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AddyAva's avatar
5 years ago
Solved

Sims 3 64 bit bad graphics

I've recently got the new MacBook m1 air and managed to install most of my expansion packs with the game running smoothly. However, the graphics in the game are so bad for me- they're a bit fuzzy and blurry as if I'm playing on a much older computer. I don't understand why as I've looked in the settings of the game and still nothing changes. Any advice?

  • @AddyAva  Try bringing up the cheats console (cmd-shift-C) and entering "fullscreen" without quotes, or "fullscreen off" if the first doesn't work.  You an also edit options.ini, in Documents> Electronic Arts > The Sims 3, to set fullscreen to 0.  (Open the file with TextEdit.)

    The in-game resolution may be the issue though.  At 1024x768, the game would be blurry on any system.  Try setting the resolution as high as it goes, then decreasing it until you get the effect you want.  Stick with your Mac's native resolution and any supported scaled resolutions:

    • 2560x1600 (native)
    • 1680x1050
    • 1440x900
    • 1024x640 (probably not offered in-game)

    Sometimes when you change the in-game resolution, the game looks a bit wrong in fullscreen until you switch to windowed mode and back.

13 Replies

  • GCsabor's avatar
    GCsabor
    5 years ago

    @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.

  • puzzlezaddict's avatar
    puzzlezaddict
    Hero+
    5 years ago

    @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.

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