Laptop Issues

[Pixie]

For my 19th Birthday I was given a 3200 Series Averatec Notebook. Now, of course I was appreciative of the gift for several reasons. One being now I will have a computer when I move to the beach next month, and two because I've wanted a laptop for like four years... but alas, my happiness has faded to sadness....

The video card that came stock w/the laptop is lower than the minimum required card needed for Body Shop and TS2. Now here's my dillema... Because of my move, I'm super strapped for cash, and buying a video card would be an expenditure I can't afford, at the moment... but also, I have no idea of how and where to install it if I was to buy it.

So I'm reaching out to the members of WorldSims to help me in my situation, advice, websites where cards are cheap, or anything you can tell would be soooo helpful.

Also, my AIM is Pixie2637 and my Yahoo ID is Pixie_Trixter03, so feel free to IM me anytime with any help you can give me...

Pixie

[Pixie]

Oh, and for those who need to know what graphics card I am currently operating on it's called a VIA/S3G Unichrome Graphics... anyways... :( woe is me.

[ManagerJosh]

Regretfully, you can't upgrade your video card in a laptop. Your best bet is to hopefully offset the power through CPU and Memory.

[Pixie]

Your best bet is to hopefully offset the power through CPU and Memory.

Oh... I see.... so what does that mean exactly? Is it possible AT ALL to run TS2 on my laptop... because once I move out I won't have another computer unless of course I sell my brand new laptop (hehe) and have the B/F make me a custom "just for gaming and internet access" computer LOL...

[ManagerJosh]

Depends really. Again, depends on what type of computer you have. You might have one of those newer whitebook notebooks where you can upgrade.

[Pixie]

Could I just go to a place like Download.com and download a DirectX driver that upgrades movie and game performance???

[ManagerJosh]

DirectX only helps in the rendering process. Hardware majority is the best way to process everything.

If you can find out your specs, generally it would be easier to tell whether your computer will work with The Sims 2.

[Pixie]

I'm not quite sure how to find my specs????

[ManagerJosh]

I'm not quite sure how to find my specs????
Start > run > type in DXDIAG

Should tell all :)

[Pixie]

Ok... I'm not sure what info you want so I'll just give it all to ya! LOL...

System Manufacturer... Averatec
Model...3200
Processor...mobile AMD Athlon(tm) XP-M 2000+, MMX, 3DNow, ~1.5Ghz
Memory...224 MB Ram
Page File: 309 MB used, 236MB Available
DirectX Version...DirectX 9.0

Hehe, ok... so there it is... no idea what any of it means (well most of it, I know... well some... lol)

[Pixie]

I'm afraid I may have to just get a new comp... I suppose I could go for the b/f's idea and sell this one on EBay and then custom make the perfect TS2, DiabloII, EQ...etc, etc computer... :)

[ManagerJosh]

Well it is a 2.0GHz AMD Athlon Mobile System, with 256MB RAM. So in theory it should hold up against The Sims 2. You might consider installing Body Shop and seeing how it runs.

[KatAnubis]

Well it is a 2.0GHz AMD Athlon Mobile System, with 256MB RAM. So in theory it should hold up against The Sims 2. You might consider installing Body Shop and seeing how it runs.
I've been following the problems that people have been having with BodyShop and found it interesting that so many people with high end Athalon AMD processors having problems (which were sometimes corrected by putting in an older Athalon processor.)

This really surprised me because all my anti-Microsoft friends have been saying that Athalon processors (in a Mac, of course) is the best thing possible for graphics.

The only problem that was more consistent was the problem with the ProSavage video card.

Lordy, this has shown me all sorts of things about computers and their components than I ever knew before. If I end up having to redo my computer in the fall, I'll have a much better idea of what to look for in a new machine. :knockedout:

[Pixie]

Well I've already installed/re-installed Body Shop four times, this is a combination of before I posted this thread and during... and the models don't show up...period. Now, when I went to the help section in the showcase, it told me the possible reason for this could be that my video card is below the min. requirement.... which lead me to post this thread... LOL... Maybe TS2 will run even though Body Shop doesn't.

Luckily the house computer holds up to Body Shop so I can do my creating there, I'm just worried that I'll be kind of out of luck once I venture out to the great unknown...

