Do I need anything else? (hardware) Created 15 years ago2009-10-30 16:07:10 UTC by Notewell

So, to get Sims 3 (and probably any newer game I buy from now on) to work, I need to upgrade my hardware.
I need this:
Intel Pentium 4 or equivalent 2.0GHz
DirectX 9.0c compatible card with 128 MB RAM (NVIDIA FX 5900/ATI 9500 or better) and support for Pixel Shader 2.0
100% DirectX 9.0c compatible card

I have (as far as I can tell from the boxes/computer specs I have acess to) this:
AMG Athlon 64 Processor 3200+ 2.21GHz
(1.00 GB Ram, Same as Sims 3 needs minimum)
Asus Radeon 9600 SE (graphics card I think, box doesn't say it specifically)
Asus K8N-E Deluxe eith NVIDA nForce 3 250GB and Dual Raid

I have DirecX 10.0 downloaded, and my computer can run HL2 fine (if I could update steam, anyway)
I also have a card picked out, but I dunno if I can find it: Nvida GTX260 (compatible with Sims 3, listed on the box)
I just wanted to know if there was anything else I needed to buy. Thanks in advance. [I also have a max budget of $300 right now. :(]

First off, you can do A LOT to that system for $300.

Don't even think about getting anything as outdated as a Pentium 4 processor. The new generation of i7 processors are even coming down in price now (although you need a specialised mobo to house them), so to get anything less than a Core2 Duo is simply madness.
That should definitely be the upgrade you're looking for along side a new video card.

RAM basically comes free in cereal boxes these days. 2gb of DDR2 goes for pennies, and wouldn't hurt.

I can't comment on your choice of video card, except to say you're probably better going for ATI at the mid-range.

For a full view of your spec, btw, hold down the windows key & R.
type "dxdiag" and press enter.

Okay. But you didn't answer my question, do I NEED to get anything else for the game to run?
Thanks for the input on general upgrading, though, I'll look into it.

You're going to need a new motherboard first. That motherboard you've mentioned comes with the old AGP-slot, but you're gonna need a PCI-Express card, if you want any good. Besides, you can barely get you're hands on AGP cards these days, and if even so, they're much too slow for their price.

So, you'll need a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, and graphics card. As Huntey suggested, you should definitely go with a Dual Core Processor, but in my opinion, even a stronger Intel Dual Core (like say 2,5 Ghz) is going to be enough, they're even cheaper, than Core 2 Duos, but aren't that much slower.

For RAM - you've already heard the man, 2 GB DDR2, go.

Graphics card: anything from Nvidia GeForce 9800 GT and up, and in the case of ATi cards, something like the Radeon 4850 or 4870 should be more than enough. I don't know about prices in your country, but if it fits your budget, you can also try going with the GeForce 260 GTX. But you'll also need a new mobo, so that might tighten your budget.

For the mobo, I can't really say models, just choose something, that supports DDR2 memory, multi-core processors and has a PCI-Express slot. Shouldn't be more, than a hundred bucks.

That's all you need.

Jeez... That's a lot...
I know for sure I need at least the 260 card, And now you say I need a new motherboard too, plus all the CPU and ram ect...
Should I just save up for a new computer, and let my brother have this one back instead of paying $800 for it?

For the GTX 260, you'll need a new motherboard, that's for sure, it's a PCI-Express card. However you don't "need" the GTX 260, you can go with something much cheaper - which I've listed before.

It's your choice, what you'll do. As I've told you, I don't know about prices in your country. Take a look at the prices of these components, check your pocket, and if it fits your budget, go for it. This setup should serve you well for 1, maybe 2 years. If you want something more beefy, that lasts longer without upgrading, save up.

Go for Nvidia. Remember you can't use Hammer in ATI!

Yeah, I know, that's why I didn't go for an ATi card.
I need something with at least the (minimum requirement) specs in the first post, and I'd prefer if it's hardware that won't break down for years. I'll go double check my budget.
EDIT: Okay, I have about $420 canadian to my name to spend without going broke. This rounds out to about 389 USD, and 264 Euros. I have that to upgrade or buy a new one, and if I upgrade, It'll be another $800 down the road because my brother wants half the amount he spent for this one if I choose to buy it.

that is pretty close to what my computer was before parts starting breaking. verrrrrrrrry close. i feel your pain brother.

