Ticket Options

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Lagging When Playing Simcity 4

davidcsk211two - Jun 23, 2005 - 5:59 am

Hi, i'm using a mac mini with the following configurations:

machine model: powermac10,1
cpu type: powerpc g4 (1.2)
cpu speed: 1.42 ghz
l2 cache (per cpu): 512 kb
memory: 256 mb
bus speed: 167 mhz

when i'm playing playing simcity 4, there is a serious lag. is there any way to speed gameplay up?

thanks.

Natobasso - Jun 23, 2005 - 5:30 pm

Howdy!

In a word: RAM. You need more RAM to have the best gaming experience possible, at least 512MB or 1GB. With 256 you've got a basic, bare-bones, system but not for graphically rich gaming.

Here's a great article on Yahoo regarding Sims on the Mac. There's a link at the bottom of the page for more info on this question:
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/050429/295283.html

(Looks like 256MB RAM is minimum for Sims on a mac so more is better! http://www.aspyr.com/games.php/mac/10880

And your graphic/video card in your mac mini might leave something to be desired, speed-wise, as well.)

Let me know if this helps.
--------
*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT

davidcsk211two - Jun 23, 2005 - 8:17 pm

I heard Mac minis are not user-modifiable, though. Do I have to send it to the Apple Service Centre for an upgrade?

Natobasso - Jun 23, 2005 - 8:50 pm

Looks like the RAM is user upgradeable, but only if you don't break something. If you do, you've voided youre warranty. Might be best to have an authorized tech to the install if you have any qualms about it.
Here's a website with information/instructions on the install:
http://www.macworld.com/weblogs/edit...side/index.php

Search for "mac mini" on this page. Another person lists specs that enable him to play Sims pretty well on his mac mini:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...003577-4663309

Hope this helps!

Of course I'm not recommending you do one thing or the other, but installing more RAM and making sure your video card is of a good, fast variety usually do a lot to help performance. (My little disclaimer, there)
--------
*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT

davidcsk211two - Jun 23, 2005 - 11:18 pm

Not sure if this is really related, but I can't seem to find the Simcity 4 Rush Hour application in my Applications folder, although a search a Spotlight yields such an application with the path '/Users/David/Applications/Simcity 4'. Are there hidden files in macs, like in windows?

Natobasso - Jun 23, 2005 - 11:37 pm

You should be able to see the App. There are hidden files, but they aren necessary for the user to see. Apps are definitely "necessary"…could it be you put it in a folder accidentally?

Let me know if I answered your upgrade question…
--------
*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT

davidcsk211two - Jun 24, 2005 - 12:04 am

I'm heading to the Apple service centre later to upgrade my RAM to 512mb... Will let you know if I can run the game smoothly after that.

Will anything be lost in the process of removing the original RAM and installing a new 512mb RAM? Should I do a backup of anything?

Natobasso - Jun 24, 2005 - 12:07 pm

I recommend a back up, though installing new RAM shouldn't erase or touch your hard drive at all.

have fun!
--------
*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT

davidcsk211two - Jun 25, 2005 - 3:35 am

Just went to install new RAM but problem still persists: I'm told it's the graphics card, but unfortunately, there's no graphics card upgrade for Mac mini I'll probably have wasted my money buying that game title.

Natobasso - Jun 25, 2005 - 11:49 am

Well, from that link I sent you from that other person with the Mini, it seemed the game worked just fine with that upgrade in RAM.

Maybe you just need to turn down the game's graphic settings to make it work smoother?
--------
*Nat
Pro Bass Player
Freelance Designer
Junior IT