Target: This article applies to both users running The Sims 3 (all or no EP’s) on either Windows, or WINE (or PlayOnLinux).

This article covers the description of the problem, causes, how to clear the Sims 3 Cache, and how to resolve the problem completely.

Problem description: Objects, Sims (especially clothing) and all or parts of lots are turning black. (Anything with texture).

Further: … Sometimes only newly placed objects have these issues occur. Some Sims may still have correct clothing while others do not. Certain categories of objects (such as only floors, only walls, only tables) seem to have this problem.
Cause: The cause is not certain, but it has been narrowed down to a few things:

Your Graphics Card does not support Vertex Shading. Try disabling “Advanced Rendering” in the Sims 3 options window. Try clearing the cache (see below for instructions)

DirectX may be out of date (Windows) or not all components of DirectX are working properly (WINE + Linux)

Problem Solution:

1. First, please try simply clearing the Sims 3 cache. To do this, Navigate to where your Sims files are saved. This should be located under your My Documents folder (or the Home Folder, in Linux) and under the sub folder, Electronic Arts > The Sims 3

Delete every file (not folder) that contains the word Cache. These should be:

CASPartCache.package

compositorCache.package

scriptCache.package

simCompositorCache.package

Also delete all files in the “Thumbnails” folder.

(“What is a Cache?” see note 1)

After you have deleted the cache, start the game again and see if this resolves the problem.

If it does fix the problem, restart the game to make sure that the solution lasts.

If this does not fix the problem, continue:

2. Disable “advanced rendering” in the game’s graphics options menu.

Delete the cache again (step 1).

Start the game. If this does fix the problem, restart the game to make sure that the solution lasts.

3. If the problem is still occurring, lower the texture detail in the game to its’ lowest setting.

Delete the cache again (step 1)

Start the game. If this does fix the problem, restart the game the game to make sure that the solution lasts.

4. If the problem is still occurring, lower all other graphics settings to their lowest setting.

Delete the cache again (step 1)

You can either leave these settings on low, or try upping them until you get the problem again and narrow them down to a setting that works.

If this helped you solve the problem, please comment below and let people know what you tried and what was or wasn’t helpful, as well as any other solutions you may have found.

Note 1:

“What is a Cache?”

A cache is a place where a program or operating system stores information to be used again. Caches often contain old information that is no longer needed. Caches can also be used to conserve space in the RAM of your computer by storing less used information on the hard drive. A cache often contains instruction sets that the computer has performed in the past, so that the computer will not have to recalculate certain things in the future.

Or, as Wikipedia says:

In computer science, a cache is a component that improves performance by transparently storing data such that future requests for that data can be served faster. …

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cache