windows 7 32 bit memory extending for a specific game program
So how is it that you can insure a game like Sims 3 has access to beyond 2gigs of memory. One part is kill all backgound programs. And please be simple. Because I can't trudge through all the reading anymore my eyes are going bad one is blind and I have to use the other to see now. PAE is kinda long just need the commands and what to do. does DEP need to be on for that to happen and do I have to put Sims 3 in DEP? I have 8 gig installed of physical memory. so what settings do I use to extend this both for the computer and for the specific program. Sorry I am asking for an answer like this just I am too old to go through it all. Thanks, RolandRoland Wade PO1 USN Retired
May 17th, 2010 2:04pm

Please refer: Memory useage under 32bit vs. 64bit - OS reports are basically identical... To utilize all of the 8GB memory, you need a Windows 7 64bit system. Because 32bit systems cannot address more than 4GB physical memory. Also you need to enable the memory remap function in BIOS, so that all memory can be addressed by the system.Arthur Xie - MSFT
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May 18th, 2010 9:39am

Ok I will check the remapping on the Bios it may not come like that for default. But can you put a switch so Sims uses at least 2gig memory of the 4gig recognized by 32bit. Roland Wade PO1 USN Retired
May 18th, 2010 7:13pm

No such switches. The memory usage of a program depends on how many memory they applied. If your system runs the game difficultly, you may close some background programs when running the game.Arthur Xie - MSFT
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May 19th, 2010 11:29am

A game cannot use so much memory, normally (the system requirements for Sims 3 are 1.5 G for Vista/Win7). The RAM is needed mainly for graphics operations, and you may notice limitations when a lot of screen activity happens at once (a complicated background with many persons moving across the screen, f.e.). This problem can be solved by installing a graphics card with more Video RAM (VRAM) and/or by installing a better CPU that can release the GPU from some tasks. But going from 1.5 to 4 G or more computer memory doesn't help much in this case. The real need for more physical RAM installed and accessible on your system comes into play if a program wants a huge memory amount for temporary data storage (big databases, rearranging the content for sorting/searching purposes - video processing software, storing every step of a movie for recomposition - audio and picture processing, with similar issues). For those cases, you could change the way memory is splitted between OS and applications, by using a certain BCDEDIT switch that allows programs to claim up to 3 G and limits the OS down to 1 G. But you shouldn't need and try that as the results could be ugly (system crashes)."I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. (Thomas J. Watson, Sr.)
May 19th, 2010 3:05pm

@Sanmartin, but the application must be compiled with the IMAGE_FILE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE compiler flag. Memory Limits for Windows Releases http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa366778%28VS.85%29.aspx"A programmer is just a tool which converts caffeine into code" CLIP- Stellvertreter http://www.winvistaside.de/
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May 19th, 2010 3:36pm

Hi André, you're completely right. I didn't want to go deeper into the use of this thingy (the "certain BCDEDIT switch") because I'm heavily in doubt it would be of any help for the OP's gaming problem."I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. (Thomas J. Watson, Sr.)
May 19th, 2010 11:07pm

Ok I got the game running I have a large GPU card installed Ge force 9800GT. Problem I found out this card is not supported for Direct X 11. Now the issue goes on. I used the web-update tool for direct x. from MS site and it updated Direct X on the computer. The card is supported by direct x 10. Now things seem more stable as far as the video card. Problem is should I have even run the tool. I am getting crazy video flashes using the new settings. I think the problem is the Video Card and there is an issue with Setpoint software by Logitech. I questioned the Logo signature by MS on the site and submitted documents that Sims is not certified to work on Windows 7 and to resend the Logo for this software. Problem is they don't do Bench Mark. There is also an issue with Logitech software having Win 7 logo for Setpoint. It works but problems with other Programs. Sims and Norton have a conflict, but at least Norton reviews their software support is great compared to EA. The techs for EA are lazy. "create a new account and see if that fixes the problem. They don't even review the Dxdiag file when trouble shooting. Anyway back to my issue the update tool installed direct x 9c. I think now everything is slower, but more stable. If you need to transfer this to a separate thread. I got notify on. The game still crashes and fps is up to 200 or higher at times. I think the World Adventures expansion is overheating the video card. It was up ward of 65C while running the game and you cannot set the fan speed on the GPU it stays operating at 40% no wonder everything is failing. Thanks for the info. Roland Wade PO1 USN Retired
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May 21st, 2010 12:13am

Hi Andr'e Yes but that is what they need done on the system to run the game. I have read on many sites concerning the game. That the BCDEDIT and the IMAGE_FILE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE are exactly the issue for Sims 3. the problem is if I don't set this up correctly you are correct Major Crashes. Boom goes the CPU. which is an Intel 9400Q dual quad. Roland Wade PO1 USN Retired
May 21st, 2010 12:34am

Hello Roland, You have mentioned what I think is usually called artifacts from the video card. If that is the case then there is something that you may try. It is actually a reverse of what is liked, but try running with you video card detuned by 10%. I had to do this before when running Grid and Crysis. I didn't notice a difference in Grid (247 down to 205). Any change above 80fps are not very noticeable . Also you might try along with this add about 2g of Virtual Memory. We have one machine with the GTX 285 card and Q9550 and one machine with ATI 4870 card and I7 920. Both have been de-tuned and this has stopped the crashes. The added virtual memory did not change the performance in FPS it just made everything just seem to make the games run as smooth as glass. JB
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May 21st, 2010 4:57am

