Re: offline mode

Router has been fully reset/re-booted. I'm still trying to isolate why, when Online Feature Access is on (checked), the cache directory just starts filling up with jpgs. We're talking at an approx rate of 1mb/minute. And what data is EA/Origin pulling from my game? I thought with "saves" turned off, nothing was in the cloud, but according to EA they can "see" all my mods and saves.  Seems "invasive".  Any thoughts?

By the way, I do appreciate your feedback. I know you do this in your free time. 🙂

Did you turn off data sharing in your options ?

There is data sent to EA but I also find it weird that they can see your saves. What do you mean by see ? See how many you have ? Which mods you're using or only if you're game is modded or not ?

Who told you that they can ? Support or do you read that from the TOS ?

Everything that indicates it is sending or sharing data has been turned off (gray button). The only thing that won't turn off is the "Saves" button. I've reported this to them several times (via chat and phone), and I've been told that it is working as designed and even tho the Saves button shows on (green) it's not really on. (??).

I spoke with Gabe on the phone (he called me in response to my recent ticket), he indicated that 1) I had too many expansion packs and game packs, and that was part of my issue with "micro stutters" and 2) that I had an "awful lot" of mods, and they were most likely also part of the cause. Gabe advised: keep in mind we don't technically support all of those mods, so you might want to delete those to help fix the issue.  Not sure why he worded it that way. Kinda made me feel like I was being spied on. I know that any game company will collect usage data, but giving the perception they can "see" my directory was creepy. I tried to explain to him that the periods of freezing coincide with the times that I can literally see the cache directory increasing in size by keeping the directory's properties windows open on my second monitor. 

I "think" that something changed either this patch or one back, but not enough people are noticing it yet, or just clearing the cache and assuming it's the norm. I might add, that these freezes also occur with a new game save with the entire mod directory removed.

I've added a rule to my CCleaner to wipe the Sims' cache directory every time it runs. Shrug. We make our own "mods" to fix the issues, eh?

The Sims 4 does not use cloud saves so whether this is on or not does not matter.

What I wanted you to do is Click Origin and see if it says Go Offline . If it does click it to go Offline. It will change to say Go Online.

It seems Gabe needs to consult a superior on how the game works there is no such thing as having too much SP, GP or EP. He may have confused it with the latest EP Cats & Dogs that had higher demands than previous meaning that som computers that were border line could not run it.

Did you have a lot of Mods or CC in your Mods folder as was claimed. If not I would disregard every thing he has said about what you have on your HD.

Sorry bout that. Yes, whenever I start Origin, I make Sure it says Offline Mode (in blue) in the upper right corner Before I click Play. As for what's in Mods - 534 MB, 423 files.

I certainly hope there wouldn't be "too many EP, SP, or GP"!  Hell, I want them all when I can afford it.

Just to rule out that Mods have anything to do with it please try to move your Mods folder to somewhere else such as your Desktop for safekeeping. Then try the game and see if that makes a difference. Also it appears that you are running dual 970 cards in SLI mode, Try to disable SLI and see if the game runs better. In rare cases a faulty SLI bridge can cause problems or poor connections can. I have all expansion, game and stuff packs and there are absolutely no problem with that.

Edit: also delete your localthumbcache.package  It will be recreated.

I've run this test with the mods folder moved to desktop already, and both the localthumbcache.package and the Sims4/cache directory are deleted every time CCleaner is run (included in the  CCleaner rules) and the freezes are still occurring. I've attached a Speccy print out just to confirm what I have in my PC. I have dual monitors, but only one GPU. Great to hear you have all the expansions. I have another issue I'm trying to sort to - I received the 18th Anniversary email with the promos, but it was sent on 02/09 at 9:31pm CST, and the promo expired on 02/08 at 10am. Suvajani from EA Help told me "mistakes happen" and I'm SOL on the offers.

Operating System
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
CPU
AMD FX-4300 20 °C
Vishera 32nm Technology
RAM
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 799MHz (11-11-11-28)
Motherboard
MSI 760GMA-P34(FX) (MS-7641) (CPU1) 22 °C
Graphics
C27F591 (1920x1080@59Hz)
C27F591 (1920x1080@59Hz)
2047MB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 750 Ti (ASUStek Computer Inc) 30 °C
Storage
931GB Western Digital WDC WD10EZEX-75ZF5A0 (SATA) 23 °C
931GB Seagate ST1000DM003-1ER162 (SATA) 23 °C
Optical Drives
hp CDDVDW TS-H653R
Audio
Realtek High Definition Audio

It may be something on the network that causes the issue. What else do you have on your local network? Another computer/Printer/TV or other?

Could you try disconnecting everything else but your PC reset the router and see if you still have the problem when online.

