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So I've been wanting to play the Sims and my computer can't handle it. I've been looking around to see what exactly I should upgrade and I'm sorta confused...wondering if you smart people will give me a heads up?
I have onboard graphics, uses 32mb of my 256 mb ram. I know I need more ram, that's on the list. I was going to get a graphics card tomorrow and I'm wondering if there's a real huge difference between the 128 and the 256? Will I be able to play my games on a 128mb graphics card and it won't be choppy and sluggish or should I go with the 256? (Probably a dumb question but I'm askin anyway). I don't really have a whole lot to spend on this right now, that's why I'm asking if I can "get by" with 128.
Next thing is, I've tried to run Sims 2 on my computer and it goes for maybe 5 minutes, maybe less, then it shuts off on me. Would it be because I'm "graphics-less" or is there maybe something wrong with my power supply? Am I overheating? Will getting a graphics card stop it from shutting down?
Thanks for any responses!!
Just wanted to mention..I know this question has probably been asked a million times before, and I did search through the archives before I posted. I just didn't see any answers that suited my specific questions :)
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Well the problem here is exactly that, your questions are NOT specifc.
What system do you have? What type of ram? What kind of video card can your mainboard handle? etc. Do you even know what you are buying? I mean, you said "unsure" not me.
Please download and run Belarc advisor and post the results it generates here so we can help you and not just guess.
And NO, you dont need a 256MB card at all (your processor and bus speed will probably bottleneck it anyway), so a 128MB is fine just fine.Just stay AWAY from low-end or 64-bit cards! (i.e. fx5200, 9600se and some other "LE & SE" series cards, do reaserch!)
Go for at least an ATI 9600Pro and at least another 256 MB of ram.
Good luck, post back results.
Peace.
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I meant that I knew specifically what I was looking for in an answer and couldn't find anything. I have an Intel P4, SIS 650 motherboard, onboard graphics, 256mb ddr. I am not sure about what video card my computer can handle...that's what I'm wondering. I know I have 1 AGP slot and a couple open PCI slots. I have never bought a video card before, so I'm very unsure of what I'm buying.
I ran Belarc the other day...this is what it told me:
Board: SiS-650
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
224 Megabytes Installed MemorySlot 'A0' has 256 MB
Slot 'A1' is Empty
Slot 'A2' is Empty
Slot 'A3' is Empty1.60 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cacheSiS 650/651/740/661FX/741/760 series [Display adapter]
Standard floppy disk controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]
SiS PCI IDE Controller
SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller (2x) MPU-401 Compatible MIDI Device
SiS 7012 Audio Driver
Standard Game PortIf a 128 mb card is going to work, then I will get that one if there's not much of a difference. I just want my games to work properly and not have my system shut down on me after 5 minutes. The one they have at the store is 128 mb Radeon 9200 for $85. (Canadian). I live in a small town, so getting any other kind would mean having to travel. I'll be getting more ram also.
Thanks for the advice! You're really helpful!
Tracy
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It doesn't really matter where you live nowadays, just buy over the net with your credit card, but of course a "real" store is always better in case something goes wrong, true.
ok, you and I have similar systems so I can help you. I have a P4 1.8GHz overclocked at 2.2GHz, a radeon 9600 pro (also overclocked) -love it!- , and the same APG slot and same ram type only I have 512MB, my mainboard is an asus P4b.
so here we go:
- Just get another 256mb stick of ram and you should be fine. I think you have either PC133 or PC266 RAM but before you go to the store carefuly take out your sick (press the thingies on the sides and pull) take it with you and show it to the guy a the store to avoid mix ups.
- for your system and budget I would either get a:
a) nvidia ti4200 or ti4600 (128 MB, not 64!)
b) ati 9550 128MB
c) ati 9600 pro or XT 128mb (but NOT the 9600SE)
d) ati 9500 128mb, if you can find one.
e) FX 5600 (and up, but NOT fx5200 and 5500)DON'T get that Radeon 9200 you mentioned!
and yes your system is shutting down because you have no video card and too little ram. It may be overheating too, clean the dust off your fans, cpu and stuff while your in there (always think static! touch some metal once in a while while cleaning, use a soft puffy makeup brush, avoid wearing nylon).
just mail me if you have problems installing your new hardware or if you wanna overclock later stimpford@yahoo.com
good luck.
Peace.
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Stimpy pretty much covered it...I vote for option b)
(See my sig...lol)
Asus A7N8X-X
1800+ @ 8 x 210MHz
768MB PC3200
Asus A9550 128MB/128-bit
Gamer Edition
WinME/WinXP Pro
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Hey thanks guys! You are a great help :)
I'm going to get another stick of ram today and see what I can do about overclocking this thing....scared, but going to try. I just vision it blowing up under my desk...lol
Stimpy...I emailed you.
