[CURRENT ISSUE] Game lagging horribly after new update

@fantasytears  Please test a new save in one of the base game worlds, for comparison's sake, and let me know how it runs.  I'm not suggesting you abandon your current save, only that this is a useful test.

Please also run a dxdiag and attach it to your reply.

https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information/

Hello puzzlezaddict !! 

Thanks for taking the time to reply, really.

I've tested this with a new game, and the issue remains the same. In Oasis Springs, it seems to be a little less bad? But still laggy.

Attached is the dxdiag; I hope it can give us some clues 😓 I ran this a few weeks ago, but the forum was closed/moving, apologies for the delay!

My motherboard isn't as sophisticated, but I don't understand the change in the space of only 1-2 months.  Enabling laptop mode is the only way I can play currently, but life is a little lifeless without shadows...

fantasytears  The delay isn't a problem; I'm always around.  Your dxdiag shows that the driver for your GPU is from 2021, so the first step is to update it.  Go here:

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/

Choose GeForce, GTX 16 series (notebooks), GTX 1650, Windows 11, and download the Game Ready Driver.  Run the installer as an admin: right-click the download and select "Run as administrator."  Choose the Custom (not Express) install method, and check the box to perform a clean install.  Restart afterwards and before trying to play.

If this doesn't help, please post a fresh dxdiag so I can look for new errors or other changes.

Hi there puzzlezaddict !

2021... oh boy. Thanks a lot for the instructions! I installed the new driver, restarted, and it seemed to help! But the longer I played the game, the laggier it was getting. Not as bad as before the driver update, though.

I'm starting to think that my system is just too old... the fan runs like crazy when I'm playing, but it's been this way since I purchased the laptop back in 2019 or so (to play the Sims 4...).

I've run and attached a new dxdiag just in case?

fantasytears  Your laptop should be able to run Sims 4 just fine, even on ultra graphics settings, as long as it's holding together mechanically.  But one thing to check, given its age, is the temperatures you get while playing.  If you'd like to take a look, download hwinfo (it's free, and the portable version is fine).  Restart your computer, open it, choose Sensors Only, and let it run while you're playing.

Hwinfo records the maximum readings as well as the current ones, so you can alt-tab to it to see how hot your CPU and GPU have been while playing.  There are a LOT of sensors, but for now, you can ignore most; just look at the CPU Core and Package values and the GPU Core and Hotspot (if it exists) values, and let me know what you see.

Your new dxdiag lists a pile of failed Windows updates, nothing else interesting.

I am not sure how I missed your reply... my bad puzzlezaddict !

Here are the readings (I've now exited TS4 and EA Games app):

Core Temperatures
Current: 33
Min: 29
Max: 97
Avrg: 49

CPU Package
Current: 34
Min: 33
Max: 97
Avrg: 55

Unsuprisingly, the 97C (degrees celcius?) are in red...

PS: my laptop is elevated/has airflow on the bottom, but my fan has always run like CRAZY when I'm playing a game, movie, etc...

fantasytears  The late reply isn't an issue.  I'm always around.

The high temperatures are likely the cause of the lag, since your CPU will throttle its workload to protect itself from heat damage.  That means a major hit to performance for whatever is running at the time.

Since you're already elevating the laptop and it hasn't helped, it's possible that one of the fans is obstructed or a vent is blocked.  If you're comfortable doing so, take the bottom chassis off and have a look.  Move the fans manually (but don't spin them excessively) to make sure they rotate easily, and use compressed air to blow away any accumulated dust.

I believe you have a Legion Y540, and this video shows how to open the case.  It's a RAM upgrade tutorial, which doesn't apply to you, so just watch starting at about 1:30 in until the chassis is open:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nLmfHq-5R4M

If you're not comfortable opening the case, you can at least shine a flashlight on the vents to see whether you spot any blockage.  Compressed air could help clear it, although without opening the chassis, you're mostly going to move around the dust rather than get rid of it.

Your laptop isn't old enough that I would expect the thermal paste to have completely dried out by now, but it is a possibility.  So if the above doesn't help, you might want to take the system to a computer repair shop to get it repasted.  A reputable shop should be willing to take a look for free or cheap, and repasting shouldn't be too expensive either.  Call around and ask for quotes so you don't get ripped off.