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puzzlezaddict's avatar
puzzlezaddict
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4 years ago

Re: Sims 3 Graphics Card Help

@Dannii_Clough  The easiest way is through the Nvidia Control Panel.  Right-click on your desktop, select the CP, then Manage 3D Settings > Program Settings.  Choose ts3.exe for an Origin install of Sims 3, or ts3w.exe (with the W) for a disc or Steam install.  (You may see both, but you need to apply the settings to the correct one for your type of install.)  Scroll down to the vertical sync setting and set it to On; enabling triple buffering can help performance too.

While you're there, it's worth setting the Max Frame Rate to the refresh rate of your laptop's screen; you can see that under Advanced Display Settings.  It shouldn't matter in fullscreen, but this way you won't have to worry if you switch to windowed mode.

To make sure the setting is working in-game, bring up the cheats console (crtl-shift-C) and enter "fps on" without quotes.  A number will appear in the upper right corner, and it should never go above the refresh rate of your screen.  If it's consistently higher in spite of the above settings, you'll need to use an outside tool instead.  This one works well with Sims 3 and other DX9 games:

https://community.pcgamingwiki.com/files/file/84-d3doverrider/?changelog=32

It's an add-on for RivaTuner Statistics Server but functions on its own, specifically forcing vertical sync in cases where the above steps don't help.

5 Replies

  • Dannii_Clough's avatar
    Dannii_Clough
    4 years ago

    Thank you for the quick reply! I may sound silly, but, I updated the settings. My screen is 120.002 Hz. I set it to 120 in the FPS in settings. I looked at the FPS in game it went above 120? Do I need to install the extra step? Thanks again. Danielle

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    4 years ago

    @Dannii_Clough  Yes, if your screen's refresh rate is 120 Hz, you should never see fps go above 120, or perhaps hit 122 or so for a split second and come back down.  The issue is that many but not all laptops' graphics are controlled in a way that the Nvidia Control Panel can't force vertical sync, so an outside tool is necessary.  I wasn't sure that was true with yours, and since using the CP didn't require installing anything else, it was worth trying first.

    D3DOverrider is safe to use and works with Sims 3, but if you prefer, you can instead install RivaTuner Statistics Server and manually set an fps limit of 120, again for TS3.exe (Origin) or TS3W.exe (disc or Steam).  Either way works, but the advantage of D3DOverrider is that you get the other benefits of vertical sync as well, namely the prevention of screen tearing and other small graphics glitches.

  • Dannii_Clough's avatar
    Dannii_Clough
    4 years ago

    Thank you, it was exceeding 120, however, I have just gone back on with my laptop charger unplugged and the frame rates dropped and ran well. How can I change the settings so when I am charging the laptop the frame rates don't shoot up?! So bizzare, thank you.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    4 years ago

    @Dannii_Clough  Just in case it isn't clear, running Sims 3 with the laptop not plugged in will lower performance to a significant degree, which means lower framerates.  The laptop is trying to conserve power by limiting the workload of the processor and graphics card; it's not that the Control Panel or another tool is suddenly working.

    Glad you have things worked out.

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