What I have, or what I'm looking for?

Wait, did I misunderstand or are you going to give 800 dollars for that system? Now I don't know anything about hardware prices in Canada, but that sounds pretty overpriced.

what you currently have, i mean. just to clear that up.

Wait, did I misunderstand or are you going to give 800 dollars for that system? Now I don't know anything about hardware prices in Canada, but that sounds pretty overpriced.

Okay, I have about $420 canadian to my name to spend without going broke. This rounds out to about 389 USD, and 264 Euros.

Trapt: Ah, I see.
EDIT: Daub, I understand now. He bought it a few years back, when prices were higher on hardware and memory; they were going down, but still up there. $800 is half of what he paid.
I'm thinking of just gradually building a computer, maybe using parts from this one once I get enough to have it run, and them giving those parts back to my brother once I finish it.

Buying a computer part by part is usually the cheapest way to go.
I'd definitely not buy that computer for 800$
I think the computer I have now which is quite okay, runs Crysis on medium/high, l4d maxed out etc, I think it costed around 380 Euros, probably even less, part by part and that was like two years ago, those prices are way lower now.

Well my computer cost about $300 (or was it closer to $400?) not counting monitor. That was in 2003. I used the old monitor I had until it started to get the picture f'd up. I got a 19" LCD a couple of months ago so add about $150. Where was I going? oh right. The point was that you can pretty much have a full box for about $400 or even less.

I'll get on it soonish then.

hmm, what are the prices of the Core i7-920 now ah'days

This is from probably the best place you could buy from in Aus, for decent parts:

Intel Core i7-920 = AU$389
Intel Core i7-950 = AU$697

If you just want an upgrade, don't bother with quad or i7, get a dual core, many applications don't use quad at the moment, my new family/gaming pc runs the Nvidia 260 and the Intel e8500, in my opinion get the e8500, really good part, stock it runs at about 2.8Ghz but can be O/C'd to 4.2! Provided you have good cooling.
If you were to go all out, get the i7-920, I definitely when I build my beast in the near future
I'll post my full pc specs in my next journal

So for ram, definitely upgrade to atleast 2GB of DDR2, if not more, its cheap as chips, the 260 is the best value for money card out now, theres still the 8800 and 9800 series's, which are very cheap now costing less than 125$AU

So there you have it, stick with a 8800, 2gb and the e8500, and your PC will last, and allow you to play the latest games and you won't have to upgrade your mobo (I'm pretty sure, someone correct me if I'm wrong)

BTW, I've never had any trouble with my POS ATi card in my laptop which I use for mapping with Hammer, or am I unaware of the problems because I'm still a n00b at mapping?

It has no sense to buy a i7 920 unless you go for triple channel memory. But that's a crap load of money you have to spend. I;m saying this because for a period I was convinced I'm going to go for a 1366 socket platform. But now that's a no-no. The 1366 motherboards are a lot more expensive than 1156 socket motherboards(talking about the same performance level).

So, I established my next upgrade for the pc, to finally replace the last components from my pc : processor and motherboard(but because i7 requires ddr3... well... it's going to be a little more expensive :D).

Here's my part list :
-Intel i7 860
-Gigabyte P55-UD4, socket 1156
-Kingston 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3/1600MHz Non-ECC HyperX

These 3 components will cost me around 750$. And I only have 150$ now (and I saved 150 in 2-3 months... shit.). If I'm optimistic, I'll make my upgrade around my birthday(that's in april). If I'm realistic, I'll make my update next summer. And if I'm pessimistic, I'll make my upgrade next autumn.

I'll probably stay for a while with my current Ati Radeon HD4850 before buying a new videocard, mostly because I'd have to get more money(and this is very hard for me). Maybe buy an accelero for it to be able to cool itself better. And with this upgrade I must buy a new case.