Thanks JB I have virtual memory set to the max allowed on each drive 4095 and it is set. Problem I don't know how to de-tune the card I have little experience in video matters. It seems the software for nvdia is lacking software to support the card. The fan and other matters are not setable in the software for nvida. I will research the matter more. but if you know then let me know. I am having the nightmare of my life with this video card. I may get a 470 or 480 gtx but gee it is around 500.00 or more to buy that and my people get a little upset when I go spending money for hardware upgrades. My manager the wife just never understands technology needs to grow and the longer I been at it the faster it goes. Main Frame when I started where 64bit processors now they set on a desktop. Thanks again.Roland Wade PO1 USN Retired
May 21st, 2010 11:21am

Hello again, NVidia NTune, EVGA Percision and RivaTuner are programs that will do this. The most user friendly is EVGA Percision (Freeware) (You will have to create an account to download it). RivaTuner can be a little much. Not user friendly at all. This program can allow you to make changes that may damage your video card, so if you use it, use it with care. You may just first try a manual increase of your fan speed, if you believe heat is an issue. For the other settings, just bring your stock settings down about 10% and try it with games that have been crashing. With virtual memory it is just a plus here. I only use it on one drive, less for the OS to keep up with. Try it, Hope this helps. I can understand that manager part. I have one of those too. If not we might not have food to eat at times. JB
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May 22nd, 2010 10:33am

Ok Thank you JB I will get that now.Roland Wade PO1 USN Retired
May 22nd, 2010 3:31pm

Hi Roland, a minor addition: You shouldn't set values for memory usage. "Max memory" in MSCONFIG should be "0" (any other value is in fact a limitation, usually followed by slowdowns), and the virtual memory should be left as it is, automatically managed by Windows. You can't improve that, rather make things worse. Btw, the game is written for DirectX 9 and doesn't need DirectX 10/11 support, so your video card shouldn't be the problem, too, if it isn't defective (you must install DX 9 separately, but I see you did that). The usual suspects in those cases are neither the system memory nor the video hardware per se (your card is listed as supported), but the video card's drivers (try another one, sometimes older drivers give less problems) or conflicting software that runs in the background (antivirus, mostly, disable all while running the game)."I think there is a world market for maybe five computers. (Thomas J. Watson, Sr.)
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May 23rd, 2010 2:11pm

I was checking the virtual memory settings when I installed Win 7 it set the memory to 3070 for all drives. I dd not change it since the install did change it to that setting I will change it back to windows managed. for the C: drive that may allow more paging files to help prevent part of the Problem. I found out from other forums that the issue is Sims its self. It seems that while the Program is running at 30fps internally it is running at a much higher fps rate It exceeds 3000 fps during playing of the internal game videos and exceeds 100 to 340fps during game play. In addition the only fix that EA has for this game is create a new admin account. Problem this is not recommended. Because now you have a security issue of inheritable rights and drives as the original owner and Super Admin account. I told the less than intelligent EA tech that and he said (duh) it works and if you don't want to do it then we can no longer support this ticket. Next Issue the Geforce 9800 GT is not recommended for windows 7. The larger issue is Sims is averting the fps and causing overheating to GPU's. This is their fault and the game as is does not work on Windows 7 or Vista. It will only run on XP and not the Virtual XP machine. Next It even crashed Fraps and commercial program that controls fps and other related problems with video cards. This game is out of control and I stand by my comments to Microsoft this Game is Not compatible with Win 7 or Vista. The problem begins with the coding for the Expansion of World Adventures. I do not know how they got their Logo but Microsoft needs to remove it. The game is still overheating other cards by ATI and Nvidia it is the software not the machine. It seems their is no software available for this card other than the ones recommend by JB. Problem with that software is it is using hooks to control the driver for the Video Card at the OS level. This issue came up when Sony used similar software to open a back door in the name of Copy Right Protection. Most new virus protectors detect these hooks since that time and view them as an intrusion at the OS level and will remove them by default. Thanks for all the help guys. I give up If you think you know check your facts. Roland Roland Wade PO1 USN Retired
May 28th, 2010 10:32am

Ok gentlemen I found out the problem and how to fix the Issue. Worked on this for a long time. The one issue of having virtual memory controlled by Windows fixes one issue of Game Crashing. The other issue of game crashing is caused because the game and most cards are set to default to let the Game application control Vsync in 3D settings this causes GPU throughput overrun and overheats the GPU. This is the default setting for PhysX . What you need to do is force the Vsync ON for this game. this lowers the FPS to 60 it does not fix the issue entirely but is is somewhat tolerable for the GPU. It would be nicer to force it to 30FPS. Navida is working on a driver control to set the Fan Speed Manually. The default for this game is no good. PhysX setting is game controlled. The other issues I am still working on but this stops two of them. Random game crashes and Crashes during save are stopped. The Install is a big problem still. But Win 7 does fix some of the install issues Vista was having with UAC. You may still need to uninstall and clean the registry. To get a clean install. I bench tested the FPS at this setting and it at least lowers it to the 60FPS. Like I always say if you think you know check your facts. Roland Wade PO1 USN Retired
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May 29th, 2010 11:52am

Roland Wade don't know if you come back to look at this at times, but if so this will be an update from me. My son went back online with City of Heroes after being off for a year and a half. First run of the game started to getting some arfifacts and then some crashes. we had already detuned the video card and the other changes mentioned above. Switched the card to my computer, same thing. Called the support of the card and RMAed it. Took it out and packaged it up and went to UPS and sent it off. I get home and he says that the other card is doing the same thing. The other card is an old Nvidia 8200. Went through a few trial changes. Finally went into the bios and turned off speed stepping. All of it went away. We Have gotten the new card back but he does not want to change it back to try to affirm that it was the problem. Don't know if it is something with game code or NVidia interaction with the processor, or just something with NVidia cards or it May be intel's stepping that is the problem . But there has been no problem since. The only facts I have is that it all went away. JB
July 16th, 2010 7:22am

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