User:Mikey/Improving Sims 3 Performance

Improving Sims 3 Performance

Does your game lag or jump around constantly? Can you barely make it through a sitting without your game crashing, distorted images, or the program freezing on you? Maybe your game performance has gone downhill from when you originally installed it. Or, maybe even you just want to know how to increase your performance to a higher level than it already is. If any of these apply to you, you have stumbled across the right article. This guide is meant to give you some tips for bettering the experience while playing "The Sims 3" and, maybe, your computer as a whole! Each one of the following subsections has a link to an article that will help you down the road to making the game more enjoyable. Go down the list and you could be playing a better quality game in no time!

Your system

Usually, general performance issues can be traced not to something wrong with the game's programming, but an issue with your computer in some way...such as specs, updating drivers, upgrading, etc.

System

Your System: SPECS This is something you should have checked before you got the game in the first place, but if you're experiencing crappy performance, this may be something worth looking into - is your computer strong enough to run the game? To find out your computer's specs, see: System Specs GAME REQUIREMENTS Once you know what your computer has under the hood, you need to compare that to what is required to run the game and expansions you want to use. For full requirements for TS3 and its EPs, see: TS3 System Requirements Your computer should not only meet the minimum requirements, but exceed them! Make sure to note all the recommendations on that page by MTS staff, indicating what will not only run the game, but run it well! UPGRADING (OPTIONAL) If your computer does not meet or exceed requirements, you'll probably need to upgrade - this means either buying new components to spiff up your current computer, or, depending on your system, purchasing a whole new computer. For information on hardware, upgrades, and purchasing a new computer, see: MTS Computer & Software Technical Support Help Forum SYSTEM CHECKUP If your computer isn't brand new, you might need to do some general maintenance to keep it running its best. Even if you're not a "computer person" it is definitely worth learning basic computer tune-up skills... not just for your game performance, but in general! For all kinds of info and links on maintaining your computer, see: System Checkup UPDATE DRIVERS Sometimes, especially if you've recently patched/updated your game, you may experience decreased performance. This can be due to outdated drivers. Drivers are the bits of code that tell your computer how to use its hardware - like the part of the brain that helps interpret what your eyes see. Occasionally manufacturers of various hardware devices will release new drivers that help their products work better, and may fix known issues with certain games. Make sure to update your drivers regularly, even if you're not experiencing issues. CLEANING YOUR COMPUTER Computers get exceedingly dusty inside that case, and the more dust and gunk there is, the hotter the components get, and the harder it is for them to work right. If you have a laptop, you need to get a professional to clean it out for you, but if it's a desktop you can do it yourself. Here's how to give your computer a basic spring clean: To start off, you need a hand-held vacuum cleaner, or an extension for an upright vacuum which gives you a small nozzle or slit to use - think of the kind of thing you'd use to vacuum out your car or the top of a cabinet. Making sure that you unplug your computer first! If you have an area of your house without carpet, especially if you have wood floors, work there. Make sure you have plenty of space and nothing lying around that could accidentally be knocked or fall into your computer. Start by vacuuming the fans at the back of your computer, particularly the power supply fan. Keep going until there's little or no fluff coming out of them, it might take a while depending on when they were last cleaned. Now you need to figure out how to open your case. For most cases, one of the sides can be removed. You can find information on how to get inside most cases if you do a simple google search, or look on the manufacturer's home page. Make sure not to touch any of the components inside, and if you think you're likely to brush against something by accident, make sure you're wearing an anti-static strap connected to the case, or are keeping hold of the case with one hand (or foot, if necessary) - and bear in mind that if you do this, you'll need to keep the computer plugged in, but with the power off. Once you have the case open, get vacuuming! You need to get the fluff and dust out of the fans, the corners of the case, and off of the motherboard and other bits of circuitry. Don't be shy! You can get up pretty close to the components without having to worry about causing damage. The only things you definitely shouldn't do are drag the nozzle across components, and try to pick the dust out with your fingers. Keep on vacuuming until there's as little dust lying around as possible. You may also choose to use a can of compressed air to loosen dust that the vacuum may otherwise miss. Especially for fans, it is usually more effective to use a can of compressed air than a vacuum alone. If you're in a smallish room you might want to open a window - you'll be surprised at the amount of fluff you'll find.

