Darkness Problem

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

Here's the story:

I bought a new full HD monitor and hooked a windows 7 pc to it. It was so pixelated and bright on that monitor I moved it to its old monitor. The problem is that now it plays the sims3 extremely dark to the point that its unplayable.

I tried adjusting the brightness on the pc settings that didn't help. I've changed refresh rate, that didn't help.

Does anyone have any idea what to do about it?

igazor · May 2017

This may be way too basic to be helpful, but have you tried changing the brightness using any available controls on the monitor itself?

On a more technical level, have you checked the fps rate you are getting in game with the fps on cheat code (to the extent that you can see anything at all currently) to make sure they are being capped to the refresh rate of your monitor? What do you have for a graphics card and are its drivers up to date?

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

I did try the first one. The screen is as bright as possible until it plays the sims. Also changed refresh rate. I updated the drivers for the graphics card about a month ago. And, my sister tried to get it to work by changing the settings. At some point she gave up and I decided that I was just going to rename the folder and start afresh.

We then went to dinner, came back, and it wouldn't start. It says have memory problems now. My sister's going to try to fix it, but if she can't I think we're just going to have a funeral service for it and then bury it the backyard. I suppose 3 years isn't half bad for a computer I got for $130.

Thanks for your help.

igazor · May 2017

Oh, is this still the Optoplex 750 or something similar that we were talking about a couple of years ago? If so yes, I think you may have gotten your money's worth out of that one and something in it is failing from old age.

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

Yes, that's the one. I hope I can at least use the new graphics card in another one.

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

@igazor Am I correct in my thinking that Windows 7 plays sims3 better than Windows 8 & 10?

igazor · May 2017

AthenaOnyx wrote: »

@igazor Am I correct in my thinking that Windows 7 plays sims3 better than Windows 8 & 10?

I am proud (?) to say that I don't have a Win 10 machine anywhere near me at any time. Of course that will change eventually a few years from now when 7 and then later 8.1 go out of support completely.

From what I understand, there can be overall issues (not just related to TS3) with a machine going through a Win 7/8.1 to 10 update without wiping the drive and starting fresh. Not all of us have hardware that can properly support Win 10, and many need to update device drivers separately from such an update but might not know how or that it even needs doing. Not everyone experiences these things, though.

As for performance once an install is done and driver updates thoroughly handled, on a machine that can support it all, or on a machine that shipped with Win 10 in the first place, the game should play just fine. There aren't any (that I know of) performance issues strictly related to running on Win 10. If anything, Win 10 is reputed to handle RAM and resource management better on better than low-range hardware than its predecessors did.

phoebebebe13 · May 2017

AthenaOnyx wrote: »

@igazor Am I correct in my thinking that Windows 7 plays sims3 better than Windows 8 & 10?

The game plays fine on windows 8.1 ( which I have) and windows 10. The only issue with windows 10 and the sims games is activating one drive. Don't use one drive if your getting a new computer with windows 10

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

The reason I ask is because the Optiplex plays the game so much better than the Acer which should be superior to the Optiplex in every way.

The Optiplex is very delicate and it is always falling apart but when it doesn't have structural problems it plays the game fantastically and I can't even play it on the Acer without pulling my hair out. Yet the Opti won't play Skyrim and the Acer's Skyrim is amazing.

The only thing I can figure is that the Optiplex is windows 7. There's a game I love called Caesar IV that can't be played on windows 8 which is why I bought the Optiplex in the first place so I hope I'll always be able to have Win7 OS. I really despise Win8. I don't see anything good about it. Win7 is perfect. Of course when something's not broke some high-ranking plumbob has to go and "fix" it.

phoebebebe13 · May 2017

I don't like windows 8 however I dislike 10 a whole lot more. My computer came with 8 and thats where it will stay.

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

I think its funny that I can play so many of the latest games right now because my Win8 Acer is working, but all my favorite games, the one my brain keeps begging to play, are all at least five years old and I can't play them because of the stupid operating system. I keep thinking: I can play Sims3, nope, can't do that. Alright, I'll play Sims2. Not a chance. Sims1? You must be kidding. Caesar IV! Nope, it'll crash every time you send a shipment to Rome. Even my phone is messing up on me for Pokemon Go.

If this keeps up I might have to start living in reality.

igazor · May 2017

Given the number of players who manage just fine with it, I think there must be something else other than the operating system getting in the way of TS2 or TS3 on that machine. There were some issues initially with Win 8.0, but no one should be using that anymore in favor of 8.1, it's buggy and way out of support. Can you remind us of the rest of the specs on the Acer?