OK I have gone this far. Crash box - never had Origin or associated games on it. Downloaded and installed. New game - no mods, no saves. Network - no router, just plain ole cable modem. Crash box (Windows 10 Home) - cable - modem, nothing else. Start game - normal tutorials, etc. Start new lot. Freeze/Lockup about every 2-5 minutes, each lasting around 30-45 seconds. Play for about an hour. Shut down Sims 4 and Origin. Cruise over to Sims 4/Cache - 969 files/356 MB. Speed test - Down 50.83 Mbps/Up 9.61 Mbps/Latency 30 ms. I can run other installed games (SimCity / SimCity 4 / SWToR) - (Diablo III - 4 man grift) with no issue at all. Additional testing - OBS Studio/Diablo III/Logitech HD Pro 920/Blue Yeti USB Mic/iTunes streaming in the background. So far my rigs and internet can handle just about anything I throw at it - except for Sims 4. Way too much reading/accessing/writing going on in the background. If I pull the Cat cable during the Sims 4 session - all background activity stops and Sims 4 runs beautiful. I'm stumped. Going forward as far as I can tell, Sims 4 only needs internet for updates and if I want to browse community content. Otherwise I can play offline, and it's perfect (on high settings). Pretty much started this whole issue after Cats & Dogs update (which I don't even have). 

There should not be this amount of traffic. I must admit that I'm stumped in regards to what could cause it. Try to see if you can get it escalated up the ladder with EA support. Reference this thread.

@crinrictis there something you can do?

If Game Options/Other/Online Feature Access is checked, then as soon as a saved or new game is loaded, the background activity begins. The files in the Sims 4/Cache directory never get deleted or cleared unless I delete them. Even after completely shutting down the game, Origin, and rebooting the PC. 

Hello @rayzac

So the cache folder temporarily stores thumbnails from the Gallery, so that they don't have to be downloaded every time you browse.  If it's constantly filling up, even while you're not browsing the Gallery, that's indeed strange.

- Is it mainly Gallery thumbnail images saving into your cache, or are there other files being generated there?

- Have you tried turning off any non-critical apps/programs while playing, to see that makes the issue go away?

- Do you have the Share Usage Data box checked in Options?  If so, is performance improved when the box is not checked?

It is jpgs and dats. It appears to be gallery thumbnails, but not any that i've looked at or even seen. Not sure what gallery images it is "choosing" to download. When I'm gaming, that's pretty much all that's up and running. While your asking about options... the "share system interaction data", "share hardware info", "saves", and "show origin after gameplay" can all be clicked on, but they never actually stay off (gray colored, as opposed to green). The dialog does come up after each one is clicked "changes saved" but never stick.

As mentioned before, I have the best game experience when I switch origin to offline mode Before starting a game. Last few sessions I've kept Sims 4 "offline" as well, and it's been smooth sailing.

@rayzac

The thumbnails that are downloaded into the cache folder are supposed to be the ones that are loaded onto the Gallery pages that you see.  In other words, when you view the Community tab of the Gallery, the thumbnails that you see, as well as the ones on the next page down, those are the thumbnails that will be downloaded to the cache.  And as more Gallery pages are viewed, more thumbnails are loaded into the cache.  It's similar to how web images are cached locally when viewing web pages on a browser.  And for me the cache folder is automatically wiped the next time the game is launched.

- Have you tried without the mods folder and without CCleaner running on the cache?

- When you say that the options don't stay off, when do the options get re-enabled?  (The options should not be re-enabling on their own.)

- Other than CCleaner, are there any other apps/processes attached to the \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\ folder (or anything within)

- How many Gallery items have you favorited?

- How many files are in your \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Tray\ folder?  (This is where your Gallery downloads and "My Library" items are stored.  Each item in "My Library" consists of several files in the Tray folder)

So for some reason my cache directory is not wiping with each new game like yours is.

With or without mods, the cache folder reacts the same, as well as game experience.

Current Mod folder has 495 files, 635 mb. Not sure if that's considered "too much".

The options buttons are green/on again after I close my current Sims 4 game down, and the origin screen loads.

No other processes other than CCleaner.

Tray folder: 2,419 files, 89.5 mb.

I have 6 items under my favorited.

No shared/downloaded/or anyone following me.

I am following 14 people.

The following options are not checked, in-game:

Auto-reconnect, Share Usage Data, Online Notifications, Online Features Access (I check this one if I'm in the mood to view the community creations, otherwise I keep it unchecked).

@rayzac

Would you be willing to share some files?

- \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\saves\

- \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\Config.log

- Some examples of the jpgs and dats that appear in \Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 4\cache\ when you're not browsing the Gallery

If so, instructions are here:

https://answers.ea.com/t5/Bug-Reports/INFORMATION-How-to-Send-User-Files-to-The-Sims-4-Team/m-p/6065302