Its not just patches that are essential for the smooth of software but your drivers also. Make sure that all drivers for graphics and sound cards are bang upto date. Does your computer crash frequently? If so then perhaps there’s an issue with some of your hardware such as the RAM.

Get everything upto date then test the sim at the basic detail level. If thats stable increase resolution to the desired level with all other options off or minimum. Then one by one crank them up untill you reach a satisfactory detail level thats stable.