Thanks again!
Tracy
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Hey!
Thanks for the answer! Yes, I'm really interested in overclocking this beast...I've always wondered about doing that and was sort of scared off. I just picture it blowing up....lol
So you think I should avoid that card and just go with ram for now? The reason I was "resorting" to that card is because I don't deal with credit cards...everything on ebay was a killer for shipping too. I would have to wait for them to order any other kind of card in (about 2 weeks) or go out of town and get it myself. I figured if I could settle for 128 that would be cool. But ok, I'm not going to get that card. I don't want to waste my money. I actually can get another card, it's a 256 meg Radeon video card, model 9550. I could possibly have that card by the weekend. (got my friend in Calgary shipping it out on the bus if I want it).
So I guess I have these options:
1. Buy 256 mb ram and overclock my computer.
2. Wait for the video card.They're both about the same price..I can get the card for $70 and ram is somewhere around $50-60. What do you think would perform better? Do you play Sims 2 at all? Just wondering what kind of performance you get on yours and which choice would have better performance on mine.
Thanks for everything!! Tracy--------------
- Ok, I have had NO problems in about 10 years with credit cards and online shops, for safety reasons I usually just stick with one online store and buy everything there, amazon is pretty safe I guess. Just stay away from ebay!
- No, your computer won't blow up by overclocking it, if you do something wrong it will just turn off never to turn on again, that's all =)
- That 9550/256MB sounds really good! Sure, let your friend get it for you. Sims2 will not be playable with out a suitable video card, you SIS mobo/integared video card will not cut it.
- The reason why I mentioned you don't need a 256MB card is because most games (even Half life2, sims 2 and doom3 for example) don't take advantage of so much memory, not yet.
- BUT you DO need those extra 256MB RAM (or a bit more if you can), since WindowsXP uses about 150MB of your ram! in exchange for the privilege of existing, plus your applications, plus the other 200MB+ from whatever game you are running.
- The fact is that your system (and mine) have a hard time handling so much information moving around in a 100MHz(x4) BUS (to and from the CD-ROM>HDD>RAM>ChipSet>CPU>Mouse&Keyboard(input)>Screen(final output) and back, in circles).
Any 256MB apg card (unless it's a US$300+ card) is mostly a marketing feature. 128 are fine in my opinion, still a 256MB card WILL NOT have any negative effects at all so go ahead, you just will never really use those extra 128MB.Now overclocking:
- Your system and mine have a "williamette" P4 chip (the 1st generation of P4 chips ever built) they are very well built and very reliable but kinda slow, still they overclock pretty decent, and don't get too hot either. with your chip you should safely go up to 1.8 or 1.9 MHz, maybe more if well cooled.
- You overclock a system by moving around your settings on your BIOS Basic-input/output-system, you go there by pressing DEL a few times before windows starts loading after turning on your system, go there, look around, get familiar with the options and at the end press "exit with out saving" just in case you moved something you shouldn't have.
- You overclock by going to the "advanced" section in your bios and then "cpu frequency" (but every bios is a bit different) This is hot it works: A pentium 4 chip is "quadrapumped" (again intel marketing crap) which means that your 1.6 chip actually runs at only 400 MHz and NOT 1600 Shocked? I was too. Intel logic 0.4 x 4 = 1.6MHz , there.
Anyway, My chip runs like this: (multiplyer set at 18x, P4 multiplyers are locked (thanx intel!), ADM's are not)
and the CPU frequency runs at 100 MHz. So .100 x 18 = 1.8 MHz (stock speed)Remember, you cannot move the 18x (16x in you system I think) but you can move the 100!
- So now my system runs normally at 18 x 111MHz = 2.0MHz and sometimes, for gaming up to 18 x 122 = 2.2MHz but it often becomes too hot and unstable and my system to crash so I usually just leave it at 2.0 or 2.1, not more.
You also have to put an extra fan to move all that extra heat out of your box. One in the front (sucking cool air from outside) and one in the back (sucking hot air from your box and blowing it outside) but you will also get more dust now so clean your machines' insides more often.
- Get MBM 5 (free!) mother board monitor 5 and check you temperature that way.
- and THG clock (free as well), to monitor your new cpu frequency speeds.When overclocking do it little by little (+5, +5 and so on, take your time ) and see how your system reacts (stability, temperature).
If you want to overclock your videocard use Riva Tuner (free), works pertty much the same but it's a windows application and has nothing to do with bios.
By the way when installing your new card go to bios first and select AGP/VGA as primary video engine, not the integated SIS one; Open you AGP port at (4x) and 128 or 256MB depending on what you bought.
Good luck.Peace.
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