Community Manager
--- FIRST FEEDBACK POST ON MEMORY BOOST MODE:
When DirectX 11 was initially introduced in The Sims 4, the mode lacked proper optimizations and enhancements. I recall experiencing frequent lags and, more notably, frame rates (FPS) that were lower than those provided by DirectX 9. I wasn’t alone in this—many other players reported the same issues, even those with high-end PCs and powerful graphics cards.
I recall experiencing reduced frame rates even with the game camera zoomed in, showing only a small portion of the area around my house and my Sims, or when the camera was angled from a top-down view—a perspective that typically yields higher frame rates.
Fortunately, subsequent updates after the initial release of DirectX 11 brought significant improvements, eliminating lag and minor stutters, increasing game stability, and improving frame rates.
However, despite these improvements in frame rates, they unfortunately didn’t apply to all scenarios. The game saw a significant boost in performance, particularly when the camera was very close to the environment or characters—in those tight, zoomed-in views. But this improvement didn’t extend to zoomed-out perspectives, where the camera displays a large number of objects in the scene. For example, when the camera is fully pulled back to observe an entire neighborhood—especially one filled with numerous objects, like many trees—the frame rate can still drop noticeably, particularly in certain worlds.
With each new update you release, I always hope that there might be improvements in how the game is rendered in DirectX 11, allowing me to gain more FPS in scenes where the camera is zoomed out or showing large areas. Many updates have indeed brought optimizations and enhancements, and you even highlighted these improvements in the patch notes for several updates. However, despite all of this, the game still hasn’t shown better performance in DirectX 11 in the scenarios I mentioned, and frame rates remain higher in DirectX 9 for these situations.
--- MEMORY BOOST MODE TEST:
Today the addition of Memory Boost Mode, I had hoped that this feature would allow me to reach the higher frame rates I can currently only achieve in DirectX 9. Unfortunately, the results were disappointing, though I understand that this feature is still in its early stages of implementation.
The Sims 4: Directx 9 Mode
This is an image of the world of Toomarang, captured with graphics set to ULTRA quality and running the game in DIRECTX 9.
59.20 FPSThe Sims 4: Directx 11 + Memory Boost Mode with “Enabled” option.
This is an image of the world of Toomarang, captured with graphics set to ULTRA quality and running the game in DIRECTX 11 + Memory Boost Mode with “Enabled” option.
36.33 FPSThe Sims 4: Directx 9 Mode
54.1 FPSThe Sims 4: Directx 11 + Memory Boost Mode with "Enabled" option.
44.80 FPS
--- CONCLUSION:
As you can see when comparing the images, DirectX 11 with Memory Boost Mode shows a large drop in performance compared to the potential of DirectX 9. Honestly, this issue existed even before Memory Boost Mode, and the new feature hasn’t made any meaningful difference in achieving higher frame rates in this specific scenario (zoomed out scenarios).
I’m also concerned about the possibility that, in the future, you might completely remove DirectX 9 from The Sims 4, leaving me and other players with no choice but to play the game in DirectX 11, which offers inferior frame rate.
For players with high-end graphics cards, running the game in DirectX 11 isn’t much of a concern, as these cards can easily deliver high frame rates, and losing a few FPS doesn’t make a noticeable difference—after all, 60 FPS in The Sims 4 is already excellent. However, on less powerful systems with more modest graphics cards, every extra frame counts and can make a real difference in the overall experience.
--- ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THE SIMS 4 WHEN USING DIRECTX 11:
I’d like to bring up another issue I’ve noticed while playing The Sims 4 in DirectX 11. Even in scenes where the camera is zoomed in and the FPS is high, tilting the camera using the mouse wheel (The Sims 3-style camera mode)—feels different. In DirectX 11, the camera seems “heavier,” as if it resists movement, making tilting feel slower and less responsive. By comparison, in DirectX 9, the same camera tilt feels much lighter and smoother. This isn’t related to performance or FPS drops; it’s simply a difference in how the camera feels when tilting between the two DirectX modes.
This isn’t something that’s immediately noticeable; it requires more careful attention to observe. I genuinely feel a difference in the camera’s responsiveness when tilting with the mouse wheel. In DirectX 11, the camera feels a little “heavier” (even in high-FPS scenarios), whereas in DirectX 9 it feels a bit more lighter. This effect becomes even more pronounced on very large or complex lots.
--- THE END:
In any case, I hope my feedback can help improve frame rates in zoomed-out scenarios, particularly in environments with a high number of objects and trees. My feedback has been primarily focused on the game’s performance and FPS, and I’m looking forward to future updates that will finally allow me to retire playing The Sims 4 in DirectX 9.
--- MY SYSTEM SPECS:
--- MY DX DIAG:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H1fugUSe48x2EQsCzCbOKn31-arQL8Fb/view?usp=sharing
