Re: Sims 4 hardware utilization below spec

I've tried both methods, neither works.

I've attached the dxdiag.

Also thank you for your time!

@MultiChipModule  Try disabling FreeSync on your third monitor.  I don't think it's available on your other models, but if so, please disable it there as well.

Your dxdiag also lists a few different errors with Nvidia software.  If disabling FreeSync doesn't help, it's a good idea to do a clean uninstall and reinstall of the Nvidia graphics driver.  Download Display Driver Uninstaller from here:

https://www.wagnardsoft.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3480

Next, take your computer completely offline—disable wifi and/or pull the ethernet cord—and double-click the DDU.exe.  Take note of where the file will land, and click Extract.  If it's easier, you can copy the path and then paste it into the address bar in a File Explorer window.  Open the folder and then launch Display Driver Uninstaller.exe, and you'll get a message that you're not in Safe Mode.  Click OK, then go to Options and enable Safe Mode dialog.  Here's a screenshot of what your options should look like; make sure the box in red is checked:

Close options, and the DDU, and then open the DDU.exe again.  For launch options, choose "Safe Mode (Recommended)," and then click Reboot to Safe Mode (you'll need your password, so find it before rebooting).  Once you login, you'll see this:

In the blue box, choose GPU, then Nvidia if it's not already showing.  Then click Clean and Restart (red box).

Once your computer has rebooted, now back in normal mode, run the driver install .exe in custom mode.  Select "perform a clean installation" and install ONLY the GPU driver and the PHYSX software.

Reboot again, go back online, and see how the game runs.

After doing this, I now get between 50 and 70 fps at 30%cpu and 50% gpu!

At least it's playable now.

I am however still confused why the game won't use everything it can, is there some sort of internal lock?

Thanks for the help!

@MultiChipModule  Which step made the difference?  I'm curious whether either or both helped.

There is a max framerate setting within options.ini, but last I checked, that was 200.  And plenty of people with weaker hardware than yours get higher fps along with higher CPU and GPU utilization.  Just checking, but have you confirmed the temperatures of the components are under control?  They certainly should be with the low usage, but it would explain the issue.

Otherwise, try playing in a clean boot.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-clean-boot-windows-10

When you reboot, go through the Task Manager's background processes list and shut down anything that doesn't absolutely need to be running.  That includes any RGB control apps or something like MSI Afterburner; these often don't get disabled in a clean boot.  Razer software can interfere as well.  Don't even run your monitoring app(s) while you play.  While you won't be able to check utilization, you can get a rough sense of where you are with just an fps counter.  Origin has one, enabled in Applicaton Settings > Origin in-game, or you can use the cheat fps on and the number will show in the lower left corner of the screen, over the UI.

If the clean boot doesn't make a difference, try unplugging all but one monitor.  Running all three should in theory be fine, but it's yet another thing that could possibly interfere and is easy to test.

While testing, please use a clean Sims 4 folder.  Move the current one out of Documents\Electronic Arts, and the game will spawn a new copy with no content.  Don't add anything to it yet; just play a new save, to keep things simple, and test in one or more of the base game worlds.