!OUTDATED! [Sims3] Reduce lag by allowing more than 2 GB of RAM usage

[wapitawg]

There's no need to edit the .ini file since game already uses maximum possible RAM (about 3.4 GBs) since patch 1.17.

 

Outdated guide can be found below:

 

I'm actively searching for the ways to improve The Sims 3 performance and this helped me a lot. Just go to base game folder and open:

X:\...\The Sims 3\Game\Bin\Sims3.ini

Then find a line:

MemoryUsageLimit = 20000000

And change it to whatever* you want. Then save the file and open your game. It shouldn't lag this much, especially if you have a lot of mods.

 

 

*Of course you can't overexceed your PC RAM amount. Also, you cannot go further than 4 GB, because game's exe doesn't allow for it to use more than 4 GB due to its 32-bit nature.

 

 

 

Edit: 32 bit explanation.

 

[Cock Sucker]

Sadly this didn't help me, still got the freeze lag when tried.

 

Plus I'm sure there's a limit for the xtra ram as sims is a 32 bit exe

 

 

[Andy14]

90% for lag in TS3 are routing problems.

The Sims stand in the way of each other- or not find the way.

 

For example: elevators, small houses (especially houseboats).

 

 

[wapitawg]

Sadly this didn't help me, still got the freeze lag when tried.

 

Plus I'm sure there's a limit for the xtra ram as sims is a 32 bit exe

 

You're probably right, but 32bit exes can use up to 4 GB of RAM, so changing the .ini file is necessary. I've updated the first post of this thread.

I've also found a workaround to enable more than 4 GB of RAM usage, but it's rather complicated and I don't know if I would test it.

 

 

90% for lag in TS3 are routing problems.

The Sims stand in the way of each other- or not find the way.

 

For example: elevators, small houses (especially houseboats).

 

Yeah, that's why fixed worlds shoud be used.

 

 

[Otti]

doesn´t work on my 32bit /XP machine. The /3GB or /PAE switch in Boot.ini works with other Games but not with Sims3. Doesn´t Recognize my GraphicsCard in Graphicrules.sgr. (Device 0 can not be found) . So,i must live with the issue of Error 12,after playing of 1 hour,or switching more than 2 Pieces of Clothes in CAS. What helps a little is to have under 80 Sims in the City,and switch to an empty Lot on the City,then Save.

[Sharp_one]

There are a few incorrect and outdated tips in this thread.

 

1. Sims 3 is already LAA (Large Address Aware), which means it will already use more than 2GB of RAM. This was done by a patch long ago. The ini setting does nothing.
2. 32bit apps will generally use 3.4gb of RAM (not 4gb) and often crash after reaching this limit, which Sims 3 will do frequently with lots of mods/store content.
3. Error 12 will often happen if the game doesn't have enough RAM within that 3.4gb limit remaining to save the game, which often takes around 400mb of RAM average to do. So if you are over 3gb, you probably wont be able to save without an error or crash.

Every time I play Sims 3 I monitor the memory usage very closely, so I know when I need to save, exit the game and restart. This has worked well for me for years. It's easy for me as I have 3 monitors and can run memory monitoring software in one of my other screens. If you can't do this, I would suggest running in full-screen windowed mode and just alt-tab to ask manager or some other type of software to monitor the game's RAM usage.

 

Unfortunately Sims 3 needed to be 64bit from day one, and we had requested they make a 64bit exe from day one, but it never happened. The more expansions and store content that arrived, the worse it got. In the early days we needed these memory hacks and LAA edits to get it to function, but they ended up adding it to a patch anyway.

 

There are still numerous other issues that cause lag though, such as having too many script mods, or not merging your package files, routing issues with world maps (see above). Sims 3 isn't particularly good at utilising all cores of your CPU, unlike Sims 4, which will max all of them if needed. So there is only so much you can do.

 

Minimising custom content, and making sure any CC you do use is play-tested and very good quality. Not all people play-test their mods, because they never leave CAS/Build mode. There are so many broken mods out there still widely used. Even limiting clothes, hair and objects to store and expansion content only, you will still end up having issues unfortunately, but you can minimise it.

[wapitawg]

There are a few incorrect and outdated tips in this thread.

 

1. Sims 3 is already LAA (Large Address Aware), which means it will already use more than 2GB of RAM. This was done by a patch long ago. The ini setting does nothing.
2. 32bit apps will generally use 3.4gb of RAM (not 4gb) and often crash after reaching this limit, which Sims 3 will do frequently with lots of mods/store content.
3. Error 12 will often happen if the game doesn't have enough RAM within that 3.4gb limit remaining to save the game, which often takes around 400mb of RAM average to do. So if you are over 3gb, you probably wont be able to save without an error or crash.

