Graphics card time for an upgrade

  • Thread starter Thread starter stupar
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stupar

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Ok so the time has come for a graphics card.
The current ATI Radeon HD 4600 series that is in our machine is struggling to play the wifes Sims 3.
The following website http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=sims%203%20graphics%20card%20compatibility&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CCwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmodthesims.info%2Fwiki.php%3Ftitle%3DGame_Help%3ATS3_System_Requirements&ei=XqGQUdqzEsiW0QXH54HAAQ&usg=AFQjCNF6q3OSYCdhRgDc-HAxy3TEtaJN9A&bvm=bv.46340616,d.d2k suggests that our current card may struggle with some of the more recent expansion packs and certainly I think the card is the reason that the game crashes when the expansion packs and addons are in use.

Now my question, would I be better of buying a 2nd hand card like a GTX275/285 which will happily deal with her game or should I buy new and further up the chain?
 
Define "better"? It will certainly be cheaper than buying current, but upgrade time will come sooner. You may also find a second hand graphics card has a louder fan (due to use). Also check your PSU can handle the card - the graphics cards often draw more power than the processor!
 
arad85 said:
Define "better"?
Click to expand...

One that won't place a question mark over whether the games will play or not.
She has spent a fortune building up the collection so would be a shame to waste them.
 
stupar said:
One that won't place a question mark over whether the games will play or not.
She has spent a fortune building up the collection so would be a shame to waste them.
Click to expand...
Well... only you're going to know what games she has - and what the requirements are ;)

I can say that £50 won't buy you the latest and greatest GTX690/7970 based card though :D
 
arad85 said:
Well... only you're going to know what games she has - and what the requirements are ;)

I can say that £50 won't buy you the latest and greatest GTX690/7970 based card though :D
Click to expand...

I appreciate that the latest and greatest GTX cards are well without my reach but surely £50 can buy better than we have at present new or 2nd hand.
In that link in my OP the system specs are there for all the expansions which don't declare graphics.
Upon looking on the back of the game box our current card falls within the criteria.

I appreciate though that are developers cannot rest every card, just frustrating I guess.
 
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neil_g said:
i agree with andy on the power supply point, lobbing a beefy card in is probably going to need a higher rated supply.
Click to expand...

I take it 550W is on the cusp of disaster then?
I might just tell her to put her game on the back burner until we can afford a system overhaul.
 
stupar said:
I take it 550W is on the cusp of disaster then?
Click to expand...
From: http://www.nvidia.co.uk/page/legacy.html for the 285

Nvidia said:
Code: 
Maximum GPU Tempurature (in C)	105 C
Maximum Graphics Card Power (W)	204 W
Minimum System Power Requirement (W)	550 W
Supplementary Power Connectors	2x 6-pins
Click to expand...

It's on the cusp of something....

stupar said:
I might just tell her to put her game on the back burner until we can afford a system overhaul.
Click to expand...
Might not be a bad idea - you'll probably only upgrade the graphics card to find a bottleneck elsewhere in the system....
 
Thought I would update this thread from an informative point of view.

I downloaded the latest version of the ATI Catalyst Center, tweaked a few settings in there as well as the game and low and behold..............no more crashing.

I made the wife play the game for a good 2 hours abusing every aspect of it that makes it graphics intensive.
No crashing and a peak temp of 43 degrees C.

Happy days for her and happy days for my wallet :D
 
Result :thumbs:
 
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