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mikrolactaki3's avatar
mikrolactaki3
Seasoned Hotshot
6 years ago

Re: Can I change my graphics settings via DeviceConfig.log file?

@puzzlezaddict wrote:

@mikrolactaki3  To clarify, deviceconfig is just output: a report of your computer's hardware as Sims 3 sees it when it launches.  (Your in-game settings are also recorded farther down in the same file.)  Changing the values inside it won't do anything, and the game will just overwrite the data with a new report.  There are steps you can take to tell the game to rate your hardware differently, but that won't help here.  Which card the game uses is determined by the system, not by Sims 3.

On that note, there may be some setting for switchable graphics within the AMD control software, depending on what version you have.  It's best to check in this app first, and if you do have the option to specify the high-performance card for Sims 3, do so there.  I don't have a laptop with this software myself, so I can't tell you where to look, sorry.  Be sure to use TS3.exe for an Origin install, or TS3W.exe (with the W) for a disc or Steam install.

Whether you can find a switchable graphics-related option or not, it's best to create a profile for Sims 3 and disable any optimization settings that the software has imposed.  Those can mess with your ability to play or use the graphics settings you want.  Once the game is using your AMD card, you can delete options.ini, in the same place as deviceconfig, and reset your graphics options from there.

How can I create a profile for The Sims 3?

If I create a profile should I move my folder to the desktop?

And if I delete options.ini, does the game generate a new one without losing saves and other stored data?

EDIT 1: I can see it through the AMD client, but I am not having an internet connection to specify from where I can launch the game that way. (And perhaps show a printscreen)

EDIT 2: I have installed TS3 via disk and updated to 1.69. The game can launch after clicking on the pack shortcut on the desktop with the Origin client on.

5 Replies

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    6 years ago

    @mikrolactaki3  When you delete options.ini, the game spawns a new one the next time you launch it.  This doesn't have anything to do with your saves.

    I'm not sure what you mean about not having an internet connection to specify how to launch the game.  Someone else a few months ago posted screenshots of their AMD settings for Sims 3, if you want to have a look:

    https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-PC/Sims-3-graphics-card-framerates/m-p/8776033#M239584

  • mikrolactaki3's avatar
    mikrolactaki3
    Seasoned Hotshot
    6 years ago

    Sorry for the late reply. What I figured out was Windows Update on Intel drivers that made the graphics settings reset. And had an amount of two months to relaunch the game back then. I have provided a printscreen to show the values on my DeviceConfig.log file as of the last time I launched the game (September 4th).

    I am asking regarding the internet connection thing, if I can be able to launch the game via AMD Radeon settings app or Origin. I mostly launch it via Origin and click the shortcut to get to the launcher.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    6 years ago

    @mikrolactaki3  You don't need to launch the game through the AMD software, and Origin would need to be open regardless, since patch 1.69 means you need to play through Origin anyway.  Within the Radeon software, all you'd need to do, if you have that option, is create a profile for Sims 3 (TS3.exe) and specify that you want the game to use the high-performance AMD card.  The Radeon software should make that happen.

    If this doesn't work, there are other approaches you can try.  It's hard for me to describe though because I don't have access to or even screenshots of a dual-card AMD setup.  So if you're not sure what you're looking at, feel free to post screenshots of what you see within the Radeon software.

    When you've set your system to use the AMD card for Sims 3, launch the game once, then check deviceconfig again, and you should see your AMD card where your Intel chip is listed now.

  • mikrolactaki3's avatar
    mikrolactaki3
    Seasoned Hotshot
    5 years ago
    @puzzlezaddict first should we delete the original options.ini file for TS3 to launch and let the game generate a new one?
    what if we delete the original and the new one gets generated, but Intel HD card exists in the new one too?
    by deleting the options.ini file do the mods/saves get affected?

    (sorry for resurrecting an almost "dead" thread)
  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @mikrolactaki3  This thread isn't close to dead; I personally only start wishing someone would create a new one after about a year.

    Anyway, options.ini doesn't store your graphics card info.  It does record the driver version, but deleting it and letting the game create a new one has no effect on what card the game uses.  Deleting it is a good idea though just to let the graphics settings return to defaults.

    Mods are unaffected by deleting options.ini because their settings for a particular save are stored within the save files themselves.  Saves could be affected if you load a current save with different options than you've been using, but that depends on the setting.  To avoid that, just start a new save for testing, reset the options to what you want within that save, and if everything is fine, go back to your existing saves afterwards.

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