Building/Upgrading a PC for TS2
lowlucious:
I don't want to be a pain Hegelian and I truly appreciate all the advice, but I really need to know: what brand of computers tend to be the best for gaming? I am on a Gateway right now and the next computer I want will have to have everything I need for gaming. Thank you.
asta:
I was planning on bying a Radeon X1900 GT, but now I'm a bit concerned that TS2 won't run proberly because this card isn't mentioned in the Sims 2 Read me. ::)
Does anyone have this card?
Hegelian:
Quote from: lowlucious on 2006 August 01, 06:02:18
I don't want to be a pain Hegelian and I truly appreciate all the advice, but I really need to know: what brand of computers tend to be the best for gaming? I am on a Gateway right now and the next computer I want will have to have everything I need for gaming. Thank you.
Depends on what your gaming preferences are, but any name-brand unit with a sufficiently powerful CPU and high-end graphics board should do. Two GB of RAM should be sufficient, but WinXP can use more (although you may not be able to see it). Remember, the more RAM you have the smaller your paging file needs to be in order to actually use all the RAM (and eliminate unnecessary disk access). However, because of the way Windows and many apps are designed, you can't safely eliminate the paging file altogether.
HP direct is a good value right now (in the U.S., anyway), but you can surely find other good deals if you shop around. The boutique brands like Alienware and Falcon tend to be overpriced for what you get, although the fit 'n finish is usually top-notch.
In any event, you're more likely to be happy with your new PC if you can customize it during the ordering stage (this is why people build their own). If you choose to get a pre-configured machine, be sure to check things like amount of RAM, hard-drive rotational speed and interface (SATA and 7200 RPM minimum), and the number of available PCI slots (for things like a sound card or wireless networking card). If possible, try to get the specifications for the power supply, which is where a lot of builders cut corners. You should try to get voltage regulation within 5%—3% is better and 1% is preferable. Many so-called "450W" power supplies only offer their rated voltages within ±10% or worse (in reality, this is usually minus rather than plus-or-minus) and may only deliver 50-60% of their rated wattage at normal operating temps. Or you could take whatever the builder uses and buy a quality after-market PS from PC Power & Cooling.
If you have plans for upgrading in the future, keep in mind that most PCs shipped by Dell and Gateway now use the BTX form-factor, which is a different motherboard design and layout from the standard ATX design (BTX was designed by Intel to improve cooling air flow for the 4+ GHz Prescott CPUs it was planning but eventually dropped because of heat and power-consumption issues). BTX motherboards require BTX cases and, possibly, BTX power supplies.
Quote from: asta on 2006 August 01, 07:32:37
I was planning on bying a Radeon X1900 GT, but now I'm a bit concerned that TS2 won't run proberly because this card isn't mentioned in the Sims 2 Read me. ::)
A graphics board that wasn't yet released when the game went to press isn't going to be on the list. What you need to worry about are older boards that aren't on the list. I wouldn't worry about an X1900. :)
ChamiMinds:
Ok when it comes to hardware issues I'm at a complete loss. I understand a lot but not enough to figure out who is right so I need help. First I'll show you my computers specs:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 2 (2600.xpsp_sp2_gdr.050301-1519)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.
System Model: MXC051
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A03
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) M processor 1.86GHz
Memory: 2040MB RAM
Page File: 546MB used, 3386MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.2180 32bit Unicode
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2592&SUBSYS_01B51028&REV_03
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 800 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4410 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/14/2005 21:06:58, 36990 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/14/2005 21:15:18, 1302812 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-66D2-11CF-A262-BF21A2C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x2592
SubSys ID: 0x01B51028
Revision ID: 0x0003
Revision ID: 0x0003
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run
Card name: Mobile Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset Family
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 915GM/GMS,910GML Express Chipset
DAC type: Internal
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2792&SUBSYS_01B51028&REV_03
Display Memory: 128.0 MB
Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
Driver Name: ialmrnt5.dll
Driver Version: 6.14.0010.4410 (English)
DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 10/14/2005 21:06:58, 36990 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
VDD: n/a
Mini VDD: ialmnt5.sys
Mini VDD Date: 10/14/2005 21:15:18, 1302812 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B78E66-64D2-11CF-A262-BF21A2C2CB35}
Vendor ID: 0x8086
Device ID: 0x2792
SubSys ID: 0x01B51028
Revision ID: 0x0003
Revision ID: 0x0003
Video Accel:
Deinterlace Caps: n/a
Registry: OK
DDraw Status: Enabled
D3D Status: Enabled
AGP Status: Not Available
DDraw Test Result: Not run
D3D7 Test Result: Not run
D3D8 Test Result: Not run
D3D9 Test Result: Not run
-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
Description: SigmaTel Audio
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_8384&DEV_7690&SUBSYS_102801B5&REV_1022
Manufacturer ID: 1
Product ID: 100
Type: WDM
Driver Name: sthda.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.4717.0000 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 9/9/2005 18:15:32, 1032472 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: SigmaTel
HW Accel Level: Full
Cap Flags: 0xB5B
Min/Max Sample Rate: 44100, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
Registry: OK
Sound Test Result: Not run
---------------------
Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: SigmaTel Audio
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: sthda.sys
Driver Version: 5.10.4717.0000 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Date and Size: 9/9/2005 18:15:32, 1032472 bytes
Cap Flags: 0x41
Format Flags: 0xCC0
OK I might have shared to much for my question but I just wanted to be sure. I've been told by several different people that this system will handle TS2 and expansionns just fine and I've had others tell me that my graphics card being intergrated will cause me serious problems after about a month or so of play. When I bought the system I told whom ever I talked to the specs I needed for TS2 and I wanted more because I know how quickly game specs can go up. So I'd love any help on who is right. Can I play TS2 without issues or should I complain and get a new system?
J. M. Pescado:
I don't see a real graphics chipset of any kind, so it's going to run awfully if it runs at all.
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