SimCity 4 – High-Res and UHD Tweak Guide

This guide will help you play SC4 Deluxe with better graphics on new computers. It gives you two ways to do it. It also has tips to make the game run smoother and fix any problems you might have. This makes it simple for players who want the best gaming experience.

Setting Game Options

Method 1: Using the Custom SC4 Launcher

• SC4 Launcher Download Link

1. Download the Launcher: Get the launcher from the link they give you. Install it by running the MSI installer.
2. Locate the Game Executable: Tell the launcher where to find the SimCity 4.exe file. It’s usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps.
3. Setting up Game Options: Open the launcher and make a new profile with your settings. Choose DirectX hardware render mode. If that doesn’t work, try Software mode. There’s also a “Recommended Settings” option.

Method 2 (Alternative): Using Launch Options via Steam

1. Open Steam: Find SimCity 4 in your Steam library.
2. Access Launch Options: Right-click the game in the library, go to ‘Properties’, then ‘Set Launch Options’.
3. Enter Command Line Switches: In the dialog box, put in the command line switches for performance and resolution. For example:

-intro:off -CustomResolution:enabled -r3840x2160x32 -CPUCount:1 -CPUPriority:high -Cursors:fullcolor

Use the one that suits your needs. For a custom resolution, make sure you have -CustomResolution:enabled. Change the -r3840x2160x32 part to your desired resolution.

Additional Optimization Steps

4GB Patch:

1. Download the 4GB Patch: Get the patch from this link.
2. Run the Program: Open the program and follow the instructions. When it asks, find the SimCity 4.exe file (usually in C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\SimCity 4 Deluxe\Apps). Once it’s done, you don’t need it anymore.

SC4Fix.dll Plugin:

To make the game better and fix problems:

1. Download SC4Fix.dll: Click on this link to download it.
2. Extract the File: Open the file you downloaded and take out the SC4Fix.dll file.
3. Put it in a Special Folder: Find your Documents\SimCity 4\Plugins folder and put the file there.

Advanced – Using dxWrapper

The game SimCity 4 Deluxe was made a long time ago with something called DirectX 7, which doesn’t work well on new computers. But there’s a tool called dxWrapper that changes the old stuff into the newer stuff, like DirectX 9 or 10, which is better for today.

You can get dxWrapper from this website: github page.

If you want to learn how to use it really well, you can check this page: page-for-learning. But don’t change too many things if you’re not sure what you’re doing.