Graphics again.

[NeitherSparky]

i saw it in the general discussion area, will find a link for you now. you weren't butting in!!

Char
xxx

EDIT: I can't seem to find it, but i'm sure it was on here somewhere.

EDIT: Found it! http://www.insimenator.org/showthread.php?t=38432

Thank you, now I know my vid card sucks, lol. I'll look into a new vid card (and if I can even install one on this comp) tomorrow.

[Micco]

I have found that the Radeon cards are MUCH better at handling the Sims 2 games than nVidia's cards are, regardless of the chipsets.

I couldn't disagree with you more. I had an X700 256 MB and found it to be the biggest POS I ever had the misfortune of paying good money for. I had to suffer with it for 3 months until I got my current setup. Never again ATI.

[tylersada]

I have a 256 ATI radon.  It works beautifully compared to the Nvidia I had. I guess it could depend on the processor you have although that comment is off the top of my head because I'm not technically inclined.  I am going to upgrade to a 512 when I get the extra money.

[Ottie]

i have the ATI Radeon 9200 and it works wonderfully on sims.

[Cathy]

Okay! I'm confused now. Which on is best for The Sims, ATI Radeon or Nvidia?

[Charley]

ATI Radeon, i think. my experiences of Nvidia now is a bit shitty really, got two and the one i put in yesterday just rebooted the computer and i wasn't even on my sims!

Char
xxx

[SkeleBear]

I couldn't disagree with you more. I had an X700 256 MB and found it to be the biggest POS I ever had the misfortune of paying good money for. I had to suffer with it for 3 months until I got my current setup. Never again ATI.

Hmmmmm.

Now I'm beginning to wonder if the graphics cards are more successful in relationship to certain motherboards and processors and displays rather than there being any -one- "better" graphics card arrangement over another.

Since I've installed the Radeon X550, I've been running my in-game graphics "maxed" and still not had a snag in the game, and this computer came with nVidia onboard. I tried two separate nVidia cards before the Radeon, and they made EVERYTHING on this computer actually worse.

I received a lot of warnings about trying to installed the Radeon and having problems with installation, but this one installed fine and quickly and I haven't had a problem since. I'm guessing that the video adapters are more 'system specific' than I might have previously believed.

[Charley]

Can a graphics card be incompatible with your system or is it if you have the right slot to fit it into that it should just work?

Char
xxx

[SkeleBear]

Can a graphics card be incompatible with your system or is it if you have the right slot to fit it into that it should just work?

Char
xxx

Supposedly, if you want to upgrade your graphics card, you're -supposed- to use the same type as what is onboard (i.e. my computer came with nVidia, so I -should- upgrade to a 'better' nVidia card). However, such is not always the case, as I had more problems with nVidia cards than I did with a Radeon.

In a perfect world, as long as the card is a correct match for the slot (i.e. PCI, AGP, PCI-Express, etc), it -should- work. The world is not perfect, and neither are computers or graphics cards, and sometimes the 'recommended' solution is not always the best one. Considering the troubles you've had previously with nVidia cards, perhaps a Radeon card would be a better move for you and you may end up perfectly happy with one, as my wife and I are.

Ultimately, the differences between graphics cards is as much a matter of personal preference as it is anything else, with respect given to system compatibility. Naturally, there is no point in purchasing an AGP-slot card if you don't have an AGP slot to put it in, and so on and so on.

[Charley]

I've had it with Nvidia cards, they are crap in my opinion, had 2 and both mess up! have bought myself an Radeon 9800 SE 256mb card, i paid 35 quid for it so it better work! When it arrives will report if actually works or messes up my system even more. Don't know what it originally came with, prob some crappy card since my computer is probably bout 8 years old!!!

Char
xxx

[Micco]

since my computer is probably bout 8 years old!!!

Oh my, you didn't tell us that before. Ah well, good luck with it.

[Charley]

We got it when XP first came out so... must be actually bout 7 years old, but still, keep asking my dad to buy us a new one but he won't becasue he just paid for us to go to Florida for 2 weeks!

Char
xxx

[Micco]

I live in FL, trust me, you would have been better off with a new computer.

[SkeleBear]

We got it when XP first came out so... must be actually bout 7 years old, but still, keep asking my dad to buy us a new one but he won't becasue he just paid for us to go to Florida for 2 weeks!

Char
xxx

Hmmm ........ yeah ........ that could be part of the problem, doll. If the system itself (i.e. the mainboard, processor, and RAM) is not fast enough, it may not support newer graphics cards. The graphics card should have a "Minimum System Requirements" detailed on it somewhere, and I would advise that you make sure your computer meets up with those requirements before you install the card to prevent even further frustrations and disappointments.

[tylersada]

Okay! I'm confused now. Which on is best for The Sims, ATI Radeon or Nvidia?

I think it is a matter of personal choice.  The Nvidia did not work for me and the ATI Radon did.  You may want to go somewhere that has someone knowledgable about computers, video cards etc, be sure to take the specs on your computer.  I installed the video card myself so I didn't have to pay labor.  It wasn't that difficult.  I just followed the instructions. I upgraded my RAM also on mine because I didn't have enough.