SOLVED: The Brightness/Dimming Issue When Minimizing the Screen (No This Has Nada to do with Refresh Rate)

Hi all. Just wanted to share my solution to this common problem. When playing the Sims 3, my game would automatically dim after few seconds of starting. Although it was still playable, it was verrry annoying. The game ran fine and everything, but would dim, whether I minimized my screen or not.

I solved my problem, though. Whenever I play, I have to use the task manager to end the following process: "igfxpers." It is an application that forces the integrated graphic (Intel) to switch on during some tasks. I made sure I had my NVIDIA card set to run for all things gaming. I find that I only have to do this once as it only starts up again when the computer is restarted.

In case it helps, here is my system rig:

Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3210M CPU @ 2.50GHz, 2501 Mhz, 2 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s), and 2 graphics cards- one is integrated and one is dedicated. The integrated on is an Intel HD 4000, and the dedicated is an NVIDIA 650M, 2GB. I currently have 8GB of memory installed with a screen resolution of 1366X768.

Here is the original post I made about my problem on the EA forums: Dimming Issue

technical issues

RinaRinaXD
11 years ago
Okay, I will break it down Step by Step for you if you're still having issues.
Step 1: While in the game, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then click on task manager.
Step 2: Click on the small tab that says Processes and scroll down until you find the process "igfxpers"
Step 3: Click on "igfxpers" and then click on the button that says "End process" (should be at the bottom of the little window)
Step 4: Enjoy your game!
Let me know if that helped at all.

16 Replies

Anonymous
12 years ago
Could you explain step by step how to fix it for people who like me who have no idea what your on about
RinaRinaXD
11 years ago
Okay, I will break it down Step by Step for you if you're still having issues.
Step 1: While in the game, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then click on task manager.
Step 2: Click on the small tab that says Processes and scroll down until you find the process "igfxpers"
Step 3: Click on "igfxpers" and then click on the button that says "End process" (should be at the bottom of the little window)
Step 4: Enjoy your game!
Let me know if that helped at all.
Anonymous
11 years ago
Oh my god, for ages my Sims has always done this. I did what you said and it didn't go dim when I maximised the game again. Thanks so much! Are there any consequences to deleting that particular process?
killlvvmaimm
10 years ago
I'm still confused. Can you please give out EASY steps or at least make a video because non of this makes any sense to me.
Anonymous
10 years ago
@RinaRinaXD wrote:

Okay, I will break it down Step by Step for you if you're still having issues.

Step 1: While in the game, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, then click on task manager.

Step 2: Click on the small tab that says Processes and scroll down until you find the process "igfxpers"

Step 3: Click on "igfxpers" and then click on the button that says "End process" (should be at the bottom of the little window)

Step 4: Enjoy your game!

Let me know if that helped at all.

@killlvvmaimm does this help at all? What would you like to have clarified and explained?
killlvvmaimm
10 years ago
Thank you for breaking it down,but I did all those steps and it worked but it happened again a few months later , and it's doing the same thing. I turned off whatever mode,I know it's with a c,restart my game and computer,changed the refresh rate,but it still isn't working.😞
crinrict
Hero+
10 years ago
Could you post your Computer's DxDiag?

To gather a DxDiag on your computer, please follow the steps here: http://answers.ea.com/t5/The-Sims-3/HOW-TO-DxDiag-for-Sims-3-PC-Only/td-p/1049584/

Please either use pastebin.com and put the link here or use spoiler tags.
kenzie_simslove
10 years ago
i have this same problem but the process you said to end isn't on task manager for me
Anonymous
10 years ago
i am having this issue on windows 10
the_best_pickle
9 years ago
For those that have not solved their issue, please read.
I found when I deleted all of my CC my resolution went back to normal. Now, I do not suggest deleting everything, but delete things you know you don't use or never liked. You may have to delete everything, I'm not sure. I just know when I deleted everything my game went back to normal.