Hi Totte,
Before trying to give town/world recommendations, lets see if we can help get rid of some of the lag.
Thank you for sharing your system specs. We'll have a look over them to see if the problem is your computer or not.
Custom content is items not made by EA, also known as 3rd party cc. And it looks like you know what mods are.
Do you have CC and Mods? Try playing without them to see if that helps. Instructions below if you need them.
If you've got custom content, (items not made by EA aka 3rd party content) or even items from the Sims3Store or the Exchange. Try starting the game without it, by opening the launcher, click the Installed Content Tab. Checkmark Run Game Without Custom Content. Then click the Play button.
As sometimes CC does mess the game up for whatever reason.
Removing Bad Custom Content
http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/custom-content-cc/bad-ccIf you have mods in your game. Try running the game without the mods. By moving the mods folder to your desktop.
-- From what I understand you may get some game lag when using mods due to various reasons.
If the lag/crashing is still there. Add each mod back in untill you find which mod maybe causing the lag. If you find the lag being caused by a mod.
Leave that mod out.
Here's a link from Crinrict's blog that gives some tips to try.
Lags & Intermittent Freezes
http://sims3.crinrict.com/en/2011/04/bug-lags-intermittent-freezes.htmlTry deleting the cache files (socialCache.package, Sims3Logs.xml, simCompositorCache.package, scriptCache.package, compositorCache.package, CasPartCache.package)
-- Also delete everything except Ccmerged.package file in your DCBackup folder.
-- Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 3 > DCBackup
Check your active household's family and individual inventories, as having to many items (100 or more items) in their inventories may cause lag and freezing. This can happen fast if the sims is a fisher, gardener or alchemist, not to mention collector.
Have you tried a Factory reset? If not, Copy your Sims 3 folder to the desktop. Rename your current Sims 3 folder to something like Sims 3 Current. Click the Sims 3 icon to create a new Sims 3 folder. Then copy your game saves, files and such over to the new game to see if that helps. (This is different from a total-game reinstall)
If you're uneasy about this step. Backup your Saves, Downloads, Exports, and SavedSims, and Screenshots Folders and Option.ini and UserPresets.package files before you try doing a factory reset.
Or If you need/want to know what to save/backup. Have a look at this thread.
How To: Saving folders/files to use on a different computer or to use as backup
http://www.carls-sims-3-guide.com/forum/index.php/topic,16414.msg313134.html#msg313134Try playing your current family(s) in a new game. -- This is different than moving them into a different house or moving them to a different town. Save the household(s) and place them into a new game to see if things run smoother from there. If it's still buggy, laggy, freezing, or
crashing your game save might be corrupted. This happens from time to time and when saved game files get too large.
I hope some of these tips help. If they don't, please post back so we may be able to help you further.
MrsFlynn