Onboard Graphics

[imported_rod]

I have a friend (a girl) who wants a computer to browse the internet, do some work, and play the sims 2. He work will also help her pay for some of it for her if she gets it from dell.

My question is, will the onbaord graphics of a Dell Dimension 3000 be enough to handle "the sims 2"? The system I"m looking at for her is quoted as having the following:

2.8GHz P4
512MB DDR400
(Integrated Intel(R) Graphics Media Accelerator 900 OR
Integrated Intel(R) Extreme Graphics 2)

Here's a link to a the sims2 requirements page: http://thesims2.ea.com/help/detail.php?help_id=21

I think it's saying that if you dont have a VC, you will need a 2GHz proc and 256MB ram.

thnx all
RoD

 

[ribbon13]

Are you trying to impress this girl? If so:

Do NOT get a dell for the Sims 2
Do NOT get Intel for the Sims 2
Do NOT get onboard graphics for the Sims 2
Do NOT get less than 1GB for the Sims 2

The Sims 2 is my girlfriend's crack, and I swear to you those minimum requirements go right out the window as soon as this girl starts adding custom content, and believe me, she will.... she will

What can she afford without her workplaces financial help?

If it absolutely must be a Dell, get one that has a PCI-express slot.

 

[imported_rod]

I'm not really trying to impress her - she's a friend of my girlfriend.

And if it only requires an 800MHz cpu when it has a VC, Im sure a 2.8GHz P4 can handle it. And the RAM is already twice what it requires. It's not like it's an FPS - it's "the sims (2)".

RoD

 

[ribbon13]

I've gotten the Sims 2 to use 1800MB of RAM, My girlfriend got it to hit 32-bit windows 2GB application wall! (Just so you're forewarned)

Video card performance doesn't really matter that much with TS2, but onboard graphics, especially Intel onboard, WILL cripple the games performance. Getting something to start with on the cheap is a nice idea and all, but for the love of god, make sure at the very least she can at least upgrade the video card to something AGP or PCI-express. Even a cheap ($71) Sapphire X550 will be night and day performance different to the onboard.

 

[imported_rod]

I'll see how much she's prepared to spend on it - but I think her workplace has a deal with dell about computers for employees. I dunno...i think some dell's caome with x300's.

RoD

 

[Googer]

For $99 you are not going to beat one of these. It should net you decent SIMS performance. For a little more money I suggest the 6800GS or X800XL.

 

[imported_rod]

6800GS or X800XL for "THE SIMS"!!!. Those cards are for playing First Person Shooters - not for playing with electronic doll houses.

BtW: If you looked at my sig, you may have noticed that I know how good value for money the 6600GT is.

So basically, even though the sims says it will run with onboard graphics, you guys reckon it needs a $200 VC?!

RoD

 

[MobiusPizza]

Originally posted by: rod
I'm not really trying to impress her - she's a friend of my girlfriend.

And if it only requires an 800MHz cpu when it has a VC, Im sure a 2.8GHz P4 can handle it. And the RAM is already twice what it requires. It's not like it's an FPS - it's "the sims (2)".

RoD

Sims 2 is EXTREMELY CPU and RAM INTENSIVE
GPU is intensive as well for highest quality setting such as high quality shadows and antialiasing

I would recommend at least 2.4Ghz and 1GB of RAM and Radeon 9700 or up


It lags a bit in neighbourhood view if I crank up graphic quality to max with my GeForce 6800 Ultra, Athlon 64 3000+ o/ced (see sig) and 1GB Ram.

 

[MobiusPizza]

Originally posted by: rod
6800GS or X800XL for "THE SIMS"!!!. Those cards are for playing First Person Shooters - not for playing with electronic doll houses.

BtW: If you looked at my sig, you may have noticed that I know how good value for money the 6600GT is.

So basically, even though the sims says it will run with onboard graphics, you guys reckon it needs a $200 VC?!

RoD

You must have not seen how 3D Sims 2 is
Lightning, shadows, reflections are intensively used in Sims 2 and I don't see how that would run any faster than 1* generation older FPS.

Of course without a VC you could run it, abeit at ultra low quality setting where "Polygon dolls" look like cardboxes
Check out some screenshots. That sort of graphics is impossible to run on junky Intel Extreme Onboard Graphics

If you want to piss your gf's friend that's probably best way to do it

 

[imported_rod]

Actually, I've only ever played the original "the sims". I never really liked it, so I didn't bother with it's sequel.

Why the fvuk don't game manufacturers quote what you will actually need to play them decently. >:-(

Well, I'll see if she can stretch he budget to something like a 6600GT.