1., 2. I don't know if it's true or not, but people are reporting that their game got a boost after editing the .ini file so it's worth a shot. If it does nothing then no harm can be done whatsoever.

3. I have almost 7 GB's of custom content and my game never crashes. I'm playing on full details, with high resolution and never monitor my RAM usage. I'm using CC Magic tho.

There's also some other workaround to allow even more than 4 GB of RAM usage.

[Sharp_one]

 

There are a few incorrect and outdated tips in this thread.

 

1. Sims 3 is already LAA (Large Address Aware), which means it will already use more than 2GB of RAM. This was done by a patch long ago. The ini setting does nothing.
2. 32bit apps will generally use 3.4gb of RAM (not 4gb) and often crash after reaching this limit, which Sims 3 will do frequently with lots of mods/store content.
3. Error 12 will often happen if the game doesn't have enough RAM within that 3.4gb limit remaining to save the game, which often takes around 400mb of RAM average to do. So if you are over 3gb, you probably wont be able to save without an error or crash.

1., 2. I don't know if it's true or not, but people are reporting that their game got a boost after editing the .ini file so it's worth a shot. If it does nothing then no harm can be done whatsoever.

3. I have almost 7 GB's of custom content and my game never crashes. I'm playing on full details, with high resolution and never monitor my RAM usage. I'm using CC Magic tho.

There's also some other workaround to allow even more than 4 GB of RAM usage.

 

 

Well it is true, you can check the patch notes. The ini tweak does nothing because Sims already uses maximum available memory. There is nothing else to do in that department. If you read around enough, you will also see other posts telling you the same thing. It's just a waste of time and passing on of false information. From memory, it has another use, which isn't related to how the game uses RAM.

 

As for that link, you need to READ all of it, because that does not enable Sims to use more than 4gb, as that is impossible, it can only use 3.4gb, which is the limit of being 32bit. What it does allow is to load SIms 3 into a RAM disk, which essentially makes your RAM into a super-fast SSD, and help reduce loading time. It will take up your available RAM, but it wont allow the game to use more than 3.4Gb.

 

I have far more content than 7Gb, and I don't get crashes either, except if I exceed the 32bit barrier. This generally only happens on extremely large and old games. I have one family I've played since game launch, which is why I get to this limit quickly. There are others in similar situations.

 

CCMagic will merge your mods for you, which certainly helps. The method was originally posted by Anach on MATY years ago (you can find various guides), and has been used since for Sims 3 and Sims 4 and in fact S3PE and S4PE have this function built in (import as dbc). When merging, try to keep your files under 200mb, and keep your total files under 100.

 

[wapitawg]

 

Well it is true, you can check the patch notes. The ini tweak does nothing because Sims already uses maximum available memory. There is nothing else to do in that department. If you read around enough, you will also see other posts telling you the same thing. It's just a waste of time and passing on of false information. From memory, it has another use, which isn't related to how the game uses RAM.

 

As for that link, you need to READ all of it, because that does not enable Sims to use more than 4gb, as that is impossible, it can only use 3.4gb, which is the limit of being 32bit. What it does allow is to load SIms 3 into a RAM disk, which essentially makes your RAM into a super-fast SSD, and help reduce loading time. It will take up your available RAM, but it wont allow the game to use more than 3.4Gb.

 

I have far more content than 7Gb, and I don't get crashes either, except if I exceed the 32bit barrier. This generally only happens on extremely large and old games. I have one family I've played since game launch, which is why I get to this limit quickly. There are others in similar situations.

 

CCMagic will merge your mods for you, which certainly helps. The method was originally posted by Anach on MATY years ago (you can find various guides), and has been used since for Sims 3 and Sims 4 and in fact S3PE and S4PE have this function built in (import as dbc). When merging, try to keep your files under 200mb, and keep your total files under 100.

 

Technically speaking - if you load your game into a RAM disk the game is using it, thus exceeding 4 GB. I made it simplier, hoping for anybody interested to read linked topic. Of course The Sims 3, due to its 32bit nature, cannot use more than 4 GB of RAM, but only if it appears in a form of RAM... not the RAM disk. And loading your game into a RAM disk forces the game to make its pagefile calculations on your RAM - and pagefile is essentialy used like RAM but on the hard drive. This is what this workaround is about.

