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Graphic card? Sims Please Help
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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31. July 2007 @ 12:52 |
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Hi
My daughter currently has Sims 2 on her computer and added a few expansion packs including pets and seasons. Since doing this the graphics on the game have been very strange flashing red walls and flashing purple where the grass should be.
I have done some research via the internet and it seems my graphics card is not up to the job so it is time to upgrade!!
This is where my problem starts I have no idea what graphics card I currently have or how I go about up grading it, according to a few websites Sapphire X1950Pro 256MB GDDR3 DVI TVO HDCP PCI-E is a good card to have. Could anyone let me know how to find out if this is compatiable (What information do you need??) and is it as simple as plugging it in?
Many Thanks
Adam
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jazbebies
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31. July 2007 @ 14:50 |
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Hi,
Yeah they are fairly simple to fit.
Firstly we need to find out the motherboard make /model so that the correct slot type of card is chosen.
This is located on the motherboard inside the computer, usually in the middle, but there is another way of finding out if your not keen opening it up. sometimes it isnt displayed but worth a try. Go to start- all programs- accessories- system tools- system information. when it loads up, on the right hand side you will see the various info about your computer. Your looking for the system model-.......
Also its handy to know the other spec of the pc such as cpu & ram. go to start- right click "my computer" then properties. when loaded up, everything is under where it says computer:
If you could post it all, then its a simple case of working out whats best.
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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1. August 2007 @ 02:29 |
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Hi
Thanks for your reply I am working at moment, but soon as I get home I will post all the information you have asked for.
Thanks
Adam
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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1. August 2007 @ 09:34 |
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Ok here we go
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Manufacturer iQon.ie
System Model S651MPRZ
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 3 Stepping 4 GenuineIntel ~2681 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Award Software International, Inc. F6f, 06/10/2004
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United Kingdom
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158)"
Total Physical Memory 2,048.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 1.54 GB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 2.15 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys
right click my computer properties as follows
celeron (R)cpu 2.66ghz
2.68 GHz 1.968gb of ram
Hope this helps
Look forward to your response
Adam
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jazbebies
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1. August 2007 @ 10:01 |
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Ok good.
Your board will take a 4x AGP graphics card.
So the card you posted up in your first post the- Sapphire X1950Pro 256MB GDDR3 DVI TVO HDCP PCI-E will not be compatible because of it being PCI-E. But you can get the same card but in AGP 8x which is backwards compatible with 4x agp slots so if you can find a - Sapphire X1950Pro 256MB GDDR3 DVI TVO HDCP AGP then it would work. To the fact that your motherboard is AGP 4x you wont get the full performance from the card but most of it.
Also just to check the amount of power your computer is getting, can you post the wattage of the psu e.g. 400w . If you open up the side panel of the computer its the box at the top with alot of wires coming out of it.
PD 3.8ghz (OC) Duo, Air Duct tubed Antec p182, 2gb ddr2 800mhz,Adaptec 29320A-R U320, 2 x 72gb 15k scsi hdds, 150gb 10k sata Wd Raptor, 2 x LG Supermulti dvdrw, Tagan TG700-U35 700w, Realtek HD Audio, Nvidia 8600gts (OC) 760/2350mhz Limited Edition HDMI. Yuraku 19" TS.
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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1. August 2007 @ 11:08 |
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This is great thanks so much for your help could you please check this link http://www.lambda-tek.com/componentshop/index.pl?prodID=B69237 and confirm this is what I need.
In your opinion is this a good card or could you recommend anything better?
I will take computer apart and let you know the wattage of the psu.
Adam
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jazbebies
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1. August 2007 @ 11:23 |
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Thats a decent card, i personally have recently purchased that for my spare computer. It would run Sims 2 easily and many others.
PD 3.8ghz (OC) Duo, Air Duct tubed Antec p182, 2gb ddr2 800mhz,Adaptec 29320A-R U320, 2 x 72gb 15k scsi hdds, 150gb 10k sata Wd Raptor, 2 x LG Supermulti dvdrw, Tagan TG700-U35 700w, Realtek HD Audio, Nvidia 8600gts (OC) 760/2350mhz Limited Edition HDMI. Yuraku 19" TS.
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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1. August 2007 @ 11:28 |
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Excellent looks like my daughter is about to be spoilt :-)
Just before I purchase it does the wattage of the psu make any difference?
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jazbebies
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1. August 2007 @ 11:38 |
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Well using a psu below 300w will struggle and could cause damage to hardware as your adding a more powerful gpx card it requires additional power from it than your old one. If you have at least 350w then i would say you are pretty safe with the setup you have.
PD 3.8ghz (OC) Duo, Air Duct tubed Antec p182, 2gb ddr2 800mhz,Adaptec 29320A-R U320, 2 x 72gb 15k scsi hdds, 150gb 10k sata Wd Raptor, 2 x LG Supermulti dvdrw, Tagan TG700-U35 700w, Realtek HD Audio, Nvidia 8600gts (OC) 760/2350mhz Limited Edition HDMI. Yuraku 19" TS.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 1. August 2007 @ 11:41
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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1. August 2007 @ 11:43 |
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Fingers crossed then I will check that first.
Thanks for all your help, I will keep you updated on how it goes.
