Please check for comprehension - Graphics Cards Post

STEP 1: Have a look at your config-log.txt in the log folder of your game (in the My Documents).

Step 1 Info(Click to View)

You need to collect information from your config-log before you can use the fix - Important lines are bolded, explanation is in blue.
Lines to look at:

=== Application info ===
Name: The Sims 2 EP9 - - This tells you which game folder it is loading from. In this case it's Mansion and Gardens. If you have 'The Sims 2 SC' then look for the game expansion with the highest number. (Usually it is called EP99)
Version: 1.17.0.66
Build: ReleaseSRT
=== Machine info ===
OS version: Windows NT 6.1 - This tells you what the operating system is - If you have Windows 8 or higher, see the Windows 8 fixes below
CPU: 3353Mhz, Name:GenuineIntel, FPU:1, MMX:1
Memory: 1024MB
Free memory: 1024MB
User: <your user name>
Computer: <your computer name>
=== Sound device info ===
Name: Unknown
Driver: Unknown
=== Graphics device info ===
Number: 0
Name (driver): Intel® HD Graphics 4000 - This tells you what Graphics Card the game thinks you are using. Note if you have a Dual card and it's showing up with Intel, see the Dual Card Fix below
Name (database): Intel® HD Graphics 4000 (Integrated Chipset)
Vendor: Intel
Chipset: Vendor: 8086, Device: 0166, Board: c0e6144d, Chipset: 0009
Driver: aticfx32.dll, Version: 8.17.10.1247, GUID: D7B78E66-4226-11CF-2273-ECE0B7C2C535
Driver version: 1247
Monitor: \\.\DISPLAY1
Monitor aspect: 1.789473, 16:9
Screen mode: 1920x1080x32BPP,60Hz
Texture memory: 1280MB - If this number is 32Mb. This means you have the Texture memory problem that Microsoft introduced in 2013
HW T&L: Fixed function:1 Programmable:3.0
Pixel program: 3.0
Texture stages: 8
AppControlledAA: 1

STEP 2: Save your old Graphic Rules.sgr.

Step 2 Info(Click to View)

In the Program Folders

\EA\The Sims 2 - <your most current expansion pack>\TSData\Res\Config\
\EA\The Sims 2 - <your most current expansion pack>\TSData\Res\CSConfig\

Change the existing Graphic Rules.sgr name to something else. (I usually change it to Graphic Rules-Old.sgr)
That way if you stuff things up, you can go back to original configuration.

STEP 3: Download the graphics rules appropriate for your Video Card.

Step 3 Info(Click to View)

Pick the fix based on the Video Card that the config-log.txt thinks it's using

Download - Intel - Fix
Download - NVidia - Fix
Download - AMD Radeon 7700 Fix
Download - AMD Radeon 7800 Fix
Download - AMD Radeon 7900 Fix

STEP 4: Install New Graphic Rules and check Game

Step 4 Info(Click to View)

• unzip the downloaded card in the two folders where you saved the graphic rules.
• Open up your game, go into a hood, and check the graphics. Have a look at your hood's coastline.
  
  If it looks like the texture on the left, then there's a problem still. If it looks like the texture on the right - you're good to go.
• Close the game, and go look at your config-log.txt in your log folder. Go to the bottom of the text file and check for anti-aliasing -
  Device properties
  -----------------
  boolProp useRenderTextures false
  uintProp antialiasingSupport 1
  boolProp enableDriverMemoryManager false
  boolProp vs2LoopsFunctional false
  boolProp presentWorkaround false
  boolProp enumerateMultisampleLevels true - Anti Alias is on!
  boolProp disableTexMemEstimateAdjustment true
  uintProp deviceLocalVideoMemorySizeDefault 1342177280
  boolProp activeDeviceUseSoftwareRasterizer false
  uintProp configParserErrorCode 0
  

What to do if you have Dual Cards?
(courtesy of Lee and Poisson)

Dual Card Info(Click to View)

1. go to Nvidia control panel / select your latest installed game (SP9 most often) / force the game to use the good graphics card (not the integrated one) by selecting Nvidia high perfomance;

2. put the game in compatibility mode (Vista) and only Vista;

3. and finally -always- run as an admin.




4. Install the Graphics Rules card that goes with the graphics card that the config-log.txt says because that's what it's using to set the options.
That is, you want the game to specify hi-res/hi-cpu.

Windows 8: Black Shadows Box Issue

Black Sim Shadows(Click to View)

This is the problem


It is sometimes caused by drivers - rolling back MAY help, but not always.

The easiest way to deal with this problem, is to set shadows in the game to Medium.

The second easiest way to deal with this problem, is to change the graphic rules.sgr, so the SimShadow is false for High Shadows.

Look for this code in your graphic rules.sgr:

option Shadows
setting $Low
boolProp simShadows false
boolProp objectShadows false
boolProp guob false
boolProp heightMapShadows false

setting $Medium
boolProp simShadows false
boolProp objectShadows false
boolProp guob true
boolProp heightMapShadows true

setting $High
boolProp simShadows true <- change this to false
boolProp objectShadows true
boolProp guob true
boolProp heightMapShadows true
end

---

Hi folks - please read this and see if it all makes sense.

Also if I need to include more stuff outside the spoilers or not.

I think that looks solid kiri - we can close the existing thread with a pointer to this one if you like?

I'm going to delete this post - and make it an official post with it's own title and all. Then we can sticky it and close the old thread.

The other thing that I want to do is have the first 2 posts always with the up to date info, where the 2nd post is how to ask for help when all else fails. I have to write that one yet - but it will be fairly simple.

Ok, sounds good.

I'm not going to disturb the 'official' thread by burbling through it (just waiting for you to write that second post, first ), but I'd like to say: pretty thorough and quite straightforward handy little universal Graphics Card problem solver.

VERY well done, @celebkiriedhel . I am impressed! Wish that *I* had written it...

Thanks BO! I'm really pleased that it reads so well and will be handy.