[Sharp_one]

 

 

Well it is true, you can check the patch notes. The ini tweak does nothing because Sims already uses maximum available memory. There is nothing else to do in that department. If you read around enough, you will also see other posts telling you the same thing. It's just a waste of time and passing on of false information. From memory, it has another use, which isn't related to how the game uses RAM.

 

As for that link, you need to READ all of it, because that does not enable Sims to use more than 4gb, as that is impossible, it can only use 3.4gb, which is the limit of being 32bit. What it does allow is to load SIms 3 into a RAM disk, which essentially makes your RAM into a super-fast SSD, and help reduce loading time. It will take up your available RAM, but it wont allow the game to use more than 3.4Gb.

 

I have far more content than 7Gb, and I don't get crashes either, except if I exceed the 32bit barrier. This generally only happens on extremely large and old games. I have one family I've played since game launch, which is why I get to this limit quickly. There are others in similar situations.

 

CCMagic will merge your mods for you, which certainly helps. The method was originally posted by Anach on MATY years ago (you can find various guides), and has been used since for Sims 3 and Sims 4 and in fact S3PE and S4PE have this function built in (import as dbc). When merging, try to keep your files under 200mb, and keep your total files under 100.

 

Technically speaking - if you load your game into a RAM disk the game is using it, thus exceeding 4 GB. I made it simplier, hoping for anybody interested to read linked topic. Of course The Sims 3, due to its 32bit nature, cannot use more than 4 GB of RAM, but only if it appears in a form of RAM... not the RAM disk. And loading your game into a RAM disk forces the game to make its pagefile calculations on your RAM - and pagefile is essentialy used like RAM but on the hard drive. This is what this workaround is about.

 

 

No, technically the game files are using it, but the game executable will never use any more than 3.4gig. Again you are providing misleading information, as is the first post in that linked thread. Which is why people attempt to provide correct information further down the thread, as it misleads people. Yes, overall you are getting the sims to use more RAM, which is true, but not in the way that the thread title states. You are enhancing loading speeds as I said above, but not making the game executable magically use more than 3.4gb, which is why the >4gb title is misleading, as the game files are greater than 4gb and that number is meaningless in this context and only serves to get the hopes up of those less technically minded.

 

The LAA patch was 1.17. Since then Sims already uses max RAM, and no amount of tweaking will change that. yes you can use a RAM disk to improve performance, but you wont be able to get the executable to use more than 3.4gb. The MemoryUsageLimit = is likely a cache setting or left over from before the LAA patch, because it does nothing to increase RAM usage which is already at max.

[wapitawg]

No, technically the game files are using it, but the game executable will never use any more than 3.4gig. Again you are providing misleading information, as is the first post in that linked thread. Which is why people attempt to provide correct information further down the thread, as it misleads people. Yes, overall you are getting the sims to use more RAM, which is true, but not in the way that the thread title states. You are enhancing loading speeds as I said above, but not making the game executable magically use more than 3.4gb, which is why the >4gb title is misleading, as the game files are greater than 4gb and that number is meaningless in this context and only serves to get the hopes up of those less technically minded.

 

The LAA patch was 1.17. Since then Sims already uses max RAM, and no amount of tweaking will change that. yes you can use a RAM disk to improve performance, but you wont be able to get the executable to use more than 3.4gb. The MemoryUsageLimit = is likely a cache setting or left over from before the LAA patch, because it does nothing to increase RAM usage which is already at max.

 

 

Why you trippin'.

It's the same for a layman. You got your loading times shorter by using RAM. Why would I want to provide specific tech infos on a lewd site like LoversLab? C'mon. I'm a mechatronics engineer myself, but I don't see the purpose of not using mental shortcuts on porn-mods site. It's not necessary, Google provides detailed information. People come here to get their mods, fixes and easy-to-follow manuals.

Besides, I wasn't even writing about an game executable, but the game in general. Read up and don't try to be a meanie!

And if patch 1.17 already does what I've recommended in first post of this thread then... whatever! I thought we are clear about it. Anyway, if my post enocuraged some people to dig the issue themselves that's only for the good.

 

The workaround with RAM disk is something different and I linked it in the course of our disussion. It was posted a little off the topic and obviously doesn't count as a legitimate way to "allow more RAM usage", which is - as we both know - impossible. But it makes the game to use more of the RAM. You're just nitpicking.

