@mcmike89 You may have v-sync on, but you can try fiddling with the settings, for example switching from "on" to "adaptive." The Control Panel settings don't always work though, and never work in windowed mode. Check your in-game fps to make sure it is in fact locked to the refresh rate of your screen: Bring up the cheats console (crtl-shift-c) and enter "fps on" without quotes. The number will appear in the upper right corner of your screen. ("fps off" makes it go away.) If it's running too high, you can add Nvidia Inspector (free download) to the mix—I'm guessing your Alienware has an Nvidia card?—to see if it helps. Settings for Inspector are in this post, under the second spoiler:
https://forums.thesims.com/en_US/discussion/comment/16540301/#Comment_16540301
Since you're on patch 1.69, be sure to use TS3.exe, not the one with the W in it, to set up the profiles.
You can also try switching between fullscreen and windowed modes, again with Inspector in the picture since CP won't work. If windowed mode is better, you can use the Windowed Borderless app, which works very well with TS3.
You can also try RivaTuner Statistics Server. It often helps with screen tearing on a variety of cards. Unlike the other tools, it does need to be running while you play. Using it is pretty straightforward, but let me know if you want a screenshot.
As for the bugs and glitches... no, there's no patch forthcoming, now or probably ever. TS3 has been out of development for over five years now. Many of us just use mods for most of the issues and try to avoid the others.
@mcmike89 I take it you've still been using the built-in Control Panel? (V-sync and triple buffering are both features of CP.) It's the first tool to try since it comes already installed with your graphics card driver, but it isn't always the most reliable one to use. You can instead try Nvidia Inspector, which is a free download, and use it to explicitly cap fps at your screen's refresh rate. Settings for Inspector are in the same post I linked earlier.
If that doesn't work, try RivaTuner Statistics Server, which works with any card and in windowed as well as fullscreen mode.. Again, use TS3.exe to create a profile for the game, and set the proper fps limit. Unlike CP and Inspector, RTSS does need to be running while you play, so be sure minimize it rather than closing it entirely. If you need a screenshot, let me know, but it's a pretty straightforward app to use.
Also, be sure to click the download link about halfway down the page, not the one in the upper right corner, which will be some kind of ad if you don't have an adblocker.
RivaTuner Statistics Server, Nvida Inspector and Nvidia Control Panel didn't work. But thank you anyway. So, do I need to upgrade my Dell E248WFP which is my monitor model. The maximum refresh rate I get is 60HZ and nothing more. Should I upgrade to a gaming desktop monitor of either 120HZ or 144HZ to get better performance? I'm thinking it's my monitor that can't keep up with the game if my GPU can run the game just fine without any other issues.