RoD

 

[The Green Bean]

any cheap 40$ NEW Series 6/X or newer vc

 

[MobiusPizza]

Originally posted by: rod
Actually, I've only ever played the original "the sims". I never really liked it, so I didn't bother with it's sequel.

Why the fvuk don't game manufacturers quote what you will actually need to play them decently. >:-(

Well, I'll see if she can stretch he budget to something like a 6600GT.

RoD

Hm what's her budget?
I would recommend getting perhaps Athlon XP 3000+ or so
Socket 754s are cheap and fast
As I mentioned Sims 2 is more CPU limiting than GPU limiting
But anything faster than 2.4G would perhaps do.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Onboard grapgics is just another function for the CPU to handle and thus comprimise the CPU`s ability to function at a adequate rate of perfomance!

 

[GregMal]

My daughter runs a Gateway tablet laptop with integrated intel graphics, 512 mem.
No problems.............

 

[imported_rod]

Originally posted by: GregMal
My daughter runs a Gateway tablet laptop with integrated intel graphics, 512 mem.
No problems.............

So hopefully, a 'cheapish' dell with a small video card should be alright.

------------
Howz this sound:
2.8GHz P4
512MB DDR
X300
------------

RoD

 

[dainthomas]

Sims2 runs decent on my rig (medium res, all details). Stuttered a lot when I had a 9800pro.

 

[zagood]

My wife runs it on her HP Dim a230n with onboard and 512mb ram, low res settings. Doesn't look too bad, definitely not what it could be. No stuttering.

I just wish she'd let me build her a new rig...

-z

 

[Chacranajxy]

Originally posted by: rod
6800GS or X800XL for "THE SIMS"!!!. Those cards are for playing First Person Shooters - not for playing with electronic doll houses.

BtW: If you looked at my sig, you may have noticed that I know how good value for money the 6600GT is.

So basically, even though the sims says it will run with onboard graphics, you guys reckon it needs a $200 VC?!

RoD

There's no reason to get a crap video card even if you initially only want to play a game like the Sims 2. What if down the road you want to play another game or do something that requires a halfway decent computer? You're not going to want onboard graphics then... the 6800gs is prolly the best option.

 

[pontifex]

Originally posted by: rod
Actually, I've only ever played the original "the sims". I never really liked it, so I didn't bother with it's sequel.

Why the fvuk don't game manufacturers quote what you will actually need to play them decently. >:-(

Well, I'll see if she can stretch he budget to something like a 6600GT.

RoD

um, have you ever read the back of a video game box? they have requirements and recommended specs.

go by the recommended because 90% of the time the game will run horribly at required specs.

 

[ribbon13]

I think you need to take a step back and realize the difference between The Sims and The Sims 2 in terms of how much it taxes a system, is much like Doom vs Doom 3.

 

[dguy6789]

The system in my sig could play The Sims 2 at 1024 maximum settings with 6XAA and 16XAF at around 40fps. Disabling AA could improve performance dramatically.

I am certain that a 9600 Pro level card would run the game well.

 

[imported_rod]

Originally posted by: Chacranajxy

Originally posted by: rod
6800GS or X800XL for "THE SIMS"!!!. Those cards are for playing First Person Shooters - not for playing with electronic doll houses.

BtW: If you looked at my sig, you may have noticed that I know how good value for money the 6600GT is.

So basically, even though the sims says it will run with onboard graphics, you guys reckon it needs a $200 VC?!

RoD

There's no reason to get a crap video card even if you initially only want to play a game like the Sims 2. What if down the road you want to play another game or do something that requires a halfway decent computer? You're not going to want onboard graphics then... the 6800gs is prolly the best option.

This isn't for me - it's for one of my girlfriends friends. And the ONLY game she plays is the sims and the sims 2.

Hey, does anyone have a list of "recommended" specs for the sims 2? All I could find listed on the net were it's minimum specs.

RoD

 

[thecoolnessrune]

Originally posted by: rod
6800GS or X800XL for "THE SIMS"!!!. Those cards are for playing First Person Shooters - not for playing with electronic doll houses.

BtW: If you looked at my sig, you may have noticed that I know how good value for money the 6600GT is.

So basically, even though the sims says it will run with onboard graphics, you guys reckon it needs a $200 VC?!

RoD

Well life is full of suprises isn't it. If things ran by your logic then games that have worse graphics than HL2 (*cough* FEAR) should run at 100+ FPS on a 7800GTX. Not 30.