Fragmented graphics

[Amairani]

I bought new PC with Sims 3 in mind but also wish to play Sims 2 on it. Even though new PC is far superior to my old one where Sims 2 run with no problems on high settings, I can't enjoy the game fully on new machine.

Almost always the graphics become fragmented, distorted, I don't really know the words to explain it, here are the pictures as example:

http://i44.tinypic.com/zujh2d.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/4vn7yw.jpg

This happens when I zoom in/out, when move cursor over objects, after I fast forward the time and return to normal, when use Eyeblopper or SledgeHammer tools. Often it happens just because Sims move around, causing objects around them to look distorted.

I read the Help articles - set processor's affinity to CPU 0 (I've got Dual Core), disabled Reflections, even lowered settings to middle or low, nothing helps. I have the latest driver available for my video card.

What else can I do?



My system specs:

System Information
------------------

Operating System: Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_rtm.101119-1850)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 02/05/10 19:13:52 Ver: 08.00.10
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-2100 CPU @ 3.10GHz (4 CPUs), ~3.1GHz
Memory: 4096MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 4078MB RAM
Page File: 3355MB used, 4797MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce GTX 460
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0E22&SUBSYS_34FC1458&REV_A1
Display Memory: 2776 MB
Dedicated Memory: 993 MB
Shared Memory: 1782 MB
Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: BenQ G2222HDL D-SUB
Monitor Model: BenQG2222HDL
Monitor Id: BNQ7859
Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.000Hz)
Output Type: HD15
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.8562 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.8562
DDI Version: 11
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/15/2011 10:53:00, 15693120 bytes

While writing the above, I had a crazy idea the cause for problem might be the display settings. It's 1920x1080 (60Hz) but I had 1280x1024 (75Hz) set up for Sims 2. Well, changing settings haven't changed much with how graphics show up in game :(

[Amairani]

I keep testing my saved games.

In one of them the above mentioned problem seems doesn't exist.
In other game I was able to fix it (or so I think judging from the short time I played that 'hood) by setting game's screen resolution to 1440x900, with 60Hz
In another, the shimmering/distorted graphics appear after a minute or two of playing the lot, and happen not only when I hover the mouse over any interact-able object but around any moving Sim as well. I set the resolution to the maximum of 1600x1024, and it might have reduced the shimmering a bit, but I'm not sure yet.

I'd like to try setting the game's screen resolution to what I have my monitor set up with, which is 1920x1080, but I don't have this option in game's settings, the last one available is 1600x1024. Anyone knows if it's possible to set it up with 1920x1080?

I somehow suspect the problem is really about the screen resolution. Doesn't look like my graphic card - the lowest settings in Sims 2 produced the same problem in affected neighbourhoods, high-demanding Sims 3 run with no issues whatsoever :/

[Mootilda]

You could try this FAQ:
http://simswiki.info/wiki.php?title=Game_Help:Cannot_Raise_Resolution

You could also try the following command line parameters:
-f (Full screen)
-w (Windowed)
-rx (Screen resolution)

Create a new shortcut to the game EXE (I don't know whether this will work if you use the launcher).
Right click on the shortcut and choose Properties.
After the name of the EXE, type a space and then the parameters that you want.

For example, my shortcut for the base game has the following parameters, which say to run in windowed mode with a custom resolution:
"C:\Program Files\EA GAMES\The Sims 2\TSBin\Sims2.exe" -w -r1152x864

[Amairani]

editing the shortcut with -r1920x1080 made the game to run at 800x600 instead o_O Looked awful but without problems (or I haven't sticked to that resolution long enough for the problems to occur). Will try the harder method from simswiki later and pray it helps, otherwise I can't enjoy Sims 2 anymore on my damned expensive new PC.

update: nope, it's not about the resolution, graphics get distorted at -r1920x1080 too. It's so frustrating! I'm completely at a loss what can cause this.

update #2 : I figured it out - the installation of each saved game from the backup to new PC was done "incorrectly", or at least it didn't work the way it used to work when I restored backups on old PC, just by moving from one partition to another, or from external HD to PC, though I'd never guess it could matter! Could it be that the reason is in different OS? I had XP there but now - Windows 7? Anyways, problem solved :giggler:

Strangely, if I turn Reflections off (I wanted to see what this settings do), then problem returns, once I turn Reflections back on, it goes away. Maybe settings I used when creating and backing up the games should be the same after I transfer them to new PC and play?
Also the shimmer re-appeared twice in 'hood I'm currently playing - the moment a Headmaster arrived and again when Grim Reaper appeared, but both times the shimmering disappeared quickly. I can bear with it.