[Flameback777]

Must also be luck too, otherwise how can I run the Body Shop smoothly with these specs? :D

Processor: Intel(R) Celeron(TM) CPU 1000MHz will upgrade to 2.6 or 3.0GHz
Memory: 256MB RAM but 16mbs taken for graphics. Will upgrade to 1024mbs.
Graphics card: SiS 630/730 will upgrade to 128mbs GeForce FX5200

Must be luck? :D

[Pixie]

Thanks for rubbing it in... next time you feel like posting, post something that will help me... lol... (not to be selfish)... :)

[Flameback777]

Thanks for rubbing it in... next time you feel like posting, post something that will help me... lol... (not to be selfish)... :)LMAO! You need help? I thought you said you could use your home computer? :p

Added: Would you like me to post my dream computer specs? :p :rolleyes:

[Pixie]

Uuuhhh.. You must not have been paying attention to the first part of this thread... maybe this will ring a bell... I'm moving next month, and my only computer is my laptop......

lol.... so anyways... I'm going to redownload and reinstall Body Shop and try a few more things to see if it'll work... if not, I will just hope TS2 will successfully run on here... :silly:

[Flameback777]

Luckily the house computer holds up to Body Shop so I can do my creating there, I'm just worried that I'll be kind of out of luck once I venture out to the great unknown... Didn't you just say the house computer holds up to the body shop? Laptops are hard to upgrade and I would say that they aren't the best computer for games.

[Pixie]

OMG... Once again... *rofl* I got a laptop for my 19th bday... which means I STILL LIVE @ HOME... but not for long, I'll be M-O-V-I-N-G next month to a new place w/my b/f... so now my laptop will be my only computer...
The home computer I'm referring to is the one stationed @ my present home where all the rest of my family use it.....
NOW DO U GET IT! lmao!!!!! And yes... Body Shop works on the home computer which doesn't help me cuz I won't be using it once I move! I'll be using my notebook!!

*sigh* why was that difficult for you to get!?!?! LOL!!! :silly:

[Pixie]

Ok, so not only is my Notebook drama keeping me awake at night, but now my cell phone decided it doesn't want to charge anymore! LOL! Boy oh boy, once you pop the fun don't stop 'eh.

[ManagerJosh]

Perhaps technology doesn't want to cooperate with you? :D

[Pixie]

LOL... I'm beginning to think that might be the case.... hehe..

Ok, so... knowing my specs... "theoretically" Body Shop and TS2 should run on my notebook... although, Body Shop at the moment isn't...
So where should I go from here??? I havn't a clue... lol... :laugh:

[ManagerJosh]

Buy a new laptop I suppose. I'm eyeing this one.

http://store.topmic.com/asm6nmwiince.html

and this one too..

http://usa.asus.com/products/notebook/w1series/w1000n/w1000n_overview.htm

I really like the W1N

:drool:

[Pixie]

LOL I seeeee... I like the W1N too... Too bad I'm broke lol. Moving sure is expensive! That's why buying a new laptop will be kind of the last straw... I'll just re-format this one, sell it, save some extra cash, and a Notebook that will run TS2 effortlessly... hehe... sounds good to me :)

Soo... anyone interested in donating some mula...??? LOL!! Make all checks payable to Fairy Friends Inc... Visa and Mastercard accepted :silly:

[ManagerJosh]

hehehe :p

I hopefully can get one soon too... cause its just plain expensive to run this site sometimes.

[Pixie]

Ahh man I bet!!! All in due time I suppose... I always try and keep this in mind whenever I'm in need of something, but am being prevented in some way of getting it... "Good things come to those who wait" Hehehe, the first time I heard that I was like "What a bunch of crap!!!!" But after having that come true a few times, I'm beginning to get the idea of it REALLY means...
Kind of like that "patience is a virtue" one...
BUT DANG IT! I sometimes wish I had a magic lamp with a huge blue magic genie who happened to sound a heck of a lot like Robin Williams to grant my dream computer for TS2 and Solitaire :p hehehehe
(j/k about the solitaire.......... ok maybe I'm not :silly: )
Oh and not to mention a new car... and world peace. :rolleyes:

[Pixie]

Lol, I must have broke a mirror cause I have had nothin' but trouble lately. LOL!!! Now the wireless connection on my notebook isn't working right. Hehe... I guess it happens to everyone ;)

[ManagerJosh]

Check if you have another 2.4GHz frequency device running.

[Pixie]

Check if you have another 2.4GHz frequency device running.

I got it working, well, no, correction, my boyfriend got it working :) LOL...
Back to getting my laptop to run TS2 in the future, I've ultimately decided that I will just get a better laptop... eventually. So there, problem solved! :D