Adam
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Member
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1. August 2007 @ 11:49 |
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Adamc2326, Dude I think you are over spending on the Graphics card, just get somthing that will run Sims, have a look at SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9550 256meg TV / DVI (AUD $69.00 half the price of the card you are looking at). Just a suggestion, I hate to see people buy something they will never use. Yeah sure you can pay $300.00 for a card but if you wouldn't use it to it's full potential, why bother??
M
He who knows little
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 1. August 2007 @ 11:50
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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1. August 2007 @ 11:59 |
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Molder
As you are probably aware I am a complete amatuer in this field.....
Is this a good card because like you say it is a 1/4 of the cost?
Do I need to worry about the wattage of the psu?
Will this card allow my daughter to play the Sims 2 plus all expansion packs seasons etc?
Adam
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jazbebies
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1. August 2007 @ 12:02 |
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There probably will come a time when other games will come of interest to his daughter and when that time comes there will be a need to upgrade like in a few months time when theres just not enough umph out of the 9550 to handle them. If you look at the specs between them, they are way far apart. i mean 4 pipelines vs 36 .
PD 3.8ghz (OC) Duo, Air Duct tubed Antec p182, 2gb ddr2 800mhz,Adaptec 29320A-R U320, 2 x 72gb 15k scsi hdds, 150gb 10k sata Wd Raptor, 2 x LG Supermulti dvdrw, Tagan TG700-U35 700w, Realtek HD Audio, Nvidia 8600gts (OC) 760/2350mhz Limited Edition HDMI. Yuraku 19" TS.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 1. August 2007 @ 12:08
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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1. August 2007 @ 12:19 |
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I have to say she only uses her pc to play sims and sims only, she has a DS lite Nintendo Wee plus PS2 which she can use to play games.
So if she just sticks with sims will this card be ok?
Thanks jazbebies
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jazbebies
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1. August 2007 @ 12:49 |
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The specs of it are very low but others are using it for the same game so i guess it would be fine, but i cant guarantee as ive never been in contact with one.
PD 3.8ghz (OC) Duo, Air Duct tubed Antec p182, 2gb ddr2 800mhz,Adaptec 29320A-R U320, 2 x 72gb 15k scsi hdds, 150gb 10k sata Wd Raptor, 2 x LG Supermulti dvdrw, Tagan TG700-U35 700w, Realtek HD Audio, Nvidia 8600gts (OC) 760/2350mhz Limited Edition HDMI. Yuraku 19" TS.
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Member
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2. August 2007 @ 11:29 |
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Adamc2326, Mate as I said if it was me and she only plays Sims, I know which card I'd buy.
M
He who knows little
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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8. August 2007 @ 11:54 |
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Hi
Well I have brought SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9550 256meg and tried to install it, i read setup instruction and it has asked me to uninstall the onboard graphics first.
I had no idea how to do this so had a quick look on internet and read i have to disable it in the bios, well i looked and could not find this option :-(
The other option was go into to device manager and unistall the driver under display, tried this but after restarting computer it automatically updates itself.
I tried to install card as I read it sometimes overides the onboard graphics but after installing it all that happens is the gaphics card lights up blue so it must have power, but when my monitor is plugged in all I have is a black display as if no monitor is connected.
Please have you got any ideas?
Many Thanks
Adam
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AfterDawn Addict
4 product reviews
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9. August 2007 @ 08:10 |
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Yes, it's because you're currently still using the integrated graphics, you can't have two display adapters active at the same time. Go into device manager (start-run and type devmgmt.msc ) then go to display adapters, find your old graphics adapter, and go uninstall. Then restart and install your new Graphics card.
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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9. August 2007 @ 12:32 |
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Hi
Thanks for your reply, I have tried to uninstall the onboard graphics but every time I do this the computer has to be restarted then on reboot it will automatically install the onboard graphics again. The only way I have found is to disable the onboard graphics restart as the computer ask then uninstall this makes the display icon in device manager completely disappear I can only assume this is uninstalled.
I then insert the graphics card try to start up the computer but again black display is all I get, I am using the standard vga cable (The one with blue ends) from monitor to graphics card I take it this is right? I have a Samsung lcd monitor/tv.
Please reply I am getting quite desperate.
Thank you
Adam
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AfterDawn Addict
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9. August 2007 @ 13:15 |
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Are there any other PCs you can try the card in?
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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10. August 2007 @ 02:31 |
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Hi
I do not have another pc in which I can try :-(
Adam
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AfterDawn Addict
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10. August 2007 @ 02:33 |
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Hmm, because it should really be that simple to get a display adapter working. It's plugged in securely yes?
What rating is your power supply?
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Adamc2326
Junior Member
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11. August 2007 @ 11:24 |
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Hi
Yes it fits in securley all lights up so must be a good connection, power supply is 240.
I think it I will send card back and try another just to rule out a faulty card.
I will keep you posted with the outcome.
Adam
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AfterDawn Addict
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11. August 2007 @ 11:49 |
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Sure, keep us posted.
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16. August 2007 @ 11:37 |
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Normally all you do is slip the new card in and plug your monitor into it and the bios will detect the new card and shut off the on board graphics.
Try going into the bios (tap del as the PC boots) there maybe a setting for you to turn it off.
You are plugging your monitor into the new card arn't you??
Keep us posted.
M
He who knows little
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