Re: Sims 3 64 bit bad graphics

Hi there, I had the same issue with the graphics, so I followed all steps above and got it working. However, the Interface is very, very small. Is there any way I can change that? My Macbooks resolution is 2560x1600, and my graphics card is Intel Iris Graphics 6100 1536 MB.  I would appreciate any help!

@Klose2014-16  Unfortunately, there's no way to adjust the size of the user interface, even with mods.  It occupies the same number of pixels in all resolutions; the more pixels are on your screen, the smaller the UI will be.

If it's really too small to work with, you can try playing in fullscreen mode at a smaller resolution, for example one of those I listed in my previous post.  You might even get better performance as your graphics chip has less work to do at the lower resolution.  But it's certainly a trade-off.

@puzzlezaddict Thanks for the quick reply! I'll probably play at a smaller resolution then, even though it's not ideal.

Hello,

How I can change resolution to 1024x640 (16:10)? It is better for MBA 2017, than Sims 3 default 1024x763 (4:3). I set it in Options.ini but the game started with 1024x763.

@GCsabor  It may be that the game doesn't support all resolutions and won't let you choose a custom one.  There should be several 16:10 options though.  Just pick the one with the lowest overall resolution and see whether it works.

@puzzlezaddictThank you! 1024x768 (4:3) 1280x800 (16:9) 1440x900 (16:10) settings possible, at 1024x768 get warm at minimum settings in addition, it distorts. Is there a program for Mac OS like MSI Afterburner? I like to check temperature, frequency, fps in game.

I have also MBA 2020 M1. What is the recommended resolution for long time use? I'm afraid 2560x1600 is to high.

@GCsabor  For an M1 Mac, 2560x1600 should be fine.  If you want to lower the resolution to the next 16:10 option down, that should also be fine.  For comparison, the M1 chip runs Sims 4 reasonably well once a couple of issues are addressed, and that game is more demanding in many ways than Sims 3.

There's no program like Afterburner for macOS, but you could try using Macs Fan Control by CrystalIdea to monitor temperatures.  I'm not totally sure whether it's compatible with M1 Macs, but there's no harm in trying, and the program is free.  There's another much more comprehensive option called iStat, by Bjango, but it only offers a 14-day free trial.  But I guess that would be more than enough time to establish whether your Mac overheats while you play.

The M1 MacBook Air has a large heatsink but no fan, so the key to keeping temperatures under control is allowing that heatsink to radiate the heat it collects.  That means elevating the laptop, playing on a flat surface that's capable of conducting heat, or using a cooling fan.  It's fine to experiment too; when the laptop's internal temperatures get too high, it will throttle to compensate.