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Options

Reducing in game options for better perfromance

Options
In Game Options: Bypass the Launcher There are many reasons people want to bypass the game launcher. Whatever your reason, it is quite easy to accomplish with just a few clicks. Game Help:TS3 Bypassing the Launcher Reduce the number of programs running on your computer while you play disconnecting from the internet

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In Game Settings

Settings

In Game Options: Reduce Visual Settings Disable Online Options Turn off the in-game Shop Mode (in patch 1.8 (World Adventures release) onwards). Disable prompt to login to Social features (in patch 1.31 (Showtime release) onwards). Disable Online Notifications (in patch 1.31 (Showtime release) onwards). Disable Interactive Loading screen (in patch 1.63 (Into The Future release) onwards). Apart from disabling all the online features, make sure to also not log in. In Origin, Launcher and in game! You can even block the Launcher and Game with a Firewall program, provided you have one Note: it's not possible for some recent store bundles or plus packs to run without Origin Turn off Memories Turn off Memories Notifications (in patch 1.22 (Generations release) onwards). This method works for patches from 1.22 to 1.39. If you want to totally Disable memories while on these patch versions, you need a mod. Disable Memories (in patch 1.42 (Seasons release) onwards). This method works for patches from 1.42 onwards. disabling them would also turn off the notifications. You no longer need a mod to disable Memories from this patch version onwards.

User Files

User Files

User Files: saved styles and custom presets Disable the FeaturedItems folder You can easily disable EA's ability to load images in the FeaturedItems folder by making it Read Only. You can find the folder in your User Files, typically - C:\Users\USERNAME\Documents\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\FeaturedItems Right-click on the folder FeaturedItems and choose Properties Make sure to choose the user with which you play the game and then click on Edit… Make sure again, that you’ve chosen the user you play the game with look for the option Write. Tick the check box for Deny. Confirm with OK Reduce CC load

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Programs

Programs

Programs: Dashboard It's basically designed to let people easily clear the cache and identify problem content. This tool has 4 main tasks: To easily show you which games you have, whether or not they have a full framework, and to browse to that games root folder. To show you the contents of the Sims 3 cache files, and clear them To show you all of your custom content in .package format, and display any "corrupted" files, or Sims 2 content, or stuff that just plain wont work. To fix any problems wIth corrupted files, empty files, generally broken files, and allow you to fix conflicts yourself For more information and download - http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=387006 Custard This tool is basically the "Clean" part of the old Sims2Pack Clean Installer that some of you may remember from TS2 days. It features the same functionality as the TS3 Dashboard, but works solely on Sims3Packs. You can use it to basically "clean" your Sims3Packs, and also see if they have any corrupted packages inside. For more information and Download - http://www.modthesims.info/download.php?t=390235 S3PE S3PE or Sims3 Package Editor - used to open and edit package files. For more information and download - http://www.den.simlogical.com/denforum/index.php?board=19.0 FPS Limiter Razer Game Booster Kurees SaveCleaner How it works: It will delete all the SNAP TS3 created for each sim in the game. However, the game itself will not delete these images even though they are no longer in use and that's part of reason why the save is so big. Don't be panic! When you play the game, TS3 will re-generate all the necessary SNAP. When you travel and come back, all your memory is backup but not deleted. Consequently, your save have many duplicated pics. It will delete these duplicated images without influencing your save For more information and download - http://www.den.simlogical.com/denforum/index.php?board=80.0

Launcher

Lanucher
Launcher: using subfolderr Use the Installed CC Tabs

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Custom Content/Mods

Mods
Custom Content/Mods: MasterController NRaas Error Trap Overwatch DebugEnabler Story Progression Register World Fixes by Ellacharmd Using Hiders Any Game Starter Sim Game Selector

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Information collected from this thread - http://www.modthesims.info/showthread.php?t=525052

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