Wall Tool Lag

[Aldakoopa]

I just started getting a really annoying lag when using the wall tool to create or destroy walls in build mode. I haven't played TS3 in a few weeks, but I also haven't updated the game since the last time I played it, and I noticed no such problems then, other than an occasional stutter that mostly occurred when loading detail on a lot, I'm assuming from having to read from my hard drive.

What happens is, as soon as I start to build, or delete a wall using the wall tool, the wall tool for up to several seconds, and lags way behind my cursor movements (the cursor is still free to move, so it isn't completely frozen).

It does not happen when I use the sledgehammer tool to delete walls, and I haven't noticed the fence tool giving me any trouble either, however, if I use the wall tool to delete a fence, it has the very same lag.

The expansion packs I have installed are World Adventures, Ambitions, Late Night, and Pets.

The only Custom Content I have installed is Riverview, and the only mods I have are the no intro, no build sparkles, and a celebrity difficulty mod.

My computer specs are:

ASUS M5A88V-EVO motherboard
8GB PNY Optima 1333MHz DDR3 RAM, two 4GB sticks in dual channel
AMD FX-4100 quad core, overclocked to 4.2GHz
HIS IceQ X Turbo Radeon HD 6850, overclocked to 900MHz core, 1180MHz memory
500GB 7200 RPM Seagate Barracuda HDD
600W Corsair GS600 PSU
64 bit Windows 7 Home Premium

That's probably more than enough information. All overclocks are 100% stable and have been running every other game I own flawlessly. I just don't understand why this lag would crop up out of nowhere.

The only difference I know of might be in updated drivers for my hardware which have only made the system perform better, or at least in every other circumstance.

[Aldakoopa]

Using FRAPS, GPUz, and a CPU/RAM usage monitor, I have come up with this:

- My framerate, shown by FRAPS remains constant, even when the wall tool is lagging or frozen.

- My GPU load remains at a fairly consistent 65%, as shown by GPUz.

- My RAM remains at a constant 30% load.

- My CPU usage, however, shows an interesting deviation. When doing almost anything else in the game, it appears to mostly run threads on one core, as core #4 is at 50-70% load while the rest sit at idle (10% or below). When I use the wall tool to build or destroy walls, all four cores go to 45-65% load and stay there for however long it takes for the wall tool to "catch up" with the cursor and I let go of the mouse.

Why would just the wall tool suddenly demand a rather hefty load on my entire CPU, yet, at the same time, it's not a bottlenecking load as the CPU still has plenty of head-room, let alone the rest of my hardware, so the entire lag situation makes no sense to me whatsoever.

I am completely stumped and can't enjoy building in my game anymore. :cry:

[simsample]

As a troubleshooting aid, can you test it with this mod installed:
http://modthesims.info/download.php?t=343257
Do you still get the lag without the sparkles?

[Aldakoopa]

That's one of the mods I have installed, and I've played with and without it and it makes no difference. In fact, I've removed all my mods and it makes no difference.

[Aldakoopa]

I just completely uninstalled/reinstalled, and the lag is gone. But, now I have to update/install mods and CC, so I guess I'll see if it stays that way.

EDIT: Just finished, and replaced my save game file, and it appears that my save game is the only thing affected now, which is annoying because now I have to start over again, as if spending 2+ hours re-installing the game wasn't a good enough way to waste my day off.

There's apparently no angry smilies on this site, otherwise I would add the angriest smiley you've ever seen in your life.