions 6
AdvancedRendering 1
AudioQuality 3
Audi🤭utputMode 1
VoiceLevel 255
SoundFXLevel 255
MusicLevel 255
AmbientLevel 255
FocusMute 1
VoiceMute 0
SoundFXMute 0
MusicMute 0
AmbientMute 0
EdgeScrolling 0
EdgeScrollingWarning 1
SupressOpportunityDialogs 0
SuppressOpportunityDialogsWarningProducts 0
SimWhileMinimized 0
TwelveHourClock 1
ShowPlacementGrid 0
AutonomyLevel 2
DisableAutonomyForSelectedSim 0
PetAutonomyLevel 2
AgingInterval 2
EnableAging 1
EnableTutorial 1
EnableIntroTutorial 1
EnableTombResets 1
EnableInGameStore 1
EnableTelemetry 1
EnableMemories 1
AgingStageLengthBaby 3
AgingStageLengthToddler 7
AgingStageLengthChild 7
AgingStageLengthTeen 14
AgingStageLengthYoungAdult 21
AgingStageLengthAdult 21
AgingStageLengthElder 17
EnableInteractiveLoading 1
AgingStageLengthPuppy 0
AgingStageLengthDogAdult 0
AgingStageLengthDogElder 0
AgingStageLengthKitten 0
AgingStageLengthCatAdult 0
AgingStageLengthCatElder 0
AgingStageLengthFoal 0
AgingStageLengthHorseAdult 0
AgingStageLengthHorseElder 0
LunarCycleLength 3
LunarPhaseLength 0
EnableLunarCycle 1
EnableLunarPhase 0
EnableStoryProgression 1
EnableVampires 1
EnableWerewolves 1
EnablePets 1
EnableCelebrities 1
EnableFairies 1
EnableWitches 1
EnableHorses 1
EnableOptOutCeleb 0
ReceiveConnectTNS 1
ReceivedDevGift 0
PostFilterFlags 0
RequireLoginBeforeLoad 0
SummerLength 7
FallLength 7
WinterLength 7
SpringLength 7
SummerEnabled 1
FallEnabled 1
WinterEnabled 1
SpringEnabled 1
IsCelcius 0
FogEnabled 1
RainEnabled 1
SnowEnabled 1
HailEnabled 1
InvertHorizontalRotation 0
InvertVerticalRotation 0
VideoCaptureSize 1
VideoCaptureQuality 2
VideoCaptureSound 0
VideoCaptureTime 60
VideoCaptureHideUI 1
pc
technical issues

7 Replies

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  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @3c4b3e290220f593  Some of this, at least, happens to everyone now.  It was first reported three years ago:

    https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/971320/update-9-2-20-has-your-sims-3-game-been-affected-by-the-recent-pixilation-issues

    I'm not sure from your description whether you were never affected at all, or you were fine with how the graphics looked at first but the problem recently became worse.  Additionally, did you ever test with no mods and without any custom content as well?  I know some cc skins are affected by this issue more than others.

    Having said that, the thread I linked above does have some tips for using outside tools to mitigate the issue, but that's really all you can do: try to work around it.  No one has come up with an actual fix, as far as I know.

  • 3c4b3e290220f59's avatar
    3c4b3e290220f59
    3 years ago

    Thanks for your reply, @puzzlezaddict 

    I was never affected at all. I installed the game in 2020 and had great graphics since then, until now. I've already tried uninstalling and reinstalling the game, starting a fresh game without cc (and removing the Sims 3 documents file), clearing cache files, and switching to another custom skin.... repeatedly. I would have noticed if the game was this pixelated a long time ago, so I was fine with graphics until recently.

    I've already seen this discussion while looking for a solution. Sadly most fixes were for NVidia cards (I have AMD) or didn't help. I suppose I have to keep troubleshooting or this is my game now, which is frustrating since this has never happened before until now. It's strange.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @3c4b3e290220f593  Are you getting BlueScreens or sudden while playing Sims 3?  Your dxdiag lists several BSODs, but there isn't a way to tell the context from the info provided.

    It's also worth updating your graphics driver to the newest one from AMD just in case there's an issue with the current one.  You can get the new driver, dated February 14, here:

    https://www.amd.com/en/support/graphics/amd-radeon-5600-series/amd-radeon-rx-5600-series/amd-radeon-rx-5600-xt

    Run the installer as an admin: right-click on the download and select "Run as administrator."  Restart your computer after installing and before trying to play.

  • 3c4b3e290220f59's avatar
    3c4b3e290220f59
    3 years ago

    @puzzlezaddict the blue screens of death never happen when gaming. I don't remember it happening when playing Sims 3. It's usually isolated from every game, and happens mostly when browsing chrome or when the PC is idling sometimes. Even when they happened, my graphics have still remained great and non-pixelated until now. Since they didn't happen when playing ts3, I didn't think to connect the two.

    But thank you for the driver link!!! 🙌 The pixelation is still there and it's annoying, but the sims are a bit less grossly pixelated than before! It's strange that it never happens in CAS, though. How they look in CAS was how they used to look in-game.

    I've attached some pictures of different Sims for the difference between live mode and CAS. It seems more noticeable to me in-game than in screenshots though.

     Sim in outdoor lighting (pixelation on face)

    Sim inside (Much better than before, but still around eyes and mouth)

    3rd Sim, outside at night. Mouth, nose, and eye areas has the odd textures...

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    3 years ago

    @3c4b3e290220f593  I'm glad you're seeing some improvement, but I don't know how much better you'll be able to do, unfortunately.  There are certainly individual settings you can change within graphicscards.sgr that affect how sims appear, for example this one from the same thread I linked initially:

    https://forums.thesims.com/en_us/discussion/comment/17966641/#Comment_17966641

    Scroll up if you want to see examples of the effects of this setting.  You might also look into HQ mods, which are mostly just edits to this same .sgr file.  And if you haven't already, I'd turn down high-detail lots to 1 or 2, which should free up more of the game's very limited (800 MB) VRAM budget for the active lot.

    Another thing you can try is Lazy Duchess's Shader Tweaks.  Third-party download links aren't allowed on this site, but google should take you right to the Patreon page, which includes screenshots.  The download itself is free.  I haven't tried this one, but I've been using the Smooth Patch (which I highly recommend) version 1.0 for 18 months now with no negative consequences.  As a side note, I would stay away from any version 2.x because its CAS changes conflict with NRaas MasterController, but 1.4 is still available for download and doesn't conflict at all.

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