Video/Grpahics Card?

I bought the Sims 2 and installed two expansions on it. Whenever I try to play it, it takes a long time to start up and load familys. Sometimes during the game it becomes very slow and lags or it just freezes up complety.

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I bought the Sims 2 and installed two expansions on it. Whenever I try to play it, it takes a long time to start up and load familys. Sometimes during the game it becomes very slow and lags or it just freezes up complety.
I think i need a video/graphics card ( I dont know if theres a difference) but im not sure. My computer is a Dell Windows XP Home Edition. If someone told me where I could find out exactly what kind of card I already have.
P.S. Is it worth the cost because form what I know they start around 70$. And will it improve my entire computer performance?
Thanks for any help.

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1019 Posts
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Install SiSoft's Sandra Lite and use it find out what gfx card (onboard / PCI / AGP / PCI-E) you got. Hardware->Displays and Display Adapters->Video Adapter.
 

Quote:---
Minimum System Requirements for The Sims 2
 
If you have a T&L capable video card with at least 32 MB of video RAM then you need at least:
 
* 800 MHz processor or better
* 256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98 or Windows 2000
* At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space
 
If you have a non-T&L capable video card (an Intel Extreme Graphics or a Radeon 7000/VE Series) then you need at least:
 
* 2.0 GHz processor or better
* 256 MB RAM if Windows XP, Windows ME, Windows 98, or Windows 2000
* At least 3.5 GB of hard drive space
 
Supported video cards (and the more video memory the better):
 
* ATI RadeonTM series (7000 or better)
o Radeon 7000/VE series (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
o 7200, 7500
o 8500, All-In-Wonder 8500
o 9000, 9200, 9500, 9600, 9700, 9800
o X300, X600, X800
 
* Nvidia:registered: QuadroTM series
o Quadro, Quadro2, Quadro4
 
* Nvidia:registered: Geforce series (GeForce2 and better)
o GeForce2
o GeForce3, 3 Ti
o GeForce4, 4Ti, MX 420, 440
o GeForce FX 5200, 5600, 5700, 5800, 5900, 5950
o GeForce 6600, 6800
 
* Intel:registered: Extreme Graphics (non-T&L; requires 2.0 GHz processor)
o 82845, 82865, 82915
---

 

Quote:And will it improve my entire computer performance?

Only in graphics calculation.
 
Get more memory, if possible.
1 GB should be enough in these days.
 

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7 Posts
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OP
Thanks, Wilhelmus.
 
I have a ' NVIDIA GeForce4 Mx 420. '
 
If I went to a store like Circuit City, could they sort this out for me?
 
 

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3867 Posts
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Joined 2000-02-04
Hard to say. We have no idea what kind of computer you have. The fact that your using a GF4 MX definetly doesn't bode well....
 
Click on the link that he posted and give us your system specifications.

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PROCESSER
Model: Intel:registered: Pentium:registered: 4 CPU 2.00GHz
Speed: 1.99GHz
Performance Rating: PR2193 (estimated)
Cores per Processor: 1 Unit
Threads per Core: 1 Unit
Internal Data Cache: 8kB Synchronous, Write- Thru, 4-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector
L2 On-Board Cache: 512kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector
 
MAINBOARD
Bus(es): X-Bus AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
MP Suppot: 1 Processor
MP APIC: Yes
System BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A02
System: Dell Computer Corporation Dimension 4550
Mainboard: Dell Computer Corp.
Toal Memory: 255Mb DDR-SDRAM
 
CHIPSET 1
Model: Dell Computer Corp 82845G/GL/GV Brookdale Host-Hub Interface Bridge (A1-step)
Front Side Bus Speed: 4x 100MHz (400MHz data rate)
Total Memory: 256MB DDR-SDRAM
Memory Bus Speed: 2x 133Mhz (266MHz data rate)
 
VIDEO SYSTEM
Monitor/Panel: Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter: NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420
Imaging Device: Dell Photo AIO Printer 962
 
OPERATING SYSTEM(S)
Windows System: Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Home 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)
 
 
 
I don't know if thats exactly what you need.
 

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3867 Posts
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Hmmm, your RAM is pretty low. (Assuming your using a default DELL install then your probably already using all of that memory and a little more). It would be nice if you could get 512m or even 1gb of memory.
 
As for the video card there are tons of options.
 
You can get an ATI Radeon 9800, ATI Radeon X800+. Those should be pretty cheap nowadays.
 
or even a Nvidia Geforce FX or Nvidia Geforce 6800 video card.
 
These video cards are light years ahead of what you have which is pretty much just a GF2.

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513 Posts
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I would have to suggest an eVGA 6600GT AGP, cheap, and will kick butt compared to your current card, plus the warranty cannot be beat.
 
I had one of these cards(in my wife's system right now), overclocks like 90, plays pretty much everything, excellent bang for the buck.

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Thanks dosfreak and Relic.
 
I couldn't find those exact ones at Circuit City.
 
Wheres the best place to buy one?