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

Sure. Just got back from a road trip that's why it took me so long.

Core i7-3770 CPU @ 3.4ghz

12 GB Ram
64bit OS x64 based processor

1 TB of free space

I can't seem to find the graphics card info, do you know where I can find it?

PS: Technically it does run Sims2. I wasn't thinking when I wrote that. Just have to look up the info on getting rid of the rug shadows again, plus, the game is a bit meh after sims3.

igazor · May 2017

You could give us a full dxdiag report on it if you want and paste it in by section or use pastebin.com.
https://help.ea.com/en-us/help/pc/how-to-gather-dxdiag-information

Or you could give us the first 40 lines of the DeviceConfig.log file, it's in your TS3 user game folder in Documents (you can stop when it gets to the long list of game options). The dxdiag would be more comprehensive, though.

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

System Information

Time of this report: 5/19/2017, 12:49:51
Machine name: AMANDAPC
Operating System: Windows 8.1 64-bit (6.3, Build 9600) (9600.winblue_ltsb.160119-0600)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Predator G3620
BIOS: P11-A3
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3770 CPU @ 3.40GHz (8 CPUs), ~3.4GHz
Memory: 12288MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 12224MB RAM
Page File: 5746MB used, 8334MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.03.9600.17415 64bit Unicode

DxDiag Notes

Display Tab 1: No problems found.
Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
Input Tab: No problems found.

DirectX Debug Levels

Direct3D: 0/4 (retail)
DirectDraw: 0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (retail)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (retail)
DirectPlay: 0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow: 0/6 (retail)

Display Devices

Card name: AMD Radeon HD 7700 Series
Manufacturer: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
Chip type: AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x683F)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Type: Full Device
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_683F&SUBSYS_04591043&REV_00
Display Memory: 6890 MB
Dedicated Memory: 1002 MB
Shared Memory: 5888 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: LG TV
Monitor Id: GSM0001
Native Mode: 1360 x 768(p) (60.015Hz)
Output Type: HDMI
Driver Name: aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx32,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.17.0010.1247 (English)
Driver Version: 13.251.9001.1001
DDI Version: 11.1
Feature Levels: 11.1,11.0,10.1,10.0,9.3,9.2,9.1
Driver Model: WDDM 1.3
Graphics Preemption: DMA
Compute Preemption: DMA
Miracast: Not Supported
Hybrid Graphics GPU: Not Supported
Power P-states: Not Supported
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 7/21/2014 22:04:16, 1318552 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2B7F-11CF-2C77-5324BEC2C535}
Vendor ID: 0x1002
Device ID: 0x683F
SubSys ID: 0x04591043
Revision ID: 0x0000
Driver Strong Name: oem37.inf:cb0ae414091dce7a:ati2mtag_R575A:13.251.9001.1001:pci\ven_1002&dev_683f
Rank Of Driver: 00DA2001
Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C ModeVC1_C ModeWMV9_C
DXVA2 Modes: DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_VLD DXVA2_ModeMPEG2_IDCT DXVA2_ModeH264_VLD_NoFGT DXVA2_ModeVC1_VLD DXVA2_ModeVC1_IDCT DXVA2_ModeWMV9_IDCT
Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
{335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
{5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
DXVA-HD: Not Supported
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Enabled

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

Let me know if that's not enough info.

igazor · May 2017

You are running the game using a television for a monitor? Do things change if you fiddle around with the game's resolution in Game Options?

Please remind us what is wrong with gameplay on the Acer. Sounds perfectly capable to me even if it doesn't have the newest of graphics cards. What kind of actual frame rates (fps) are you getting in-game and what steps have you taken to cap the frame rate to match or stay below the refresh rate of your monitor/television?

To check actual frame rates: Ctrl+shift+C to bring up the cheats console, fps on (enter). As you play and move the game camera around, the displayed fps rate should never go above the refresh rate, which is being reported as 60 Hz so 60 fps. To turn the display off, cheats console again and fps off (enter). Unless of course you have another tool in place that's doing the fps display thing for you already.

FYI, just so you know, your graphics card is a Radeon HD 7750.

DivieOwl · May 2017

It shows your connected with an HDMI cord. Have you tried other cords? I had an issue with gameplay when my monitor was connected with an HDMI, I had to switch to a DP cord. I'd just try several ones to see if any make the gameplay brighter.

phoebebebe13 · May 2017

AthenaOnyx wrote: »

Let me know if that's not enough info.

You need to update your video drivers. http://support.amd.com/en-us/download

Your TV monitor resolution is not your native resolution. If your going to steam your computer through a TV both should have same resolution.

Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: LG TV
Monitor Id: GSM0001
Native Mode: 1360 x 768(p) (60.015Hz)

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

igazor wrote: »

You are running the game using a television for a monitor? Do things change if you fiddle around with the game's resolution in Game Options?

Please remind us what is wrong with gameplay on the Acer. Sounds perfectly capable to me even if it doesn't have the newest of graphics cards. What kind of actual frame rates (fps) are you getting in-game and what steps have you taken to cap the frame rate to match or stay below the refresh rate of your monitor/television?

To check actual frame rates: Ctrl+shift+C to bring up the cheats console, fps on (enter). As you play and move the game camera around, the displayed fps rate should never go above the refresh rate, which is being reported as 60 Hz so 60 fps. To turn the display off, cheats console again and fps off (enter). Unless of course you have another tool in place that's doing the fps display thing for you already.

FYI, just so you know, your graphics card is a Radeon HD 7750.

I'm using a TV that works as a monitor. No things don't change.

Gameplay is just extremely slow. No matter if I turn off all the shadows/reflections etc it still runs a virtual crawl even if I take out all the CC.

I will try that in a moment.

DivieOwl wrote: »

It shows your connected with an HDMI cord. Have you tried other cords? I had an issue with gameplay when my monitor was connected with an HDMI, I had to switch to a DP cord. I'd just try several ones to see if any make the gameplay brighter.

I've only tried HDMI. Might consider trying the DP.

phoebebebe13 wrote: »

AthenaOnyx wrote: »

Let me know if that's not enough info.

You need to update your video drivers. http://support.amd.com/en-us/download

Your TV monitor resolution is not your native resolution. If your going to steam your computer through a TV both should have same resolution.

Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: LG TV
Monitor Id: GSM0001
Native Mode: 1360 x 768(p) (60.015Hz)

I'll try updating my drivers and changing the resolution.

Thank you, Everyone!

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

Okay after changing the resolution and the drivers the game seems to be running fine although I'm afraid to speak to soon. This is with a completely vanilla game. I decided to test how long it would take for the clothing to load. Ten minutes on shirts with no CC or store merchandise. But, the game seems to be working fine. Thanks again, perhaps it work on the PC.

I'm doing the fps on - the number tends to stay around 122.

igazor · May 2017

Ten minutes on shirts...you are talking about CAS category lag? A good fix for that would be the Compact View settings that come with NRaas MasterController.
NRaas > MC > Settings > CAS > Show in Compact Form:(Clothes, Hats, Accessories) > T/F
(note that in order for MC CAS settings to be honored outside of using an MC command to get into CAS/Stylist, the MC Integration add-on module is needed)

phoebebebe13 · May 2017

Your fps should be locking at 60 since your monitor is 60 hz. Its ok to be under 60 but not over. I don't play on AMD but @igazor does and can help you with that

igazor · May 2017

Agreed, I don't think the fps part of that post was there when I replied. That's way too high. Excess frame rates are like digital noise that your monitor (tv) cannot interpret, they can cause performance issues, graphics glitches, lag, stutter, screen tears, crashes, and left uncapped can ultimately damage your graphics card. Unlike more recently released games, TS3 does not have a built-in fps limiter.

AMD's Catalyst Controller (CCC) or Crimson should be used to cap the frame rates for TS3 at 60 fps. If they don't do the job well (CCC didn't work for me and I can't use Crimson on my card), then RivaTuner Stats Server (RTSS) would be the next thing to try,

AthenaOnyx · May 2017

I'll try the Nraas thing. Every time I try to deal with the fps thing my brain has a runtime error. I'll have my sister look at your comment when she gets a chance to see if there's something that she can do.

Plus, I don't know if its my imagination but the screen looks too big on the recommended settings. It's no biggie it's just that I have to put the screen size of the internet at 75%

Something else I might mention as it probably suggests other problems with the Acer is that the clock is always 8 minutes slow. I'm sure that means there's something horribly awry with it, but I just can't replace it.

phoebebebe13 · May 2017

AthenaOnyx wrote: »

I'll try the Nraas thing. Every time I try to deal with the fps thing my brain has a runtime error. I'll have my sister look at your comment when she gets a chance to see if there's something that she can do.

Plus, I don't know if its my imagination but the screen looks too big on the recommended settings. It's no biggie it's just that I have to put the screen size of the internet at 75%

Something else I might mention as it probably suggests other problems with the Acer is that the clock is always 8 minutes slow. I'm sure that means there's something horribly awry with it, but I just can't replace it.

click on the date and time and you can change it

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