[Sharp_one]

 

No, technically the game files are using it, but the game executable will never use any more than 3.4gig. Again you are providing misleading information, as is the first post in that linked thread. Which is why people attempt to provide correct information further down the thread, as it misleads people. Yes, overall you are getting the sims to use more RAM, which is true, but not in the way that the thread title states. You are enhancing loading speeds as I said above, but not making the game executable magically use more than 3.4gb, which is why the >4gb title is misleading, as the game files are greater than 4gb and that number is meaningless in this context and only serves to get the hopes up of those less technically minded.

 

The LAA patch was 1.17. Since then Sims already uses max RAM, and no amount of tweaking will change that. yes you can use a RAM disk to improve performance, but you wont be able to get the executable to use more than 3.4gb. The MemoryUsageLimit = is likely a cache setting or left over from before the LAA patch, because it does nothing to increase RAM usage which is already at max.

 

 

Why you trippin'.

It's the same for a layman. You got your loading times shorter by using RAM. Why would I want to provide specific tech infos on a lewd site like LoversLab? C'mon. I'm a mechatronics engineer myself, but I don't see the purpose of not using mental shortcuts on porn-mods site. It's not necessary, Google provides detailed information. People come here to get their mods, fixes and easy-to-follow manuals.

Besides, I wasn't even writing about an game executable, but the game in general. Read up and don't try to be a meanie!

And if patch 1.17 already does what I've recommended in first post of this thread then... whatever! I thought we are clear about it. Anyway, if my post enocuraged some people to dig the issue themselves that's only for the good.

 

The workaround with RAM disk is something different and I linked it in the course of our disussion. It was posted a little off the topic and obviously doesn't count as a legitimate way to "allow more RAM usage", which is - as we both know - impossible. But it makes the game to use more of the RAM. You're just nitpicking.

 

 

Well as an engineer, I'm sure you would feel similar if someone was getting some technical specifications wrong and trying to teach a class about it.

 

The RAM disk is a lot of work just to play Sims and depending on your system,  can be a little unstable, but they definitely will speed things up considerably. However, these days it 's a lot easier to put things on an SSD. Not nearly as fast as a RAM disk, but still a huge boost compared to a mechanical drive .

 

[bemis67]

There are a few incorrect and outdated tips in this thread.

 

1. Sims 3 is already LAA (Large Address Aware), which means it will already use more than 2GB of RAM. This was done by a patch long ago. The ini setting does nothing.
2. 32bit apps will generally use 3.4gb of RAM (not 4gb) and often crash after reaching this limit, which Sims 3 will do frequently with lots of mods/store content.
3. Error 12 will often happen if the game doesn't have enough RAM within that 3.4gb limit remaining to save the game, which often takes around 400mb of RAM average to do. So if you are over 3gb, you probably wont be able to save without an error or crash.

Every time I play Sims 3 I monitor the memory usage very closely, so I know when I need to save, exit the game and restart. This has worked well for me for years. It's easy for me as I have 3 monitors and can run memory monitoring software in one of my other screens. If you can't do this, I would suggest running in full-screen windowed mode and just alt-tab to ask manager or some other type of software to monitor the game's RAM usage.

 

Unfortunately Sims 3 needed to be 64bit from day one, and we had requested they make a 64bit exe from day one, but it never happened. The more expansions and store content that arrived, the worse it got. In the early days we needed these memory hacks and LAA edits to get it to function, but they ended up adding it to a patch anyway.

 

There are still numerous other issues that cause lag though, such as having too many script mods, or not merging your package files, routing issues with world maps (see above). Sims 3 isn't particularly good at utilising all cores of your CPU, unlike Sims 4, which will max all of them if needed. So there is only so much you can do.

 

Minimising custom content, and making sure any CC you do use is play-tested and very good quality. Not all people play-test their mods, because they never leave CAS/Build mode. There are so many broken mods out there still widely used. Even limiting clothes, hair and objects to store and expansion content only, you will still end up having issues unfortunately, but you can minimise it.

 

As both a former modder and programmer the Sims 3 will use up to 3.7 gigs of RAM before the danger of Error 12 which happens if you exceed 3.75 and CTD if you hit 3.8 gigs of RAM if you have at least 8 gigs of RAM and an optimized OS.

You can offset  having a large amount of CC and mod files by upping your system RAM to 16 gigs or if you have a pre-2012 Base Game disc (all base game discs after 2012 require Origin but pre-2012 discs are still around if you know what to look for) and  bypass the launcher you can get away with it at 8 gigs of RAM